North or south? Choosing the polar frontier for you

Majestic fjords and mountain ranges. Colossal crumbling glaciers. Elephant seals the size of cars. Huffing whales and shuffling penguins. Seals so close you can see their whiskers twitch. The far extremes of our planet aren’t just the ultimate cruise destination, but among the ultimate journeys of any kind.

The remoteness, elemental grandeur and extraordinary wildlife of the Arctic and Antarctic will seize your soul. But where polar exploration was once associated with hardship, luxury expeditions like PONANT EXPLORATIONS brings you hardcore adventure without sacrificing comfort.

Frozen landscapes? Yes, but frozen margaritas too – not to mention fine dining, hot showers and a cosy night’s sleep. There’s no better way to travel.

The Arctic and Antarctic are twins with their own personalities but much in common, not least their rugged, minimalist look. Expect snow-encrusted mountains, hefty glaciers, sculpted icebergs bigger than buildings, eerie blue waters haunted by whales, and pale summer sun that lasts long into the evening.

Both poles have intangible magnificence too in their haunting solitude, wide-open spaces and uncanny silence. In no other destinations do you feel you’ve sailed to the ends of the Earth. This is a very exclusive adventure.

The Arctic and Antarctic are however far from the same, each offering a different sense of adventure. One may suit you best, although many travellers find them distinctive enough to each merit exploration.

Wildlife provides the most striking contrast. In the Arctic there’s no denying the thrill of spotting big animals such as walrus, brown bear, moose, reindeer and caribou, with the elusive polar bear the most hoped-for sighting.

Antarctica doesn’t have that variety, but seals and seabirds congregate in vast numbers. Colossal penguin rookeries are among the world’s greatest wildlife sights – not to mention sounds and smells.

For sheer wildlife numbers Antarctica and especially South Georgia wins and, since Antarctic animals have no fear of humans, you’ll enjoy unbelievably close encounters and great photo opportunities.

In both destinations, Zodiac excursions with PONANT EXPLORATIONS take you ashore safely with an experienced expedition team whose expertise in subjects such as marine biology, geology or polar history adds to your interaction with these fragile environments.

Another contrast: in the Arctic you get wonderful opportunities to interact with local populations, such as the permanent residents of Svalbard and the Inuit of Greenland and northern Canada, some living in sizeable towns with quirky heritage.

Antarctica has no permanent inhabitants, but you’ll have the unique experience of landscapes without a single sign of human presence – although the very occasional scientific outpost or remains of a former whaling station are fascinating spots of interest in an untamed and empty environment.

Antarctica’s history of daring exploration in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries adds a rich layer of interest to any expedition. You’ll feel like an explorer yourself on any polar journey: the adventure of a lifetime.

Look north

Dramatic fjords and glaciers, cliffs of nesting birds, Inuit heritage and polar bears are among the highlights of the Arctic, where PONANT EXPLORATIONS offers itineraries to destinations as diverse as Iceland, the Canadian Arctic and Geographic North Pole.

Among them are an eight-day Disko Bay & Inuit Villages voyage in western Greenland and a 13-night Expedition to the Edge of the Ice Sheet between Reykjavík and Nuuk. The eight-day Fjords & Glaciers of Spitsbergen takes you to Svalbard, noted for its significant polar-bear numbers.

As everywhere, you’ll enjoy the private-yacht feel of PONANT EXPLORATIONS’ vessels, which feature two elegant restaurants and a wellness area, and carry fewer than 300 guests with a nearly 1:1 crew-to-passenger ratio.

Sail south

Among magnificent experiences with PONANT EXPLORATIONS in Antarctica are hiking on the snow, kayaking, and Zodiac excursions among icebergs jagged as cathedrals. The daring can take the infamous polar plunge.

Some itineraries visit the Antarctica Peninsula, such as the 10-day Emblematic Antarctica, while others extend to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, among them the 19-day Great Austral Loop, both return from Ushuaia.

A 14-night Expedition to New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands and Australia’s Macquarie Island departs from Dunedin and brings Antarctic wildlife closer than you might realise.

As always you can rely on the PONANT EXPLORATIONS expert team and attentive crew and relax in the knowledge that daily excursions, dining, open bar and unlimited Wi-Fi are all-inclusive.

Expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic often book out well in advance. To start planning your journey of a lifetime with PONANT EXPLORATIONS now, visit au.ponant.com

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