THE GEOGRAPHIC NORTH POLE
__________________
18 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
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Paris to Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen | Fly from Paris to Longyearbyen to start your adventure of a lifetime on the Le Commandant Charcot |
| Day 2 | At Sea | Along Spitsbergen |
| Days 3 - 7 | Navigating through the sea ice | Sailing to the heart of the ice flow experience the vast expanse of virgin, immaculate ice |
| Day 8 | Geographic North Pole | Be one of the select few who have been to the Geographical North Pole |
| Days 9 - 13 | Navigating through the North Pole | Explore the beauty of the North-East of Greenland |
| Day 14 | At Sea Along Spitsbergen | The largest island in the Svalbard archipelago |
| Days 15-17 | Nordvest - Spitsbergen National Park | Nunataks, glaciers, islands and large bays, arctic tundra arctic terns and seals |
| Day 18 | Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen | Disembark Longyearbyen transfer to the airport in time for check-in of flight Longyearbyen/Paris. |
Ship Offering This Itinerary
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
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.
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.
Days 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: birds, seals and polar bears.
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 the Commandant-Charcot.
Day 9-13 Navigating Through the North Pole
The north-east of Greenland is renowned for being home to one of the oldest and thickest layers of ice on the planet. Aboard your ship, you will have the unique opportunity of sailing to the heart of this icy wilderness, many thousands of years old, and will notably travel along the coast of the North-East Greenland National Park, recognised as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. From your ship you will also discover Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord in the world. In this pure and preserved world, you will see abundant wildlife in a landscape of tundra and ice, a real delight for the eyes and for photographers.
Day 14 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.
Days 15-17 Nordvest – Spitsbergen National Park
Like the other protected areas of Svalbard, the Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park was established in the early 1970s to protect this exceptional environment against the growing interest of the mining industry. Nunataks, glaciers, islands and large bays, arctic tundra scattered with moss and lichen in shades of silver and gold… This region will fascinate you with its landscapes and with the numerous vestiges that bear witness to the history of the men – whale hunters and those involved in the first expeditions to the North Pole – who found themselves on these shores from the start of the 17th century. In this pristine environment, you will be able to observe arctic sterns or seals on the rocks that emerge at low tide.
Day 18 Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen fly 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.