Category: Greenland
Our senior polar specialist, Lucy, joined Jaakusaaq Sørensen, a Greenlandic Inuit guide from Tasiilaq, East Greenland, aboard Le Commandant Charcot during their 10-day expedition through the region. This fascinating way of life shows Jaakusaaq discussing the local community’s role in encountering polar bears and whales, the cultural differences between his community and the wider world, and the challenges of living and working in a changeable and challenging environment. Lucy: What attracted you to work in this part of the world within this role with PONANT? Jaakusaaq: Well, firstly, I did not look for this work. The work found me. The company PONANT telephoned the Tourism Office in Tasiilaq. The Tourism Office contacted me by phone and asked if I wanted to work on a tourist ship. Since she said I would be working as an Inuit representative, it would be perfect because I have an extensive knowledge of the stories…
…with Senior Marketing Manager, Felipe The latest edition of this polar travel series takes us to gorgeous Greenland, where in the summer months when the sun hangs low on the horizon, this wild place comes alive with a burst of colour. Our senior marketing manager Felipe Francisco had quite a spectacular trip, taking in glaciers, cultural visits, and incredible fjords from the air! WHAT DESTINATIONS DID YOU VISIT? East Greenland, South Greenland, and West Greenland on Quark’s Essential Greenland itinerary. HOW DID YOU GET THERE? I flew from London to Reykjavik in Iceland, and then from there, I boarded Quark’s fantastic Ultramarine ship and sailed across the Denmark Strait towards East Greenland. FIRST TIME OR REPEAT TRIP? First time in Greenland and my first time crossing the Arctic Circle! FAVOURITE LOCATION? It’s hard to pick favourites as each area in Greenland is so beautiful and unique. Southern Greenland blew me…
Le Commandant Charcot is the first-ever hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) making it possible to travel to the farthest reaches of the southern and northern hemispheres in a level of luxury never offered before. It’s also the world’s first passenger ship to be fitted with a Polar Class 2 (PC2) hull, giving it the ability to sail between the sheets of drifting ice and reach the most remote and isolated areas. This gives the icebreaker a truly unique offering in the polar regions, which means the opportunities for exploration are almost endless but certainly unique. Here are our top 5 expeditions that can only be undertaken on PONANT’s newest vessel… The Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea In November 2023, Le Commandant Charcot is heading to the Weddell Sea area of the Antarctic Peninsula and seeing the Emperor Penguins will be firmly on the agenda. In last season’s…
Rising impressively out of the Arctic Ocean, Uummannaq is the most northerly town in Greenland, catering to both the summer and winter seasons with unforgettable excursions in the rugged Uummannaq Fjord. “Uummannaq” means “heart-shaped” in the Greenlandic language of Kalaallisut, in reference to the rough outline of the mountain it encircles, but a name which also extends to the aura of the place itself when meeting the open and friendly inhabitants and the Inuit culture. Enter The Twilight Zone Uummannaq has two main seasons for tourism. The summer season generally runs from June to mid-September with the sun never setting in July and August, while winter activities in perpetual twilight mostly take place between mid-February and mid-April, though this is dependent on the extent and thickness of the sea ice. Return To Santa The Uummannaq Museum, which contains several exhibitions and a small library, also handles letters that arrive from around the world…
