Ponant luxury expedition ship anchored in the scenic waters near the Hunter River in the Kimberley region

Ponant · Le Jacques Cartier and Le Soléal · 10 nights

Australia's Iconic Kimberley

Ten nights between Darwin and Broome, in either direction, with a French table every evening.

Ponant luxury expedition ship anchored in the scenic waters near the Hunter River in the Kimberley region

10 nights, Darwin to Broome or the reverse

The classic Kimberley coast, the Ponant way

This is the voyage that runs the coast end to end. The gorge of the King George River, Gwion Gwion figures on Jar Island, the boab the crew of HMC Mermaid carved in 1820, the mangroves of the Hunter River, tides of more than fourteen metres around Montgomery Reef, and the turtle islands of the Lacepedes.

Ponant sails it with Le Jacques Cartier, 184 guests, and Le Soléal, 264. Zodiacs with the naturalist guides by day, a French kitchen by night. Choose your week for the falls: the earlier you sail, the more water they carry.

  • Darwin to Broome, or the reverse
  • King George Falls to the Lacepede Islands
  • 10 nights

Signature moments

What the ten nights are built around

Planned around the tides, remembered for these five days.

King George River in the Kimberley

Into the King George gorge

Zodiacs slide between sandstone walls 80 metres high to the twin falls at the far end.

Day by day

Darwin to Broome, day by day

From Broome the route runs in reverse, without Ashmore Reef. Ponant reorders the days around tides and weather.

Board between four and five, sail at six.

Two French ships on the Kimberley coast

Le Jacques Cartier: 184 guests, a balcony for every stateroom, and the Blue Eye lounge below the waterline. Le Soléal: 264 guests in 132 staterooms, in service since 2013.

Le Jacques Cartier, in full
A woman on the private balcony of the owner's suite on Ponant's Le Jacques Cartier

Suites with a private balcony

A dining table set aboard Ponant's Le Soleal

A French table every evening

A pool aboard a Ponant ship

The pool deck

A couple speaking with cruise directors aboard a Ponant ship

Ponant’s naturalist guides

Ponant's Le Soleal cruising in the ocean

Le Soléal at sea

We want to make your journey as easy as possible

Ten nights in the stateroom of your choice, full board, drinks from Ponant’s selection, 24-hour room service, unlimited internet, Zodiac outings and landings, lectures, port charges and the pier to airport transfer at the end.

Flights, hotel nights, the Mitchell Falls helicopter, spa treatments, premium drinks, travel insurance and personal expenses.

We book the flights and a night in Darwin or Broome before you embark, so nothing hangs on a same-day connection.


Further Exploration

Other Kimberley itineraries

The same coast with Scenic, Silversea or Pearl Expeditions, each with its own rhythm.

All Kimberley expeditions
Scenic Discovery Yachts
10 Nights
From A$19,045

Discover the Kimberley Coastline

Ten nights between Darwin and Broome aboard Scenic Eclipse II, with Dambimangari guides ashore.

Silversea
10 Nights
From A$18,450

Exploring the Kimberley Coast: Darwin to Broome

Ten nights from Darwin to Broome aboard Silver Cloud, ending at the Horizontal Falls.

Silversea
10 Nights
From A$19,300

Exploring the Kimberley Coast: Broome to Darwin

Ten nights from Broome to Darwin aboard Silver Cloud, opening with the Horizontal Falls.

Silversea
10 Nights
From A$23,550

Exploring the Kimberley Coast: Darwin Round Trip

Ten nights round trip from Darwin aboard Silver Cloud, with the King George River to finish.

Pearl Expeditions
10 Nights
From A$19,995

Timeless Kimberley: Kununurra to Broome

Ten nights from Kununurra to Broome aboard Paspaley Pearl, thirty guests, boarding at Wyndham.

Pearl Expeditions
13 Nights
From A$26,540

Paspaley’s Ultimate Kimberley: Land, Sea and Air

Two nights at El Questro, ten aboard Paspaley Pearl from Wyndham to Broome, and the Kimberley from the air.

A sunset view of the water off the Kimberley Coast and a cruise ship sailing into the distance

Dates & prices

Ponant Kimberley departures, 2027 and 2028

Per person, twin share, in Australian dollars, from Ponant’s published fares, which include the Ponant Bonus.

Darwin to Broome on Le Jacques Cartier, early in the season.

Darwin to Broome on Le Soléal.

Darwin to Broome on Le Jacques Cartier, mid-dry season.

Broome to Darwin on Le Jacques Cartier, early in the season.

Broome to Darwin on Le Soléal.

Broome to Darwin on Le Jacques Cartier, mid-dry season.

Darwin to Broome on Le Soléal.

Broome to Darwin on Le Soléal.

Made to measure

Tell us your Kimberley, we build the rest

Tell us the week, the direction and the ship you lean towards, and we find the stateroom that fits.