Expeditions to the North and South Poles

Antarctica is not subject to any national sovereignty: no visa or passport formalities are required for the continent itself. However, transit countries en route to standard departure points, Chile (for Union Glacier, South Pole) or Norway (Svalbard, North Pole), may require entry documentation depending on your nationality. Check entry requirements for all transit countries with the relevant embassies well before booking.

All activities within the Antarctic Treaty area require an authorisation issued by a competent national authority of one of the Treaty's Consultative Parties. Operators who are members of IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) are bound by the full set of IAATO safety, biosecurity, and environmental protocols that flow from this framework. The permit is specific to each expedition and to the operator's national authority.

The primary risks are extreme cold, air temperatures can fall below -40 °C in the field, compounded by wind chill, frostbite, hypothermia, and dehydration, which is frequently underestimated in a dry, windy environment. At the South Pole, the Antarctic plateau altitude (approximately 2835 m at the pole, up to 4892 m on the summit of Vinson) adds hypoxia and potential oedema to the risk profile. UV exposure is intensified by snow reflection and stratospheric ozone depletion: rigorous eye and skin protection is essential throughout.

No vaccinations are mandatory for entry into Antarctica or Arctic expedition zones. It is recommended to be up to date with standard vaccinations (tetanus-diphtheria-polio and MMR). A pre-departure medical assessment, including cardiac evaluation and fitness for prolonged effort in extreme conditions, is essential; a medical certificate of fitness is required for all participants. Entry requirements vary by nationality: check with the authorities of any transit countries and with your own government's travel health service.

Insurance covering medical expenses, medical evacuation, and repatriation is mandatory. Antarctic logistics operators typically require medical evacuation cover of at least USD 150,000 for expeditions in the Ellsworth Mountains area (Union Glacier / Vinson sector), and up to USD 300,000 for more remote itineraries such as long coastal crossings. Evacuation flights are at the participant's expense unless covered by insurance. Standard travel insurance policies are generally insufficient: verify explicitly that your policy covers polar remote-area operations and contains no exclusions for extreme conditions.

There are no public emergency services in Antarctica. In the event of a medical emergency, first aid is provided by the guide and expedition members until external assistance arrives — which can take several days depending on weather. Evacuation is by aircraft from the nearest logistics hub (e.g. Union Glacier for South Pole expeditions), subject to a flyable weather window. A 24/7 medical helpline provides remote support throughout the expedition. In the Arctic, evacuation logistics depend on the operational location and aircraft availability from the ice camp.

These expeditions demand a high to extreme level of physical commitment. The last-degree South Pole (111 km manhauling, 18 days) is rated "Challenging": good overall fitness and the capacity to haul a pulka for several hours per day are sufficient, with no prior technical mountaineering required. The North Pole expedition (16 days) and the Vinson + South Pole combination (29 days) are rated "Difficult" and require more intensive physical preparation and prior experience in polar environments.

Significant experience in polar environments is required for all programmes in this category. For both the North Pole and long coastal South Pole routes, prior cross-country skiing with a pulka in cold conditions is strongly recommended. The Vinson + South Pole combination additionally requires alpine experience in winter conditions and familiarity with glacier travel equipment. For snowkite programmes, full autonomy in all conditions, including strong wind and low visibility, is required.

Polar training courses are available, typically run in Scandinavia, covering manhauling technique, winter bivouac, and cold-risk management. These courses are designed as a progressive pathway towards major pole expeditions. A personalised preparation programme can be built based on your current experience and target expedition, working directly with the organisation team.

South Pole expeditions take place during the austral summer, from November to January, the period of continuous polar daylight and relatively stable conditions on the Antarctic plateau. The North Pole is accessible in April only, a very narrow window corresponding to the last period of stable sea ice before the spring melt. This seasonal constraint makes the North Pole logistically far more difficult to plan than the South Pole.

Several options exist depending on desired duration and commitment. The "last degree" (111 km) involves a Twin Otter drop-off at 89° South followed by skiing to the pole. Coastal itineraries are far longer: from Messner Start (911 km), Hercules Inlet (1,130 km), or Axel Heiberg Glacier (550 km, following Amundsen's historic route). Snowkiting from Novo on Queen Maud Land offers a different approach, with loop variants via the East Antarctic domes. Custom expeditions to the magnetic poles and poles of inaccessibility can also be organised.

Access to the North Pole depends on the availability of a drifting ice camp at approximately 89° North. This infrastructure has experienced significant disruption in recent years, due to both geopolitical factors and the accelerating thinning and instability of Arctic sea ice. Next departures for the North Pole should be confirmed directly with the team, given ongoing operational uncertainty.

Pole expeditions represent a substantial investment, reflecting specialist polar aviation logistics, field operations in extreme environments, and expert guiding. Prices in this catalogue range from €56,000 (North Pole last degree, 16 days) to €109,500 (Vinson + South Pole combination, 29 days). International flights to the regional departure point (Punta Arenas, Oslo, etc.) are not included and should be budgeted separately, along with medical evacuation insurance.

Prices typically include guiding and expedition leadership, field logistics (camp, internal flights, Twin Otter drop-off), food and collective equipment during the expedition, weather routing, and 24/7 medical support. Items generally not included are: international flights to the regional departure point, personal insurance (medical evacuation and repatriation), personal technical equipment (extreme-cold suit, boots, sleeping bag), and any applicable transit visa fees or departure taxes. Full inclusion details are specified on each expedition page.

Each expedition is led by experienced French-speaking and international polar guides with specific expertise in the areas covered. A dedicated weather router monitors conditions in real time, and a 24/7 medical helpline provides remote medical support throughout the expedition. Group sizes are limited: up to 10 participants for the North Pole and up to 12 for Antarctic expeditions, ensuring individualised support.

All programmes can be run as private departures, for a pair, a small group of friends, or a family. Fully customised expeditions can also be designed from scratch: towards the magnetic poles, the poles of inaccessibility, or along a bespoke itinerary. These projects are developed in close collaboration with the organisation team.

Antarctica is one of the most fragile and strictly regulated environments on Earth. All expeditions operate in compliance with the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, the Guidelines for Visitors to the Antarctic adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, and IAATO biosecurity protocols — including equipment disinfection, strict waste management, and a prohibition on introducing organic materials. Equivalent commitments apply in the Arctic. These constraints are an integral part of expedition preparation and operation.