These days, tourists from around the world are bypassing generic vacation spots and instead of exploring exotic and popular destinations, they are looking for something unique and extraordinary. One such getaway which tops the list of the most out-of-the-way and eyeteeth-worth destinations in the world, is North Pole – the ‘Everest’ of polar expeditions. Ideal for those who have always dreamed of seeing the mighty arctic ice, enjoying its austere beauty and indulging in ultimate adventure, the North Pole promises truly unforgettable vacations to remember forever!
Conveniently sitting in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, some 450 miles north of Greenland, North Pole or the northern end of the Earth’s axis is more of a GPS location when you are on the ice cap because it’s not a constant and can move up to 16 km each day. The depth of the ocean at the North Pole is more than four thousand meters and the ice is about 2-3 meters thick. North Pole is in almost total darkness for half of the year, that is why it is attainable only during a short ‘window’ of time, from March to May.
Anyone can visit the North Pole. There are outfitters and tour guides. From a base camp, travelers can get dropped off by helicopter many miles away from the pole, where they can ski, dog sled, snowmobile, see wildlife and enjoy incredible vistas found nowhere else on Earth. There are two ways to reach the North Pole: Barneo and North Pole Cruise.
Barneo, sometimes spelled ‘Borneo’ is the first one, a seasonal Russian base set up in late March every year on the sea ice about 60 miles from the Geographic North Pole. To build the station a team of commandos actually parachutes onto the ice along with some heavy machinery and a variety of tools used to construct the camp and runway, the latter catering for the air-borne tourist industry that operates from Longyearbyen in Svalbard (Norway).
Camp facilities include heated accommodation tents with comfortable bedding, a large mess tent and kitchen that serves regular hot meals. Visitors will also find a souvenir store selling unique Barneo, Arctic and North Pole memorabilia.
Flights to the North Pole are available through American, Norwegian, British and Australian guide services. All tours land on the blue ice runway at the Russian research base, Ice Station Barneo.
Here are some of the tours that will bring you to North Pole adventures.
North Pole in a Day – This tour is open to people of any age and health condition. After you have flied to Barneo, a helicopter will take you to the North Pole, where you can take amazing photos of the surroundings and indulge in other activities for about 2 hours, after which you return to Borneo, where lunch with champagne is waiting for you. This tour costs approximately $18,000.
Overnight at Barneo – This tour includes all the above mentioned tour features, plus a celebratory dinner and a pleasant night stay in heated tents, sleeping on bunks and mattresses. Cost: $18,500.
Overnight at the Pole –Once you are in Barneo, you’ll fly by helicopter to the North Pole. There your guides will set up camp and help you in cooking your evening meal on camp stoves. You’ll be given down sleeping bags and next morning return to Barneo, where you’ll have lunch and them leave home. Cost: $23,000 to $24,000.
North Pole Cruise
The second way to get to the North Pole is no less amazing and romantic one – Icebreaker Cruise to the North Pole. Only one departure is available throughout the year and only one ship, called ’50 Years of Victory’ offers this wonderful experience. The ship is the first Arctika-class icebreaker to have a spoon-shaped bow and is the largest and most sophisticated powerful icebreaker ever constructed.
This year, more precisely in the beginning of April, 2013 an ice base will be constructed by the personnel of the Russian polar aviation some 100 km off the North Pole, which will have the capacity of accepting Antonovo’s An-12, An-26, An-74 aircraft and the largest and the most powerful helicopter in the world Mi-26. The helicopters in the ice base will provide the airlifting of tourists from the ice base to the North Pole and support to more than 10 programs aimed at adventuring the ‘top of the world.’
Dare to undertake this ultimate arctic expedition and be one of the lucky club of those, who have achieved the truly amazing destination.
