Serenity and tranquillity... Two words that encapsulate the essence of this unique cruise, in partnership with Le Tigre Yoga Club and with the exceptional presence of Elodie Garamond, yoga instructor and founder of Le Tigre Yoga Club. During 12 days, you will have the chance to explore the elements, your emotions and your body, during introductory workshops, exchanges with our wellness professionals, and outdoor activities. A complementary retreat, offering a denser spiritual practice, will also be available for those wishing to take their quest for personal fulfilment and exploration of the elements even further. Oriental fragrances, scents of spice, lush green landscapes, age-old stories: PONANT invites you on a journey to discover a mosaic of peoples and cultures. Sri Lanka and India welcome you on a 12-day cruise aboard Le Jacques-Cartier, between charming towns and surprising nature. Let yourself fall under the spell of these eastern lands bordered by the Indian Ocean and influenced by Buddhist and Hindu traditions. The bubbling Sri Lankan capital Colombo will plunge you into the distinctive atmosphere of the country once known as Ceylon. Renowned for its spices, such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, it is a trading location, a crossroads port between Asia and Europe. Le Jacques-Cartier will set sail for Galle, recognisable by the 16th-century fortifications that encircle the town. The successive Portuguese, Dutch and British colonisations left this city with unique architecture, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a heritage shaped by multiple influences. A little further, Hambantota is the gateway towards the luxuriant heart of the country. On an excursion into the Yala National Park, you will witness Sri Lanka’s abundant wildlife: leopards, elephants, sloth bears, monkeys and almost 200 bird species inhabit this must-see site. In India and the region of Kerala, you will explore the surprising Trivandrum, also known as Thiruvananthapuram. The bastion of the former Travancore royal family between 1750 and 1956, it owes its name to its magnificent temple, the Anantha Padmanabhapuram, a jewel that must not be missed during your port of call. You will sail up the Malabar Coast to arrive in cosmopolitan Kochi. Constructed on a lagoon on the Arabian Sea, between islands and a peninsula, this royal city has kept its yesteryear charm. Set off aboard traditional boats to discover the surrounding fishing villages located in the ‘backwaters’, a network of lakes and canals criss-crossing the region’s dense vegetation. Your last port of call will take you to Goa. This former colony of the Portuguese Indies is prized for its long beaches and its rich cultural heritage, in particular a collection of late 16th-century churches and convents, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your journey will come to an end in flamboyant Mumbai. The capital of Bollywood films, the most populated city in India - nicknamed of ‘Maximum City’ - conjures up many descriptions and will offer you a unique experience to complete your cruise.
A former trading post along the Silk Route, the old quarter of Colombo offers you the fabulous sight of its picturesque streets. The city was known to Arab, Persian and Chinese traders as early as the 8th century and this former village, nestled between two dunes, was a trading post on the mythical Spice Route. Today the economic capital of Sri Lanka, the city offers picture-postcard scenery with its beaches stretching languorously along the south-western coast of the country. Here the sand dazzles you and the sea invites you to dream...
Discover Galle, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest cities. Thanks to its commercial port, from which were exported spices and precious stones, Galle was once the country’s most major city. Colonised by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch, today it still bears traces of this colonial past. When your ship calls here, have a wander around the old town and its fortifications, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage. Built by the Portuguese at the end of the 16th century, they are perfectly preserved. To learn more about daily and rural life in Sri Lanka, do not miss the visit to the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum in Koggala, not far from Galle.
This large fishing harbour of Malay origin lies on the southern coast of the former Ceylon. Established between two lagoons, Hambantota is known for the presence of wild elephants, whose population represents 10% of the total number in the country. This abundant wildlife can be observed a few kilometres away, in Yala National Park, the second largest park in Sri Lanka. This wildlife sanctuary offers a unique opportunity to admire the myriad rare animals that live there. Sloth bears, mongooses, crocodiles, monkeys, and buffaloes live in this place where it is not uncommon to happen upon elegant leopards while out walking. The tropical rainforests are also a refuge for more than two hundred bird species. A veritable Eden for biodiversity and an extraordinary part of the world to explore.
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Capital of the State of Kerala, Trivandrum boasts a rich and colourful past. Constructed on seven hills, the “green city of India”, as Gandhi called it, is home to sumptuous Victorian buildings, vestiges of British colonisation. You will also be able to admire superb examples of traditional architecture, such as Padmanabhapuram Palace. A former residence of Kerala princes, this elegant wooden palace from the 16th century is composed of three levels evoking the shape of a Far Eastern pagoda. Entering and roaming its maze of galleries, halls and corridors is like plunging into the lavish life of the Travancore kings.
An important port in the South-West of India, Cochin (Kochi) is one of the most beautiful on the Malabar Coast where the scent of cardamom mingles with cloves. It was here that Vasco de Gama disembarked over 500 years ago. But how many Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs and Romans dropped anchor before him in the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea? So many nations, at a time when pepper from Malabar was almost as precious as gold, left these shores laden with precious spices. Today, the city, a surprising metropolis with multiple identities, has a rich cultural and natural heritage combining former colonial residences, ancestral fishing methods and charming landscapes in the backwaters.
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Marmugao is a sub-district of South Goa located in the state of Goa, in India. This is where the state’s main maritime port is to be found. Renowned around the world for its climate, the beauty of its beaches, its rice paddies and its waterfalls, Goa will surprise you with the cultural and religious heritage of its old town. It has a great many 16th- and 17th-century churches, making up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Basilica of Bom Jesus but also Hindu temples and mosques. The Goa Chitra Museum, Goa’s main ethnographic museum, is also worth a visit.
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Mumbai, a fascinating city located on the Arabian Sea, will give you a real immersion in Hindu culture. You will be able to discover the Elephanta Caves that are home to collection of rock art typical of the cult of Shiva. Don’t miss out on visiting the Gandhi Museum and House, dedicated to the memory of the man who played a vital role in the emancipation and independence of India, or the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station (formerly known as Victoria Terminus), the finest example of Victorian architecture in India. In the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya museum, you will find very fine collections of sculptures, miniatures and portraits of the man who would become King George V.
Itineraries are subject to change.
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Port Taxes & Fees: $810 AUD
Vessel Type: Luxury
Length: 127 metres
Passenger Capacity: 92 cabins
Built: 2017/2018
Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 cabins and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.
Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.
Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.
RESTAURANTS
As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. Through its two restaurants, Le Lapérouse will invite you on a journey to elegance and epicureanism.
In a relaxed atmosphere, a first dining area located on Deck 3 and able to seat 70 will serve grilled meats daily, along with a variety of salads and desserts.
To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals.
PUBLIC AREAS
Like Le Boréal and its sisterships, Le Lapérouse has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger.
A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility.
A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding.
A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas.
A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening.
Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.
Online prices reflect the current brochure fare savings of up to 30%. Prices may change based on demand. Terms and conditions apply. This special offer is subject to availability. Please contact us for more details.