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Peregrine Travel Centre

Unexplored East Antarctica & French Southern Lands – Luxury Expedition

Unexplored East Antarctica & French Southern Lands – Luxury Expedition

From AUD $85,400

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Description

The theatre of mythical expeditions and a refuge for fascinating wildlife that is among the wildest on the planet, East Antarctica is still home to unexplored regions. Enjoy many moments of intense emotions on this 29-day half-circumnavigation of Antarctica, connecting Tasmania to the south of Africa, from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, aboard Le Commandant Charcot, an enveloping cocoon shaped for the highest polar latitudes.
In these preserved lands, the icebergs drift majestically in sparkling waters, while the glaciers slowly flow, revealing the millennia-old secrets they have long kept. An ultimate quest and the promise of unforgettable and novel encounters in the footsteps of the greatest explorers, like Jules Dumont d’Urville, Erich von Drygalski or Douglas Mawson, the Australian legend of polar expedition who wintered at Cape Denison. Throughout your journey, our team of passionate experts will go over all the details of these historic exploits with you while sharing their knowledge of the wildlife and landscapes.
From Hobart, the departure point of many an emblematic polar expedition, set off on a unique polar odyssey, at the boundaries of the world, to admire all this singular territory’s natural treasures. During this unforgettable exploration, paced by the ice conditions between coastal ice floe, drifting icebergs and the largest polar icecap in the world – the Inlandsis in East Antarctica -, you will journey into this isolated region and make your way past the Australian research stations, Casey and Davis. Fascinating, bewitching, dizzying… there is no shortage of superlatives to describe Antarctica! In the icy depths of the Southern Ocean, mountains of ice rise like eternal sentinels, and Adelie penguins watch over the ice floe while humpback whales and orcas seem to guide the spirits towards unexplored horizons.
As you sail on to explore the eastern side of the White Continent, the ice floe and the ice disappear to make way for open-water navigation. Le Commandant Charcot will leave the Southern Ocean behind and you will perhaps have the chance to reach the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, in the wake of the great explorers who came from Europe in search of Terra Australis Incognita, such as Julien Crozet, Marc Marion Dufresne, Yves de Kerguelen or James Cook. During this all-new cruise in Antarctica, your senses will sharpen and you will be magnetised by the spectacle of the sparkling ice floe, the majestic tabular icebergs, the monumental ice shelves and the spectacular polar icecap. A unique moment, suspended in time, where the beauty of the White Continent is revealed in its full splendour.

