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Humpback whale surfacing in a cloud of spray in front of an iceberg, photographed on a PONANT Northwest Passage expedition cruise from Kangerlussuaq to Nome

Ponant · Le Boréal, L’Austral and Le Lyrial · 14 to 17 nights

Wilderness from Greenland to the East Coast of Canada

Nuuk to Halifax aboard a Ponant sister ship: Baffin Island, the Torngat Mountains, the Labrador coast, the Norse site of L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. Three sailings across September 2027 and 2028, the Paris to Nuuk flight included. From A$22,370 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Glacier tongue ending in a turquoise lake beneath a dark mountain at Evighedsfjorden, West Greenland, on a PONANT Greenland expedition cruise

14 to 17 nights, Nuuk to Halifax

The Arctic to the Atlantic, down the coast of Canada

This is the autumn voyage, when the tundra turns red and the polar bears come down to the Labrador shore. Le Boréal sails from Nuuk across the Davis Strait to Iqaluit on Baffin Island, the Grinnell glacier and the limestone cliffs of Akpatok Island in Ungava Bay, then into the Torngat Mountains National Park at Nachvak Fjord, the highest peaks in Canada east of the Rockies and the best polar bear coast in the Atlantic Arctic. Down the Labrador coast come Nain, the most northerly town in the province, Rigolet and the Basque whaling station at Red Bay, then Newfoundland: the Norse settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows, Twillingate, Trinity Bay and the painted houses of St. John’s. Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a piece of France off the Canadian coast, come before the last sea day to Halifax. In 2027 the voyage sails aboard L’Austral to Halifax and, in a shorter fourteen-night version aboard Le Lyrial, to Saint-Pierre.

We have sailed this coast in September and it is the voyage we recommend to guests who want wildlife, history and the aurora in the same fortnight, at a fare well below the High Arctic routes. Tell us which year and which ship you have in mind, and we tell you which stateroom we would choose and why, then build the rest: flights from Australia to Paris and the night before Ponant’s flight to Nuuk, the journey home from Halifax or Saint-Pierre, and the offers we hold for Arctic Cruise guests. One Australian specialist, from the first conversation until you are home.

  • Nuuk to Halifax or Saint-Pierre
  • Baffin, Labrador and Newfoundland
  • 14 to 17 nights

Signature moments

Five moments that make the voyage

From the Arctic Circle to the Atlantic in seventeen nights, with the autumn colours moving south alongside the ship. These are the moments the voyage is built around.

Humpback whale surfacing with a tall plume of blow spray in Disko Bay, West Greenland, photographed on a PONANT Greenland expedition cruise

The Torngat Mountains

Nachvak Fjord in the national park, where polar bears patrol the shore beneath 1,600-metre peaks and the first aurora of the autumn shows over the water.

Day by day

Seventeen nights, in outline

The outline below is the plan for the Le Boréal sailing of September 2028. The L’Austral sailing of 2027 follows the same route to Halifax and the Le Lyrial sailing ends at Saint-Pierre. The captain and expedition leader reshape every day around the weather, and the full programme comes with the proposal we write for you.

Flight from Paris to Nuuk, transfer to the pier and embarkation in the late afternoon.

Aboard Le Boréal, L’Austral or Le Lyrial

The three sister ships that sail this route are built to the same plan: 132 staterooms and suites for 264 guests on Le Boréal and L’Austral, 122 for 245 guests on Le Lyrial, every one with a balcony or terrace, an Ice 1C hull, French restaurants with wines in the open bar, a spa, a pool and a fleet of eleven Zodiacs. Each has its own page, and we tell you honestly which stateroom we would choose on each.

Le Boréal
Deluxe Cabin aboard Ponant's Le Boreal, which sails to Antarctica.

Refined and elegant furnishings

The deck of a Ponant ship that sails Antarctica expedition cruises

Open to the horizon

Blue water and soaring icebergs in Antarctic waters

Celebrating the treasures of nature

The view of Antarctica from the deck of Ponant's Le Boreal.

