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Inuit Spring at the Edge of Scoresby Sund

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Overview
Highlights
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Map
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Highlights

  • Experience the exceptional: meet the Inuit people at the end of the winter, to share unique moments on the ice floe, discover their spring traditions and experience a dog sled outing.
  • Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a polar exploration vessel opening to the exterior, take time with these unique moments of exploration and observation, in the silence and respect of fragile landscapes and encountered species.
  • The Blosseville Coast and its ice cap that comes straight from the North Pole.
  • Exploring the region of Ittoqqortoormiit, where the last hunters of the polar region live, at the entrance to Scoresby Sound, the world’s largest network of fjords.
  • Set off on the trail of the great explorers who attempted to navigate the eastern coast of Greenland, a region that long remained isolated due to being hard to reach and only accessible at this time of year thanks to Le Commandant Charcot.
  • Experience the dog sled, at the heart of Inuit culture, an activity designed with our hosts.
  • Crossing the Denmark Strait and the possibility of spotting blue whales and humpback whales.
  • The landscapes: striped mountains, fjords, glaciers, icebergs, polar ice cap, patches of ice floe drifting from the North Pole, hummocks.
  • The wildlife: blue and humpback whales, polar bears, seals, Arctic foxes, sea birds.
  • Many brand-new activities*: dog sledding, kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, ice fishing, polar diving, participative science.

Highlights

  • Experience the exceptional: meet the Inuit people at the end of the winter, to share unique moments on the ice floe, discover their spring traditions and experience a dog sled outing.
  • Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a polar exploration vessel opening to the exterior, take time with these unique moments of exploration and observation, in the silence and respect of fragile landscapes and encountered species.
  • The Blosseville Coast and its ice cap that comes straight from the North Pole.
  • Exploring the region of Ittoqqortoormiit, where the last hunters of the polar region live, at the entrance to Scoresby Sound, the world’s largest network of fjords.
  • Set off on the trail of the great explorers who attempted to navigate the eastern coast of Greenland, a region that long remained isolated due to being hard to reach and only accessible at this time of year thanks to Le Commandant Charcot.
  • Experience the dog sled, at the heart of Inuit culture, an activity designed with our hosts.
  • Crossing the Denmark Strait and the possibility of spotting blue whales and humpback whales.
  • The landscapes: striped mountains, fjords, glaciers, icebergs, polar ice cap, patches of ice floe drifting from the North Pole, hummocks.
  • The wildlife: blue and humpback whales, polar bears, seals, Arctic foxes, sea birds.
  • Many brand-new activities*: dog sledding, kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, ice fishing, polar diving, participative science.
Ship Le Commandant-Charcot
Capacity: 270, Types: Luxury ExpeditionWheelchair accessible
Feture image for Inuit Spring at the Edge of Scoresby Sund

A fine layer of mist seems to float above the enormous frozen expanse. A rosy glow points to the horizon, illuminating the immaculate surface. Welcome to the East coast of Greenland, a wild region that is one of the most isolated in the world. At the end of the long winter night, spring is accompanied by the midnight sun, while the coastal ice flow still protects the shores. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a reassuring cocoon capable of sailing through ice-covered waters, explore this coast, which is inaccessible to traditional ships during this precocious season. Here, the powerful yet fragile nature lays down the law. As is taught by Inuit wisdom, only the present moment matters. In the heart of this extreme and majestic universe, encounters with the landscapes and living things are experienced in the here and now.

Following the edge of the ice or in the heart of the ice floe, explore Blosseville Coast and then the region of Ittoqqortoormiit, at the entrance to Scoresby Sound, the world’s largest network of fjords. At the entrance to the fjord, the East coast of Greenland’s northernmost village enhances the snow-covered panorama with its colourful houses. The Inuit (men in Inuktitut) follow the rhythm of the changing seasons and the ice here, as they perpetuate their traditions, such as hunting on dog sled. An outing alongside the last hunters of the polar region will have you overwhelmed by various sensations aboard this ancient means of transport. Among the first outside visitors of the season, you will be warmly welcomed by the community. During privileged exchanges mixed with joyful and authentic moments, you will learn about the village customs on the ice floe. Inuit hospitality is no myth, it is given in the warmth of a look or an exchanged smile.