Trip Name
Unexplored East Antarctica & French Southern Lands - Luxury Expedition
Days
29
Overview
Vessel Type: Polar Luxury Expedition Passenger Capacity: 135 cabins Length: 149.9 meters Built: 2018/2019 Be the first aboard Le Commandant-Charcot, the world's luxury polar exploration vessel, and enjoy a unique sailing experience in the Arctic or Antarctic! 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, imagined 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: 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 Zodiac®.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 HOBART, TASMANIA
 Hobart occupies a wonderful location at the mouth of the Derwent River, overseen by majestic Mt Wellington and surrounded by natural bushland. The Tasmanian capital is Australia's second-oldest city, after Sydney, and the picturesque waterfront is bordered by 19th-century warehouses and colonial mansions. Salamanca Place is packed with shops, galleries and restaurants and the fascinating Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) is a short ferry ride from the quay. Hobart is within easy reach of some of Tasmania's best-known destinations, from historic Port Arthur and the rugged Tasman Peninsula to Bruny Island, the Huon and Derwent Valleys and Mount Field National Park.
Day 2 - Days 2 - 5 AT SEA ABOARD LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
 Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.
Day 3 - Days 6 - 7 ADÉLIE LAND
 Adelie Land covers around 400,000 km2 (around 250,000 square miles) of the White Continent between the 136th and 142nd meridians longitude East. These lands claimed by France in Antarctica are home, on Petrel Island, to Dumont-d’Urville station, which is named after the eponymous French explorer who investigated the region in 1840. Here, the few resident scientists share the Antarctic desert with Adelie penguins, seals and orcas, as well as emperor penguins during the winter. The extreme climate of this land at the edge of the world, characterised by its very low temperatures and its violent winds or blizzards, make it difficult to access its shores, which are protected by thick ice floe. Be among the rare people to discover this unique place where you will be captivated by the polar silence and the ice reflecting the rays of the sun as you experience the Southern Continent’s powerful fragility.
Day 4 - Day 8 MAGNETIC SOUTH POLE
 The convergence point for the field lines of the Earth's magnetic field, the Magnetic South Pole attracts the magnetic needle of the compass. While the Geographic South Pole is the Earth’s southernmost fixed point, marking the intersection of the Globe's rotation axis with the Earth’s surface, the Magnetic South Pole moves over time. In fact, it is linked to the Earth's magnetic field which originates in the Earth's outer core, which is made up of molten metal and is subject to convection movements. It was during the French Dumont d’Urville expedition to Antarctica, aboard the famous ships L’Astrolabe and La Zélée, that the hydrographer and engineer Vincendon-Dumoulin made the first calculation of the magnetic inclination that enabled him to localise this pole in 1838. Set off in search of the Magnetic South Pole, try to get closer to it and, if luck allows it, attempt to reach it!
Day 5 - Days 9 - 10 ADÉLIE LAND
 Adelie Land covers around 400,000 km2 (around 250,000 square miles) of the White Continent between the 136th and 142nd meridians longitude East. These lands claimed by France in Antarctica are home, on Petrel Island, to Dumont-d’Urville station, which is named after the eponymous French explorer who investigated the region in 1840. Here, the few resident scientists share the Antarctic desert with Adelie penguins, seals and orcas, as well as emperor penguins during the winter. The extreme climate of this land at the edge of the world, characterised by its very low temperatures and its violent winds or blizzards, make it difficult to access its shores, which are protected by thick ice floe. Be among the rare people to discover this unique place where you will be captivated by the polar silence and the ice reflecting the rays of the sun as you experience the Southern Continent’s powerful fragility.
Day 6 - Days 11 - 12 WILKES LAND
 Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, follow in the footsteps of the American explorer Charles Wilkes, during his USS Vincennes expedition undertaken between 1838 and 1842. A veritable mine of information for scientists, this isolated land - where only moss and lichen have managed to adapt and to take hold, forming the tundra -, promises a unique moment. Under an immaculate white coat, a secret world comes to life: from the icy mountains defying the sky to the vast glaciers, some of which stretch all the way to the Southern Ocean, and the icebergs drifting silently through frozen waters. These landscapes, unlike any other, are sure to captivate you. 
Day 7 - Day 13 SAILING ALONG SHACKLETON ICE SHELF
 During this unique navigation, suspended in time, admire the fantastic spectacle of the Shackleton Ice Shelf. In the luxurious comfort of Le Commandant Charcot, specially designed for polar exploration, the vast icy expanses of the Antarctic will unfold before your astonished eyes. The air here is imbued with solemn serenity, only broken by the distant cracking of icebergs drifting along the shelf. You will perhaps have the chance to observe the many mammals, such as the whales, seals and penguins, which prosper in these icy waters.
Day 8 - Days 14 - 16 QUEEN MARY LAND