Eleven Zodiacs

A table setting on board Le Lyrial, a Ponant ship sailing to Antarctica.

French gastronomy

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

Fourteen to seventeen nights aboard the ship, the flight from Paris to Nuuk with transfers, all meals and 24-hour room service, open bar and in-room minibar, Zodiac outings, landings and hikes led by the expedition team, the lecture programme, Wi-Fi, gratuities, port taxes and the polar parka to keep.

Flights from Australia to Paris and home from Halifax or Saint-Pierre, hotel nights in Paris and at the end of the voyage, kayaking on selected outings, travel insurance, spa treatments and personal expenses.

Ponant includes the flight from Paris to Nuuk and the transfer to the ship. We arrange your flights from Australia to Paris, the night in Paris, and the journey home from Halifax or Saint-Pierre, so the whole journey is one booking.


Further Exploration

Other Arctic itineraries

Le Lyrial sails Disko Bay the week before, and other ships take the same coast from the Canadian Arctic to Newfoundland. Each has its own page, and we are happy to tell you which suits you.

All expeditions
7 Nights
Ponant
From A$17,120

Disko Bay and Inuit Villages

Nuuk to Nuuk aboard Le Lyrial: the Eternity fjord, Disko Island, the Eqi glacier, the Karrat fjord, Uummannaq and the icebergs of Ilulissat in a single week. One sailing in September 2027, one in August 2028, return flights from Paris included. From A$17,120 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

19 Nights
Ponant
From A$36,870

In the Heart of the Northwest Passage

Greenland to Greenland by way of the Canadian High Arctic: Disko Bay, Pond Inlet, Devon and Somerset islands, the Bellot Strait and Beechey Island, aboard a Ponant sister ship. One sailing in 2027, one in 2028, Paris flights included. From A$36,870 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

16 Nights
Ponant
From A$30,100

Expedition to the Thule Region

Greenland to Greenland aboard a Ponant sister ship, north along the west coast past Disko Bay and the Karrat fjord to Savissivik and Thule, then across Baffin Bay to Pond Inlet. One sailing in August 2027, one in August 2028, return flights from Paris included. From A$30,100 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

13 Nights
Quark Expeditions
From US$12,921

Greenland to Newfoundland: Ice, Inuit and the Vikings

Fly Reykjavík to Kangerlussuaq, sail to St John’s. Four sailings from September 2027 to September 2028, with 2029 to follow. From US$12,921 per person in US dollars, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

11 Nights
Swan Hellenic
From A$23,500

Viking Routes: Canada, Greenland and Iceland

Halifax to Reykjavík in May, Greenland to Canada in September. Sailings in 2027 and 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$23,500 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

15 Nights
Aurora Expeditions
From A$30,601

Northwest Passage

Between Toronto or Reykjavík and Calgary, with charter flights to and from the ship included. Two sailings in 2027, two in 2028, with 2029 to follow. From A$30,601 per person, planned with you by Arctic Cruise.

Low view from a wooden dog sled of the team pulling toward snowy mountains at Qernertivartivit, East Greenland, on a PONANT Le Commandant Charcot cruise

Dates & prices

Departures, 2027 and 2028

From Nuuk to Halifax or Saint-Pierre. Fares are per person, twin share, in Australian dollars, with Ponant’s Paris to Nuuk flight included. Ask us before you compare: our offers for Arctic Cruise guests come on top, and we tell you which sailing is the best value for the way you want to travel.

Nuuk to Saint-Pierre. The shorter version, ending in the French islands, and the lowest fare on the route.

Nuuk to Halifax. The full route, with the Labrador tundra at its reddest and the aurora season under way.

Nuuk to Halifax. The 2028 sailing on the full route. Tell us the stateroom you have in mind and we hold your place on our list.

Made to measure

Tell us your Arctic, we build the rest

Every guest sails differently. Tell us what you are hoping for, the ice, the wildlife, the light, who you are travelling with, and we match it to the right sailing, the right stateroom and the right year, with flights from Australia and our own offers included. One Arctic Cruise specialist stays with you from the first call until you are home.