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Le Ponant, the iconic 88-metre-long and 56-metre-high, three-masted sailing yacht, has just announced a new range of luxurious Kimberley expeditions for 2023. The 26 itineraries will cover eight to ten nights and visit some of the most beautiful and pristine areas in Northern Kimberley, Southern Kimberley and Rowley Shoals. Guests can look forward to experiencing the French art of living onboard with refined gastronomy during their sailing holiday. This is the perfect mix of adventure, sustainability and luxury – perfect for those who want to explore one of Australia’s most stunning regions.
Le Ponant
Ponant’s Le Ponant has been newly refurbished and features the latest innovation to reduce emissions. The vessel is also equipped with Zodiacs for shore landings and excursions so guests can make the most of their time in Kimberley.
Le Ponant can accommodate up to 32 guests in 16 staterooms, making for a genuinely intimate and personalised experience. With a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1, Le Ponant promises the highest level of service and attention.
The facilities on board Le Ponant include a sun lounge area, exterior bar and the Le Diamant panoramic restaurant, which offers buffet breakfast and dinner. In addition, the lounge and Bar Emeraude on Alizés Deck are the perfect places to relax with a drink in hand after a day’s excursions.
The sailing yacht comes stocked with plenty of toys to enjoy your excursions, including two standard kayaks, two glass-bottomed kayaks, four stand-up paddleboards, snorkelling equipment, fishing equipment, scuba diving equipment (for a group of four people) and a saltwater swimming pool.
Exploring Kimberley on Le Ponant
Ponant’s immersive expedition of Kimberley includes exploration of the spectacular 80-metre-high sandstone cliffs of the King George River Gorge and its Twin Falls, the highest in Western Australia, the chance to uncover the stories behind the enigmatic Gwion Gwion rock art and experience Prince Frederick Harbour, one of the largest and most scenic inlets of the Kimberley coast.
Exploring Kimberley, image by Nick Rains, Ponant
Discover the pristine beaches and remarkable scenery of the Buccaneer archipelago and search for iconic bird species such as White-Bellied Sea Eagles, Brahminy kites and Ospreys. In addition, guests can watch in awe as the tidal waters flow off the Montgomery reef and witness the unique tidal phenomenon of the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay.
Ponant’s expedition to the Rowley Shoals, home to pristine coral lagoons and abundant marine life, is also on the radar. The trip will offer guests the chance to explore the atolls of Scott, Seringapatam and Hermite, as well as see manta rays, turtles, giant trevally and schools of barracuda.
Paspaley’s vintage Grumman Mallard flying boat
As an exclusive addition to this experience, the Northern and Southern Kimberley itineraries include an exclusive charter flight between Kununurra and Kuri Bay or Broome and Kuri Bay on board one of Australian company Paspaley’s vintage Grumman Mallard flying boats to take guests from or to their embarkation point, as well as an exclusive guided visit of Paspaley’s pearl farms in Kuri Bay.
Join the Le Ponant team as they take you off the beaten track, away from your routines and onto a journey where anything can happen. With itineraries designed for adventure seekers with unique experiences, there will always be something new around every turn on this extraordinary trip. ◼
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© This article was first published online in June 2022 – World Travel Magazine.