NORTH POLE
Ski tour to the North Pole
Ref. number: -
Guaranteed departure dates for 2008:
22/3, 16/4
Introduction
White-outs, sub-zero temperatures, days
that can be mentally and physically
challenging. At first glance the Polar regions
don’t seem to be ideal vacation spots, yet
every year adventurers from around the
world join The Northwest Passage to explore
these incredible places. Why Go? The
answer is different for each person: for some
it is the incredible sense of discovery, for
others it is the thrill of new challenges - and
the powerful sense of accomplishment that
is the reward. Here are some reasons why
people go there:
- Reach the North Pole, the dream of
generations of explorers!
- Witness the abundant wildlife in stunning
setting of snow and ice!
- Fly over the icebound sea and enjoy the
immense polar landscape!
- Visit the historic sites of the first polar
expeditions!
Special highlights
- Svalbard is an archipelago lying in the
Arctic Ocean north of mainland Europe,
about midway between Norway and the
North Pole.
- Spitsbergen (formerly known as West
Spitsbergen, and sometimes mis-spelled as
Spitzbergen) is a Norwegian island, situated
in the Arctic Ocean. It covers approximately
39,044 sq km (15,075 sq miles).
- Longyearbyen is the administrative centre
of Svalbard and is located on Spitsbergen,
the largest island of the Svalbard
archipelago. Longyearbyen has
approximately 1,800 inhabitants, most of
them Norwegians and some Russians. It is
the world’s northernmost town with over
1000 people.
- Barneo Ice Base is situated at 89ºNorth,
100km south of the Geographic North Pole.
Itinerary
Day 0: Flight Moscow-MurmanskLongyearbyen (Spitzbergen) (approx.5
hours flight), transfer to Hotel.
Notice: Our service at Longyaerbyen is
limited to 2 transfers between the airport
and the hotel. Accommodation and
boarding expenses on Svalbard are not
included. The average cost of the
accommodation there is about 150-200
Euro per day.
/no meals included/
Day 1: This day we will stay in
Spitsbergen. We will meet the guide,
collect our expedition clothing kit and check
our individual and group gear. The guides
will gives us general instructions and help
us with the preparation for the training trip
and packing the sledges. At 19:00 we will
have introductory dinner. /dinner/
Day 2: Today we will have a training trip in
the Longyearbyen surrounding. We start
after breakfast (around 10:00)
/no meals included/
Day 3: Free time. 16:00 - information
meeting. The guides will brief us on the
situation at the Barneo region, planned
departure time and answer our final
questions. After the meeting we will pack
the expedition sledges.
/no meals included/
Day 4: After breakfast we will have a
transfer to the airport, security check and
boarding. Flight from Longyearbyen to
Barneo (approx. flight duration: 2,30 hrs).
Acquaintance with Barneo Ice Camp,
located at 89 degree North and pitching the
expedition camp at Barneo site.
/lunch at Barneo mess-tent, dinner/
Last edited by: IN, 21/12/07
Day 5: Start of the ski trek to the North
Pole. We start at 7:00 am for cooking
our breakfast. It takes about one hour
to cook and eat at the comfortable
temperature produced by a stove. After
breakfast we all assist in breaking down
the camp. Once the camp is broken
(around 09:30), we start the trek. Each
skier chooses the place in a team chain
according to the personal fitness
condition and shape. Our guide goes
first choosing the route. A strong man
follows him to help in case of
emergency. All other team members
stretch at the distance of several
hundred meters. The team is wellprovided by a second guide who
provides safety and helps the team
members to deal with the Arctic travel.
Usually we make 5-10 min breaks
every hour and have lunch break
around 2 pm. After lunch we continue
skiing, until the team finally breaks
around 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Then we all
together set up the camp and prepare
the dinner. We stay overnight in
expedition double tents on the drifting
ice. The length of the journey is
between 15-25 km. The starting point
for this and the other days will be
decided in dependence on the ice
conditions.
/breakfast, lunch, dinner/
Days 6-11: We follow the same
program as Day 5.
