airship cruise to north pole

A new era of sustainable travel

Airship expeditions with oceansky cruises.

We’re proud to be partnering with OceanSky Cruises to offer you the opportunity to become one of the first people to travel by modern airship to the North Pole. Read on to discover more about this exciting new era in pioneering and sustainable travel…

“ We are proud to launch our unique expedition in partnership with Discover the World who has been at the forefront of bespoke tourism since 1984. Their very early support of our ambition to usher into a new era of sustainable aviation meant that the world can now look forward to comfortable flights and flying with a significant less foot-print. ” Gisle Dueland, Head of Sales, OceanSky

- North Pole Expedition - Discover more about this extraordinary pioneering adventure and how you can join.

Flying with the wind, low and slow… your airship glides serenely across the Arctic Ocean. From the comfort of the luxurious lounge, large windows frame a spectacular view of icebergs and pack ice a few hundred metres below. There’s time to savour the moment. No roar of jet engines – just the gentle hum of battery-powered turbines. Instead of a cramped airliner cabin, your home in the skies is more reminiscent of a superyacht. Only 16 guests share the space in 8 sumptuous staterooms – modern-day explorers bound for the North Pole…

Flying to the North Pole in an airship

It’s been done before. The Norge flew across the top of the world almost 100 years ago. But the Golden Age of airships came to an abrupt end in 1937 following the Hindenburg disaster. So, why the revival in airship travel now? To put it simply, the time is right. Our exciting new airship expeditions with OceanSky Cruises harness innovative technology to offer aviation a safe, sustainable future. By joining one of these pioneering trips, you will be at the forefront of a new era in low-energy, zero-emission flying. And you will also make history by being one of the first to land at the North Pole in an airship. It’s going to be an incredible journey!

What are modern airships like?

OceanSky Cruises are developing new state-of-the art airships designed to fly for days and access the most remote and unexplored parts of the world. With no need for runways or airports, they can land in far-flung places with the lightest of footprints. Unlike a passenger jet, an airship’s cabin is not pressurized, which allows for large windows offering panoramic views – especially from the low altitudes at which they operate. You can also expect a luxurious experience onboard – 8 staterooms (some with viewing platforms), a sumptuous lounge and superb cuisine specially designed to suit the journey.

What is it like onboard the airship?

The interior of OceanSky’s airship offers a similar level of space, comfort and service as you would find on a luxury yacht. The airship is 98m long and 50m wide, and boasts a large communal lounge with bar, dining area and panoramic windows. There are 8 cabins on board, each sleeping up to 2 people and featuring an ensuite bathroom. Exquisite dining is all part of the experience and you’ll be treated to a superb menu designed by Jesper Vollmer.

North Pole Airship Expedition

7 days (including 48-hour North Pole journey) | 20 June and 11 July 2025 or 2026 | from £87,000 per person*

Departing in June and July, the seven-day North Pole Airship Expedition operates from Longyearbyen in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

Our polar Travel Specialists will tailor-make a programme of optional pre- and post-expedition activities for you, that might include kayaking and wildlife tours. When weather conditions are right, you’ll board the airship to embark on your flight to the North Pole and back. At the start of this unforgettable 48-hour journey, you’ll be captivated by the sight of Spitsbergen’s glacier-fringed coastline drifting beneath you. Perhaps you’ll glimpse whales feeding in the bays below, or even spot walruses or a polar bear.

*price is based on 2 sharing a stateroom, and excludes international flights 

As your airship floats out across the Arctic Ocean there will be ample time to relax in the opulent lounge, enjoy a cocktail and chat with fellow guests over a delicious meal cooked using local ingredients and paired with fine wines. During summer, the midnight sun offers endless daylight, so you will be able to admire the intricate patterns of Arctic pack ice passing beneath you late into the night. Retiring to your private cabin for two, with its shower and bathroom, deeply angled windows ensure you never feel detached from the breathtaking wilderness. Comfortable beds with eco-mattresses ensure you get a good sleep before arriving at the North Pole the following morning.

Slowing to a cycling pace, your airship gently touches down on the frozen white expanse of the High Arctic. Stepping onto the ice, you will become one of the privileged few to have reached the North Pole – and you will have done it using the latest ecologically sustainable, lighter-than-air technology. During approximately six hours at the North Pole, your expedition leader will help you explore the pristine and surreal surroundings before the 19-hour return flight to Svalbard.

Exploring Svalbard

As polar specialists we can create a personalised programme for your time on Svalbard that dovetails perfectly with your airship flight to the North Pole. Svalbard is a spectacular and fascinating place, combining the extraordinary landscapes and wildlife of the High Arctic with the history and culture of a polar outpost. Your base on Svalbard is Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, located on the shores of Adventfjord and surrounded by mountains and glaciers. Although the town has hotels, restaurants and shops, it doesn’t take long to leave the ’suburbs’ and enter untouched Arctic wilderness.

Explore in and around Longyearbyen

Hike along the shoreline and across tundra

Marvel at the flora and fauna

Join a boat trip to marvel at the magnificent bird cliffs

Is airship travel safe?

Back in the old days, airships were filled with highly-flammable hydrogen. But now it’s helium – inert, stable and non-flammable – that inflates the envelope of modern airships. They are also constructed with stronger, lighter materials and coated with bullet-proof Kevlar. Airships take off and land at about the speed of a bicycle; they have four independent engines and don’t need a runway in the event of an emergency. They also fly low and unpressurised, so there is no risk of rapid decompression. Like all forms of commercial aviation, OceanSky’s airships will undergo extensive trials and be regulated by stringent certification requirements.

What if bad weather affects my airship flight?

Our trips run in June and July during the height of the Arctic summer, when the weather is at its most settled. By building in extra days to the overall itinerary, there’s flexibility to embark on the North Pole flight when weather conditions are optimal. Several features of OceanSky’s Airlander also allow it to operate in less-than-perfect conditions. For take-off and landing, the airship is designed to tolerate wind conditions similar to commercial airliners. It is not restricted by cross-winds (an airship can simply turn into the wind and take off in any direction, since no runway is required) and it can also withstand lightning strikes and icing, similar to other aircraft. By flying slowly at low altitude, modern airships can safely navigate above or below clouds.

This is the first step towards truly sustainable aviation. As with any pioneering form of travel, it’s expensive and experiential to begin with, but the potential is huge. The North Pole is just the beginning. It was chosen to demonstrate how airships can take intrepid travellers to the remotest places with minimal impact on the environment. Where could it lead next? Well, OceanSky already have plans for a Capricorn Voyage in Africa, traversing the arid wilderness of the Namib and Kalahari. But the vision for airship travel is bigger and bolder than exclusive expeditions for the lucky few. OceanSky believe that, in the future, airships could be ’trains in the sky’ – a new kind of airline offering the wider public a viable way to travel and explore that doesn’t demand huge amounts of energy.

