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SMALLER GOES FURTHER

Small ships expedition cruises

Discover

Our backstory

Polar expedition pioneers passionately sharing their scientific expertise with curious travelers

It all started in 1987 when Christian Kempf, visionary explorer and scientist, initiated the very first French expedition cruise in Antarctica with a little help from none other than the founder of the French Polar Expeditions (EPF), Paul-Emile Victor, an accomplished explorer himself. Multiply awarded for his subsequent expeditions to the Poles, author of 26 authoritative books on the subject, and founder of the Arctic Ecology Research Group (GREA), Christian decided to create Grands Espaces in 1998. He believes profoundly that there is no better motivation to protect and preserve the Poles than the sense of wonder inspired by first-hand experience.

Grands Espaces has been offering exclusive and pioneering polar expedition cruises aboard small ships and intimate yachts for over twenty successful years. Our team is devoted to sharing their scientific knowledge and deep passion for faraway destinations, allowing you to experience life-changing moments and further your awareness of man’s impact on the environment.

While polar tourism has become increasingly popular, Grands Espaces has never lost sight of our initial goals: offering intimate, mindful, and thrilling trips to the ends of the world, thus making our passengers the ultimate ambassadors of its conservation.

Our small-scale ships take you further

01. FURTHER into the untamed wilderness...

Where breathtaking fjords and vast ice floes are the stage for some of the most striking features Mother Nature has to display. To the north, where polar bears roam the frozen water and swim in the sea. To the south, where thousands of penguins waddle on the shorelines, humpback whales breach majestically, and orcas hunt with impressive speed and accuracy. Or to the Amazon, where lush vegetation accompanies the exotic sounds of the rainforest.

02. ....without furthering our impact on the planet.

The desire to launch Grands Espaces began with a love for this planet and the wonders within. Instead of exploiting our Earth's precious resources, we favor renovating secondhand ships to guide you across untamed territories. We are as determined as you to protect our fragile environment by committing to leaving as little trace as possible during our trips, and our distinctive expertise has allowed us to turn this aspiration into reality.

03. To further, exclusive locations…

Where other companies use sizable vessels, our 12-passenger yachts make for a more intimate experience and allow us to disembark in seldom-reached areas. When the itinerary calls for slightly larger ships, our 75-passenger vessel will still provide the same easy access to remote locations while assuring a cozy atmosphere, far from the hustle and bustle often experienced aboard giant liners.

04. ...so as to further your understanding of this world…

We passionately craft each itinerary with clear goals in mind: sailing to remote places, giving you access to isolated settlements, allowing you to experience real encounters with wildlife, and sharing our deep dedication to preserve our planet. Our environmentally conscious onboard experts and scientists have built trusted, solid partnerships with the locals for over 25 years, granting us exclusive access to secluded locations because of our stances.

05. ...and go FURTHER than most people travel in their lives.

We know that a journey with Grand Espaces is more than just a spur-of-the-moment vacation. It is the long-awaited adventure of a lifetime. You have dreamed of seeing the ends of the Earth, and we are ready to take you on this life-changing feat.

WHY PUT IT OFF ANY…FURTHER?

Our Ships

La Jangada
  • 29m
  • 30

The Jangada is a comfortable catamaran equipped with 12 spacious cabins ranging from 16 to 25 sq. m., each tastefully decorated with Indian handicrafts. At 29 meters long and 10 meters wide, its large panoramic windows provide a unique observation spot to admire the dazzling surrounding scenery. Inaugurated in 2019, the Jangada is the most recent vessel to navigate along the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers in Brazil, at the very heart of the Amazon rainforest. Top-notch service and refined local cuisine are the finishing touches to an exciting expedition cruise aboard this charming, boutique-style ship.