/breakfast, lunch, dinner/
Day 12: After we reach the top of the
globe we will celebrate the arrival and
you will be able to make a short phone
call to your friends and relatives via
satellite phone. We will spend a few
hours nearby the Pole before the
helicopter takes us back to Borneo Ice
Penguin Travel
Postadresse: Frederiksberg Allé 32, 1820 Frederiksberg C, København. Tel. i Norge: 85 22 66 85.
www.penguintravel.no, [email protected]
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Camp. After we arrive at the camp and have
dinner, we will have a flight from Barneo to
Longyearbyen on the AN-74 aircraft (approx.
flight duration 2,30 hrs). Accommodation in
hotel/guesthouse.
/breakfast, lunch, dinner in the Barneo
mess-tent/
Day 13: This is the North Pole Certificate
ceremony. The time and the place will be
discussed with the expedition participants
and announced in advance. Overnight at the
hotel.
/no meals included/
Day 14: Free time. You have a chance to
take part in Svalbard entertainment
programmes (for additional costs, advance
booking required). Transfer to the airport for
your flight home.
Accommodation and food:
Accommodation and boarding expenses on
Svalbard are not included. The average cost
of the accommodation there is about 150200 Euro per day. You have to choose your
hotel/guesthouse for the days 0, 1, 2, 3, 13
and 14. Double accommodation in heated
tents and full boarding at Barneo Ice Camp
before departure to Longyearbyen (in case
the group completed expedition before the
time). Double accommodation in expedition
tents and full boarding during the trek.
Tour type: GT
Difficulty grade: D/E
You should be an advanced skier, very
experienced on off piste.You are going to
walk on skis or afoot (depending on the ice
conditions) for 8-10 hours daily for 6-8 days.
Besides, you have to pull 30-40 kg
expedition sledge with equipment, fuel, and
food. The ice surface is mostly rugged,
making smooth and comfortable sliding
pretty unlikely.
Weather: The air temperature in the Pole
vicinity during the expedition period lies
usually between -20C° and -35C° and it is
good if you have endured it in the past.
Apart that wind may dramatically increase
cooling effect. Daily temperature deviations
in the Arctic are not significant in April. Sun
neither sets nor rises high over the horizon.
Weather fluctuations are still possible, that is
why we recommend to have insuranse
against full/partial cancellation, along with
open date return ticket.
Group size: Min. 1 person
Equipment and clothing:
Personal: 1 plastic mug with press-on cap; 1
strong plastic spoon; 1 plastic bowl of 2-3
cups capacity; 1 knife; 2 standard
carabineers; 1 pair sunglasses or goggles
100% UV & IR; sun screen lotion (SPF 40
large tube); hygienic lipstick (SPF 40, at
least 2 pieces); personal medical kit;
personal hygienic kit (toilet paper,
toothbrush, etc.); one wide mouthed plastic
bottle for using as an urinal in the night;
large bag or rucksack for your gear (1 or
2).
Provided and included: 2 sets thin
underwear made of Polycolon; 1 set
expedition thermal underwear made of
Power Stretch; 1 set Polartec 200 jacket
and trousers; 1 set storm shell jacket and
pants; 1 set warm coat and trousers with
Thinsulate insulation; 1 light hat with
Windstopper membrane; 1 hat for sleeping;
1 windstopper pile hat; 1 Polycolon
balaclava; 2 pairs thick expedition socks; 1
pair expedition footwear; 1 pair Thinsulate
shoes for using in tent; 1 pair expedition
mittens; 1 pair Thinsulate mittens; 1 pair
WindPro gloves; 1 individual sleeping bag
liner; 40 L backpack; 10m rope (6 mm).
Free rented: expedition tent (1 for 2
persons); extra ski with binding; ski poles;
cargo sledge; expedition class sleeping
bag (-30 C°); sleeping mats 40 mm;
cooking stove with fuel, cooking utensils;
litter bags.
Practical information: The key to just
about everything on these expeditions is
organization. You need a systemized way
of packing, cooking, getting ready for bed even dressing every morning! The morning
usually begins around 7 am as people
wake up and start their stoves. Melting
your day’s supply of water and eating
breakfast is the major event of the morning.