Airship images courtesy of Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd Interior images courtesy of Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd & Design Q Visualisations courtesy of Max Pinucci MBVision

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Latitude 90° north and around 430 miles from the nearest landmass… Who amongst us hasn't at one time or another dreamt of one day travelling to the very end of the world? A theatre of dreams, myths and human and technological exploits, but also, and since ancient times, of tragedy, the North Pole has always fascinated and intrigued. How many are the explorers who've attempted to reach the Geographical North Pole? Credit must finally go to Jean-Louis Étienne, who in 1986 became the first person to reach the North Pole alone, on skis. Embark for a cruise to the North Pole and you too can live this extraordinary adventure.

All about cruises North Pole Our other destinations

The Geographic North Pole & Scoresby Sound

The Geographic North Pole

Transarctic, the Quest for the Two North Poles

Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.

+33 (0)4 91 36 41 60 (or contact your travel agent)

Must-dos - North Pole

To embark on a North Pole cruise is to become one with the fabled history of polar exploration and live a sailing experience unlike anything else on the planet, pushing back the boundaries of the known world. As the ship makes its way slowly through the Arctic ice to reach this famous point, the immensity of the drifting ice pack reveals itself in all its glory: a luminous landscape of constantly changing shapes and reflections inhabited by an exceptional range of wildlife.

All about the North Pole

In the race to explore the planet, the North Pole for a long time remained unreachable, despite numerous attempts to get there. Though Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole on foot in 1911, it would not be till 1925-1926 that he was able to even fly over the North Pole, in an airship! Reaching the legendary North Pole on foot or by boat were feats not achieved until much later… A look back at more than 400 years of history.

Explore North Pole

Heading for the geographic North Pole

Jean-Louis Étienne, extreme adventurer

Slowly progressing amidst the ice

Sailing beyond the Arctic Circle through the glacial Arctic Ocean means dealing with a fragile and constantly changing environment. Finding the perfect path, weaving through the naturally open channels in the ice, hugging the ice floes... Profound humility, respect and a constant search for the most energy-efficient and safest routes take precedence over everything else when faced with the forces of nature encountered when cruising the North Pole A fascinating navigation strategy to watch and share together with the captain and crew.

A rich range of wildlife to see and observe

Though the North Pole is considered an icy desert in climate terms due to its very low levels of precipitation, its ecosystem is home to an exceptional range of wildlife wholly dependent on the ice for its existence. Cruising from Spitsbergen to the North Pole offers wonderful opportunities to see and observe a whole range of these fascinating and emblematic species, such as polar bears , Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic terns, seals, walruses and whales.

Kayaking amongst the ice floes and icebergs

Adopting the age-old ways of life of Arctic peoples in order to hear the beating heart of the immense northern expanse is the ultimate dream getaway experience. An ancient type of boat, the kayak was invented by the Inuit 4,000 years ago and offers the best way to fully immerse yourself in the astonishing and intoxicating silence of the North Pole, allowing you to gently glide amongst the ice floes on a mirror of indigo to get up close to a bearded seal or a shimmering, crystalline iceberg . Originally a way of hunting and fishing, kayaking in the Arctic is today synonymous with relaxed contemplation and a true sense of connection with the fascinating extreme north.

Helping to advance the boundaries of polar research

The Le Commandant Charcot , France's only PC2-rated polar class ship, is equipped with polar research laboratories for hosting scientists onboard, thus providing an unprecedented level of support for academic research . The thrill of discovering or broadening your knowledge about the polar environment by attending fascinating lectures, or participating in experiments (such as collecting data about the weather, the ice and the water) useful for advancing international research, takes the experience of a North Pole cruise to a whole new level of adventure..

Reaching the legendary Geographical North Pole

The ultimate goal of an Arctic odyssey: reaching the Geographic North Pole located at a latitude of 90° north. Though the pole exerts a strong power of attraction, the extreme polar conditions are an obstacle only the most humble and determined explorers have been able to overcome. Heading out onto the pristine ice cap and setting off in search of the exact position of this legendary point once you arrive at the heart of this ocean of ice is a singular and unique experience, and represents the Holy Grail of North Pole cruises .

A historical and international epic

1596 : Willem Barentsz and his Dutch expedition are the first to reach the record latitude of 79° 49' N. 1895 : sailing aboard Fram , a ship designed with a revolutionary hull able to withstand the pressure of the ice, the Norwegian Nansen becomes the first to approach the North Pole on foot and reach a latitude of 86° N. 1908-1909 : Americans Peary, Henson and Cook each claim to have reached the North Pole, feats disputed due to a lack of concrete evidence. 1925-1926 : Amundsen, Ellsworth and Nobile become the first to reach the North Pole in an airship. 1937 : the Soviet Papanin lands at the North Pole by plane. 1958 : American submarine the USS Nautilus becomes the first vessel of its kind to reach the North Pole. 1968-1969 : the North Pole is reached for the first time by snowmobile by American Ralph Plaisted in 1968 the reached again the following year on foot and using dog sleds by Briton Wally Herbert. 1977 : Arktika becomes the first Soviet icebreaker to reach the North Pole, during the Arctic summer. 1978 : Japanese adventurer Uemura becomes the first to reach the North Pole solo, supported by regular parachuted plane drops of food supplies. 1986 : Frenchman Jean-Louis Etienne reaches the North Pole solo for the first time travelling by skis and dog sled. American Ann Bancroft becomes the first woman to reach the pole without support the same year. 2021 : with the arrival of the Le Commandant Charcot , the only passenger ship with a PC2 class hull, PONANT becomes the first luxury cruise line able to offer expeditions to the North Pole.

The North Pole Facts and Figures

The ocean reaches a depth of 4,261 metres (13,980 ft) beneath the pole. The temperature at the North Pole ranges from -43°C to 0°C In winter, the temperature can range from -43°C to -26°C , while the average temperature in summer hovers around the freezing point, 0°C . The sun reaches its highest point on the summer solstice, rising to a maximum elevation of 23.4368° . Because there is no permanent human presence at the North Pole, the region has no officially assigned time zone, though the normal convention is to use UTC+0 .

More destinations in The Arctic

Northwest passage, spitsbergen, canadian arctic.

• At sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot
• At sea along Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Exploration of Ittoqqortoormiit Region (Greenland)
• Exploring sea ice in Beaufort Sea
• Exploring the Blosseville Coast (Greenland)
• Geographic North Pole
• Hornsund (Norway)
• Isfjorden (Norway)
• Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen (Norway)
• Magnetic North Pole
• Navigating through the sea ice
• Nome, Alaska (United States)
• Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norway)
• Reykjavík (Iceland)
• Sailing in the Hinlopen Strait (Norway)
• Scoresby Sound (Greenland)
• Soraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve (Norway)

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OceanSky Cruises is planning to launch expeditions to the North Pole. Weekly departures from Longyearbyen, Svalbard , will run from May through October, with services expected to begin in 2024 or 2025.

The lucky passengers will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The 329-foot-long airship is more like a luxury hotel, containing lounges, panoramic windows, and just eight luxury cabins, to create an intimate and personalized adventure.

The 38-hour trip comes with a hefty price tag, however. A cabin for two people costs 2,000,000 SEK ($210,000). Let’s find out more…

The itinerary

The two-night North Pole Expedition departs from the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, with the round trip to the North Pole taking approximately 38 hours. The airship does not require an airport runway to take off or land, so passengers can easily be dropped off in some of the most remote locations in the world.

