PONANT revealed a new experience that will soon be available on a selection of voyages onboard Le Commandant Charcot.
Last May, during an expedition to Greenland's East coast, a full-scale dry run was held for PONANT's first Polar Raid. In line with the company's philosophy, ‘Explore to inspire’, PONANT innovates and creates more immersive and meaningful experiences.
At the end of last spring, the line’s teams set out for the shores of Greenland's northeast coast, which are still frozen over at that time of year. And their mission: to test a new concept/take on the challenge of the adventure of a polar raid for 3 days and 2 nights, unassisted, out on the sea ice and far from everything.
The expedition was led by Nicolas Dubreuil, Operations Director at SEDNA/Polar expedition expert, as well as Greenlandic guide/ice expert Ole Eliassen.
The try-out team was made up of 9 members including professional mountain guides, media representatives, a medical doctor, and people from PONANT’s R&D department. Scouting for the new polar experience, the group left the luxury icebreaker behind, crossing the sea ice to trek into the snowy mountains of Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund, Greenland) and camp for 2 nights in the pristine arctic nature.
Moving around on skis, each of the team members had to pull their own pulk (sled), carrying all the materials/food supplies, enough to cover each adventurer’s individual needs for a few days. Once the camp was set, everyone took in turns to keep watch. Such a mission will be entrusted to the guests who will participate in the Polar Raid.
Designed in line with PONANT’s philosophy, ‘Explore to inspire’, and its CSR roadmap, ‘Blue Horizon’, the new exclusive experience aims to build close connections between its passengers, local communities, and nature. A voyage within a voyage, a unique human experience nourished by Inuit wisdom in the surreal scenery offered by Greenland's wild nature.
The Polar Raid will open to bookings as an option for a limited number of passengers, on the occasion of several expeditions onboard Le Commandant Charcot, to meet Inuit communities established along the Eastern coast of Greenland: 2 in 2023, and 3 in 2024.
Inuit spring of Ammassalik features:
- 11-day Reykjavik-Reykjavik (Iceland) onboard Le Commandant Charcot with 2 departures from May 5 to 15, 2023. Prices start from EUR 15,140 pp.
- 11-day Reykjavik-Reykjavik onboard Le Commandant Charcot with 3 departures from April 16 to May 6, 2024. Prices start from EUR 15,190 pp.