15 August - Moscow-Murmansk
Departing from Moscow's "Sheremetyevo 1" airport, our expedition arrives in Murmansk. From the "Murmashi" airport we take comfortable buses and are transferred aboard the icebreaker "Yamal." We sail late in the evening.

16 August - Barents Sea
The voyage to the North Pole has been organized to offer passengers a thorough insight into the polar world, and fascinating glimpses of the Arctic. Today we head towards the Franz Josef Land archipelago. En route we have time to rest and explore the "Yamal." In the company of the captain, you will be introduced to the ship and the sophisticated technical equipment in the engine room, as well as to the basic principles of ice navigation and the navigator's job. You will also learn about helicopter operations, and how to use safety equipment and lifeboats.

17 August - Franz Josef Land
We cross 80° north latitude and penetrate the remote world of ancient pack ice, towering volcanic mountains, icebergs and glaciers. Discovered only in 1873 by an Austrian expedition aboard the "Tegetthoff", most of the archipelago remains largely unexplored. Our onboard helicopters will afford astonishing views of the area's magnificent landscape. We plan to call at Calm Bay to view Rubini Rock and its numerous nesting seabird colonies, closely approaching the sheer basalt cliff if conditions permit. Close by is a deserted research station and, offshore, enormous fragments of calving glaciers are sometimes seen. We also expect to spot polar bears and walruses, and it is quite surprising that the polar bears often ignore the ship, and even curiously approach it, thus enabling us to take wonderful photos. We also plan to visit Cape Norway where Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Hjalmar Johansen wintered in 1896-1897. During the second half of the 19th Century a number of daring expeditions tried to make their way through the ice to the top of the Earth, and many attempts exacted a heavy toll in human life. The two Norwegians survived by hunting walrus and seals for their sustenance. Considered lost, the remains of their hut - one of the symbols and landmarks in the history of Arctic exploration - was discovered by a joint Soviet-Norwegian expedition in 1990.

18-19 August - towards the Pole
Ever farther behind we leave Franz Josef Land - the last solid land and remains of civilization in this area of the Arctic. Heading due north, the "Yamal" forces its way through thick, multiyear pack, riding up on top of several meters of ice that breaks under the ship's tremendous mass.

Our expedition divides into several groups to board the helicopters and watch the operation of our vessel from above. On the bridge we can observe the work of experienced hydrologists who update maps of ice conditions from satellite data, and are constantly looking for stretches of open water and cracks in the ice. These conditions significantly improve our progress. Finding a solid piece of ice, the ship may stop for us to take a walk on the ice. During these days scientists, travelers, and explorers who have dedicated their lives to this austere world deliver a series of interesting lectures.

20 August - North Pole
Today the expedition expects to reach the geographic North Pole. This time of year the weather is usually mild, with air temperatures of 0 - 1° C (32 - 34° F). As our vessel steadily approaches 90° N, we meet on the bridge of the "Yamal" to celebrate our achievement.

Upon reaching our goal, we disembark onto the ice. Here, at the top of the world, we enjoy the silver and azure landscape and pause to reflect on the early explorers' heroic efforts and sacrifices to reach this point. The crew of the ship prepares for a celebration, including a picnic on the ice, and the most daring can take a plunge into the Arctic Ocean. Special communication facilities permit contact with civilization to share our achievement with friends. The celebration is in progress..

21-23 August - due south
Our icebreaker moves on, smashing through high ice hummocks and pack ice. Our precise southern heading depends on local conditions. We make ice reconnaissance flights and flightseeing excursions. We may see solid white Ivory gulls, and realize that soon we may view a dark strip of land on the horizon

24-25 August - Novaya Zemlya (New Land)
We will approach the northwestern part of Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago comprising the northernmost extension of the Ural Mountains. Here we will enjoy a magnificent view of the renowned "Maka" Glacier where tremendous masses of ice calve off the glacier and splash into the water. Polar bears, dolphins, killer whales, walruses, and seals are frequent visitors to this area.

26-27 August

On the way to Murmansk we recall the exciting experience of our wonderful voyage, full of discoveries and adventures. We belong to a select group of people who have conquered this icy realm, the Arctic. We return home with heightened ecological awareness and renewed commitment to one of the last wild places on earth, our minds stocked with valuable experience and knowledge.

Please note: read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to weather and ice conditions and the wildlife we encounter.

Extremal part of the voyage (skydiving, scuba diving, ballooning and paramotor's flying) are organized by POLAR WORLD company.