Amazon Dream
  • 27,5m
  • 18

A safe, beautiful and comfortable boat... This traditional, 27.5 meter-long vessel, built of ipe and itauba woods by the Amazon’s best shipwrights, left the shipyards in 2006. She can carry up to 18 passengers, and offers remarkable conditions of hospitality, service and security. Her cruising speed is 11 knots

Style and authenticity

2 ships sailing in the Amazon river

Charming vessels accommodating between 16 to 30 passengers

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The Nanook
  • 53,5m
  • 12

Nanook means polar bear in the Inuktitut language. Our Nanook is a small ocean-going yacht commissioned in 1968 by Denmark for patrol and assistance missions on the North Sea. Over fifty-three meters long and 10 meters wide, this 1B ice-class vessel is both fast and sturdy—allowing it to easily navigate through ice-choked areas. The Nanook complies with the highest environmental standards through remarkably economical engines running on low amounts of light fuel oil. Our dedication to lower our carbon footprint also extends to favoring local distribution channels. Entirely renovated in 2021, its seven cabins—ranging from 12 to 15 sq. m.—are all equipped with twin or double beds. Comfortable, bright, and comfy common areas welcome you after a full day of thrilling exploration.

The Explorer
  • 46,5m
  • 12

This A1 ice-class polar yacht was built in 1994 to perform oceanographic research in Greenland. With the goal of reducing its impact on the environment, Grands Espaces founder Christian Kempf has partnered with naval architect Marco Coppola to completely renovate the vessel for the 2021 sailing season. At 46.5 meters long and 10.5 meters wide, the Explorer is designed for easy navigation through high seas and ice. The spacious, refurbished interiors offer top-notch amenities—making for a comfortable and refined cruising experience. A spacious panoramic lounge, a gym room, sauna, and two Jacuzzis are all available for you to relax in after your exciting small-boat outings. Or you can choose to spend some time on the bridge where a second panoramic lounge opens out to an outdoor lounge-bar area. The Explorer is fitted with 14-to-20 sq. m. cabins ranging from single to twin or double cabins, and suites equipped with floor-to-ceiling or picture windows for greater observation. .

EXPLORATION YACHTS

2 elegant polar yachts navigating in the Arctic and Greenland

Completely refurbished vessels accommodating up to 12 passengers

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Discover
  • 150m
  • 12

Her highly ice-strengthened hull is ideally suited for expedition travel in polar regions.

Comfort
  • 150m
  • 12

The M/V Ocean Nova is a modern and comfortable vessel carrying just 75 passengers in twin, triple and quad cabins, all with an exterior view and en-suite facilities. She was built in Denmark in 1992 to sail the ice-choked waters of Greenland.

Adventure
  • 150m
  • 12

Passengers are welcome to the bridge and there is always something to see or keep a look out the large panoramic lounge. The ship has a fleet of eight Zodiac boats that are used daily

ONLY IN THE ARCTIC

The Ocean Nova

Our 75-passenger expedition vessel

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EXPEDITION CRUISING IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL VACATION

01. Our vision of luxury

Forget the usual dress-coded gala dinners and fancy floorshows, experiencing indescribable instants is our vision of luxury. When booking an expedition cruise with us, you are looking for an authentic, up close, and personal experience with nature—and nature thrives 24/7. Our seasoned crew and scientific guides are there to make sure that you get the full adventure you have hoped for. They keep their eyes peeled night and day—in the sky and across the horizon—so that you won’t miss a thing.

02. French Touch

True to our French heritage, a journey with Grands Espaces focuses on several essentials inherent to our joie de vivre: Taste, aesthetics, and intellectual curiosity. So, relax in cozy and finely decorated cabins after a full day’s exploration in the harsh polar weather. Revel in exquisitely prepared meals served just at the right time to recharge your batteries before your next excursion. Participate in inspiring conferences given by experts in their fields while enjoying impressive 360-degree views from the observation lounge, and enjoy an excellent glass of wine while exchanging with fellow passengers about what you’ve been lucky enough to witness as a small group.

03. Make This Happen

The sea…is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the "Living Infinite.” ― Jules Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Experience the immortal and immense Living Infinite with Grand Espaces.

