PONANT launches exclusive Inuit immersion voyages in Greenland
Luxury expedition line PONANT EXPLORATIONS and polar consultancy SEDNA will launch two immersive Arctic voyages in Greenland in 2027.
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PONANT EXPLORATIONS is expanding its high-end polar offering with two new Greenland departures in spring 2027, developed in partnership with polar consultancy SEDNA.
The voyages follow the success of the companies’ first Greenland immersion experiences in 2025 and will focus on connecting guests with Inuit communities through a series of locally-led cultural and wilderness experiences.
Guests will take part in activities including dog sledding, kayaking, ice fishing, ski touring with a pulka and overnight stays in traditional Inuit homes or bivouacs on pack ice. According to the release, the experiences have been designed and led by Greenlanders themselves.
The partnership between PONANT EXPLORATIONS and SEDNA is built around shared values including respect for local communities, environmental responsibility and low-impact exploration.
SEDNA co-founder and polar explorer Nicolas Dubreuil said the experiences were shaped directly by Inuit communities.
“These meetings and activities are the initiative of the Greenlanders, who are fully involved in sharing their way of life,” he said.
“And I’m delighted to see guests so deeply affected. They challenged themselves and discovered the true spirit of this wonderful people, masters of adaptation. Qujanaq! Thank you!”
Among the exclusive experiences planned for the 2027 departures are overnight stays in traditional Inuit tents at the sacred site of Nunanutaat following dog sled journeys across the polar wilderness.
Guests will also have the opportunity to stay in expedition tents at scientific camps on the pack ice alongside researchers studying marine biology, glaciology and climatology.
Both voyages will take place aboard Le Commandant Charcot, described as the world’s only luxury icebreaker capable of reaching Greenland’s High Arctic during spring conditions when conventional ships cannot access the region.
The first itinerary, Encounter with the Last Guardians of the North Pole, will operate from April 4 to April 16, 2027, while Beyond the Inhabited World will depart from April 16 to April 28, 2027.
For Central Element, the start of work at Pearl represents another step in the company’s growing eastern suburbs pipeline.
All three vehicles will form part of a broader charitable initiative benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the American Red Cross and Starlight Children’s Foundation
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Avani will make its New Zealand debut in September with a lakefront hotel in Queenstown, adding a contemporary lifestyle option to one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most competitive luxury resort markets.
Avani Queenstown is being positioned as the brand’s New Zealand flagship. Its Lake Wakatipu setting gives guests direct access to the scenery that drives the destination while keeping the restaurants, bars and adventure operators of central Queenstown close at hand.
The timing is significant for Australian travellers. A September opening arrives as the ski season gives way to spring hiking, cycling and wine touring, allowing the hotel to establish itself before the peak summer period.
Queenstown’s appeal has broadened beyond adrenaline tourism. Private aviation, high-end lodges, destination dining, golf and Central Otago pinot noir now attract travellers who want both wilderness and polished service. A lifestyle hotel must bridge those worlds without becoming interchangeable with an urban property.
The Avani brand generally emphasises informal public spaces, contemporary design, social dining and wellness rather than traditional grand-hotel ceremony. In Queenstown, the key test will be whether those elements remain connected to the lake, mountains and local makers.
Travellers considering an early stay should ask which restaurants and facilities will be operating from opening day, whether construction or commissioning work remains, and how lake-view room categories differ. Opening dates can move, so flexible flights and cancellation terms are sensible.
Season also changes the experience dramatically. Winter brings ski traffic, cold-weather logistics and premium weekend rates; spring and autumn offer quieter trails and wineries; summer brings long daylight hours but also Queenstown’s busiest visitor period.
For Avani, the property establishes a base in a globally recognised destination within easy reach of Australia. For Queenstown, it adds another internationally branded hotel at a time when discerning visitors increasingly expect a strong sense of place rather than luxury by checklist.
Fact box
– Hotel: Avani Queenstown
– Location: Lake Wakatipu waterfront, Queenstown, New Zealand
– Opening: Scheduled for September 2026
– Operator: Minor Hotels
– Significance: Avani’s Queenstown debut and New Zealand flagship
– Best for: Short luxury breaks, skiing, hiking, wine touring and lake experiences
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