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Top of the World. Cruise to the North Pole

Destination: Arctic
Easy - nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily
Moderate - 3-5 hours of physical activity daily
Challenging - 5-7 hours of challenging physical activity daily
Extreme - 7+ hours of challenging/extreme physical activity daily
Difficulty
Basic — most of nights in tents or rooms with shared WC, some nights in comfortable rooms.
Standard — most of nights in comfortable rooms, some nights in tents or rooms with shared WC.
Upgraded — all nights in comfortable rooms.
Comfort
Minimum age of the participant of this trip
13 Days
July - August
Highlights
  • You will be on Top of world and even above it
  • Cruise on board of the most powerful icebreaker in the world - "50 years of Victory"
  • Helicopter excursions
  • Animal observation
  • Chance to take unique photos
  • Possibility to make the fastest trip around the world
  • Visit to the legendary archipelago of "Franz-Josef Land"
Tour Overview

Who hasn't dreamed of going to the North Pole in his childhood? One wanted to go to the "Top of the World", another - to meet polar bears, and the other - to swim in the coldest Arctic Ocean. Today those dreams can come true.Cruise to the North Pole is an exciting expedition to one of the most amazing places on Planet. It has a right to be called one of the best expeditions.  North Pole is such a place where you can stand literally on the "top of the world".  The only sides surrounding you will be the Southern ones. There it is also possible to participate in the shortest tour around the Globe and eat the northernmost barbecue. Besides, a “small” fact should be mentioned that your cruise will take place on board of the most powerful nuclear icebreaker – “50 Years of Victory”.When we reach the North Pole you will have the opportunity to swim in the cold ocean.On the way back we will take a look at the nearest land to the North Pole in the Eastern Hemisphere – “Franz Josef Land” archipelago. There we will find stones of most accurate round shape in nature. In addition, the “Franz Josef Land” is a home for huge number of arctic birds, walruses, seals and polar bears.

The cruise is held on board of nuclear icebreaker – “50 Years of Victory”.

Technical description:length - 160 m, width - 30 m, maximum speed - 21,4 knotsn, crew - 140 persons, accommodation - 50 berths expedition.