• 6 pm – departure from Longyearbyen, Svalbard – the northernmost city on the planet
• 8 pm – cocktails and dinner
• 9 am – landing at the North Pole
• Briefing by expedition leaders, before spending the day exploring
• Lunch served at the North Pole
• 3 pm – departure of the return flight to Svalbard
• 8 pm – dinner
• 6 am – landing in Svalbard

The experience

The floating hotel features luxurious lounges and plenty of panoramic windows. Traveling low and slow, it provides the perfect opportunity to admire the wildlife and incredible scenery below. Those traveling earlier in the summer will experience the so-called midnight sun, with 24-hour daylight, while if traveling in the latter part of the season, passengers may be lucky enough to see the northern lights (aurora borealis).

What is included in the $210,000 price tag? The price covers return transfers to/from the airship in Svalbard, two nights onboard, including all food and drink (award-winning fine dining), a bilingual nature guide, and all activities when at the North Pole.

There will be seven crew members onboard, made up of pilots, flight attendants, a chef, and an expedition leader.

OceanSky Cruises also offers another itinerary, the Capricorn Voyage. Floating over Southern Africa, this trip gives passengers the chance to get up close and personal with some of the region's best sights, including the deserts of Namibia , Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta, and the white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean.

The future of sustainable aviation?

The OceanSky Cruises airship uses helium to keep afloat, aided by the aerodynamic lift created by the shape of its hull. Four propellors ensure the airship moves forward.

Taking advantage of strong Northern Hemisphere winds to increase its efficiency and speed, the airship has a much lower fuel consumption than other aircraft. In turn, it emits much less CO2 into the atmosphere. This is traveling without leaving a footprint.

Traveling by airship may not yet be mainstream, but it certainly presents some exciting opportunities for the future of sustainable aviation .

What do you think of OceanSky Cruises’ North Pole adventure? Share your thoughts by commenting below.

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Onboard the Sustainable Airship Bound for the North Pole

At $240,000 for a double cabin, no expense is spared.

By Irenie Forshaw

Back in the 1930s, before the dawn of modern jets, airships were the pinnacle of luxury travel . Cruising at slow speeds and low altitudes of around 1,000 feet, passengers enjoyed stunning views as they floated over the cities and oceans below. By the end of the decade, though, this golden age of blimps was brought to an abrupt end with the widely publicized Hindenburg disaster. Now, Swedish start-up, OceanSky Cruises, is on a mission to bring back airship travel as a sustainable aviation alternative, starting with an expedition to the North Pole.

The company’s CEO, Carl-Oscar Lawaczeck, always had a keen interest in airships. With over a decade’s experience under his belt as a commercial airline pilot, the entrepreneur saw dirigibles as an opportunity to transform the notoriously emission-heavy aviation sector.

“Airships are very light which makes them extremely efficient,” he explains. “You need a fraction of the energy to fly them compared with an airplane as you don’t have to lift hundreds of tons of metal into the air and move at 500 mph.”

The huge windows reveal stunning views of the natural landscape / ©Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd and Design Q

For Lawaczeck, while net-zero pledges have good intentions, they are simply not sufficient for tackling the climate emergency. “Today, 80% of the world’s energy is supplied by fossil fuels – we’re decades away from having an abundance of clean energy,” he explains. “That means we need to make a plan on the consumption side. If we’re serious about becoming sustainable, we cannot waste energy on travel and transport, we need to change our habits, reduce our energy footprint and preserve energy.”

This begs the question should people really be flying to the North Pole onboard OceanSky Cruises’ new airship? But the CEO stresses that these luxury expeditions are just the starting point for introducing airships into the commercial aviation industry, which has the potential to preserve huge amounts of energy long-term.

“The challenge with introducing new technology to society is that in the beginning, it’s very expensive because there’s a lot of development costs,” he says. “For example, Tesla introduced the Roadster which is a premium sports vehicle in order to break into the industry. It’s the same with our concept – we have to create a business model that makes sense, to pay for those high costs and the best way to do so is through experiential luxury travel because the uniqueness of the trip means that people are willing to pay a premium price.”

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In this way, the CEO believes OceanSky Cruises’ expeditions to the North Pole will appeal to eco-conscious passengers who have a desire to “consume responsibility and help new technologies to flourish which can change the world”.

The Airlander 10 will feature eight spacious cabins / ©Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd and Design Q

Lawaczeck likens the experience of traveling onboard an airship to that of a “flying yacht” / ©Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd and Design Q

With a double cabin costing a hefty $240,000, the 36-hour journey certainly doesn’t come cheap. So what can passengers expect?

While the airship itself is still under development, tickets are already on sale and the first trips from Svalbard (a group of islands north of Norway) to the North Pole are scheduled for 2025. Developed by British manufacturing company, Hybrid Air Vehicles , the Airlander 10 will feature eight spacious cabins ensuring the expedition is an intimate affair with just 16 passengers on board.

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As you would expect, the interiors are seriously lavish. “When you fly low and slow, you have an unpressurized cabin, which means you can have very large windows,” says Lawaczeck. “Space is one of the factors of luxury. You can go to the bar, lie in bed, visit the restaurant and still watch the beautiful landscape passing by below you.” The CEO believes this level of comfort is a major advantage, likening the experience of traveling onboard an airship to that of a “flying yacht”.

However, persuading passengers to step onboard could be tricky. The Hindenburg disaster was over 80 years ago, but filmed footage of the ill-fated airship bursting into flames above New Jersey is powerful enough to linger in the public’s memory.

This has not deterred the ambitious CEO. “Airships exploding in the 1930s was not something that was common,” he says. “It was something that brought down the whole industry because it was the first filmed catastrophe in the world. Today, we’re not using hydrogen gas, we’re using helium which is inert so it’s impossible to set on fire – you will never see those accidents again.”

[See also: The Most Exciting Private Jet Concepts]

Passengers can visit the bar and restaurant while onboard / ©Hybrid Air Vehicles Ltd and Design Q

The first trips from Svalbard to the North Pole are scheduled for 2025 / ©OceanSky Cruises

What’s more, he continues, airships land at a “bicycle speed” of around 20 mph which is safer than an airplane (a typical 747, for example, lands at around 160 mph). And if you don’t like turbulence there’s good news as flying at a lower altitude and a cruising speed of around 20-70 mph means traveling onboard an airship promises a smoother journey.

Of course, it also takes around five times longer to get from point A to B. But Lawaczeck envisions a future where airships can compete with planes and trains as a mainstream mode of passenger transportation as priorities shift.

