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.
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As travellers increasingly seek purpose alongside experience, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy says its projects have now positively impacted almost 550,000 people across 27 countries.
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Luxury travel has long been associated with extraordinary experiences, remote destinations and exclusive access.
Increasingly, however, it is also being measured by something less visible: the impact it leaves behind.
New figures released by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (AKP), the charitable arm of luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent, reveal the organisation raised a record $3.3 million in 2025, supporting 80 projects across 27 countries and reaching almost 550,000 beneficiaries since its inception.
The result marks the philanthropy group’s largest year to date and reflects a broader shift within the luxury travel sector towards community development, conservation and long-term local partnerships.
Keith Sproule, Executive Director of A&K Philanthropy, said the organisation’s focus remained on creating lasting change within communities visited by travellers.
“From feeding thousands of students each day to expanding access to clean water, healthcare and economic opportunity, 2025 was a landmark year for A&K Philanthropy,” he said.
A changing definition of luxury
The growing focus on social impact comes as affluent travellers increasingly seek deeper connections with the destinations they visit.
Across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America, AKP’s projects span education, healthcare, conservation and enterprise development, often in remote regions where tourism can provide an important economic lifeline.
Among the year’s milestones was the delivery of approximately $800,000 worth of medical equipment to healthcare facilities in Uganda and Zambia, while more than 6,400 students gained access to clean drinking water through school-based initiatives.
The organisation also expanded school feeding programs in Kenya, Namibia, Uganda and Zambia, providing daily meals to more than 7,200 children.
Investing in communities
Several projects highlighted in the report focus on helping communities generate sustainable income rather than relying solely on aid.
In the Peruvian Amazon, AKP partnered with the Nueva Arica community to develop businesses centred on punga fibre, aguaje fruit and honey production, creating economic opportunities while supporting environmental conservation in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.
Elsewhere, near Petra in Jordan, 40 young women completed a vocational mosaic-training program designed to help participants establish businesses and generate independent income.
Education also remained a priority, with a new library opening at Pusanki Primary School in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The project included the delivery of more than 1,100 books for 440 students living near important wildlife conservation areas.
Tourism’s broader legacy
While luxury travel remains centred on exceptional experiences, reports such as AKP’s highlight the growing expectation that tourism should deliver benefits beyond the visitor experience alone.
The organisation now employs 17 Impact Managers who work directly within local communities, helping oversee projects and maintain long-term partnerships in some of the world’s most isolated regions.
As travellers become increasingly conscious of where their money flows, the concept of luxury is continuing to evolve, with many high-end operators placing greater emphasis on the legacy their journeys leave behind.
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