The North Pole may seem like an enchanted place with all its lore. But this frozen edge of Earth is very real—and for the most daring travelers, it’s an exhilarating destination. Alex Mudd from Swoop Arctic, a travel agency specializing in polar holidays.
You won’t see a toy shop or an elf’s village, but those who have made the trip say that it is as magical as a Christmas fantasy. If you’re lucky, you may be able to toast your arrival on the deck a luxury icebreaker or ski your way to the Pole after days of dragging your sled through shifting Arctic sea-ice. In either case, you will stand on a spot where very few people have stood before.
Contrary to what you might think, December isn’t the ideal time to go knocking on Santa’s door—it’s dark 24 hours a day and the daily highs are just above zero degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, the season starts in April, and continues into the summer. Arctic sun doesn’t set Sea ice is relatively stable. Now is the perfect time to plan a trip to the top of the globe.
Whether you choose a high-latitude cruise or a gritty expedition, here’s how to reach the North Pole—no reindeer required.
Luxury Cruising is the Easy Way to Reach North Pole
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Sail in style to the North Pole aboard Le Commandant CharcotIt is the only passenger vessel in the world that can reach the North Pole. “It is like going on an ultra-luxury hotel that can go through 3 meters [about 10 feet] Andy Marsh, the founder of Polar EscapesTravel to the Arctic and Antarctic with.
Operated by French Cruise Line Ponant, Le Commandant Charcot It is a floating boutique-hotel that is part research station and part floating polar station. There are saunas, treatment rooms and an Alain Ducasse Restaurant on board. Enjoy the comfort of “blue lagoon,” a heated outdoor pool between 80 and 98 degrees.
It is still an adventure. Over several days, the ship moves northward through a seascape that becomes increasingly surreal as it cracks and breaks the ice. Experts like glaciologists, polar historians, and naturalists will host workshops and lectures as the ship cuts a path across the frozen Arctic Ocean.
Mudd says, “Traveling on a trip such as this is a very intimate and personal experience.” “She takes [roughly] 200 passengers. It will feel like a toy after a long flight. [traditional cruise] Ships that carry up to 5, 000 people.”
Once the ship reaches 90 degrees north—a GPS reading more than a place—it parks near the Pole for several days. The expedition parkas are donned by the travelers and they step out onto the polar ocean.
Mudd says, “It isn’t just about getting to the North Pole, giving high-fives all around, then turning around and coming back.” The ship is parked on the ice at the North Pole for extended periods of time. You can go on daily excursions to the ice. polar plunge For those who are crazy enough and brave enough to try it. Many guests walk around the area, essentially circling it in a few short steps. Kayaking can be offered when there are cracks in the sea-ice (open leads).
While temperatures are below freezing, they do not reach the extremes that many expect. You’ll want to pack your own thermals, even though the cruise line will provide you with Arctic parkas. base layersThe fleece jacket and waterproof gloves are essential. The Arctic sun reflects intensely off the ice, so sunglasses and sunscreen are essential.
Trips to the North Pole Le Commandant Charcot The tours run from mid-July to mid August and last 16 to 18 days. They begin with a charter flight to Longyearbyen (the capital of the region) from Paris. Norwegian region of Svalbard.
Marsh says that there is no last-minute offer for this trip. Booking the cabin early is better. Bookings open nearly two years before departure. solo travelers It is important to act fast. A limited number of cabins without single supplement are available for each sailing.
How to reach the North Pole by Dog Sled and Skis
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If a Champagne toast to the North Pole sounds a bit too easy, you have two other options: strap in skis or harness your dog sled to pull you along the old-fashioned route across 60 nautical miles frozen ocean.
These expeditions use the “Last Degree Route”, which begins at 89° north and covers the final stretch of the Pole by canine or human power. This means pushing through the cold, pulling your gear on a sled and setting up camp in drifting sea ice. Expeditions are usually held in April when the daylight returns and sea ice has stabilized.
Mornings begin early with tent chores—brushing off ice, melting snow for water, warming gear—before adventurers pack up and begin the long days of travel. The meals are frozen-dried and high in fat. The rest breaks are short and cold. The dynamic ice will affect every step you take north, meaning some of your time may be spent climbing up mounds that are as high as 12 feet.
“There’s a strong sense of accomplishment with that destination, because it’s such a unique spot—there aren’t many people who feel all that hard work you put into reaching there,” says Ryan Waters, founder of the expedition company Mountain Professionals. Waters reached the North Pole Canada via skis and walking (and swimming). “When you get there, you just feel this serene feeling of, I am really, quite literally, on the top of the world … And the only thing you can see is a mirror of ice.” This adventure costs about $61,000, including pre-trip training.
A more romantic, though no less demanding, version of the Last Degree route is to travel by dog sled—standing on the runners, guiding your own team of huskies, and sleeping beside them on the ice. It’s not a passive experience.
Annie Aggens is the director of an expedition company. She says, “Many people think the dog-sledding trip will be easier than skiing and pulling their own sled.” PolarExplorers. “You’ve got to keep up with the pace of the dogs…You’re running beside the sled, pushing it over pressure ridges, lifting it when it tips. “The dogs do most of the pulling but you are a very important part of the team.”
Canine trips begin at around $74,000 USD including five days of training.
It doesn’t matter which expedition you select, you will need to train beforehand: a five to six day “shakedown expedition” run by the operator somewhere reliably cold like Minnesota’s Boundary Waters and Svalbard. Travelers must be able to use polar-specific equipment, cook in sub-zero temperatures, deal with sweat and frostbite in cold conditions, and remain mentally strong.
We teach you the skills and systems that you need to have fun [while being] Aggens explains how to make sure that your training is safe and effective, and how to continue the training after you leave.[You’re getting] Time to practice all of the skills and systems which are all interconnected. This is a key part in thriving and not surviving out there. [just] surviving.”
For these trips, travelers must provide some of their personal gear. Base layers, sleeping bag, and personal equipment may be included. Expedition companies usually provide the sleds or tents as well as navigation equipment, food and safety systems. Be prepared to lift your fair share, both figuratively as well as literally.
While Last Degree expeditions to the North Pole haven’t run since 2018 because the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has blocked base camp access, outfitters are hopeful operations will resume in 2026—and demand is already high. Aggens: “We have dozens and dozens skiers that are eager to ski the Last Degree up to the North Pole.” “Everyone understands this is out of our control. “I love that they still have a sense of adventure and are as eager to travel as we are when the opportunity arises.”
It doesn’t matter how you get to the North Pole. You’ll never forget standing at 90 degrees North, on moving sea ice and surrounded only by white.
For those three or four days, your vessel is the most northerly on the planet. Mudd says that you are the northernmost person on the planet. “It’s extraordinary.”
