Geographic North Pole Expedition
A 12-night luxury expedition to 90° North aboard Le Commandant Charcot — the only passenger ship rated PC2 to reach the Geographic North Pole.
13
Days
Jul-Sep
Season
Luxury
Style
On request
From
Ponant
Le Commandant Charcot
Key facts
From
On request
Overview
A journey shaped by conditions, not a script.
Le Commandant Charcot is the only luxury passenger vessel rated PC2 — the polar class required to navigate the central Arctic Ocean's drifting pack ice and stand at 90° North. This 12-night voyage operates round-trip from Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen across 2027 with four departures (July 27, August 8, August 20, September 1). The ship's hybrid LNG-electric propulsion, 16 zodiacs, two helicopters, and onboard science labs are engineered for a destination most ships cannot reach. All-inclusive in the French expedition tradition, including roundtrip airfare from Paris to Longyearbyen.
Reach 90° North — the Geographic North Pole — as a passenger voyage.
Polar bears, seals, whales, and Arctic foxes encountered en route through the pack ice.
Zodiac outings, kayaking, ice landings, and snowshoeing where conditions permit.
PC2 polar class hull, hybrid LNG-electric propulsion, 245 guests, near 1:1 crew ratio.
Itinerary
Day-by-day route.
Day 1
Longyearbyen
Fly into Longyearbyen on the included Paris–Spitsbergen charter and embark Le Commandant Charcot.
Days 2-3
Spitsbergen waters
Navigate the fjords and pack-ice margins of northern Spitsbergen with first wildlife watches.
Days 4-8
Pack ice to 90° North
Push north through drifting sea ice toward the Geographic North Pole — the central event of the voyage. Ice landings, helicopter scouting, and on-the-floe celebrations when conditions allow.
Days 9-12
Return south
Drift back through the high Arctic with wildlife watches, lectures, and zodiac excursions in the ice margin.
Day 13
Disembark Longyearbyen
Return charter flight to Paris, or continue with an Arctic land arrangement.
Inclusions
What is included.
All meals aboard and selected beverages
Roundtrip charter flight between Paris and Longyearbyen
Expedition team, lectures, and onboard scientists
Zodiac, helicopter, and ice excursions
Exclusions
What is not included.
Connecting flights to Paris
Travel insurance with medical evacuation
Premium spirits, cellar wines, and spa treatments
Pre- and post-cruise hotels unless specified
Related
Other polar journeys to compare.
Planning note
Cabin choice matters as much as itinerary.
Deck height, window size, ship movement, dining style, and guide ratio all shape the expedition. We compare those details before recommending a departure.
Plan your expedition
Plan Geographic North Pole Expedition with an expert.
Bring us the ships, routes, or dates you are considering. We will tell you what fits, what does not, and why.