The Geographic North Pole

From Longyearbyen to Longyearbyen OR From Longyearbyen to Reykjavik
  • All Arctic Cruises
  • Spitsbergen
  • Small Ship Cruising
  • Wildlife and Nature
  • Luxury
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Tour Description

Head for 90 degrees North, the North Pole onboard, onboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s 1st PC2 luxury hybrid-electric polar exploration ship.

Get your bearings by heading north to 90 degrees! The most impressive expeditions have been making annual trips to the Arctic in an attempt to reach the North Pole since the 16th century. Dreamers and explorers intrigued by the prospect of reaching the opposite half of the world are drawn to and inspired by this fabled geographic spot.

So what if Le Commandant Charcot made it possible for you to walk on this almost inaccessible pinnacle of adventure?

You will be one of the few to try the journey, 700 km (435 miles) from any land, following in the footsteps of Frederick Cook, Robert Edwin Peary, or Roald Amundsen, who were among the many who fought to attain this difficult goal.

From Spitsbergen, you'll set sail towards the Arctic Ocean and the world's edge, where the ice and the shifting light create ever-changing panoramas. Here, nature rules supreme, providing a safe haven for a variety of unique animals that you may spot along your travels, such as polar bears, seals, and even whales. Continue your quest for the Holy Grail of polar explorers, the North Pole, as you continue your exploration of this lonely, frozen land.

The ice floe is continuously being pushed and pulled by the winds and currents, so the Captain of your ship will have to manoeuvre with great care and humility if he hopes to reach the Arctic Circle.

*please note there is a slight variance in itineraries depending on departure date, please ask us for full details

Viva's Best Bits...

Be one of the fortunate few who have explored the Arctic in search of the North Pole! Enjoy the unique experience of sailing through the heart of the ice floe observing ice forms, in the silence and respect of the landscapes deserves.

Explore ice floes, jagged mountains, steep-sided valleys, sheer cliffs, gigantic glaciers and witness whales, polar bears and seals

Le Commandant Charcot is the world’s 1st PC2 luxury hybrid-electric polar exploration ship. Explore remote destinations in complete luxury never before seen in polar exploration.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Paris Longyearbyen

Fly to Longyearbyen from Paris

Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.

Day 2
At Sea along Spitsbergen

The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, its name meaning “pointed mountains” in German, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. Between millennial glaciers and rugged mountains, you will discover a jagged coastline, hollowed-out by fjords. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.

Day 3-7
Navigating through the Sea Ice

Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.

Day 8
Geographic North Pole

Defined by a 90° North latitude, the Geographic North Pole lies on the Earth’s rotational axis, at the intersection of all meridians. Plunged into darkness for six months of the year, then lit by the sun for the following six months, this mythical site, permanently covered in ice and remote from any land, has fascinated generations of explorers. So far, only a very few people have ever reached it: an exploit which is now accessible to you aboard Le Commandant Charcot.

Day 9-13
Navigating through the Sea Ice

Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.

Day 14-15
At Sea along Spitsbergen

The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, its name meaning “pointed mountains” in German, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. Between millennial glaciers and rugged mountains, you will discover a jagged coastline, hollowed-out by fjords. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.

Day 16
Longyearbyen Paris

Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.

Disembarkation in the morning, Meet and greet at the port by our local English-speaking representative.
Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of flight Longyearbyen/Paris (tba) Approximate flight duration: 4 h 30 mins

Day 1
Paris Longyearbyen

Fly to Longyearbyen from Paris

Embark at 4pm.
Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.

Day 2
At Sea

The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, its name meaning “pointed mountains” in German, Spitsbergen is the last piece of land before the Arctic ice floe. Aboard your ship, you will sail along the extremely spectacular coastline of this icy land. Between millennial glaciers and rugged mountains, you will discover a jagged coastline, hollowed-out by fjords. A unique setting, the refuge of a particularly rich avifauna, offering you the possibility of taking fabulous photographs from the deck of your ship.

Day 3-7
Navigating through the Ice

Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.

Day 8
Geographic North Pole

Defined by a 90° North latitude, the Geographic North Pole lies on the Earth’s rotational axis, at the intersection of all meridians. Plunged into darkness for six months of the year, then lit by the sun for the following six months, this mythical site, permanently covered in ice and remote from any land, has fascinated generations of explorers. So far, only a very few people have ever reached it: an exploit which is now accessible to you aboard Le Commandant Charcot.

Day 9-10
Navigating through the Ice

Enjoy the absolutely unique experience of sailing to the heart of the ice floe, this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice. The landscapes are constantly changing, shifting from a smooth, flat wilderness to a chaos of ice, then to channels of open water. Your ship will sail along these naturally open channels and through the areas where the frozen layer is thinnest, offering you the chance to experience magic maritime moments in the midst of drifting sea ice. It will also often be an opportunity to see a particular kind of fauna, totally dependent on the ice floe.

Day 11-15
At Sea

Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel and the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of sailing into the very heart of the ice, on seas and oceans which the frozen conditions render inaccessible to ordinary ships. Le Commandant Charcot is fitted with oceanographic and scientific equipment selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of the on-board lectures and opportunities for discussion with these specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT and let us discover together what these fascinating destinations have yet to reveal to us.

Day 16
Reykjavik

Iceland’s capital stretches along the edge of a vast bay in the west of the country. Perlan, the “Pearl of Reykjavík”, a museum located on ’Oskjuhlið hill, offers a panoramic view of the lush, green landscapes. A little further, one can easily spot the signpost showing the way to the evangelical Hallgrímskirkja church, and to the historical centre where one can stroll along the Skólavördustígur and the Laugavegur, two lively streets with charming small shops. For some relaxation just outside of the city, visitors have the opportunity to visit the Reykjanes peninsula and its famous thermal lagoons of the Blue Lagoon.

What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 15 - 17 nights on board (dependent on tour dates)
Food
  • Included Copy 20 All meals while on board
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 English-speaking assistance.
  • Included Copy 20 Transfers mentioned in the programme.
  • Included Copy 20 Flight Paris/Longyearbyen and Longyearbyen/Paris in economy class.
  • Included Copy 20 Outings and shore visits in Zodiacs with a team of experienced naturalist guides
  • Included Copy 20 Many activities kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, polar plunge.
  • Included Copy 20 Lectures and information sessions hosted by our naturalist-guides
  • Included Copy 20 Parka to keep & boots to Loan while on the cruise
  • Included Copy 7 Personal expenses, any other service not mentioned in the programme.
  • Included Copy 7 International flights, Travel Insurance, Gratuities / Tips are not included
Transportation

Le Commandant Charcot

270 (200 in Antarctica) Passengers

Activities

  • Included Many activities: kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing, polar plunge
  • Included Outings and shore visits in a zodiac
  • Included Wildlife: polar bears, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic terns, walruses, seals and whales.
  • Included Cruise to the Geographic North Pole!
Click here for dates & prices
Duration

16 days

Price from

$36,771 USD

Per person, sharing

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