From the exterior decks, in a kayak or zodiac, or via a polar hike, you will have diverse opportunities to contemplate these hypnotic panoramas in their infinite variety: sumptuous glaciers, icebergs caught in the ice, hummocks, jagged peaks of dark strata. You will be struck by the grandeur and the splendour of the region. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to glimpse the magnificent silhouette of a humpback whale coming to the surface to breathe through its blowhole, or the impressive nanuk - the polar bear - lord of the manor, roaming this white desert in search of the perfect spot for hunting or fishing.

In the splendour of the ice before it breaks up, the East coast of Greenland will reveal itself to the patient explorer, one who is conscious of their privilege and remains humble before its immensity.

  • Experience the exceptional: meet the Inuit people at the end of the winter, to share unique moments on the ice floe, discover their spring traditions and experience a dog sled outing.
  • Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a polar exploration vessel opening to the exterior, take time with these unique moments of exploration and observation, in the silence and respect of fragile landscapes and encountered species.
  • The Blosseville Coast and its ice cap that comes straight from the North Pole.
  • Exploring the region of Ittoqqortoormiit, where the last hunters of the polar region live, at the entrance to Scoresby Sound, the world’s largest network of fjords.
  • Set off on the trail of the great explorers who attempted to navigate the eastern coast of Greenland, a region that long remained isolated due to being hard to reach and only accessible at this time of year thanks to Le Commandant Charcot.
  • Experience the dog sled, at the heart of Inuit culture, an activity designed with our hosts.
  • Crossing the Denmark Strait and the possibility of spotting blue whales and humpback whales.
  • The landscapes: striped mountains, fjords, glaciers, icebergs, polar ice cap, patches of ice floe drifting from the North Pole, hummocks.
  • The wildlife: blue and humpback whales, polar bears, seals, Arctic foxes, sea birds.
  • Many brand-new activities*: dog sledding, kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, ice fishing, polar diving, participative science.

There are no future departures for this trip at this stage.

show reverse itinerary
Day 1 REYKJAVÍK
Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.
Day 2 SAILING THROUGH THE DENMARK STRAIT
Lying between Greenland and Iceland, the Denmark Strait was crossed for the first time by theVikings in the late 10th century, during Erik the Red’s expeditions. In the Second World War, its waters were the theatre of a battle between the Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navy, on 24 May 1941. In the wintertime, extremely dense pack ice forms along the Greenlandic coasts and, while the Transpolar Drift sweeps icebergs along throughout the year, the strait is generally clear of ice during the summer. In the depths of the strait lies the world’s largest waterfall, an undersea cataract formed by the difference in temperature between the cold waters of the Greenland Sea and the warmer waters of the Irminger Sea. Numerous cetacean species thrive in this rich ecosystem.
Day 3 AMMASSALIK REGION
Still almost unknown just a century ago, the east coast of Greenland remains the most authentic and majestic region. Here, the alpine mountains merge intimately with the sea, while the fjords are adorned with high snow-capped peaks and drifting icebergs. Follow in the wake of Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s famous ship, the Pourquoi Pas?, which set off with its crew to discover Ammassalik, a small island of primitive and wild beauty where the Inuit people chose to live. The name of this island is a reference to the capelin, a small flamboyant silver coloured fish, whose presence in the thousands announces to inhabitants the return of spring. A surprising discovery in a spectacular setting.
Day 4 EXPLORING THE BLOSSEVILLE COAST
Aboard your ship, follow in the footsteps of Jules Poret de Blosseville, a French explorer and sailor. In 1833, he set off to discover this isolated and unexplored part of eastern Greenland aboard La Lilloise, an adventure with a fatal outcome. The uninhabited territory that bears his name lies to the south of Scoresby Sound. Surrounded by ice, icebergs and pack ice - thin or thick, flat or pronounced - as far as the eye can see, Blosseville Coast is a wild and distant place to which very few people have access. Exploring it means a slow immersion into the heart of a frozen, almost unreal desert, where the variations in light transform one’s perception of the landscape. In the kingdom of the polar bears, Le Commandant Charcot, a silent ship open to the exterior, will offer exceptional moments observing Arctic wildlife, through a series of encounters.
Days 5 - 8 EXPLORATION OF ITTOQQORTOORMIIT REGION
On the East coast of Greenland, in the Ittoqqortoormiit region that is covered with snow and ice for nine months of the year, you will have the rare opportunity of immersing yourself in the heart of an isolated territory and exploring the beauty of its infinite polar whiteness. The high alpine mountains punctuate the sky and gradually reveal their dark rock edges beneath a coat of snow. Located at the entrance to the longest system of fjords in the world, sits the village of Ittoqqortoormiit, one of the northernmost inhabited places on the East coast. Its name means ‘great house’ in Greenlandic and it is home to the last hunters of the polar region, whose ancestral way of life you will encounter. As soon as the thickness of the ice floe allows it, the hunters set out on the trail of walruses, seals, narwhals, musk oxen and polar bears, travelling by traditional dog sleds. On these expanses of immaculate snow, the silence is broken only by the sounds of the dogs, the grating of a sled coming back from a run or of footsteps on the ice. You will discover Inuit traditions through privileged and festive moments on the ice floe and in the village.
Days 9 - 11 EXPLORING THE BLOSSEVILLE COAST
Aboard your ship, follow in the footsteps of Jules Poret de Blosseville, a French explorer and sailor. In 1833, he set off to discover this isolated and unexplored part of eastern Greenland aboard La Lilloise, an adventure with a fatal outcome. The uninhabited territory that bears his name lies to the south of Scoresby Sound. Surrounded by ice, icebergs and pack ice - thin or thick, flat or pronounced - as far as the eye can see, Blosseville Coast is a wild and distant place to which very few people have access. Exploring it means a slow immersion into the heart of a frozen, almost unreal desert, where the variations in light transform one’s perception of the landscape. In the kingdom of the polar bears, Le Commandant Charcot, a silent ship open to the exterior, will offer exceptional moments observing Arctic wildlife, through a series of encounters.
Day 12 SAILING THROUGH THE DENMARK STRAIT
Lying between Greenland and Iceland, the Denmark Strait was crossed for the first time by theVikings in the late 10th century, during Erik the Red’s expeditions. In the Second World War, its waters were the theatre of a battle between the Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navy, on 24 May 1941. In the wintertime, extremely dense pack ice forms along the Greenlandic coasts and, while the Transpolar Drift sweeps icebergs along throughout the year, the strait is generally clear of ice during the summer. In the depths of the strait lies the world’s largest waterfall, an undersea cataract formed by the difference in temperature between the cold waters of the Greenland Sea and the warmer waters of the Irminger Sea. Numerous cetacean species thrive in this rich ecosystem.
Day 13 REYKJAVÍK
Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.
Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.
Le Commandant-Charcot
With its hybrid propulsion combining liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electric generators, Le Commandant-Charcot has been designed to minimise the environmental impact of travel to the furthest latitu…

