Ancient jewels of the Mediterranean

In partnership with Les Éditions Tallandier and with featured guest Alain Juppé, former Prime Minister of France.

Starting in Valetta, step aboard Le Bougainville for an 8-day cruise between the majestic Maltese coast and Greece.

Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. 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 Sicilian baroque architecture with a visit to the village of Noto from Syracuse; discover the typical villages of Lefkes and Naoussa on the island of Paros; or visit the ancient theatre of Taormina.The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).

Then, Southern Italy promises suspended moments where the beauty of the shores combines with the beauty of its historical remnants, which remain fascinating. In Syracuse, the Sicilian soul unfolds across the island of Ortygia - the oldest part of the city -, a maze of small streets dotted with churches, palaces, ancient remnants, sheltering a majestic cathedral in its very heart.

You will take the sea to discover Taormina, overlooking Etna’s blanket of snow. Its streets will lead you to its famed ancient Greek theatre, where the quality of the acoustics is exceptional. In Puglia, Gallipoli, meaning “beautiful town” in Greek, reveals its Hellenic origins and offers up its singular atmosphere, where life is good.

You will arrive in the small port of Itea from where it is possible to visit the mythical site of Delphi or even the Hosios Loukas monastery, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.You will then cross the Corinth Canal and stop off at Hydra, a small island of old-worldly charm where motorised traffic is banned.

Finally, your ship will call at Paros. Nestling in the heart of the Cyclades archipelago, this island reputed for its sublime white marble offers a real concentration of Greek beauty, from whitewashed houses to olive groves to ancient monuments.

Athens, the mythical city dominated by the Acropolis and its monuments, which form the most extraordinary architectural and artistic ensemble bequeathed to the world by Ancient Greece, will mark the end of this exceptional odyssey.