“The unit cost of airships will come down for sure,” he says. “How far is very hard to say but according to our calculations we could probably reach the same price point as airplanes. I hope one day that people actually choose airships, because it’s a better experience and there’s an extra bonus that it’s energy efficient. People will always need to travel quickly but I think they will have to pay for the energy they consume and, in my view, energy in the future will be very expensive.”

oceanskycruises.com

[See also: Sustainable Skies: Jet Companies Making Positive Change]

Irenie Forshaw

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EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• OceanSky opens a new world of luxury experiential travel by taking you on a pioneering expedition to land on the North Pole, on the first hybrid aircraft in history. A limited amount of tickets will be available for the true Pioneers.
• OceanSky Cruises’ first expedition is a journey from Svalbard to the North Pole aboard the Airlander 10. This modern hybrid airship has made it possible to travel to previously unreachable destinations with spectacular nature and extraordinary wildlife.
• Journey to the North Pole with Robert Swan as Expedition Leader. Robert is a climate activist, arctic explorer and the first person to reach both the North and South Pole by foot.
• The Airlander 10 Airship has capacity for up to 16 passengers and has a crew of 8. Passengers on the airship can enjoy luxurious, private en-suite bedrooms and horizon-to-horizon views in the aircraft’s Infinity Lounge. The Altitude Bar will offer drinks with the ultimate view, and guests can enjoy fine dining in the skies.
• The expedition will show that travel and transport by air can be sustainable. Lighter-than-air technology can supply humanity with ultra-efficient means of mobility, and operate in areas without infrastructure and civilization
• Experience the ultimate bucket list expedition to the North Pole in exclusive luxury – limited tickets open for bookings. First season 2023.
• The expedition to the North Pole is for the traveller who wants to experience the Arctic in a unique way, and at the same time contribute to the development of sustainable travel.

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We negotiate rates & benefits for our clients directly with the hotels’ senior management. Our rates match or in many cases are lower than the best online rate for the property. Our clients also enjoy a suite of extra VIP privileges and recognition while staying at a partner hotel.

Chat with one of our expert travel designers today to begin planning your bespoke expedition to the North Pole. The Luxe Voyager is an authorized agent for OceanSky Cruises.

Call: +852 9465 4577

Email: [email protected].

OceanSky opens a new world of luxury experiential travel by taking you on a pioneering expedition to land on the North Pole, on the first hybrid aircraft in history. A limited amount of tickets will be available for the true Pioneers of the world. Journey to the North Pole with Robert Swan as Expedition Leader. Robert is a climate activist, arctic explorer and the first person to reach both the North and South Pole by foot. The expedition will show that travel and transport by air can be sustainable. Lighter-than-air technology can supply humanity with ultra-efficient means of mobility, and operate in areas without infrastructure and civilization.

OceanSky was founded in 2018 after years of research in the lighter-than-air sector, looking at possibilities for sustainable transport. OceanSky Cruises’ first expedition is a journey from Svalbard to the North Pole aboard the Airlander 10. This modern hybrid airship has made it possible to travel to previously unreachable destinations with spectacular nature and extraordinary wildlife. The airship has capacity for up to 16 passengers and has a crew of eight – four pilots who work on shift, a steward, chef and two flight attendants. Passengers on the Airlander 10 can enjoy luxurious, private en-suite bedrooms and horizon-to-horizon views in the aircraft’s Infinity Lounge. The Altitude Bar will offer drinks with the ultimate view, and guests can enjoy fine dining in the skies.

Discover the unique modern vehicle that can travel for days and land in remote locations without airports. Comfortable, quiet, spacious and very efficient, it offers what Aviation should have been. OceanSky has selected Airlander 10 as our preferred aircraft. The Airlander 10 is unlike any other aircraft. It is the world’s largest flying vehicle and it uses innovative technology to combine the best characteristics of fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters and static lift by helium. The combination creates a new breed of hyper-efficient aircraft with abilities to explore the Arctic in a completely new way.

Passengers on the Airlander 10 can enjoy luxurious, private en-suite bedrooms and horizon-to-horizon views in the aircraft’s Infinity Lounge. The Altitude Bar will offer drinks with the ultimate view, and guests can enjoy fine dining in the skies.

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Complete with spacious cabins, a massive viewing gallery, and an onboard chef – Here is what it would be like to explore the North Pole on a luxury airship.

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World’s Biggest Airship to take-off soon in Tokyo

Forget cruise ships, this French company plans to set off on a crazy 20-day non-stop journey across the world in a zero-emissions whale-shaped airship that can fly 24,000 miles to more than 25 countries without stopping

Plush arm chair style seats, floor to ceiling windows and ample cabin space – Not a cruise ship, but these are stunning interiors of the massive airship that will ferry passengers in utmost comfort from 2025.

The Hollywood Airship – A $80 million bespoke jet with Art Deco interiors inspired by the roaring 20’s and 30’s

The World’s longest airship with five-star-hotel-like cabin and panoramic windows will soon fly passengers to the North Pole for $60,000

Hey, Wanna Ride in an Airship to the North Pole?

This trip can be yours for the low, low price of $65,000.

• For about a decade, airships were extremely cool and current for the wealthy.
• The ratio of helium to passenger is gigantic, so this luxury airship carries just a handful of people.

Today, airships are primarily the butt of jokes in poor taste about the Hindenburg disaster . But that fatal 1937 crash put an end to what had been a thriving little golden age of airship travel. And rather than the technological stopgap in a Jules Verne setting, those airships were havens for the very wealthy to cruise in leisure and luxury.

Now, a Swedish company planning a North Pole trip for 2023-2024 is reserving cabins in an airship that will cost $65,000 per couple. It’s hard to imagine any version of a cruiseline safely operating anytime soon, but especially one based in Sweden, where officials opted to let COVID-19 spread freely with no restrictions based on the (now failed) rationalization that this would lead to herd immunity.

The OceanSky airship is undoubtedly cool, and very huge: it’s a double-wide blimp that’s 143 feet across and 321 feet long. With a maximum payload of just over 22,000 pounds, the airship won’t be able to carry more than a few dozen passengers at the most, plus luggage, crew members and their luggage, and everything from food to medical supplies to maintenance for the ship itself. (OceanSky's website says there will be seven crew members and 16 passengers.)

No doubt this is an exclusive, Jurassic Park -like playground for the very wealthy—and to see and touch the North Pole will be amazing. Plus, the extremely low density of the ship’s population means it may be coronavirus-compatible after all, if with a certain captive quality of having meals left outside the door while largely staying confined to quarters. But OceanSky says its ship is the largest aircraft in the world, and it still carries just 23 people.

While the idea of a future full of airships is exciting, the designs put forth in the earliest science fiction set a standard that artists and authors still use today: ships with reasonably sized envelopes, ones that are nowhere near the nearly 2,000 square feet per person that OceanSky’s ship requires. Even transatlantic steamships had enough capacity to pack in lower-class passengers at prices they could save for. This is a mode of travel that, unless something drastically changes in the science of buoyant flight, is limited to the most exclusive journeys.

And the drastic change would indeed be drastic : something like the discovery of a new compound or process that’s more buoyant than helium.

Maybe it’s some kind of chemical reaction that generates downward thrust as well as simple buoyant gases, or a combination of many things. Airplanes were once the territory of the wealthy only, and passenger planes took over where the abruptly canceled airship age left off. Perhaps we’ll be shopping flash sales on tickets to Phoenix on some future airship of the people.

