Island hopping aboard Le Ponant, from Athens to Dubrovnik
Le Ponant, the first Relais & Châteaux sailing yacht, like the finest travel address on the waters of the world.
“Eternity. It is the sea mingled with the sun”, according to a poem by Rimbaud. Whether you are a lover of the sea or a curious traveller, experience once again the indescribable joy of navigating under sail, bathed by the wind and sea spray, surrounded by the elements. Take your place aboard Le Ponant, a majestic three-mast yacht with elegant lines and an interior design created by the Jean-Philippe Nuel studio to be a warm and intimate setting with a very distinctive personality. As if you were on your very own yacht, match your inner tempo to the boat’s subtle oscillations and savour the freedom of living in the moment, being fully present for your trip.
Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, dive into the history of the Peloponnese from Pylos, with the discovery of the Palace of Nestor and Methoni Castle, explore the charming Fiskardo thanks to a guided walking tour, and enjoy a cooking class at Klinci Village Resort departing from Tivat. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).
Between the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea, begin your trip by discovering the Peloponnese, the epitome of a mythical land. With your senses awakened, the scent of jasmine that embalms the island of Spetses – the favourite holiday spot of Athenians – will delight you, the picturesque beauty of the small port of Pylos, tucked against the green hills of Messenia, will captivate you, and the Italian influences of the charming Fiskardo, where visitors can savour the delicious Greek specialities called kreatopita, will enchant you. Like nowhere else on earth, Greece combines a fascinating history with the raw and spellbinding beauty of the Mediterranean shores. Impelled by the wind, a little further on you will discover the Ionian island of Paxos, where the Venetian architecture coexists alongside a natural environment featuring mountains and vast stretches of land planted with cypress and olive trees.
Sailing in the Bay of Kotor aboard Le Ponant and, while you are there, contemplating the last peaks of the Dinaric Alps encircling the fjord and then spotting Our Lady of the Rocks on the horizon is, without a doubt, one of the highlights of this cruise. The old town of Kotor awaits you to reveal its mysteries before you depart for Dubrovnik, where your Mediterranean cruise under Le Ponant’s sails will draw to an end.
At your own pace, immerse yourself in wild and stunning panoramas, away from the crowds, and enjoy moments spent in harmony with nature: glass-bottom kayaking, snorkelling, paddle-boarding*.
The activities, designed for you and with you, create possibilities for returning to what is essential, in a setting conducive to contemplation.
*The activities on offer will be confirmed on board by the captain according to the weather conditions, the itinerary and the cruise plan.
When searching for a luxury yacht expedition cruise, there’s one name above all else that you need to know – Ponant Cruises. Founded in 1988 by former French Merchant Navy officers, Ponant combines succulent luxury with authentic adventures on all seven continents.
From classic Mediterranean itineraries and Caribbean sailings, to bucket-list expeditions around Greenland and Antarctica, Ponant cruises proudly counteract the banality of mainstream voyages with a unique take on the concept of small-ship cruising. It’s the absolute trip of a lifetime.
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost
Experience the privilege of a relaxing cruise aboard Le Ponant, crafted to respect the tradition of famous sailing yachts.
