Arctic Voyage to the North Pole - Arctic

Few places have stirred the hearts and minds of explorers more than the North Pole. At the turn of the last century, voyages of discovery and adventure by sled, balloon, airship and ship set off for the top of the world — and failed.

It was not until 1926 that the pole was seen for the first time and 1948 that anyone actually stood there. That is precisely what we hope to do on this historic voyage. Our aim is to stand at 90° North. Sailing aboard the world's largest icebreaker, we head north from Murmansk through dense, multi-year pack ice to the North Pole. Only a very few vessels have the power to negotiate the challenging ice of the Arctic Basin and break through vast ice floes, pressure ridges and hummocks up to five meters thick.

Navigating the polar pack at speeds up to 21 knots, we are enthralled by an ever-changing panorama of wind-polished ice, narrow channels of dark green water and aquamarine pools. There will be spectacular views of the polar landscapes from our expertly piloted helicopters and a chance to see the rarest of wildlife in a stunning setting of snow and ice. From the North Pole, we head south to Franz Josef Land, a marvelous place of glaciers, volcanic mountains and wildlife. We return to Murmansk, where our amazing journey comes to an end.

The On Board Education Program

The expedition team is comprised of experts from a variety of fields, history, geology, marine biology, ornithology /glaciology and the arts. As personnel changes from expedition to expedition, each program is unique. Formal illustrated presentations are scheduled by the expedition leader, with the intention of preparing you in advance for planned landings and activities. Our expedition team members take turns standing watch for wildlife, and sharing the open decks with guests. They assist with wildlife identification and provide informal instruction.