The Mediterranean: in the Footsteps of Great Civilisations

In springtime, as the flowers pepper the landscapes with their bright colours and the sun illuminates the decor with its soft light, PONANT invites you on an exquisite interlude in the Mediterranean, between Valletta and Antalya. During a 11-day journey, set off aboard Le Dumont d’Urville to discover the riches of the Mediterranean Sea, a link between peoples, a crossroads of civilisations.

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; visit the Meteora monasteries from Volos; or from Kusadasi, one of the Mediterranean’s best-preserved ancient Greco-Roman cities, admire the Ephesus archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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).

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. In Puglia, Gallipoli, meaning “beautiful town” in Greek, reveals its Hellenic origins and offers up its singular atmosphere, where life is good.

In the tranquillity of March, you will discover Greece as you have never seen it. From the mountainous island of Corfu, 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. After crossing the Corinth Canal, you will be welcomed by Athens and its famous acropolis, and the remains of the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion, for an unforgettable port of call. From Volos, Greece will never cease to surprise you: in Thessaly, the formation known as the Meteora hosts Eastern Orthodox monasteries that rub shoulders with the sky and are at one with the rock. 

Kusadasi opens the gateway to Turkey and its treasures. The Ephesus archaeological site will tell you the great history of the Mediterranean, through this ancient city, among the oldest in the Magna Graecia of Asia Minor. From Alanya, you will explore two other majestic ancient sites, Perga and Aspendos, before arriving in Antalya, the end of your cruise.