When that’s finished you begin the process
of breaking camp and packing your sled. A
couple of hours later, when camp is broken
down and packed snugly in the sleds the
real fun begins! Setting a steady pace, the
team will head towards their goal - the
North or South Poles. Along the way they
may encounter Polar challenges, such as
pressure ridges or open water or relentless
headwinds. Finding a way to rise above
these challenges is all a part of the hard
work and exhilaration of traveling in the
Polar regions. Every hour or so the team
will stop for a short break - a chance to
drink some tea and eat on high calorie
snacks. Staying hydrated and well fed is
critical to maintaining your warmth and
energy levels. Under the 24 hour sunlight,
we’ll make camp after a full day of skiing.
Once we’ve established camp, tents go up
and the stoves are started for the ongoing
job of melting water. Dinner is a wellearned opportunity to relax and socialize
with other expedition members. The
evening is also a good time to read or write
in your journal about the days events (bring
a pencil for this as pens often freeze!). To
prepare for bed you need to go through
your nightly ritual of ensuring important
gear, such as your boot liners, are dry and
placed somewhere warm (like in your
sleeping bag). Once everything is
appropriately stowed away and secure for
the night, it’s time to hit the sack!
The price includes:
1.Meeting at the Longyearbyen airport
(Spitsbergen, Norway)
2. 2 transfers airport-hotel-airport
3. Introductory dinner in Longyearbyen
4. Training tour in the Longyearbyen
surrounding
5. Aircraft flights Longyearbyen –
Barneo – Longyearbyen
6. Helicopter flights according to the
programme
7. Using Barneo facilities
8. Full board at Barneo Ice Camp and
on the trek
9. Disposable plates, spoons, forks
and cups at Barneo (2 sets per
visiting a mess-tent per person);
10. Personal polar expedition clothes kit
(please, see “Equipment and
clothing”)
11. Rent of the safety equipment
(communication, navigation aid,
weapon)
12. Rent of the skis with binding, ski
boots and ski poles
13. Rent of the cargo sledge and tent
14. Rent of the other group gear
15. Stove fuel
16. 1 satellite phone call from the North
Pole (2 min maximum, if battery
capacity is sufficient);
17. Certificate of the North Pole visit
18. Festive ceremony at Longyearbyen
19. Guides’ and representatives’
service
20. Tents at Barneo and full catering at
Barneo Camp before departure to
Longyearbyen (in case the group
completed expedition before the
time)
21. 50 kg of luggage.
The price does not include:
1. Travel costs from your place of
residence to Longyearbyen
(Spitsbergen, Norway) and back;
2. Accommodation in Longyearbyen
3. Meals at Longyearbyen
4. Transfers in Longyearbyen (excl.
airport-hotel-airport for travel home
and hotel-airport-hotel for travel to
the North Pole)
5. Activities in Longyearbyen (dogsledge rides, tours to the glacier,
excursion to the coal mine)
6. Alcohol drinks
7. Full medical-evacuation insurance
with minimum coverage for
evacuation – 50,000 Euro, required
8. Insurance against full or partial
cancellation of the expedition,
luggage insurance, life insurance
(strongly recommended)
9. Private belongings
10. All the unforeseen costs related to
the flights delays
11. Souvenirs and postal expenses
12. Overweight luggage – 20 Euro/kilo
*Changes and amendments may
Penguin Travel
Postadresse: Frederiksberg Allé 32, 1820 Frederiksberg C, København. Tel. i Norge: 85 22 66 85.
www.penguintravel.no, [email protected]
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apply to the program, depending on the
weather, ice or other conditions. It is
important to consider possible delays or
alterations, and take them with patience.
We strongly recommend you to acquire
insurance against full or partial
cancellation of the expedition.
GENERAL
================================
TOUR TYPES & GRADES
We provide different varieties of tours as
regards to their types and difficulty grades!
Whether you will choose individual and
group tours with a guide or combined
tours with a guide for some part of the trip
depends on you. We emphasize on using
local experienced guides with knowledge
of the local language, culture, history, art,
etc. The tours are conducted in the
English language. Guides in other
languages are available upon request.
Tour types
Our tours are divided in different tour
types, regardless of being guided or not or
if someone travels alone or in a group.
We have prepared your vacation so that
you can concentrate on new impressions
and experiences, awaiting you all the time.
Here is a brief description of this tour:
GT: Group tours: There is a guide
accompanying you throughout the whole
trip, meeting you at the airport upon arrival
and leaving you at the airport again for
departure. We use well-trained and
experienced local people with good
knowledge of English. The group size is
normally 2-7 people, if not specially
mentioned.
-------------------------------------------------------Difficulty grades
To prepare yourself for the best of your
vacation we recommend that you start
planning it in an advance. Good physical
condition is required. In order to achieve it
we advise you to start walking, jogging or
cycling everyday. Swimming a couple of
times a week is also highly recommended.
You do not need much to get yourself in
shape. And don’t forget that the most
important tip for an unforgettable active
holiday is to choose a trip which
corresponds to your physical condition!
-C/D: You should be an advanced skier,
very experienced on off piste.You are
going to walk on skis or afoot (depending
on the ice conditions) for 8-10 hours daily
for 6-8 days. Besides, you have to pull 3040 kg expedition sledge with equipment,
fuel, and food. The ice surface is mostly
rugged, making smooth and comfortable
sliding pretty unlikely.
================================
Vaccination and health:
There aren’t any special vaccinations
required for the high Arctic tours.
Travellers should seek local advice before
eating certain types of fish from the lakes
and fjords and mussels from along the
coast. The standard of healthcare is
high. A reciprocal agreement exists
between UK and Norway under which
British nationals are covered for
emergency treatment while visiting
Norway as long as they hold a European
Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Travellers
should ensure that they have adequate
travel and medical insurance. There is a
doctor in Borneo Ice Base who is an
expert in first aid and emergency cases.
===============================
Money and personal expenses
The official currency is the Norwegian
Krone (NOK) divided into 100 ore. Larger
establishments accept major credit cards
and travellers cheques. Visitors should
be aware that credit cards are generally
not accepted as a means of payment in
Norwegian supermarkets and petrol
stations. Foreign currency and travellers
cheques can be exchanged at banks and
major post offices, as well as many
hotels and travel agents, although for
poorer rates. ATMs are available in all
towns and cities. Currency conversion
(20 Dec 2007): 1 EUR = 8.0263
Norwegian Krone (NOR); 1 USD = 5.590
Norwegian Krone (NOR)
===============================
Cell phone coverage
In Svalbard you can use GSM phones.
From March 2005 you may also use
UMTS phones in Longyearbyen.
===============================
Electricity
Electrical current is 230 volts. Round,
two-pin plugs, as well as oblique flatblade plugs with ground are in use.
Electricity will not be available during the
trek itself.
===============================
Weather
Winter (January) temperatures at the
North Pole can range from about −43°C
(−45°F) to −26°C (−15°F), perhaps
averaging around −34°C (−30°F).
Summer temperatures (June, July and
August) average around the freezing
point (0°C, 32°F).
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North
Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold
winters; North Atlantic Current flows
along west and north coasts of
Spitsbergen, keeping water open and
navigable most of the year
===============================
Brief about Svalbard
Territory – 62.020 sq. km.
Population - 2,214 people in 2005
(Norwegian 70%, Russian, Ukrainian,
Polish).
Capital city – Longyearbyen (1800
people, most of them Norwegian and
some Russians)
Bigest towns - Samarqand
(population 366,000), Namangan
(308,000), Andijon (293,000),
Bukhoro (224,000), Farghona
(200,000), and Quqon (182,000).
Mountains – Newtontoppen
(1713m.a.s.l. the highest point of
Svalbard), Perriertoppen
(1712m.a.s.l.), Ceresfjellet
(1675m.a.s.l.), Chadwickryggen
(1640m.a.s.l.), Galileotoppen
(1637ma.s.l.).
Borders Coastline – 3.587 km.
============================
The ice-frozen North Pole is
currently a no man's land
supervised by a U.N. Commission.
The five Polar countries — Russia,
the U.S., Canada, Norway and
Denmark — each control only a
200-mile economic zone along
their coasts. And none of these
economic zones reach the North
Pole. Under the current U.N.
Maritime convention, one country's
zone can be extended only if it can
prove that the continental shelf
into which it wishes to expand is a
natural extension of its own
territory, by showing that it shares
a similar geological structure.
Penguin Travel
Postadresse: Frederiksberg Allé 32, 1820 Frederiksberg C, København. Tel. i Norge: 85 22 66 85.
www.penguintravel.no, [email protected]
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