We take you... far from this hectic world

Svalbard

With its breathtaking glaciers, rugged mountains, and thriving wildlife, Svalbard is the perfect spot to experience each and every aspect of the polar realm. Here is your chance to observe walruses, whales, remarkable bird colonies, and, of course, polar bears roaming the ice floes—enchanting encounters to be treasured for a lifetime. WHAT SETS US APART: Our small-scale ships allow us to navigate along the entire coastline and disembark in Nordaustlandet, where few other companies can.

LOOKING FOR AN EXTREME SCUBA-AND-SKI ADVENTURE?

Divers with Level 2 certification and Nordic skiing enthusiasts, check out our adventure tourism offers in Svalbard!

Arctic Russia

From Franz Josef Land—an archipelago made up of close to 200 uninhabited islands offering a unique scenery of abundant wildlife amidst a harsh climate and colossal glaciers—to Novaya Zemlya and Siberia’s stunning national parks, Grands Espaces gives you exclusive access to the most extreme northern regions of Russia, which are slowly opening for tourism. WHAT SETS US APART: Grands Espaces is the only company offering regular, intimate adventures to Franz Josef Land on board our polar yacht.

TO THE POLAR REGIONS

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Greenland

A cruise to Greenland will conjure up a pioneering spirit for the lucky few who will gaze at its gigantic icebergs and ice-covered fjords and talk with the Inuit to learn all about their everyday life in this harsh environment. Whales abound in the summer, while the edge of autumn brings about the Northern Lights, offering constant enchantment. WHAT SETS US APART: Some of our expedition vessels are positioned in Greenland all year long, allowing our passengers to take in the Northern Lights around the Ilulissat Icefjord in the winter or explore striking Thule in the summer.

© Visit Greenland - Ben Simon Rehn
NORTH OF THULE

Ultima Thule—“Beyond the Known World”—is the Latin phrase that inspired the appropriate nickname given to Northern Greenland by explorers in the 9th century. With its vast deserted areas, awe-inspiring glaciers, and towering icebergs, this area truly feels like a secret spot at the edge of our planet. All summer long, Grands Espaces travels to Thule for a chance to discover the last Inughuit settlements and their narwhal hunters before navigating through the legendary Northwest Passage and exploring the nearby Canadian land of Nunavut.

LOOKING FOR AN EXTREME SCUBA-AND-SKI ADVENTURE?

Divers with Level 2 certification and Nordic skiing enthusiasts, check out our adventure tourism offers in Greenland!

TO GREENLAND

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Secret fjords

Explore majestic waterways where few others have had the chance to venture, where gusts of wind murmur tales of ancient Viking lore, and where each fjord brandishes its unique beauty and personality in stunning fashion.

Lofoten

The untamed Lofoten islands are spread out across the vivid blue-green waters of the Norwegian Sea and offer rare landscapes of majestic mountains, deep fjords, squawking seabird colonies, and long, pure-white beaches. Keep your eyes peeled for sea eagles soaring in the sky!

Lapland and its Northern Lights

Magical Lapland is full of contrasts, with each season offering very distinct features. From endless summer nights in the peaceful Arctic nature to dark winter days where the striking Northern Lights and snow-covered hills make the region as close as reality gets to a Winter Wonderland, Lapland offers one of the world’s most unique and breathtaking scenery, all year long.

LOOKING FOR AN EXTREME SCUBA-AND-SKI ADVENTURE?

Divers with Level 2 certification and Nordic skiing enthusiasts, check out our adventure tourism offers in Norway!

TO NORWAY

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Amazonia

The Amazon rainforest is often referred to as the Lungs of the Earth, as it is a region boasting staggering biodiversity—where more than 40,000 plant varieties sustain over 300 different types of reptiles and 3,000 freshwater fish species. It truly feels like one of the last paradises on the planet.

TO THE AMAZON

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And many other destinations to discover...

Dedicated contact for international sales

By Phone

+33 6 08 13 84 98

By email

nathalie@grands-espaces.com

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