THE GEOGRAPHIC NORTH POLE

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16 DAYS

Push the limits of sailing with this exceptional new 16-day expedition cruise to the Geographic North Pole.

To reach this mythical point covered by ice floe all year round, 700km away from any emerged land, you will board Le Commandant-Charcot, the first hybrid electric polar exploration vessel.

Setting sail from Spitsbergen, you will enjoy an unforgettable maritime experience at the heart of sumptuous landscapes that are constantly evolving according to changes in the ice and the light. This itinerary, which lends itself perfectly to the observation of the wildlife, particularly rich at this time of the year, will take you as far as the pack ice. Then you will slowly progress to the heart of this silent world, frozen by the extreme cold, in the direction of the Grail of all polar explorers: the North Pole!

Beware though, as the ice floe is constantly drifting, driven together by currents and winds, you too must keep moving if you want to remain on our planet’s most northernmost point.

ITINERARY SUMMARY
DayPlaceHighlights
Day 1Longyearbyen, SpitsbergenStart your adventure of a lifetime fly from Paris to Longyearbyen to the pier for embarkation
Day 2 At SeaThe largest island in the Svalbard archipelago
Days 3 - 7Navigating Through Sea IceSailing to the heart of the ice floe, birds, seals and polar bears
Day 8Geographic North PoleBe one of the select few who have been to the Geographical North Pole
Days 9 - 13Navigating Through Sea IceSail through this vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice
Days 14 - 15At Sea along SpitsbergenTowards Longyearbyen
Day 16LongyearbyenDisembark Longyearbyen

Ship Offering This Itinerary

Le Commandant Charcot
Render Le Commandant Charcot

Hailing as the world’s first hybrid luxury polar exploration vessel, the Le Commandant Charcot combines the top tier of luxury with sustainable development at the heart of the design. Equipped with 135 luxury staterooms featuring elegant and warm stone, wood and leather detailing’s to reflect the natural environment that the ship will be sailing in, the Le Commandant Charcot is setting a new level for opulence in the polar regions.  Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to relax and unwind on-board with an abundance of social areas to choose from ranging from two pools (indoor and outdoor), a beauty corner, theater, three different lounges, multiple reception areas and different restaurants to choose from.

 

Day 1 Paris to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

Longyearbyen

Fly from Paris to Longyearbyen – 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.

Days 2 At Sea

Commandant Charcot Olivier-Blaud

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.

Days 3-7 Navigating Through the Sea Ice

Le-Commandant-Charcot-greenland-julien-fabro

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: birds, seals and polar bears.

Day 8 Geographic North Pole

Icy-scenery-enroute-North-Pole-Blog

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 the Commandant-Charcot.

Days 9-13 Navigating Through Sea Ice

Polar-bear-trekking-in-snow-Sea-Ice-on-way-back-from-North-Pole-blog

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: birds, seals and polar bears.

Days 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, Spitsbergen to Paris

An early morning disembarkation at Longyearbyen 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. Meet and greet at the port by our local representative transfer to the airport in time for check-in of flight Longyearbyen/Paris.

To book this cruise contact us on 1300 784 794 or email: contact@arctictravelcentre.com.au

We will tailor the perfect holiday to suit your needs.