Le Commandant Charcot Northeast Greenland Voyages
Embark a luxury hybrid electric ship to explore northeast Greenland on this 11-, 13- or 19-day voyage. Cruising from Reykjavik, Iceland, discover the northeast coast of Greenland, one of the most difficult regions to access in the Far North, in a particularly precocious and hostile season, spring, when the ice and snow are still ubiquitous. This particularly remote region is protected by thick pack ice, brought directly from the North Pole by the transpolar current, and the day stretches into infinity.
In the spring, the solid and powerful sea ice remains in charge of the visitors who venture out to it. It is the perfect time to observe the exceptional Arctic wildlife that it shelters. The polar bear is king here. Perhaps admire, roaming this white desert, a solitary male in search of the ideal hunting or fishing spot, or a mother teaching her cub the secrets of survival. Venture into an extremely remote part of the world, the source of fascination to generations of explorers.
On the main 15-day itinerary, reach the region of Ittoqqortoormiit, home to a small community of Greenlanders: this will be the occasion to find out about the life of the last hunters in the polar regions. Then head for the Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park in the world and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: here, there is no trace of human life, just powerful glaciers and alpine magically colored landscapes as far as the eye can see. Attempt to reach the north of the national park, and Ile de France, discovered by the Duke of Orleans in 1905.
An alternative 11-day itinerary combines interactions with the Greenlandic Inuit and following in the footsteps of French polar explorers. Brave the elements to reach the region of Ammassalik. Between immense glaciers, winding fjords carrying gigantic icebergs, polar caps and thick patches of ice floe, discover a nature enhanced by the special luminosity of the midnight sun. Continue to the coast of Blosseville, a wild region of jagged peaks identified in 1833 by Commander Blosseville during a voyage that caused his disappearance and that of his crew: an enigmatic wreck that would lead to one of the biggest French exploration missions two years later.
An alternative 19-day voyage travels from Greenland all the way north to Spitsbergen. Explore the Scoresby Sund region, navigating in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who was deeply connected to the Inuit land, where vestiges of his passage remain. Sail on to Northeast Greenland National Park, home to the King Oscar Fjord and Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjord, where bare ochre cliffs disappear into the boreal sea. Cross the Greenland Sea to reach the Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park much farther north. And sail along the top edge of Svalbard to reach the Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve for a total immersion in the polar desert that’s home to Europe’s largest ice cap and impressive fjords. Finish with an included charter flight to end in Paris, France.
Cruise aboard the sophisticated and sustainability-minded Le Commandant Charcot. This spacious 245-guest hybrid electric ship features French-inspired luxury and a focus on food, wellness, onboard engagement and active programming. Participate in citizen science with Le Commandant Charcot’s onboard research laboratory.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Arctic cruises, Arctic trips and Iceland cruises.