Caroline Delbert is a writer, avid reader, and contributing editor at Pop Mech. She's also an enthusiast of just about everything. Her favorite topics include nuclear energy, cosmology, math of everyday things, and the philosophy of it all. 

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North Pole Travel: The Complete Guide

The easiest way to get to the north pole is by taking an icebreaker cruise from longyearbyen. for those seeking adventure, it is also possible to fly or embark on an expedition with skis or dogsleds..

Home > North Pole

In this article

Welcome to our complete North Pole Travel guide based on our vast experience of visiting the North Pole high above the Arctic Circle. In it you will find:

• Top reasons to visit the North Pole
• How to get to the North Pole,
• Animals you’ll see,
• Things to do on a North Pole trip
• Answers to your questions.

Remember our team of adventure consultants are always here to help you plan your trip. With their first hand knowledge and experience they can give you the most up to date information. Please contact them here.

This article has been updated to reflect changes in 2025, including new expeditions and tours that are no longer available.

Can I Go to The North Pole?

Yes you can go to the North Pole! Thanks to modern icebreaking ships travelling through the Arctic sea ice in the summer is now more accessible than ever before. In the past this was the domain of seasoned polar explorers. But with the introduction of the world’s first luxury icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot in 2021 the most northerly point on the planet is now open to anyone with a polar dream.

Where is The North Pole?

The Geographic North Pole is the northernmost point on Earth, in the middle of the frozen Arctic Ocean. Unlike the South Pole which is land under ice, there is no land under the North Pole; it’s just sea ice floating on the surface of the Sea and is in constant motion. Here All the Earth’s lines of latitude meet and when you’re standing on the frozen sea you’ll be facing south in every direction.

To find out more please see our article Where Is The North Pole? The Mystery of The Earth’s Moving Poles

• Be one of a few people who have ever reached true north and stood on the permanently covered sea ice at the North Pole where all the lines of longitude converge.
• Experience the frozen seascapes, a sight only polar explorers have seen before, from the comfort and safety of a modern icebreaker. This is a unique experience that will leave you in awe of the polar wilderness.
• Spend time on deck looking for wildlife, polar bears, walruses, seals, arctic foxes and the northern fulmar in their natural habitat.
• Experience one of the most pristine and untouched environments on the planet rarely seen by humans.
• En route visit the polar wilderness of the northerly archipelago of Svalbard.
• Learn from onboard scientists and expedition staff about the polar ecosystem and climate change at the top of the world.

North Pole Tours

The Geographic North Pole

Longyearbyen, spitsbergen - longyearbyen, spitsbergen.

Price from per person

The Geographic North Pole & Scoresby Sound

Longyearbyen, spitsbergen - reykjavík.

How To Get To The North Pole in 2025

There are five ways to get to the North Pole, the most common and easiest being an icebreaker expedition cruise from Longyearbyen in Svalbard to the North Pole. 

On An Icebreaker Ship

The easiest and most reliable way to get to the North Pole in 2025 is on an icebreaker expedition, sailing through the frozen Arctic Ocean on the purpose built icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot. The ship was launched in 2021 and designed specifically for this mission. It features the latest sustainable technologies, hybrid engines and recycled heat. It’s a new way to get to the furthest north in maximum comfort, safety and luxury with minimal environmental impact on this pristine wilderness.

Geographic North Pole Tour

In 2025 Le Commandant Charcot will offer four 16 day sailings from Longyearbyen. The voyages will sail north through the pack ice to the North Pole and then back to Longyearbyen.

Trans Arctic Tour to Two North Poles

For the ultimate explorer, it’s possible to visit both the Geographic North Pole and the Magnetic North Pole on a 20 night Trans Arctic icebreaker cruise from Svalbard to Nome in Alaska. This is something only a handful of people have ever done.

Travel Update: As of 2024, due to the situation in Ukraine, no expeditions are departing from Murmansk in Russia via Franz Josef Land on the nuclear powered icebreaker 50 Years of Victory. The only way to route by Icebreaker is on Le Commandant Charcot from Longyearbyen in Svalbard.

More information and dates and prices here.

If you are going to the North Pole, please get in touch with our Travel Experience Team for free advice to help you plan.

Fly By Plane and Helicopter

In April it’s possible to fly by plane from Longyearbyen to a runway carved into the ice at the Barneo Camp. The position of the runway changes daily as it moves with the sea ice. From the Barneo Ice Camp you can fly to the North Pole by Helicopter. Some expeditions also offer the unique experience of flying above the North Pole in a tethered hot air balloon, for the most spectacular views of the ice below.

This is for those who are short on time and don’t want to spend 16 nights on an icebreaker. The disadvantage of flying is that it’s only possible in April and is weather dependent.

Travel Update: As of 2024 flying is becoming more and more complicated and is no longer a reliable way due to the changes in the ice at the Barneo camp. An icebreaker is the most reliable way.

Fly by Airship

From 2026 you will be able to visit the North Pole by airship. For the first time ever you can fly in a custom made airship, following in the footsteps of Amundsen and Nobile.

This 48 hour round trip from Longyearbyen will fly you over the Arctic wilderness before landing at the North Pole.

Overland North Pole Expedition

You can reach the North Pole by skiing or dog sledding. Both are extreme and require a lot of logistics, expert guidance and physical training. But they are much more expensive than cruising or flying.

Travel Update: Due to the changes in the Arctic Ocean ice it’s becoming more and more difficult to cross the ice floes.

The most common way to get to the North Pole is to ski the final degree which is about 60 miles or 111km in a straight line. But as the ice floes are constantly drifting and shifting and you have to overcome pressure ridges in the ice the distance is much longer.

Add to that the sledge with all your gear which will weigh 80kg and you can understand why most people choose to fly or cruise.

You can still ski from the Canadian Arctic to the North Pole, one of the most extreme polar challenges ever.

You can dog sled to the final degree to the North Pole. This is the same physical strength and preparation as skiing and is extreme undertaking.

Dog sledding has many challenges: the weight of the sledge over rough terrain and the logistics of having 15 extra four legged teammates per sledge.

When To Visit

Due to its location in the high Arctic the North Pole is only accessible by ship between July and September. These months are the best for ice navigation.

July and August have midnight sun, and in September there is the best chance to see the northern lights as darkness returns to the Arctic.

Flying is only possible in April when the ice is at its thickest after the winter and light returns to the Arctic after the dark winter.

Overland expeditions occur in March and April when the sea ice is at its thickest.

For a detailed guide of when to visit, please see our guide .

Facts About Travel to the North Pole

• Less than 1000 people visit the North Pole each year, with most visitors choosing to travel in comfort on an Icebreaker cruise.
• When you reach the North Pole you are over 700 miles from the nearest land mass, the Svalbard archipelago.
• The depth to the bottom of the ocean under the ice is over4 km.
• The sea ice at the Pole is 2.5-3 meters thick. That’s why only purpose built icebreakers, not regular ships, can reach 90 degrees North.

Things To Do

Here are some of our favourite things to do on a North Pole Tour.

Celebrate Reaching The North Pole

A big part of the experience is reaching the North Pole itself, something only a few have ever done. When the ship reaches the North Pole you can step off the boat and onto the ice if conditions allow.