Le Commandant-Charcot

Cabins and suites 135
Built 2019 - 2020

With its hybrid propulsion combining liquefied natural gas (LNG) and electric generators, Le Commandant-Charcot has been designed to minimise the environmental impact of travel to the furthest latitudes. 

The decoration of the ship, designed by two internationally renowned design and architecture firms - the studio of Jean-Philippe Nuel and Wilmotte & Associés - is designed to be in harmony with the environment. The approach is contemporary with the desire to create a warm and elegant setting; stone, wood and leather recall the natural environment in which the ship is sailing.

Equipped with just 135 staterooms including 31 suites with balconies and outside views, Le Commandant-Charcot welcomes you in an intimate and refined atmosphere. Outstanding gastronomy in the two restaurants, relaxation in the indoor pool surrounded by its winter garden, relaxation in the well-being area with sauna and Snow Room... Like on a private yacht, each of our guests is unique.

PUBLIC AREAS

Le Commandant-Charcot has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 177 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An expeditions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Hospitality & Travel Manager officer, Our boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, The image & photo desk.

The different lounges include a 302 m² main lounge including a 28 m² cigar lounge, a tea corner and a bar, with live music on selected evenings, A 400 m² panoramic bar and lounge, An open-air Bar.

The recreation spaces 

  • Fitness & Beauty Corner: Fitness room: Elliptic, running machines, bicycles... 
  • Beauty Corner: Hairdresser, Massage rooms, Sauna, Snow Room, Nail Shop.
  • Pool area: Indoor Pool and winter garden - Outdoor Pool

Theatre: Capacity: 270-276 - Main show room for conferences and live entertainment on selected evenings - State-of-the-art audio and video technology.

Leisure area: Public areas - Library - Medical centre.

16 Zodiacs on board.

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Cabin layout for Le Commandant-Charcot
Overview
Highlights
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Map
Ship

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Suitable for Wheelchair users Antarctic Cruises suitable for passengers with limited mobility or wheelchairs Remote islands
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