Voyage to the North Pole

Very few people can say they’ve made the trek to the North Pole, so maybe it’s time to add this to your bucket list. Quark Expeditions offers an amazing two-week trip that’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

The Ultimate Arctic Adventure begins in Helsinki, Finland, where you’ll spend the night before hopping a charter to Murmansk, Russia, the following morning. From there, you’ll hop on board the ship 50 Years of Victory and make your way through the ice toward the North Pole.

During the voyage you’ll be offered the chance to take a helicopter ride and view the ship and surrounding waters from high above. Altogether, the trip to the North Pole will have you at sea for six days before you reach your destination, so we hope you don’t get seasick.

Once you’ve arrived, you’ll spend the next four days exploring the Franz Josef Land. The area is home to polar bears, seals and some of the most impressive icebergs in the world. It’s so remote it was actually discovered after Antarctica.

The trip even includes an optional sightseeing experience aboard a hot air balloon. How many people can say they’ve explored the North Pole in a hot air balloon?

Once you’re done, you’ll return to sea for the final few days of your trip. When you arrive back home you’ll have just a little time left to spend exploring a few cities you’ve crossed on your way, like Helsinki and St. Petersburg.