A visit to the North Pole, in the center of the Arctic Ocean, allows you to literally reach the top of the world. Whether you want to visit the geographic North Pole (the point where all roads lead south, also known as "True North") or the magnetic North Pole (where the compass guides you), to get to your destination you have to cross pristine glaciers. There are many possibilities to visit the pole during the spring months, when temperatures and darkness do not make travel impossible, but the ice is still solid enough to be covered on foot. This article describes the various ways to complete your Arctic adventure.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: By Air
Step 1. Book your flight
If you can afford it, the quickest and easiest way to get to the North Pole is by air. Flights to the Polo depart mainly from Norway, but there are also charter flights from Canada. Fill out the necessary forms and book tickets.
- Starting from Norway, the cost of the trip is between ten thousand and twelve thousand dollars. Visit the Polar Explorers website, open the "expeditions" tab and choose "North Pole Flights". On this page you will find all the information about the trip and the forms you need to fill in to register.
- Booking a charter flight from Canada can cost ten times more than traveling from Norway. For fares and reservations you must contact Kenn Borek Air by phone, email or fax. On their website you can find all the contact information.
- Given the extreme conditions of the North Pole, to book a trip to that destination you must certify that you are in good health and take out a medical evacuation policy.
- Other forms of insurance are also recommended, such as travel cancellation insurance.
- If you just want to see the North Pole but are not interested in physically walking on top of the world, you can book a scenic flight that passes over the pole, without stopping. This is a considerably less expensive alternative. Flights are available from Berlin, Germany and start at € 500. You can book them on the Air Events website.
Step 2. Go to Canada or Norway
Flights to the North Pole from Norway depart from Longyearbyen, a village north of the Arctic Circle. Kenn Borek Air, the company that offers charter flights from Canada, is based in Calgary, but flights depart from various locations. Book a ticket to reach the departure points from the nearest airport.
- Norwegian Airlines operates regular flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen. You will probably need to book two separate flights: one from where you live in Oslo and the second to Longyearbyen.
- You must contact Kenn Borek Air to define the details of the departure airport.
Step 3. Go to Barneo
Whether you're traveling from Canada or Norway, your next destination is Barneo, an ice station about 100km from the North Pole.
Accommodation and meals in Barneo are included in the travel packages to reach the North Pole
Step 4. Get into a helicopter
From Barneo, you can take a helicopter to the North Pole.
- The helicopter trip takes approximately 20-40 minutes, with an MI-8 model stationed in Barneo.
- Polar Explorers agency gives you plenty of photo opportunities and usually offers travelers a toast. However, due to the extreme weather conditions, you will normally only have an hour before you can go home.
- Alternatively you can start from Barneo on skis, an adventure called "Skiing the last degree". Tour packages that include a companion cost around € 25,000. You can also get to the polo via snowmobile or dog sled.
- On the Polar Explorers website you will find information on the itineraries and costs of each option, as well as the forms you will need to fill out. Visit the North Pole Expeditions page and select the experience you prefer.
- If you are an athlete, you also have the option to participate in a marathon which starts from Barneo in April. Admission costs around € 15,000, but includes the round trip flight from Svalbard in Norway to Barneo, as well as food, accommodation and helicopter transfer to the pole. Visit the website and fill out the online form to register for the race.
Method 2 of 3: By Sea
Step 1. Book your ticket
The second way to reach the North Pole is to board a Russian "icebreaker", a large ship capable of navigating through Arctic ice. Book your ticket for one of these expeditions.
- You can expect to spend at least € 26,000 on one of these cruises. Registering is simple: just visit the Adventure Life website, select the "North Pole Ultimate Adventure" cruise, choose a date and fill out the form.
- Adventure Life offers many solutions, from simple rooms with a double bed to luxury suites. Prices for the most luxurious suites range from € 40,000 to € 45,000.
Step 2. Go to Finland
Icebreaker expeditions usually depart from Helsinki. Book a plane ticket to the Finnish capital. Many airports offer flights to this location, but if you live in Europe you can also reach it by train.