Ice Navigation

Le Commandant Charcot has an open bridge policy, and a big part of any North Pole expedition is spending time on the bridge, watching the navigation of this technical ship through the sea ice. The bridge has the best views of ice navigation.

Wildlife Watching

Navigating through the pack ice is the best time to see wildlife. Use the ship’s on-deck spotting scopes to spot polar bears and ringed seals. 

Talks & Lectures by Experts

Days at Sea features talks by expedition guides, special guests and experts. Le Commandant Charcot has a purpose built lecture theatre in the bow of the ship where lectures and briefings take place.

Kayaking 

On select departures on Le Commandant Charcot, depending on the weather and conditions, there may be the opportunity to go kayaking. Kayaking is the best way to experience the raw and untouched beauty of the polar environment.

Polar Plunge

A polar plunge is a rite of passage for every polar explorer. Jump into the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean under the watchful eye of the ship’s expedition team.

Onboard Experience 

Le Commandant Charcot has some of the best amenities at Sea. Enjoy a sauna with a panoramic view, or watch the ice float by from the outdoor heated lagoon. Work out in the gym with floor to ceiling windows. See the polar scenery from the comfort of the observation lounge and bar. Take a walk around the promenade with heated benches and sit back and take it all in.

How Much Does It Cost To Visit The North Pole?

Visiting the North Pole is one of the most expensive expedition cruises due to its remoteness, complexity and small group size. But we have had feedback that this trip is worth the investment to get to one of the most remote and exclusive places on Earth.

The cost for a voyage on Le Commandant Charcot in 2025 is £31,170 ($42,800) per person based on two people sharing a Prestige Stateroom Deck 6 an Icebreaker Cruise departing from Longyearbyen in Svalbard.

Cost to fly from Longyearbyen: from €25,500 per person

Cost for 8 day ski expedition: from €53,000 per person

Will I see polar bears on a trip to the North Pole?

You won’t see any wildlife on the North Pole itself as it’s too far north, but the Arctic Ocean is home to many species, some of which you will see on your journey north.

As you travel north through the sea ice you’ll get a special insight into this unique environment. Keep your eyes peeled for polar bear sightings as these magnificent creatures use the ice to hunt seals, walruses and various Arctic birds.

See the complete list of animals in the North Pole Region .

How Cold Will It Be at the North Pole?

In the summer the average temperature is 32°F (0°C), warmer than most people think. This can feel warmer on sunny days and much colder when there is wind.

In the winter the temperature at the Pole is -40°F (-40°C) so it is only possible to visit in the summer.

This is in contrast to the South Pole which has a much colder climate with an average mean temperature of -18°F (-28.2°C) in the summer making it harder to visit.

Please see our Guide To North Pole Weather.

Do I need any special preparation to visit the North Pole and the Arctic Ocean?

Almost anyone can travel on an icebreaker or fly and no special preparation is required. You must be medically fit enough to travel to a remote area where medical facilities are limited and a rescue in an emergency would take longer than in other parts of the polar regions. The trip isn’t physically demanding but some mobility and fitness is required for activities such as polar hiking, kayaking and the polar plunge.

Overland expeditions require extensive training and high level of fitness to do this trip.

Packing List

Due to the variable weather and environment in the Arctic you need to pack the right clothes for your adventure to keep you warm and dry. You don’t need any special equipment but the following is mandatory.

• Expedition Jacket (supplied on Le Commandant Charcot)
• Waterproof trousers for hiking
• Insulation layers such as a fleece or down jacket
• Hat, gloves, warm socks and neck warmer
• Base layers for hiking
• Comfortable onboard clothes
• Binoculars and camera (highly recommended)
• Valid Passport

For the complete packing list, please see our North Pole Cruises Packing List.

Is It Safe To Visit The North Pole?

It’s considered safe to visit the North Pole but some extra precautions need to be taken due to its remote and hostile environment.

Safety is a top priority. The safest way to get to the North Pole is on an icebreaker expedition. Le Commandant Charcot has been built to rigorous safety standards with advanced safety and evacuation systems and onboard medical facilities.

Off ship activities are led by a team of experienced polar guides who will ensure the ship is safe while you are off it. In the Arctic regions this includes polar bear defence protocols and procedures.

Due to the remote areas, the biggest risk is that help in a medical emergency will take longer than elsewhere so good fitness is required.

Do I Need A Visa to Travel to the North Pole?

As the North Pole is not a country you don’t need a visa to visit. Svalbard, the main departure port for doesn’t require a visa, just a valid passport.

To get to Svalbard you need to meet the entry requirements of any transit country you visit, such as Norway. Travellers from the USA, Europe and the UK don’t need a visa to enter Norway for 90 days or 180 days for tourism.

Find out more about Norway visas .

North Pole Tourism: A Short History

Tourism to the North Pole is a relatively new phenomenon. In 1994 the Russian icebreaker Yamal reached the furthest north with fare paying passengers. For the first time ever, people could visit the North Pole without being scientists or having to train for a polar expedition. The Yamal was later replaced by the nuclear Russian Icebreaker 50 Years of Victory which made several trips a year with tourists until 2020.

In 2021 Le Commandant Charcot became the first cruise ship to visit the North Pole.

Less than 1000 people visit the North Pole every year, making it one of the world’s most remote and sought after destinations.

Book Your North Pole Tour

To find out more please contact our Travel Experience Team , who will help you plan your trip.

You can search all our North Pole Cruises

Travel Resources

A great article by National Geographic about the North Pole’s climate, history and geography. See Article.

Ice charts for the Arctic Ocean on the Norwegian Metrological Institute website .

To get you in the mood visit the North Pole Expedition Museum in Longyearbyen to learn about the early days of exploration.

To learn about my experience on Le Commandant Charcot see my ship review .

North Pole Books

True north: peary, cook and the race to the pole .

A North Pole classic that looks at the rivalry between Peary and Cook and the early exploration of the North Pole.

Ninety Degree North: Quest For the North Pole

The New York Times book of the year it explores the history and challenges of expeditions to the North Pole. From governments to eccentric explorers it’s the perfect reading companion for your North Pole trip.

Looking for some inspiration for places to visit? The North Pole is on our Top 50 Places To Visit In The Arctic.

Thanks for reading, and happy exploring.

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OceanSky Cruises’ airship hotel will fly to the North Pole

From 2024, swedish company oceansky cruises will fly elite passengers in a sustainable, floating five-star hotel that’s lighter than air. rose dykins reports.

In two years’ time, air travel pioneer OceanSky Cruises will launch expeditions from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to the North Pole in its next-generation airship.

As the cabin isn’t pressurised, the on-board experience is quiet, with with pleasant quality of air. The airship also moves so slowly and smoothly, that OceanSky Cruises says no seatbelts are needed on board.

He adds: “Roald Amundsen flew from Svalbard and over the North Pole in 1926 with the airship ‘Norge’. Now we are doing the same expedition, but we will also land on the North Pole. The passengers will enjoy the Arctic nature in serenity and comfort in a hyper-efficient modern flying vehicle. They will be pioneering a new way to travel, flying for sustainable skies.”

