Set off with PONANT aboard Le Champlain on an all-new 11-day expedition cruise discovering Lake Superior, an exceptional exploration amidst flamboyant nature and the cultural riches of the Indigenous communities.

Leaving from Thunder Bay, you will sail on Lake Superior, designated a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve, which will open the path to some fine exploring along the northern ‘Inside Passage’. Its sparkling waters are home to rich fauna, primary forest and communities descending from the First Nations, among the oldest indigenous peoples before colonisation.

You will arrive back in the United States in Sault Ste Marie, located on the banks of St. Marys River, a natural border with Canada. Indigenous, French and British influences have endowed the city with a wealth of historical treasures, and it is also renowned for its locks where the shipping traffic is one of the highest in the world.

You will continue your exploration towards Mackinac Island, only accessible by boat. This preserved and car-free haven will reveal itself to the sound of horse-drawn carriages and the noise of hooves hitting the paved streets. The Victorian charm of past-times works its spell here and the impressive Mackinac Bridge spans the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

You will then reach Door County and the small town of Sturgeon Bay for an exceptional port of call on the shores of Lake Michigan. Its landscapes, its jagged coastline to which historic lighthouses cling, and its vineyards and fruit trees as far as the eye can see compose a lovely postcard of this territory, known as the orchard of the Midwest.

You will enjoy sailing on Lake Michigan, a real inland sea, following the footsteps of the first settlers, trappers and Indigenous communities.

You will finally set sail for Milwaukee, your disembarkation port, the end of a magnificent cruise.

Subject to weather conditions. The expedition highlights, encounters with the wildlife and itinerary described illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.