Step 3. Go to Russia
From Helsinki you will take a charter flight to Murmansk, Russia. This is where the ship departs.
The flight is included in the tour package
Step 4. Navigate to the North Pole
The icebreaker will depart from Murmansk.
- You will stay on board for 5 to 8 days across the Arctic Ocean to reach the North Pole.
- The 50 Years of Victory (the ship that departs for the North Pole) offers many fun activities to keep tourists happy, including a swimming pool and bar.
Method 3 of 3: By land
Step 1. Hire a guide or participate in a race
You can visit the North Pole by traveling overland from Russia or Canada, usually on skis, with a sled called a "pulk" and camping on ice. You can do this by hiring a private guide or by signing up for a race.
- Many races are organized each year with arrival at the North Pole, such as the Polar Challenge and the North Pole Race, in which participants travel 500 km on the ice towards the magnetic North Pole. As of 2016, the Ice Race also offers a similar experience.
- You will have to spend around € 35,000 to participate in one of these expeditions. The cost includes training, flights, equipment, food and insurance.
- As these competitions are open to a small number of people, you will need to contact the organizers for more information on how to register, costs and so on. You can find the form for the Ice Race on the internet, or send an e-mail to the organizer.
- Note that these competitions end at the magnetic North Pole (the one indicated by the compass) and not at the geographic one.
- You can hire a private guide for an even longer trip from Russia or Canada. This 800km expedition is known as "full distance". They usually leave in February.
- The complete trip is by far the most extreme and expensive option, accessible only to those who have the experience and the budget to tackle this expedition. You will need to contact the company providing the guides for pricing.
- If you really intend to try such a trip, you can fill out the online form from Adventure Consultants, a company that offers guides for these expeditions. Once done, the company will contact you to let you know if you can participate and if the experience is available.
- To consider such a trip you should be in excellent health and be able to experience it. Additionally, some routes require climbing experience and even ice picking skills and crampons.
Step 2. Travel to Russia or Canada
Book a plane ticket from your preferred location until the start of the competition or expedition.
- Organized competitions usually start from Resolute Bay in Nunavut, a northern region of Canada. Airlines First Air, Calm Air and Canadian North offer regular flights from Ottawa and Montreal to this location.
- Full distance trips usually depart from Cape Arktichevsky, Russia, or Ward Hunt Island, Canada. To get to these locations you usually have to book an extremely expensive charter flight. However, if you book your trip with Adventure Consultants, the company will arrange the flight from Resolute Bay to Ward Hunt Island.
Step 3. Ski north
Proceed north with your expedition, until you reach the pole. These overland routes are exhausting. You and your team or guide will ski every day for 8-10 hours on snow and ice.
- The journey is dangerous and requires crossing pressure ridges, looking for routes around areas where the ice has melted, and camping on the ice sheets.
- At night you will have to cook your own dinner and camp in makeshift snow igloos to shelter from the wind. Temperatures can drop as low as -40 ° C.
- If you are participating in a competition, you will spend approximately four weeks on the ice.
- The complete journey takes approximately 60 days.
- Some competitions and guided tours start closer to the pole and take only two weeks. If you can't stay a month or more on the ice, you can consider one of these options.
- Once you reach the pole, you will either camp there for the night or a helicopter will pick you up and take you to Barneo station, depending on the weather. The next day you can enjoy a hot meal in Barneo before flying back to civilization.
Advice
- The North Pole is very, very cold. If your expedition does not provide clothing, bring all your warmest clothes: heavy coats, earmuffs, boots, warm pants, gloves, hat and scarf. If you don't already have clothing suitable for extreme temperatures, you need to purchase them.
- Specifically, the companies that take tourists to the North Pole by land provide flannel anoraks, gloves, hats and padded masks. If you are not provided with clothing, you must invest in clothing similar to those described.
- If you've never traveled in arctic conditions, consider one of the less demanding options for your visit to the pole.