Making it possible to fly continuously for days without needing supporting infrastructure, airships present a compelling proposition for high-end adventures, and accessing remote corners in the world with a minimal environmental impact.

Lawaczeck says: “[Airships] are the most efficient and clean aerial vehicles and they give us the freedom to access remote locations – wilderness, untouched places – without a footprint.”

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Holland America Line Offers Cruisers the Chance to Sample a Grand Voyage, Exploring a Global Region in Grand Style Starting at Just $169/day

Guests can enjoy destinations like Easter Island, Antarctica and cities of the Med while enjoying signature experiences aboard a Grand Voyages

Seattle, Wash., Aug. 26, 2024 — Holland America Line , a leader in destination-rich longer voyages, is inviting cruisers to sample one of its most prolific cruise categories by booking a segment of either the 2025 Grand World Voyage or 2025 Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole, for as little as $169 per day, including all taxes and fees.

Seven segments are available on the Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole aboard Volendam, ranging from 33 to 100 days. On Zuiderdam’s Grand World Voyage, guests can choose from among six segments, ranging from 20 to 55 days. The segments allow guests to choose from a diverse selection of shorter itineraries, tailoring the Grand Voyage experience to their own taste and timeline.

“Our Grand Voyages are something our dedicated guests come back for every year while also attracting new guests who are eager to explore the world, but at over four months we recognize that not everyone has that time,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of deployment and itinerary planning for Holland America Line. “By booking one of our 2025 Grand Voyage segments, cruisers can get a taste of the special atmosphere and community aboard these sailings at an incredible value.”

Grand Voyage segments sail between two key ports along each voyage, making it a seamless experience joining the ship in various locales around the world. On the Grand World Voyage, guests can sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Singapore or Sydney, Australia; Singapore to Athens, Greece; Cape Town, South Africa, to Fort Lauderdale; Sydney to Cape Town; and Athens to Fort Lauderdale.

The Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole segments cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires, Argentina; Buenos Aires to Barcelona, Spain, or Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), the Netherlands or Fort Lauderdale; Fort Lauderdale to Ijmuiden (Amsterdam); and Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) or Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale.

Highlighted Segments

2025 Grand World Voyage Aboard Zuiderdam, departs Jan. 4, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale:

    o   55-Day Fort Lauderdale to Singapore , Jan. 4 — March 1, 2025: Those looking for a sampling of a world cruise can embark in the convenient North American homeport of Fort Lauderdale, sailing east to west, before ultimately disembarking in Singapore. On the voyage, Zuiderdam will call ports in 13 countries, and guests will experience multiple bucket list items, including a Panama Canal transit, overnight stay at Easter Island and scenic cruising in the Great Barrier Reef. 

    o   20-Day Athens to Fort Lauderdale , April 19 — May 9, 2025: Guests looking for the shortest taste of a grand can embark in Athens for a Mediterranean adventure, calling ports in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco — including a special overnight celebration in Barcelona — before heading across the Atlantic Ocean, visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a perfect day in paradise before disembarking at Fort Lauderdale.

2025 Grand Voyage: Pole to Pole aboard Volendam, departs Jan. 25, roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale:

    o   47-Day Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires , Jan. 25 — March 13, 2025: Those looking for an extended Antarctic adventure and exploration of South America can sail from Fort Lauderdale, experiencing a Panama Canal Transit before heading south to Central and South America, extensively exploring Peru (including an overnight at Lima) and Chile. A four-day Antarctica experience rounds off the segment before sailing north to Uruguay and Argentina.

    o   33-Day Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) to Fort Lauderdale , May 5 — June 7, 2025: Guests who dream of visiting the North Pole can embark in Ijmuiden, exploring the rugged coast of Norway before crossing the Arctic Circle and calling Honningsvåg (Nordkapp) in the North Cape. Volendam then visits Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and ports in Maine and Massachusetts before ending the voyage at Fort Lauderdale.

A Grand Onboard Experience

Guests sailing on any of the full or segmented Grand Voyages will have access to all the on-board offerings that Holland America Line is known for, including a robust entertainment and enrichment program that is exclusive to Grand Voyages. This includes 15 new production shows debuting in 2025 , [V(1] [C(2]  comedians, headline entertainers and performers brought on locally, and resident musicians, including a classical trio and dance band on both ships. 

Cruisers can delve deep into the cuisine of the region of the itinerary, as guest chefs will join select segments to share their culinary talents, including live cooking demonstrations, informative “coffee chats” and signature dishes in both the main Dining Room and Pinnacle Grill.

Grand Voyage Ships to Meet in Barcelona

During the Grand Voyages, Zuiderdam and Volendam will rendezvous April 24 in Barcelona. Guests on select segments will get to experience the historic meetup, which will be commemorated with Catalan-themed gala dinners, and a shipboard party capped off with a special drone show. Guests on both ships who want to meet up will have opportunities to get together as the ships overnight in port.

Read about:

About oceansky cruises.

The North Pole Expedition of Umberto Nobile and the Airship Italia

By max pinucci, head of design at oceansky cruises. illustration by hun in the sun.

94 years have passed since that distant 25th of May 1928, the year in which one of the greatest successes of Italian technology and exploration turned into tragedy and nightmare in the space of a few hours. The airship Italia crashed on the ice: for the survivors, for the rescuers and for their families a drama began, still considered one of the greatest tragedies of the air. Ninety difficult years for the figure of Umberto Nobile and for history, which was sewn throughout this expedition, disagreements, controversies, conflicts. But it has an epic side to it: the first great international search and rescue operation.

In this short story, I would like to keep away from the technical, historical and political diatribes that still plague the reading of the Italian designer and his second, unfortunate polar expedition. I would like to remember the man, a restless dreamer but pragmatic and analytical, on one side Dante’s Ulysses, on the other side, designer and professor. I am fascinated by the life of a man born in the Mediterranean warmth, tied to the great north, to the Arctic lands, to extreme explorations.

I would like to narrate the eagerness for conquest, adventure, and challenge that man and the airplane brought to the extreme points of the world, that geographical pole of which little was known and much was imagined. What was up there? Perhaps the active volcano that Jules Verne imagines among the ice in his Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras? Or mountain ranges, islands, continents, habitable lands surrounded by warm currents?

Umberto speaks outside of an airship in Ciampino, Italy. Photo: Nasjonalbiblioteket

It is not easy today, in the age of satellites, GPS, and Google Maps, to realise that only ninety years ago little or nothing was known about the morphology, climate, and appearance of the Arctic. The romantic urge to venture into the unknown has given way to an ordinary habituation, which is fulfilled between online surfing and thousands of contrails crowding the sky. 

Even today, we still don’t know exactly who first stepped on the geographic North Pole: Cook in 1908? Peary in 1909? Kuznetsov or Gordiyenko in 1948? Fletcher in 1952? Not to mention the expeditions of Parry, De Long, Nansen, Andrée and many others, who tried with ships, hot air balloons and airplanes.

The Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen (who was the first to open the mythical Northwest Passage in 1906 and reached the South Pole in 1911) and the American tycoon Lincoln Ellsworth, for example, purchased a couple of Dornier Wal aircraft (manufactured by CMASA in Marina di Pisa) in Italy in 1925. They reached 87°44′ N before an accident forced them to return fortunately.

Today it seems to be certain that it was not the American Fokker F.VIIa of Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett to fly above the North Pole on May 9, 1926; too many controversies are still aroused by this flight. It is instead proved that the Amundsen-Nobile-Ellsworth expedition with the airship, N1 Norge, starting from Rome and then from Kings Bay, reached the Pole at 1:30 am on May 12, 1926, then continued to Alaska to land at Teller.

After the risky failure with the airplanes in ’25, Amundsen had seen in the airship the means of an airplane able to safely perform the polar flight. Having purchased the N1 Norge through the Aero Club Norway from the Stabilimento Costruzioni Aeronautiche in Rome, involving the designer and pilot Umberto Nobile, and gathering an international crew of great technical ability, Amundsen once again challenged the North Pole.

The success of the Italian airship, a semi-rigid of 106 meters long, 18.6 meters wide for a volume of 18,000 m3 (small and compact by the standards of contemporary rigid airships) convinced the world of the validity of the formula. The Norge was not the first, nor would it be the last airship designed for polar flight. In 1906, the American explorer, Walter Wellman had Godard in France build a blimp, christened America, with the intention of reaching the roof of the world.

He tried in 1906, then again in 1907 and finally in 1909, with a series of failures, fortunately without consequences. The British will also think about it, while the United States will officially commit; on November 20, 1923, President Coolidge approved the US Navy’s project to send the rigid airship ZR-1 USS Shenandoah to the North Pole. The ZR-1 (derived from the German Zeppelins of the Great War, 226.5m long and the first airship to use helium gas) was to fly to Alaska, in Nome.

From here it was supposed to fly over the North Pole, and then return or, in case of bad weather, head towards Svalbard. But doubts about the costs, the risk and the huge logistic needs, together with an accident that forced the airship to repair works, made the ambitious project fail.

The Arctic explorer and Norwegian, Roald Amundsen. Photo: Nasjonalbiblioteket

In the meantime, after the success of the Norge in ’26, Umberto Nobile’s studies concentrated on a larger and more robust semi-rigid airship, the N5 of 55,000 m3. Unfortunately, the project was not carried out. When he decided to undertake a new mission to the North Pole, this time all Italian, he had to fall back on the N4 I-SAAF, twin of the Norge, which was adapted to the needs of the Arctic expedition on the basis of the experience gained in the flight two years earlier and christened Italia.

By the standards of the time, its transfer flight from Milan to the Bay of Kings, Spitzbergen (today Ny-Ålesund), was a tough and challenging journey. Departing from Baggio on the night of April 15, the N4 Italia flew over Ljubljana, Vienna, Brno, Poznań to arrive the following day in Stolp (today’s Polish Słupsk). Here he stopped for seventeen days to repair the damage inflicted by the bad weather.

He left on May 3, flying over Stockholm to allow the crew’s meteorologist to drop a letter intended for his mother, between filial affection and superstition of the voyager, Malmgren would not in fact have survived the expedition. A brief stop at the anchorage pylon of the Norwegian city of Vadsø, which had hosted the N1 Norge two years earlier, and then off, northwest, to reach the support ship Città di Milano in Kings Bay, its mast and hangar, built by engineer Felice Trojani for the ’26 expedition.

94 years have passed since that distant 25th of May 1928, the year in which one of the greatest successes of Italian technology and exploration turned into tragedy and nightmare in the space of a few hours. The Airship Italia crashed on the ice.

The scientific mission begins on May 11, but the flight, troubled by problems, is aborted after eight hours. A few days later, on 15 May, another flight. This time it is a success; they fly over the archipelago of the Land of Franz Joseph and the Land of Nicholas II (today Severnaja Zemlja), 4,000 km in three days of flight. At 4:28 am on May 23, the fateful hour is struck, and the Italia leaves Kings Bay to reach, after just under 20 hours, the geographical North Pole.

There is no way to descend on the ice; the Italian flag, the banner of Milan and the cross donated by Pope Pius XI are dropped on the Arctic frozen wastes. They return home singing. Here the story becomes painful; navigation is increasingly difficult, the storm is inclement, the euphoria becomes discomfort, then anxiety, and finally terror. The collision. Men, equipment and wreckage that scatter on the ice, the vessel that disappears in the storm carrying six men. Ten remain on the ground, one of them forever. 

But man is an amazing creature. Biagi’s obstinacy, Cecioni’s lamentations, Malmgren’s fatalism, Mariano and Zappi’s insubordination, Nobile’s suffering, Behounek’s toughness, Trojani’s tenacity and the fortuitous shelter, stained with aniline, that will become history as la Tenda Rossa, the Red Tent. The radio calls went unheard by the support ship but intercepted by the radio amateur Schmidt, the race of solidarity that, for prestige or brotherhood, is unleashed to find the castaways of the air. If, until then, only a few expeditions had followed one another in those lands, the Arctic is suddenly crowded.

The Norwegian ships, Tordenskjold, Hobby, Braganza, Veslekari, Heimland, Michael Sars, Svalbard, the Danish Gustav Holm, the Swedish Quest and Tanja, the French Strasbourg, Durance, Quentin Roosevelt, Pourquoi Pas?. The Soviet Union, superbly equipped, sends three of its Arctic icebreakers: the Malygin, the Sedov and the Krassin, the latter led by Professor Rudolf Samoylovich, Arctic explorer and personal friend of Nobile.

Half of the 16 crew members of the airship Italia survived, plus Nobile’s dog

Norway sends four aircraft: two Hansa-Brandenburg W.33 seaplanes and two Sopwith Babys. A Junker F 13 arrives from Finland. From Italy, came the Savoia-Marchetti S.55, the Santa Maria that, piloted by Maddalena, will locate the survivors on the ice, and two Dornier Wals. Sweden sends two Svenska S5s, a Junkers G 24 with floats, a Klemm-Daimler L.20, a de Havilland 60 Moth and two Fokker CVs equipped with skis. It will be one of the Fokkers, piloted by the officer Lundborg, to land at the camp of the survivors and to take in flight with him Umberto Nobile and the dog Titina, condemning him with this gesture to infamy, commander who leaves his men, which would have persecuted him for the next fifty years, until his death.

The Soviet Union has its Junkers carried on icebreakers: the G 23 Red Bear of Krassin, the F 13 of Malygin, the F 13 of Sedov. And it is a hydro Latham 47 that departs from France with a crew of four. In Bergen it boards Amundsen, a fading star, who, perhaps out of ambition, perhaps out of friendship, leaves in search of his old companion. They will not arrive even at the Bay of Kings: after a stop in Tromsø to embark Dietrichson, disappear into thin air; of them only a float and two tanks will be found, August 31 in the Barents Sea.

It will be, as we all know, the Krassin, that, despite a propeller failure, will reach the survivors on July 12, and always the Krassin that will stop the search for the airship’s envelope on September 22. 

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