Le Ponant, 7 Night History and culture visiting Caribbean jewels ex Philipsburg, St Maarten to Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe

Le Ponant, the first Relais & Châteaux sailing yacht. The finest travel address on the waters of the world.

The Caribbean. The mere mention of this vast archipelago conjures images of waves dancing along the shoreline, lapping against long beaches lined with elegant palm trees. During this unforgettable 8-day cruise, spend your time contemplating and exploring aboard PONANT’s emblematic yacht.

You will move away from the lively shores of Philipsburg and sail under wind power towards the Anguilla archipelago, a little-known jewel where you will be able to reconnect both with yourself and the surrounding elements. The two small uninhabited islands of Prickly Pear Cays, separated by a narrow channel and surrounded by rocky protrusions, are heaven for divers and birds. The island is also home to Lesser Antillean iguanas.

You will set sail again, for Saint Barthélemy, a small island in the Tropics offering an exceptional and windswept stretch of water. Sailing is synonymous with pleasure in these warm waters, even when the sea spray makes it onto the deck.

Le Ponant will set sail towards Saint Kitts and Nevis. Thanks to the perfect conditions, sailing here is a delight for all the senses. Lying on the deck, you will let the wind and the sunshine caress your skin, while the crew sail the mainsail. In Charlestown, on the island of Nevis, you will discover the port facilities built by Admiral Nelson. You will also be able to visit the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States, as well as St John’s Fig Tree Church, which houses the original marriage certificate of Lord Horatio Nelson and Fanny Nisbet. Nevis also has a very beautiful botanical garden.

You will find Admiral Nelson’s works in Nelson's Dockyard, in Falmouth Harbour. This is also where his former residence may be found.

You will reach Barbuda, where you will be able to relax on beaches of white and pink sand bathing in crystal-clear water and observe the many seabirds, particularly the magnificent frigatebirds.

Soon, deeply breathing in the air on the deck of the three-mast yacht, you will be enchanted by the infinite palette of blues in the Caribbean Sea. On Marie-Galante, the final port of call of your cruise, you will enjoy practically deserted beaches and be immersed in an authentic and agricultural atmosphere focused on growing sugar cane. After this odyssey embracing the elements, feeling refreshed by this special experience aboard Le Ponant, as if you were on your very own yacht, you will return to terra firma in Pointe-à-Pitre.