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    The biggest city behind the polar circle
    Murmansk
  • Day 2
    Departure from Murmansk
    Murmansk
  • Day 3
    Day at sea
    Barents Sea
  • Day 4
    On the icebreaker board
    Barents Sea
  • Day 5
    Ice-breaker from a bird's eye view
    Barents Sea
  • Day 6
    Continuation of the navigation
    Barents Sea
  • Day 7
    North Pole
    Barents Sea — North Pole
  • Day 8
    Departure to the south
    North Pole — Franz Josef Land archipelago
  • Day 9
    Franz Josef Land
    Franz Josef Land
  • Day 10
    Day at sea
    Barents Sea
  • Day 11
    Tihaya bay anf the Arctic fauna
    Barents Sea
  • Day 12
    Farewell dinner
    Barents Sea — Murmansk
  • Day 13
    Arrival to Murmansk
    Murmansk
  • 11:00
    Arrival to the Murmansk airport
    Meeting with the driver and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation and free time. *The indicated time is approximate and can be easily changed according to the chosen flight.
  • 14:00
    Free time in Murmansk
    Murmansk is a city and a port situated in the bay of the Barents sea, the biggest city situated behind the polar circle. It's considered as the north sea-gate of Russia. You have time for getting acquaintance with this city, to visit the ethnographic museum or the icebreaker "Lenin" - the first Russian icebreaker that now is transformed to the exposition.
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Murmansk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Azimut Hotel Murmansk
Chambre double (deux lits ou un grand lit)
  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 11:00
    Transfer in the port
    * The indicated time is approximate and will be fixed the first day of your tour.
  • 12:00
    Embarkation on board and installation in the cabins
    The control passing before the embarkation on board of the most powerful atomic ice-breaker.
  • 13:00
    Lunch on board
  • 15:00
    Commencement of sea passage
    Today we leave the mainland and start our navigation in the Kola bay.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Murmansk
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Sea navigation
    Safety regulations will be given on board. Excursion on board of the icebreaker. Observing the engine room. Also you will be given a chance to see with your own eyes a nuclear reactor that allows the icebreaker to keep it’s navigation autonomous during five years.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Free time on board
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Barents Sea
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Continuation of the navigation
    In 2008 the icebreaker "50 Years of Victory" set a record when started a passage from Murmansk and reached the North Pole in 4,5 days. However, depending on weather conditions, this expedition may take about 8 days. On the way to the North Pole it is difficult to define what excites the most: the goal to reach the North Pole or the process of achieving the goal itself and watching how the giant icebreaker makes its way by breaking the arctic ice.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Free time
    During the navigation to the North pole, there will be very intense visits program. If the weather is good, we will land in the arctic ices or to flight above them on the helicopter.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Barents Sea
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Helicopter flight
    You will have the opportunity to observe the work of “50 Years of Victory” from the bird's flight in a helicopter. Appropriate weather conditions make pack ice landing also possible. If the weather isn't convenient for flight, we will do it another day of the navigation.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Free time on board
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Barents Sea
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Free time on board
    You won't be bored on the board. There is a restaurant of fine cuisine, comfortable cabins, lecture room, bar with panoramic view, library, gym and swimming pool. On board it's possible to visit the bridge and to discover the working process of the true professionels.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Free time
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Barents Sea
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Stop near the North Pole
    Our team arrives to the North Pole. A day for a long-awaited moment which gathered the whole group together. The moment we arrive is determined by GPS system that gives us a signal when the icebreaker is at 90 ° N point. And here we are on "Top of the World"!
  • 13:00
    Lunch on ice
    Due to reaching the Pole comes the celebration with polar barbecue on ice.
  • 15:00
    Top of the world
    Hand in hand, we will dance and literally make a small round journey around the world in a roundelay. Now you know how it is to be on "Top of the World"! The most courageous of you can swim in the Arctic Ocean.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Barents Sea — North Pole
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Navigation to the south
    In spite the fact we fulfilled the main purpose of our journey, lots of interesting things still stand ahead. The icebreaker continues its way, breaking dense pressure ridges. The moment we start to approache the land is judged by the sounds of white arctic gulls. On the way back we plan to make a visit to Franz Josef Land.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Free time
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
North Pole — Franz Josef Land archipelago
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Debarkation on the islands
    Brief overview of Franz Josef Land archipelago: - It consists of 190 islands, the big number of which resemble moon craters, so Franz Josef Land was given the second name of "Moon Archipelago"; - It is a home for polar bears, walruses and many birds; - Known for its "mysterious" round stones being found solely on Champ island. - A great place for photographers and those who are fond of history: the place has multitude of picturesque sceneries of historical value.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Free time on board
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Franz Josef Land
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Continuation of the navigation
    If the weather is good, we will land o, the islands of the archipelago.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Free time on board
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Barents Sea
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Visit of the Tikhaya bay
    If the weather and ice conditions do not make an obstacle for our expeditionary plans, we will go to a quiet bay to admire the rock Roubini - a place of a “multifloor” nesting colonies of polar birds. On the coast, if it is not hidden from us by the fog, we can see the constructions of an abandoned research station and several huge glaciers. On the territory of archipelago there are lots of polar bears and walruses, what makes a high chance for us to see them. Walruses look very imposing and polar bears behave very appealingly, what sometimes makes you forget about the predatory nature of these animals. Surprisingly, the polar bears due to their curiosity often come close to board of icebreakers, thus giving the opportunity to take unique photographs.
  • 15:00
    Excursion to the cape Norway
    We also plan to visit the cape Norway - the place where in 1896-97 Nansen and Johansen wintered after an unsuccessful attempt to reach the North Pole.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Barents Sea
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Free time
  • 13:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Meeting in the concert hall
    Our musical bar in the final days of the expedition is usually full of people - the discoveries made together unite the participants and lead the desire to share impressions and photographs, discuss the results of the trip, ask an expert about the region. Also we invite you to the final photo presentation – an event for the most impressive moments of traveling to be relived once again.
  • 19:00
    Farewell dinner
    Our icebreaker is heading for Murmansk. This day the captain invites you to have dinner at his apartment. There are not more than 10 captains of icebreakers worldwide, supposedly everyone of them has something to tell the travelers he encounters.
  • Overnight on board
Photo of the day
Route
Barents Sea — Murmansk
Accommodation
Accommodation on the board "50 Years of Victory"
Twin standard cabin
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Arrival to Murmansk and debarkation
  • 12:00
    Transfer port - airport/hotel
    End of the programme
Photo of the day
Route
Murmansk
Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Meals
  • Medical insurance
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Russian-speaking guide services
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Beverages
  • Airline tickets
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

