Reaching this mythical point on the constantly shifting pack ice
Highlights
- An expedition that very few people have performed to reach the mythical North Pole
- Magnificent and wild environment, with pack ice, open water, ice blocks, cold, wind, etc.
- Guided by an experienced polar guide from Polar Experience team
- Personalized weather forecast services and specialized medical hotline H24
- More than an expedition, a human adventure
This rare expedition allows us to reach this mythical point in perpetual motion. Accompanied by a particularly experienced French-speaking polar guide from Polar Experience, IPGA - International Polar Guide Association, we will need determination to get there, hauling our heavy sleds between pressure ridges and battling the transpolar current. We fly to the Russian base of Barneo, then reach the starting point of our expedition at latitude 89° North. One last degree, 111 kilometers and ten days later, we reach the North Pole. For the more motivated, we propose a round trip from Barneo to the North Pole, or a two-degree journey to the Pole, i.e. 220 kilometers. Both options are possible.
Overview
In April 2018, Dixie, Jérôme and Michel carried out a last degree expedition to the North Pole organized by Expeditions Unlimited. Watch their expedition, both a physical challenge and a human adventure in an extraordinary Arctic environment. As of June 2024, no expedition has reached the North Pole since 2018. The explanations and insights of Dixie Dansercoer, one of the best polar guides in the world, make it an interesting and valuable testimony (short version film click here).
Discover the video of Pascal's expedition in April 2015 with Dixie. They made it despite adverse conditions. The commentaries are in French but images speak for themselves !
The first exploration of the North Pole, though disputed, is attributed to the American Frederick Cook who was said to have reached the Pole on April 21st, 1908. Since then, many experts have questioned the reality of this feat.
The United States Congress has attributed the first exploration to the American Robert Peary who would have reached the North Pole on April 6th, 1909, but again, historians dispute this fact since a discovery of a copy of Peary’s diary, in which he was mistaken in his estimates. The first upheld exploration of the North Pole is for the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and the Italian Umberto Nobile, who flew over it aboard an airship on May 12th, 1926...
For this last degree to the North Pole, we will probably go by helicopter from the Russian base Barneo located near latitude 89° North, to begin the expedition. The Russians unfetter this scientific base in April every year, for one month only. We reach Barneo from Longyearbyen, Svalbard. The flight lasts 2 hours 30 minutes.
In April, the temperature varies between -20°C and -30°C and the sky is usually clear and dry. Blizzards are, however, not to exclude. Winds can reach 10 to 20 m/s, or about 30 to 70 km/h, which reinforces the cold effect. Midnight sun.
Arctic drift, ice chaos, open water, polar bears...this is what to expect for nine intense expedition days. An excellent physical condition and mental strength are needed to achieve this feat with a success rate of around 80%.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Day 1
We land in Krasnoyarsk, capital city of Siberia – We are welcomed by your guide. Night in hotel.
DAY 2: Flight to Khatanga – Briefing
Day 2
We land in Khatanga after a flight by Antonov AN-74 aircraft of around 3 h 30. We check our equipment with our guide and are invited to a briefing and welcome dinner. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 3: Training around Khatanga
Day 3
We take advantage of this day to train in the Khatanga area and perhaps do some last shopping for provisions and snacks. Our equipment is weighed in preparation for the next day's flight. Night in a hotel.
Day 4: Khatanga – Barneo
Day 4
Loading our equipment and flying to Barneo in an Antonov AN-74, we land after about 5 hours. We do a final check of our equipment and then, if we do not need a helicopter drop-off, set off directly to quickly familiarize ourselves with our gear. We pitch our tents a few kilometers from the Barneo base. Dinner and overnight in our tents.
Day 5: Departure of the expedition to the North Pole
Day 5
Today we actually start our expedition. Our sleds are loaded and balanced. Depending on the ice conditions, the geographical position of Barneo and the option we chose the day before, we either go directly to the ski base or we are dropped off by helicopter to begin the expedition.
Days 6 to 13: Expedition to the North Pole
Day 6
We have a grand total of nine days to reach the geographic North Pole.
In the morning, when we leave camp with our sleds, the drift during the night may have wiped out all the laborious distance we covered the day before... the need for great mental strength is thus added to fitness in order to succeed in this short and intense expedition. The ice drift remains the biggest uncertainty of our expedition. If it is fast and against our movements, there lies the difficulties ahead.
Added to the difficulty of drifting are the open waters we cross with our floating sleds and dry suits, which save us from tedious and time-consuming rounding, the pressure ridges we have to climb up and down in a chaos of ice, and the bears which, with the melting of the pack ice, are moving ever higher in latitude. The ice is sometimes too thin to bear our weight...
Days 14 to 16: return flight to Khatanga then Krasnoyarsk
Day 14
Depending on the Antonov's rotation and the weather, if possible on the same day, we take our Antonov for a return flight to Khatanga, then the next day to Krasnoyarsk. We unload our equipment, clean and dry it. Dinner and overnight at the inn before flying to Krasnoyarsk the next day. At this stage, it seems sensible to take a weather safety day, which we will spend in Barneo, Khatanga or Krasnoyarsk.
