Discover Arctic: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

There is no land at the North Pole, only ice. Between the end of the polar winter and the beginning of the great thaw, there are only a few weeks in which it is possible to ski and trek to the North Pole.

Since 1908, when Robert Peary was the first known person to set foot on the North Pole, it has been the goal of every avid explorer to repeat the feet. In spite of all the advances in modern technology, the list of people who have successfully made it to the North Pole remains quite small.

Part of the reason for this is the amount of training it requires to prepare. Few guides will allow you to even book the trip without first completing a prerequisite course, most likely in Switzerland. Here you will drill the basics of what you will need to do when you’re out in the actual North Pole. It is also useful to have previous off-piste skiing experience and be in very good physical condition.

However, the reward for prevailing through these various conditions is well worth the effort of getting to the point. Seeing the sunrise from the top of the world is sublime and an unforgettable experience. While you may not try to repeat the feat again, it will have been worth it just for this moment.

Stunning scenery

Traveling over the ice en route to the North Pole is quite a surreal experience. Snow and ice bergs, which rise out of the sea like mountains, are as far as the eye can see. The angle of the sun as it sets over the polar ice creates shadows and casts interesting hues of lights over the snow, turning the surrounding landscape into something truly unique.

The Midnight Sun

Most North Pole expeditions take between two and three weeks in the month of April. Over the course of this period of time, you will experience longer and longer days. By the end of the journey, there will be little darkness at all. Skiing and trekking under the midnight sun through the Arctic terrain is yet another surreal experience on this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Reach the North Pole

The main goal of most explorers heading to the Arctic in April is to reach the North Pole, where all the world’s longitude lines originate. First done more than 100 years ago, arriving at the top of the world is still a feat that few manage to accomplish. Those that do, will need to combine cross country skiing and trekking with sleds full of gear and be prepared to brave nature as well as the elements!

During April, temperatures in the Arctic generally remain well-below freezing, but the days start to become longer and the sun helps to warm you up. Expect high winds and storms as well during this time of year.

Most trips to the Arctic will begin with a flight into Svalbard Airport (LYR), which can be reached directly from Oslo. Most guides will opt to meet you here and provide transport to the start of the trip.

Most trips are priced in Euros.

April