For the tour the gum boots and expedition down jacket are furnished to all participants of the cruise. The price is given for the Standard Twin Cabin / per person (bed and sofa, bathroom (toilet and douche), TV and DVD. To book the others categories, the following supplement is applied : + 5 000 $ for the Mini Suite Cabin (sofa, bed separated from the lounge zone by the screen, bathroom (toilet and douche), TV and DVD, fridge). + 11 000 $ for the Suite Cabin (bedroom and lounge zone, bathroom (toilet and douche or bath), TV and DVD, fridge). + 12 000 $ - Suite "Grand" (bedroom and lounge; bathroom (toilet, bath), refrigerator, TV, DVD-player, coffee maker; 2 cabins) + 15 000 $ for the Victory Suite Cabin (very spacious bedroom and lounge zone, sofa, bathroom (toilet and douche or bath), TV and DVD, fridge, coffee-machine. + 17 000 $ for the Arktika Suite Cabin (very spacious bedroom and lounge zone, sofa, bathroom (toilet and douche or bath), TV and DVD, fridge, coffee-machine, fresh fruits, soft drinks and first courses).

Reviews
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
5.00
5.00
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5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
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5.00
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5.00
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5.00
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5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Eric
From 29 December 2021 to 2 January 2022
Destination: Arctic, Kola Peninsula
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Ce sont de véritables fêtes de fin et début d'année en nuit polaire, dans une vaste nature et splendide de surcroît, les aurores boréales, tous les ingrédients réunis pour vivre l'intense dans un manteau neigeux épais. Se débrouiller un peu en langue russe aussi, les échanges en sont facilités, et les gens viennent a vous tout comme vous allez à leur rencontre. J'ai vraiment tout aimé, le contact
  Read more
BaikalNature's reply
Toute l'équipe de BaikalNature vous remercie pour votre message. Nous nous réjouissons de savoir que vous avez apprécié votre séjour à la Péninsule de Kola. Nous espérons vous revoir très bientôt parmi nos voyageurs !
4.83
4.83
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
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5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Henri
From 8 July 2018 to 22 July 2018
Destination: Arctic, Chukotka
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
excellent; la seule chose peut être, les "touristes" qui arrivent en groupe avec leur propre guide en sus des spécialistes, ne devraient pas intervenir en dehors de leur groupe
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this destination. Below all reviews.
5.00
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5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
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5.00
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5.00
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5.00
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5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Pierrette
From 29 February 2024 to 8 March 2024
Destination: Lake Baikal
Custom tourBaïkal Hivernal Classique
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Ce voyage, compliqué en cette période géopolitique critique, a été bien organisé en coopération avec le bureau, selon mes préférences, mes besoins. Tout a été prévu avec minutie. Accueil très chaleureux individualisé. J'ai été réellement bluffée et hyper satisfaite de toutes les prestations. Le personnel, guide et chauffeurs, est très professionnel, très attentionné, bienveillant et d'une qualité
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5.00
5.00
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5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
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5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Liang
From 28 July 2023 to 7 August 2023
Destination: Kamchatka
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
An excellent travel tour! The organization was top-notch, the tour leader was exceptional, and the customer service was outstanding, promptly addressing any inquiries.
5.00
5.00
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5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Владислав
From 23 July 2023 to 27 July 2023
Destination: Lake Baikal
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Замечательный тур! Очень понравилось всё, начиная от организационных моментов, заканчивая самим путешествием, замечательным гидом Егором, удивительно живописными местами, супер устойчивыми байдарками и разнообразной погодой.
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