END OF EXPEDITION
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Trip notes
Guiding
For more than five participants, your expedition leader is a polar guide from the Polar Experience team (see description above), IPGA - International Polar Guide Association, who speaks French, Dutch and English, and is highly experienced in polar environments and group management.
He represents Expeditions Unlimited in dealings with the group, our partners and local authorities. He takes the decisions necessary for the expedition to run smoothly. His authority is paramount and inescapable. You must respect his decisions, as well as those taken collectively.
And throughout the program, we will rely on other local skills as needed. Last but not least, we will have H24 access to a highly experienced weather forecast services and a doctor specializing in cold and isolated environments.
If there are fewer than five participants (from one to four), we guarantee your departure, and you will be part of an international team led by a highly experienced English-speaking polar guide. Services will remain unchanged, and travel conditions will remain the same.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Difficulty level
Level rated: difficult
This program is aimed at participants in good physical shape, with a significant sport practice, endurance in particular, holding a strong mental to face difficulties that are unforeseen by nature.
Although short and perhaps precisely because it is, this expedition is extremely challenging physically and mentally. It requires a great sense of responsibility and autonomy. The high Arctic environment is unpredictable in terms of meteorology as well as in terms of the state of the ice. Very low temperatures can be reached (-30°C to -40°C ) as can strong winds which further increase the "wind effect" on the temperature on the skin. Frostbite is then possible, the severity of which may necessitate the interruption of the expedition. Inlets of open water sometimes have to be crossed. To book this expedition, potential participants are required to send us a Resume of their past 10 years polar and/or mountaineering expeditions experiences. This program is therefore objectively risky, which is why few operators offer it. These risks must be understood by potential participants at the time of registration. This is also why we ask them to complete and sign medical questionnaires, as well as a liability waiver for Expeditions Unlimited / Secret Planet, the guide and the logistician Vicaar.
Meeting point
The meeting point is in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
If international flights are not included in the price, we can book them for you free of charge.
You enter Russia via Moscow or St. Petersburg, then fly to the Siberian capital. The countries with flights to Russia are currently available:
- Serbia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia ;
- UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Syria ;
- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan ;
- China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri-Lanka, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar ;
- Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunis, Seychelles, Ethiopia ;
- Venezuela, Cuba.
Buses from Finland and Estonia to St. Petersburg are also possible to date.
From Krasnoyarsk, we fly to Barneo Station on the Arctic Ocean via the village of Khatanga, probably in an Antonov AN – 74. The flight takes around 6 hours (3 hours to Khatanga then 3 hours to Barneo). The landing in Barneo on the icy runway is impressive. We take the same plane back.
Our meeting point is at Longyearbyen airport where our guide greets us. Depending upon where you are flying from, many companies fly to Oslo which will be the only airport to reach Longyearbyen. The airline serving Spitsbergen from Oslo is SAS.
From Longyearbyen, we then fly to the Russian station of Barneo on the Arctic Glacial Ocean, probably in an Antonov AN – 74, rented by our partner Vicaar. The flight lasts about 3 hours. The landing at Barneo on the icy runway is impressive. We will take the same plane on the way back.
From Barneo, we then take a helicopter for a drop-off at the start of the expedition. In the same way, we take a helicopter from the end of the expedition to return to Barneo.
Barneo logistics
The high cost of the logistics of this program is obviously not only linked to the cost of the return flight in Antonov (AN – 74) from Krasnoyarsk to the Russian station of Barneo or the helicopter flights but to all the costs necessary for the creation of this extraordinary platform with a lifespan of approximately one month per year, whether it concerns the assembly and dismantling of the platform (delivery of equipment, creation of landings, refueling, etc.) and the means implemented on the platform (rescue, pilots, doctors, accommodation, meals, etc.).
Vicaar is the organization that is in charge of this logistics exclusively and it is therefore also with them that you contract on this logistics part. Also, you must sign all of their documents (registration form; medical form; disclaimer) and have accepted their general and specific conditions of sale and finally, prove that you have repatriation and health insurance. We naturally assist you in providing these documents.
Given the diverse origins of the participants on this trip, international outward and return flights are not included in this package. In most cases, we book flights on your behalf to ensure that the whole group arrives at the destination at the same time. We do not charge any fees for these air bookings. Please do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your own tickets, we will advise you on the ideal flight schedule to enable all participants to arrive within a reduced time frame. At the very least, you need tickets that can be modified.
Accommodations
In an inn or hotel in Krasnoyarsk and Khatanga (self-catering, not included in the price) and in a camp in Barneo and in tents during the expedition.
We can offer you accommodation in these two Russian cities.
Meals
Meals on your own (not included) in restaurants or hotels in Krasnoyarsk and Khatanga. Meals included in Barneo camp. During the expedition, meals will have been prepared in advance in the form of freeze-dried rations. They provide us with all the calories we need for the expedition, with the emphasis on balance, weight and ease of preparation.
Transfers / Transport
Transfers to and from the airport, and to and from the expedition departure point, are provided by cab (not paid for).