 On the eastern shores of Antarctica, between Cape Filchner and Cape Hordern, admire the captivating landscapes of Queen Mary Land, recounting stories of legendary explorations. In the heart of this region, discovered in 1912, during Douglas Mawson’s Antarctic expedition, mountains of ice rise like giant sculptures, sparkling beneath the rays of the southern sun. The glaciers wind their way like rivers of glass, shaping sumptuous scenery.  In this frozen kingdom, colonies of emperor penguins gather on the shores and leopard seals bask on the ice floe while whales slip graciously through its waters.
Day 9 - Days 17 - 19 AT SEA ABOARD LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
 Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.
Day 10 - Days 20 - 21 FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS
 In the icy immensity of the Antarctic, between the 37th and 50th parallels south, the French Southern and Antarctic Lands encompass the largest emerged lands in the southern Indian Ocean, from the Crozet archipelago to the Kerguelen Islands. In the wake of the greatest European explorers, like Julien Crozet, Marc Marion Dufresne or James Cook, who sought out Terra Australis Incognita, you will explore these volcanic lands, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In these sanctuaries of biodiversity which represent unique terrain for scientific research, majestic icebergs stand like ephemeral sculptures, silent witnesses of the passing of time, while king penguins or elephant seals, the lords of these inhospitable lands, populate the beaches with their gigantic colonies.
Day 11 - Day 22 AT SEA ABOARD LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
 Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.
Day 12 - Day 23 FRENCH SOUTHERN AND ANTARCTIC LANDS
 In the icy immensity of the Antarctic, between the 37th and 50th parallels south, the French Southern and Antarctic Lands encompass the largest emerged lands in the southern Indian Ocean, from the Crozet archipelago to the Kerguelen Islands. In the wake of the greatest European explorers, like Julien Crozet, Marc Marion Dufresne or James Cook, who sought out Terra Australis Incognita, you will explore these volcanic lands, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In these sanctuaries of biodiversity which represent unique terrain for scientific research, majestic icebergs stand like ephemeral sculptures, silent witnesses of the passing of time, while king penguins or elephant seals, the lords of these inhospitable lands, populate the beaches with their gigantic colonies.
Day 13 - Days 24 - 28 AT SEA ABOARD LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
 Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.
Day 14 - Day 29 CAPE TOWN
 Dynamic and peaceful, cosmopolitan and hip, Cape Town offers its visitors a most unique mix. Here, the locals like to say that their city is “the quintessential melting pot of South Africa”. Located in the heart of one of the most beautiful bays in the world and dominated by the famous Table Mountain, it is graced with extraordinary landscapes including sheer cliffs that plunge into the Atlantic Ocean and vast whitesand beaches. We invite you to discover this incredible city, the South African capital of fashion, the art of living, and gastronomy. Further on, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve awaits you and is home to a wide variety of endemic fauna and flora.
Day 15 - Please note:
We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the fast ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries. The sailing schedule and any landings, activities and wildlife encounters are subject to weather and ice conditions. These experiences are unique and vary with each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the IAATO.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 7
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Suite Duplex
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Owner's Suite
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Prestige Stateroom Deck 8
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Deluxe Suite Deck 6
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Deluxe Suite Deck 7
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Deluxe Suite Deck 8
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Prestige Suite Deck 7
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Prestige Suite Deck 8
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Grand Prestige Suite
17-02-202617-03-2026AUD $0Privilege Suite Deck 8

Inclusions

    • The all-new half-circumnavigation of the eastern part of the Antarctic, an unforgettable trip into the heart of the ice and the protected zones of the White Continent, between the Pacific, Southern and Indian Oceans.
    • Enjoy the unique experience of sailing along the east coast of Antarctica and make the most of these moments to observe the endless variety of forms and states of the ice, in the silence and respect of the landscapes you travel through.
    • Set off on the trail of the great explorers and sailors like Jules Dumont-d’Urville, Marc Marion Dufresne, James Cook and Douglas Mawson and relive their legendary sagas.
    • 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.
    • Outings and shore visits in a zodiac inflatable with a reinforced team of naturalist guides.
    • Conferences and information meetings on board with our passionate experts, specialists in the fauna, flora and history of the polar regions.
    • The discovery of the largest polar icecap in the world, the Inlandsis in East Antarctica, a huge expanse of ice more than 3,000 metres (almost 10,000 feet) deep, where a sense of vastness reigns supreme.
    • The possibility of observing humpback whales, seals, orcas, various penguins (emperor, Gentoo, Adelie, chinstrap and macaroni), and light-mantled albatrosses.
    • Extend your discovery of the Antarctic during a half-circumnavigation of the southern part of the White Continent.

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