Arctic Cruise: The North Pole

Arctic Cruise: The North Pole Itinerary:

• Days 1-2 Travel over 400 years in one day

  Your voyage starts with an overnight stay in the historic city of Helsinki, Finland founded in 1550. We’ve included a charter flight from Helsinki to Murmansk, Russia, where you board the ship on Day 2.

• Day 3 Magnificent and awe-inspiring. And that’s just the ship.

  Sailing north on board the mighty Yamal, you’ll be able to relax and get to know this legendary icebreaker. It’s as sophisticated as it is powerful – 75,000 horsepower drive the very latest in ice breaking technology, and what a sight it is. As you cross the Barents Sea, you’ll be engaged on board with presentations on everything Arctic, from wildlife to history to geology. And of course, you’ll have many opportunities to view the native seabirds and whales as we head north.

• Days 4-7 Crossing the Great White Expanse

  Watching Yamal break through the formidable pack ice is a sight you’ll never forget. Crashing through ice meters thick with a force reminiscent of a 9.0 earthquake, Yamal can reach up to 12 knots in conditions that would defeat most other ships. It’s awe-inspiring. As you travel, take one of the included flights on our helicopters for a fascinating aerial view of your progress.

• Day 8 The North Pole. You have arrived.

  This is it. For the rest of your life, you’ll remember this moment as clearly as you’re standing here today. You’ve joined a rare and select group; those that can truly say they’ve stood at the top of the world. Reflect on the many adventurers that came before you, giving their lives for the moment you are now experiencing. You’ll have time for a hike around the expansive ice; you can literally walk around the world in under a minute.

• Days 9-10 Now it’s just you and the polar bears

  As Yamal takes us back south, stand on the deck and survey the expanse of brilliant blue and white ice that stretches hundreds of kilometers in all directions. ;Keep an eye out for rare Arctic wildlife, particularly near Franz Josef Land, where polar bear sightings are possible.

• Days 11-12 A virtually unexplored archipelago

  Franz Josef Land is one of the most recently discovered archipelagos in the world. It was only in the late 1800’s that this remote and stunning world of jagged mountains and massive icebergs was found, and even today it remains mostly unexplored. There are 191 islands here, and they are a naturalist’s paradise. Polar bears, arctic fox, seals and belugas inhabit the region. Walrus and vast colonies of seabirds abound.
  
  We’ll attempt to explore this fascinating coast in our Zodiacs, and enjoy the spectacular glaciers and volcanic plateaus from our helicopters. But remember, this is a remote region. All landings are subject to the cooperation of government and weather.

• Days 13-16 The journey ends, but the stories have just begun

  You’ll cross the Barents Sea, to Murmansk, where you’ll board the included charter flight to Helsinki. At last you can cross the North Pole off your “things to do in my lifetime” list. You’ll be glad you did. Your memories will last a lifetime. And your stories will leave your children and grandchildren speechless.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Air transportation from the staging point to the port of embarkation, as well as your return flight from the port of disembarkation, hotel accommodations - 1 night pre-expedition and 1 night post-expedition lodging with breakfast at the hotel named in the itinerary (please note: Because this itinerary is published well in advance of the departure dates, occasionally the hotels listed in the itinerary are not available. In such cases, we arrange for stays at hotels of comparable quality in similar locations.), all meals on board the ship throughout your voyage, including a complimentary glass of house wine with every dinner, all shore landings and excursions by Zodiac according to the daily onboard program, all helicopter transfers and aerial sightseeing according to each day's onboard program, leadership throughout the voyage by an experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities arranged by the Expedition Team, formal and informal educational presentations by the Expedition Team and guest lecturers as scheduled during the voyage, an onboard multimedia artist who, in the tradition of early expeditions, will chronicle the voyage and produce for each traveler a remarkable memento of the experience - a digital work on CD combining narrative, photography and video in the artist's individual style, a specially designed expedition parka that is yours to keep. (To simplify packing, we also lend you a pair of rubber boots for use on landings throughout your voyage aboard the Yamal.), round-trip transfers between the host hotel and the airport for your flights out of and back to the staging point, and between the ship and the local airport at the port(s) of embarkation and disembarkation - plus all baggage handling aboard ship, all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.

Airfares to or from the gateway city, whether on scheduled or charter flights; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel; baggage, cancellation and travel insurance (please note that emergency medical insurance is mandatory - see Terms & Conditions); excess baggage charges; laundry, bar, beverage and other charges of a personal nature; telecommunications charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided). Any possible helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group will be charged at an hourly rate to be announced on board.

Quark Expeditions ships are smoke-free with the exception of some outside decks and designated areas. The helicopter deck and Zodiac decks are smoke-free. There is no smoking in the cabins. You are welcome to visit the Bridge as often as maritime regulations and the safety of the ship permit.

The expeditions travel to the Arctic during the boreal summer months. We visit high latitudes where the ice never disappears. Sunny conditions are common but they can change quickly to storms with cold winds and snow flurries. Travelers must be prepared for rapid weather changes.

It is mandatory that travelers to the Polar Regions are covered by travel insurance that will reimburse them for emergency medical services and evacuation. While our ships offer a clinic staffed by a licensed doctor, serious medical emergencies would require evacuation, which is extremely expensive, because our voyages travel to remote locations far from medical care facilities.

A special cancellation policy applies to all Arctic Voyages. For more details, please refer to the Terms and Conditions included in your confirmation packet. The following policy applies:

Deposits – To confirm reservations, a deposit of 20% (minimum $1000 per person) is required at time of booking. For any booking within 130 days of departure full payment is required.

Final Payments – Balances are due 130 days prior to departure. Deposits and payments for Pre and Post travel options are specific to each item and are explained and communicated at time of purchase.

All requests for cancellation must be received in writing. Cancellations received 180 days or more prior to departure, are refunded less an administrative fee of $1000 per person. If cancellation is received between 179 days and 120 days, the deposit is forfeited. If cancellation occurs less than 120 days prior to departure, all payments are forfeited. If full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and any unpaid balance is due immediately. To protect the traveler's investment, we recommend that you obtain adequate trip cancellation insurance.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable during this expedition is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Trapped air is a very good insulator, and you stand a much better chance of staying warm by wearing several thin layers rather one or two heavy items. You will also be able to add or shed layers more easily as the temperature changes. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

The weather in the Arctic can be quite variable. Average temperatures during the summer months range from approximately 25°F-40°F with daylight almost round the clock. Although heavy rainfall is unusual, trip members must be equipped with appropriate foul weather gear as specified below.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Wind chill can be a significant feature of this trip. When the wind is constant, you can be robbed of body heat quickly. Adequate wind/raingear is vital!
• Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene®, MTS® and Thermax®.
• Hair dryers and robes in every cabin.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• The dress code on board the ship is strictly casual, in the expedition spirit. There is no need to dress formally for meals.
• A few large zip-lock bags are useful to keep camera equipment and film dry while riding in the Zodiac and during wet shore landings.
• Bring more film than you think you will need. Certain film types will be difficult to purchase or unavailable once the trip begins. It is not unusual for participants to shoot a roll per day (even more if you are an enthusiastic photographer!).