Group size
The group is made up of a maximum of 4 to 10 participants. For groups of five or more, we provide a second experienced polar guide from the Polar Experience team. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Equipment
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a complete list is provided to allow you to check that you are taking what is necessary.
Your guide is equipped with a satellite phone, a VHF radio, high-mountain safety equipment, a locator beacon, a GPS and all the other equipment needed to ensure a safe expedition. All collective logistical equipment is provided, including tents and mattresses, stoves, etc. Personal technical equipment can also be loaned to participants (pulkas and harnesses in particular). Personal equipment (clothing, footwear) is not provided. A full list of what is not provided is given below. Cold-weather sleeping bags, mattresses, skis and boots can be hired from us or our partners.
Our commitments to sustainable development
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
These calculations made us aware of the importance of the total carbon emissions generated by our activity. Also, we have committed in 2022 to a carbon reduction that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. Thus, in 2030, we commit ourselves not to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02. Thus, our maximum “carbon” budget for 2024 is 2,950 tonnes and for 2025, this budget will be reduced to 2,800 tonnes. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 4,12 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €124 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €7,000 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Polar Experience guiding
This program is guided by a Polar Experience guide, accredited by the IPGA (International Polar Guides Association) with a solid experience in the polar regions and who adhere to a specific working method to help participants achieve their goals on an individual basis. They frequently lead participants in Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, towards the North Pole, the South Pole and elsewhere in Antarctica like in Queen-Maud Land. Not only are they some of the best polar guides in the world, but they also have first-rate teaching and interpersonal skills, making the experience you are about to have, with and thanks to them, even rarer.
These guides were all trained by our late Dixie Dansercoer, who tragically passed away in June 2021 in Greenland. With many years of polar experience, he had developed a high-level team with a specific approach which can be summarized as follows:
- Respect for the environment: going places and leaving no traces, this is what we implement the best way we can during all our Polar Experience guided trips and expeditions. As expeditions are inherently based on a minimalist’s attitude, we stick to the basics and avoid excesses. Respect for local cultures.
- Safety: our knowledge and know-how has been developed with a major focus on maximum experience and minimal risk for our participants. Preparation and high-quality equipment are obviously two major issues with no compromise. We have as well weather, medical and rescue partners on stand-by 24/7. Your guide has a satellite telephone, an Iridium Go! VHF radio, mountaineering safety equipment, a location beacon, GPS and other equipment necessary for a journey in the best safety conditions.
- Preparation & training: full immersion in physical and mental training, equipment knowledge, First Aid basics, logistical challenges and crisis management. Understanding the environmental, cultural and geographical characteristics of polar environment, learning from pioneering and contemporary expeditions. Preparation calls and expeditions training (theory, practice) over a weekend.
- High quality equipment: constant improvements and customized adjustments for maximum efficiency and performance. Screening of personal clothing and advice on purchase of special polar clothing at partner stores with special discounts.
Julie Brown, Dixie's partner of many years, now leads this dynamic little team.
Each participant receives the useful book, Polar Exploration: A practical handbook for North and South Pole expeditions, hard cover or electronic version, written by Dixie Dansercoer, which is the reference handbook that explains all aspects of polar journeys and expeditions: polar environment, safety, preparation, training and equipment.
Departures and pricing
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
No date works for me!
I initiate a new datePrice includes
- Return flights from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to Barneo on the Arctic ocean
- Helicopter flight from Barneo to the start of the expedition
- Helicopter flight from end of the expedition to Barneo
- 30 kg personal baggage allowance on flights to/from Barneo
- Very experienced polar guide
- Meals in the form of dehydrated rations during the expedition
- Tents for two people, stoves and fuel during expedition
- Pulkas and harnesses, mattresses and extreme-cold weather sleeping bags
- A security satellite phone (reserved for the guide)
- Taxes and permits
- Personalized and experienced weather forecast services throughout the expedition
- Medical follow-up by Ifremmont during the expedition (see above)
- Preparatory meetings face-to-face and/or remotely
- Expedition live coverage for your community (InReach beacon supply, IridiumGo and subscriptions, LivExplorer service configuration)
Price does not include
- The international flight between your place of residence and Krasnoïarsk, Russia
- Accommodations and meals in Krasnoïark and in Khatanga
- Consular fees and health tests (Covid, etc.)
- Excess baggage beyond the 30 kg allowance to/from Barneo.
- Airport/hotel transfers in Russia
- Possible customs taxes on arrival in Russia
- Any taxes for the importation of satellite phones, professional communication equipment and filming of a commercial nature.
- Expenses related to an expedition schedule shift (additional nights of accommodation in Russia, meals, flights supplements).
- Costs related to an early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, modification of plane tickets or other unforeseen activities in this program.
- Tips for the guides, to be shared with the other participants according to your satisfaction.
- Hotel nights, meals and other personal expenses during face-to-face preparation meetings in France, if any.
- Personal equipment (please see equipment list below).
- Drinks and all personal expenses (personal visits, taxis, souvenirs, laundry, etc.).
- Travel and expedition insurance (assistance, evacuation and repatriation).
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
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