Explore the poles alongside renowned explorers
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PONANT joins forces with French association Le Cercle Polaire and pays tribute to polar adventurers with its “Women of the Poles” initiative. Renowned for being extremely arduous, polar expeditions are also a symbol in the fight for gender equality and against all forms of discrimination towards women. As explorers, photographers and polar scientists from across the world, these women are now writing history and achieving exploits that more than match those of the mens.
Three exceptional women on board during an expedition in Antarctica
Laurence de la Ferrière, Tiina Itkonen and Kate Leeming were invited to share their achievements and their vision of female polar expeditions on board L’Austral, which sailed between Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic Peninsula from February 23 to March 5.
Laurence de la Ferrière
"Today, all my energy is devoted to contributing to the knowledge of Antarctica, a continent of unparalleled beauty, but ultimately so fragile."
Laurence de la Ferrière
Laurence de la Ferrière is a French explorer, mountaineer and speaker. She is the first French woman to have reached the South Pole and the only woman in the world to have completed a solo crossing of the entire continent of Antarctica. Discover an interview conducted for our online magazine, Escales.
Tiina Itkonen
"As a female explorer, I try to capture pieces of this Arctic beauty with my photos to raise awareness about the fragility of polar regions."
Tiina Itkonen
Tiina Itkonen, a globally recognised Finnish photographer, has accumulated over 1,500 km of expeditions by dog sled, fishing boats and helicopters along the coasts of West Greenland.
Kate Leeming
"Beyond the physical challenges, polar exploration remains a battle of mental resilience. That's where I think women can have an advantage."
Kate Leeming
Australian expedition cyclist, Kate Leeming, has already cycled a distance greater than twice the circumference of the Earth. Her next challenge is to complete the first bicycle crossing of the Antarctic continent.
The Arctic Circle
The United Nations' 2030 Agenda considers gender equality as a "necessary condition for the establishment of a peaceful, sustainable, and prosperous world." To contribute to this sustainable development goal, the "Women at the Poles" initiative gathers the testimonies of 50 female polar adventurers from around the world. They share their achievements and the spirit in which they were accomplished in a booklet that will soon be freely accessible online. These testimonies will also be available on the Facebook page and website of the Polar Circle.