Winter 2022-2023 in the Seychelles: Le Ponant breathes new life into expeditions

Tuesday, Apr 05, 2022 0

Le Ponant, the iconic three-mast sailing yacht, is redefining the contours of expedition cruises. A raft of new itineraries tailored by expedition leaders and naturalist guides deploys all of PONANT’s expertise to ensure a once in a lifetime experience in the Seychelles. Onboard this ship, where intimacy is treasured, only 16 staterooms per sailing can now be reserved for the 2022-2023 winter season.

Le Ponant will be sailing with the trade winds to the most beautiful places in the Seychelles archipelago, a tropical paradise in the heart of the Indian Ocean. A total of 11 departure dates are planned for this itinerary, including two new ports of call as unique as they are secret, namely the African Banks north of the Amirante Islands and Thérèse Island. Fringed by white sandy beaches, these islands are uninhabited, creating an exhilarating Robinson Crusoe sense of being the first to discover them.

As a prelude to the Seychelles, guests have the option to book a magical pre-cruise night beneath the stars in an eco-lodge nestled into the dunes on the Arabian Peninsula desert.

Reconnect to the essence of life

Lulled by the gentle rhythm of being under sail, time takes on a whole new meaning aboard Le Ponant. Sailing as close as possible to the fauna and flora of the Seychelles, all the senses are awakened in this biodiversity sanctuary. A range of full immersion activities tailored to experience the essence of Seychelles includes scuba diving, free diving initiation, yoga at sunrise and sunset, meditation, paddleboarding, and outings in glass-bottomed kayaks or snorkelling. A perfect occasion for each guest to reconnect with nature and his own inspirations, and an invitation to follow one’s desires with the wind.

As a pioneer of the expedition concept, PONANT has brought in all its expertise. On board Le Ponant will sail an expedition leader and three naturalist guides, among them a yoga expert and free diver instructor.

The Seychelles under the trade winds

Mahé – Mahé, 11 sailings from 22 November 2022 to 20 February 2023,

10 days – 9 nights

From €8,970 – Find more about these cruises

A sailing yacht that epitomises PONANT’s commitment

Le Ponant has been transformed to offer guests a truly unique travel experience. Having been totally renovated with a sleek sophisticated design by the Jean-Philippe Nuel Studio, the end result is an intimate setting with only 16 staterooms for a maximum of 32 guests. An invitation to go sailing and to recharge the batteries, to share and contemplate the world around, on a journey that combines voyage and eco-responsibility. Le Ponant, the company’s historic yacht, has been reflecting PONANT’s ongoing commitment to responsible tourism since the beginning.

Now fitted with the latest technological innovations, the ambition to reduce her emissions is more relevant than ever. Everything has been thought through with meticulous attention to detail, from the fact there are no motorised watersports, with individual or small group landings only, through to the desire to be anchored in spirit to the destination, giving pride of place to local heritage. Le Ponant, which will navigate under sail as often as possible, includes other improvements such as a dockside connection, an innovative system of SCR filters to eliminate fine particles and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, waste sorting and a state-of-the-art water treatment system – all to help protect the environment.