Must-dos - North Pole
To embark on a North Pole cruise is to become one with the fabled history of polar exploration and live a sailing experience unlike anything else on the planet, pushing back the boundaries of the known world. As the ship makes its way slowly through the Arctic ice to reach this famous point, the immensity of the drifting ice pack reveals itself in all its glory: a luminous landscape of constantly changing shapes and reflections inhabited by an exceptional range of wildlife.
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All about the North Pole
In the race to explore the planet, the North Pole for a long time remained unreachable, despite numerous attempts to get there. Though Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole on foot in 1911, it would not be till 1925-1926 that he was able to even fly over the North Pole, in an airship! Reaching the legendary North Pole on foot or by boat were feats not achieved until much later… A look back at more than 400 years of history.
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Explore North Pole
Must-dos - North Pole
To embark on a North Pole cruise is to become one with the fabled history of polar exploration and live a sailing experience unlike anything else on the planet, pushing back the boundaries of the known world. As the ship makes its way slowly through the Arctic ice to reach this famous point, the immensity of the drifting ice pack reveals itself in all its glory: a luminous landscape of constantly changing shapes and reflections inhabited by an exceptional range of wildlife.
Slowly progressing amidst the ice
Sailing beyond the Arctic Circle through the glacial Arctic Ocean means dealing with a fragile and constantly changing environment. Finding the perfect path, weaving through the naturally open channels in the ice, hugging the ice floes... Profound humility, respect and a constant search for the most energy-efficient and safest routes take precedence over everything else when faced with the forces of nature encountered when cruising the North Pole A fascinating navigation strategy to watch and share together with the captain and crew.
A rich range of wildlife to see and observe
Though the North Pole is considered an icy desert in climate terms due to its very low levels of precipitation, its ecosystem is home to an exceptional range of wildlife wholly dependent on the ice for its existence. Cruising from Spitsbergen to the North Pole offers wonderful opportunities to see and observe a whole range of these fascinating and emblematic species, such as polar bears, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic terns, seals, walruses and whales.
Kayaking amongst the ice floes and icebergs
Adopting the age-old ways of life of Arctic peoples in order to hear the beating heart of the immense northern expanse is the ultimate dream getaway experience. An ancient type of boat, the kayak was invented by the Inuit 4,000 years ago and offers the best way to fully immerse yourself in the astonishing and intoxicating silence of the North Pole, allowing you to gently glide amongst the ice floes on a mirror of indigo to get up close to a bearded seal or a shimmering, crystalline iceberg. Originally a way of hunting and fishing, kayaking in the Arctic is today synonymous with relaxed contemplation and a true sense of connection with the fascinating extreme north.
Helping to advance the boundaries of polar research
The Le Commandant Charcot , France's only PC2-rated polar class ship, is equipped with polar research laboratories for hosting scientists onboard, thus providing an unprecedented level of support for academic research. The thrill of discovering or broadening your knowledge about the polar environment by attending fascinating lectures, or participating in experiments (such as collecting data about the weather, the ice and the water) useful for advancing international research, takes the experience of a North Pole cruise to a whole new level of adventure..
Reaching the legendary Geographical North Pole
The ultimate goal of an Arctic odyssey: reaching the Geographic North Pole located at a latitude of 90° north. Though the pole exerts a strong power of attraction, the extreme polar conditions are an obstacle only the most humble and determined explorers have been able to overcome. Heading out onto the pristine ice cap and setting off in search of the exact position of this legendary point once you arrive at the heart of this ocean of ice is a singular and unique experience, and represents the Holy Grail of North Pole cruises.
All about the North Pole
In the race to explore the planet, the North Pole for a long time remained unreachable, despite numerous attempts to get there. Though Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole on foot in 1911, it would not be till 1925-1926 that he was able to even fly over the North Pole, in an airship! Reaching the legendary North Pole on foot or by boat were feats not achieved until much later… A look back at more than 400 years of history.
A historical and international epic
1596 : Willem Barentsz and his Dutch expedition are the first to reach the record latitude of 79° 49' N.
1895 : sailing aboard Fram, a ship designed with a revolutionary hull able to withstand the pressure of the ice, the Norwegian Nansen becomes the first to approach the North Pole on foot and reach a latitude of 86° N.
1908-1909 : Americans Peary, Henson and Cook each claim to have reached the North Pole, feats disputed due to a lack of concrete evidence.
1925-1926 : Amundsen, Ellsworth and Nobile become the first to reach the North Pole in an airship.
1937 : the Soviet Papanin lands at the North Pole by plane.
1958 : American submarine the USS Nautilus becomes the first vessel of its kind to reach the North Pole.
1968-1969 : the North Pole is reached for the first time by snowmobile by American Ralph Plaisted in 1968 the reached again the following year on foot and using dog sleds by Briton Wally Herbert.
1977 : Arktika becomes the first Soviet icebreaker to reach the North Pole, during the Arctic summer.
1978 : Japanese adventurer Uemura becomes the first to reach the North Pole solo, supported by regular parachuted plane drops of food supplies.
1986 : Frenchman Jean-Louis Etienne reaches the North Pole solo for the first time travelling by skis and dog sled. American Ann Bancroft becomes the first woman to reach the pole without support the same year.
2021 : with the arrival of the Le Commandant Charcot, the only passenger ship with a PC2 class hull, PONANT becomes the first luxury cruise line able to offer expeditions to the North Pole.
The North Pole Facts and Figures
The ocean reaches a depth of 4,261 metres (13,980 ft) beneath the pole. The temperature at the North Pole ranges from -43°C to 0°C In winter, the temperature can range from -43°C to -26°C, while the average temperature in summer hovers around the freezing point, 0°C.
The sun reaches its highest point on the summer solstice, rising to a maximum elevation of 23.4368°. Because there is no permanent human presence at the North Pole, the region has no officially assigned time zone, though the normal convention is to use UTC+0.
