VOYAGE TO THE NORTH POLE

90° North The Top of the World

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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 not until 1948 that anyone actually stood there.
But that is precisely what we hope to do on this historic voyage. Our aim is to stand at 90 North. It is the opportunity of a lifetime ­ so join us on an extraordinary voyage to the North Pole. We sail on one of the worlds most powerful icebreakers, the "50 Years of Victory". Heading north from Murmansk, we cross the Barents Sea and break into the dense Arctic pack ice. Very few vessels have the power to negotiate such challenging ice conditions, yet we push northwards at speeds of up to 12 knots. Our journey takes us through an ever-changing panorama of wind-polished ice up to five metres thick, narrow channels of dark green water and aquamarine pools scattered across the frozen sea. We will be able to enjoy the immense polar landscapes from the Bridge or deck of the ship and from our expertly-piloted helicopter. And along the way, in this stunning setting of ice and snow, we expect to encounter a variety of Arctic wildlife such as polar bears, walrus and ivory gulls. From the Geographic North Pole we will be among very few people ever to have been there - we head south to the wild and wonderful world of dense pack ice, towering volcanic mountains, icebergs and glaciers of Franz Josef Land. Then it is back across the Barents Sea to Murmansk, where our amazing journey comes to an end.

This is perhaps the most amazing location on our entire planet. There are no four corners of the World there: the South is all around you and any wind is southern. Over this “Top of the World” stars never rise or set together with the Earth’s rotation. The Polar Star, the beacon of all travelers in the Northern Hemisphere, is invariably in its zenith.

The tourists should keep in mind that this is a unique expedition to a remote and very little explored part of the globe. Our sample itineraries should therefore be read as a guide only, depending heavily on weather and ice conditions, as well as on other circumstances. Our aspiration is to reach the “Top of the World”, visiting historic sites and learning wildlife on the way to the North Pole.

On the way to the Pole we shall come across walruses, seals and birds; rookeries. Polar bears might get curious enough to approach the icebreaker to examine it from a very close distance. Sometimes they rise onto their rear paws, coming very close to boards of the ship, when she is standing… It is Zoo vice versa – when animals are studying humans…Remote and difficult to reach, the North Pole has lured generations of explorers on voyages full of adventure and discoveries. It is only at the end of the second millennium that nuclear power has enabled man to reach the top of the world without the dangers faced by earlier voyagers, yet with all the spirit of adventure inherent in their quest. Who knows, maybe at the end of the next millennium earthlings will also easily reach the boundaries of the known universe and return home victorious as ever, every part of our itinerary is thought out in the most careful manner. Although any expedition involves some degree of risk, our ship is certified by all international organizations having regulatory authority for voyages of this type. The crew and attending staff are experienced and qualified for operations in the most challenging ice conditions. Helicopters and Zodiacs, which are essentials of every expedition of ours, meet all conventional requirements. Helicopter pilots have already flown several thousand of hours in the Far North. They are real experts in Polar Aviation. Zodiac drivers are also top-class professionals.

Start: Helinski, Finland.

Finish: Helinski, Finland.

Aboard 50 Years of Victory

North Pole:
Expedition Dates and Rates

Please note: read this itinerary as a guide only;
our exact route and program vary according to weather and ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter.