NORTH POLE
Short visit to the North Pole
Ref. number: -
Guaranteed departure dates for 2008:
11/4, 19/4
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: Moscow-MurmanskLongyearbyen (Spitzbergen) (approx.5
hours flight), transfer to the 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: After breakfast we will have a
transfer to the airport for a flight to
Barneo Ice Camp. We will fly on board of
AN-74 aircraft (approx. flight duration –
2,30 hrs). After we land we will take a
look of Barneo Ice Camp. Then MI-8
helicopter will bring us to the geographic
North Pole at first chance, depending on
the weather and ice conditions (approx.
flight duration 40 min). During the
celebration of the arrival to the North
Pole you will have an opportunity to
make a short phone call to your friends
or relatives via satellite phone. We have
about 1-2 hours at the North Pole. After
enjoying the feeling to be on the top of
the globe we will return to the Barneo Ice
Camp by the helicopter. We will have
around 2 hours free time in the camp. Six
– seven hours after our arrival to Barneo,
we will take the AN-74 aircraft back to
Longyearbyen. After the arrival we will
have a transfer to the hotel.
/full board during the stay at Barneo
Ice Camp/
Last edited by: IN, 21/12/07
Day 2: This is the day of he North
Pole Certificate ceremony. The time
and the place will be discussed with
the expedition participants and
announced in advance.
/no meals included/
Day 3: Free time. You will 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 boarding:
Expenses (overnight stays and
meals) 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 1, 2 and 3.
Tour type: GT
Equipment and clothing
Personal: 1 set thin underwear made
of Polycolon (thermal underwear);
fleece jacket and trousers made of
Polartec 300 or Polartec 300; 1 pair
mittens or gloves youn are using
during the winter; 2 pairs thick
expedition socks; sunglasses 100%
UV & IR:1; sun protection cream
(SPF 40); hygienic lipstick (SPF 40);
personal medical kit; large bag or
rucksack for your gear.
Provided and included: 1 set winter
coat and trousers with Thinsulate
insulation; 1 pair expedition footwear;
1 pair expedition mittens; 1 woolen
hat with Windstopper membrane.
Penguin Travel DMC-Bulgaria
Address: 9 Orfej Str., 1421 Sofia, BULGARIA; Phone: +35924001050; E-mail: [email protected]
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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.
*Changes and amendments may 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.
Group size: Min. 1 person
The price includes:
- Meeting at the Longyearbyen airport
(Spitsbergen, Norway);
- 2 transfers airport-hotel-airport;
- Aircraft flights Longyearbyen - Barneo Longyearbyen;
- Helicopter flights Barneo - North Pole Barneo;
- 1 satellite phone call from the North Pole
(2 min maximum, if battery capacity is
sufficient);
- Using Barneo facilities;
- Full catering at Barneo Ice Camp;
- Disposable plates, spoons, forks and
cups (2 sets per visiting a mess-tent per
person);
- Rent of the safety equipment
(communication, navigation aid, weapon);
- Certificate of the North Pole visit;
- Festive ceremony at Longyearbyen;
- Guides’ and representatives’ service;
- Personal polar clothes kit (boots,
trousers, coat, mittens, hat);
- 15 kilos of luggage;
The price does not include:
- Travel costs from your place of residence
to Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen, Norway )
and back;
- Accommodation in Longyearbyen;
- Catering in Longyearbyen;
- Transfers in Longyearbyen (excl. airporthotel-airport for travel home and hotelairport-hotel for travel to the North Pole);
- Activities in Longyearbyen (dog-sledge
rides, tours to the glacier, excursion to the
coal mine: depending on the weather);
- Alcohol drinks;
- Full medical-evacuation insurance with
minimum coverage for evacuation 50,000
Euro -required;
- Insurance against full or partial
cancellation of the expedition, luggage
insurance, life insurance (strongly
recommended);
- Private belongings;
- All the unforeseen costs related to the
flights delays;
- Souvenirs and postal expenses;
- Overweight luggage - 20 Euro/kilo.
Penguin Travel DMC-Bulgaria
Address: 9 Orfej Str., 1421 Sofia, BULGARIA; Phone: +35924001050; E-mail: [email protected]
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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.
================================
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.
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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.
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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 DMC-Bulgaria
Address: 9 Orfej Str., 1421 Sofia, BULGARIA; Phone: +35924001050; E-mail: [email protected]
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