In the Ice of the Arctic, From Svalbard To Greenland on the Le Commandant Charcot

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Mike Unwin

Seal pup resting on ice in Svalbard, showcasing its fluffy coat against the frozen landscape.

Duration

16 DAYS

Class of Ship

Large Expedition Ship & Icebreaker

Sustainability

Hybrid Electric, Science Centre, LNG Powered (liquified natural gas), Green Marine Certified, Ship to Shore Power

Berths

245

Ice Class

PC2 Rating

Duration

16 DAYS

Class of Ship

Large Expedition Ship & Icebreaker

Sustainability

Hybrid Electric, Science Centre, LNG Powered (liquified natural gas), Green Marine Certified, Ship to Shore Power

Berths

245

Ice Class

PC2 Rating

Discover Nordaustlandet (North East Land), Europe’s largest ice cap.
Explore the Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve, the second largest protected area in Norway.
Sail in the Hinlopen Strait, infiltrated by ice and connecting Spitsbergen to Nordaustlandet.

To sail to the lands beyond the Arctic Circle is to push the boundaries of exploration in the wake of those who made discovering the polar regions their life’s mission. With humility, you will set a course towards the south of Svalbard and its untouched landscapes, before reaching the north-east of Greenland, inaccessible to traditional ships in early summer.

You will progress through one of the hardest to reach areas in the Far North. In the Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve, classed as an Important Bird Area, the arid spaces, still cloaked in ice, are home to cetaceans and Svalbard reindeer. As you progress through this polar landscape, Nordaustlandet (North East Land) will display Europe’s largest ice cap and some of its most majestic fjords.

You will cross the frozen expanses of the Hinlopen Strait, where the contours of the glaciers shape the horizon, and you will get up close to monumental basalt cliffs.

You will then sail towards the north-east of Greenland, through the drifting ice floes of the North Pole and continue your exploration in the heart of immaculate scenery. The sea ice reveals itself in all its formsMarvel at the subtle light changes on the ice.

On your journey, the Ammassalik, Blosseville and Ittoqqortoormiit regions reveal mythical places associated with the history of the discovery of the Arctic – places where the names Paul-Emile Victor, Jules de Blosseville and Jean-Baptiste Charcot still resound. Whether from the exterior decks of your ship, during an outing in an inflatable dinghy or a kayak, or during a hike near blue-tinged icebergs, you will have multiples opportunities to get to know this wild and stunning world a little better.

In extreme conditions, at the end of spring when ice dots the barren landscapes, these remote parts reveal themselves to travellers. Despite the harsh climate and environment, the wildlife thrives here, offering the humble and patient observer the most wonderful of rewards.