Dates & Rates - North Pole Express: Barneo Ice Camp 5 Day 2016

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This expedition includes

• One night pre- and post-expedition hotel accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfast in Longyearbyen
• Welcome and farewell dinners at Longyearbyen hotel
• Shared tent accommodation at Barneo Ice Camp
• All breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks at Barneo Ice Camp
• All activities per the daily program
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader and guides
• A daily program of lectures by scientists and researchers
• All transfers and flights per the daily program
• Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team
• Downloadable photographic journal documenting the expedition
• A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan
• An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
• Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Arctic Reader
• All miscellaneous service taxes throughout the program
• Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of US$100,000 per person
• Group helicopter transfers and sightseeing flights included in the daily program

This expedition excludes

• International airfare
• Passport and any applicable visa expenses
• Government arrival and departure taxes
• Any meals outside the camp unless otherwise specified
• Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance
• Excess baggage charges
• Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges unless specified
• Telecommunication charges
• The voluntary gratuity at the end of the expedition for staff
• Any extra overnight accommodations required due to flight connections
• Additional expenses (meals, accommodation, etc.) incurred by delay or cancellation of activities due to sub-optimal weather

PLEASE NOTE: Dates of operation may be altered due to weather and ice conditions. Please bear this in mind when making international flight arrangements. Flexible or one-way tickets may reduce ticket change fees. Cancellation/interruption insurance is strongly recommended.

Overview - North Pole Express: Barneo Ice Camp 5 Day 2016

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Spend two nights at Barneo Ice Camp, a unique North Pole fly-in expedition for those seeking a short, but adventurous experience at the top of the world. You’ll be one of an exclusive group to land on the frozen runway and spend an unforgettable 48 hours at this unequalled floating site on the icy sea of the North Polar Basin.

Established each year to be a functioning Russian science and logistics station, the site is operated by the Expedition Center for the Russian Geographical Society. Among your fellow guests and base staff, you’ll meet scientists, pilots, mechanics, engineers, and explorers.

This expedition offers fully-guided opportunities for exploring the northernmost Arctic by air via helicopter flight as well as on land by snowshoe and on foot. Guests can take in lectures and presentations by the expedition team and resident scientists, and enjoy heated facilities and hearty meals, all accessible within a short flight from Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Norway).

EXPEDITION IN BRIEF:
• Fly-in to one of the most remote, extraordinary expedition base camps in the world
• Reach the top of the world by Antonov AN-74 aircraft, Mi8 helicopter and by foot
• Tread shifting ice to reach, and later celebrate at, the North Pole
• Learn first-hand about the scientific and research activities being conducted at this floating research station
• Explore the intrigue and unique culture of Longyearbyen, Svalbard, pre-and post-Barneo Ice Camp
SAMPLE ITINERARY
The itinerary outlined below is only a sample of a typical expedition to Barneo Ice Camp. Day-to-day activities may vary and are also weather dependent. Please note that the flight to the North Pole may be earlier or later than stated, depending on weather conditions. Cancellation/interruption insurance is highly recommended.

DAY 1 Arrive Longyearbyen
Upon arrival in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, you will be met at the airport by a member of the Quark Expeditions® team. After settling in to your hotel, there will be a briefing about your expedition to Barneo Ice Camp. You will be updated on current camp conditions, tour details, and the times for your departure the following day to 89° north. This evening the group will get together for a welcome dinner. Guests will receive a special edition Quark Expeditions® parka (yours to keep) and will be outfitted with special cold weather boots, on loan for the voyage.

DAY 2 Barneo Ice Camp
Accompanied by a member of the Quark Expeditions® team, we’ll transfer to the airport and board the special Antonov AN-74 aircraft for the three hour flight to Barneo. One of the unique thrills of this expedition is landing on the ice runway at Barneo, a temporary air strip constructed on the polar ice cap each year, and the only facility that allows external access to the base. Shortly after arriving at camp, lunch will be served and an introductory briefing will be conducted. Barneo is a functioning research base for scientists and adventurers from around the world, and it’s always a hive of activity. Tonight, following dinner, you’ll rest up in your well-heated tent – each tent houses 12 guests and is equipped with camp beds – to prepare for your exciting adventure ahead.

DAY 3 Barneo Ice Camp & North Pole
Destination – North Pole! The excitement mounts as you prepare for your Mi8 helicopter flight to the northernmost point on earth. Here there is only ice, and the Arctic Ocean is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) deep at this point. Weather conditions are closely monitored, and the flight will be scheduled accordingly. We’ll aim to land about 600 ft (200 metres) from the North Pole, where the group will traverse shifting ice en route to 90° north. Once there, savor the moment – pose for pictures, enjoy a celebratory drink, walk around the world together, take it all in. You’ll spend about an hour here – walking, celebrating, and capturing those moments on camera – before the 40-minute helicopter flight back to camp.
At camp, there will be lectures about polar exploration, North Pole expeditions and climate science. Enjoy a hearty, hot lunch and the 24-hour beverage station. Later this evening, after a celebration dinner, you’ll learn more about the history, geography and wildlife of the area. Presentation topics range from the first intentional drifting ice station, to arctic mammals including walrus, ringed seals, ribbon seals and polar bears. Tonight, you will also receive your certificate from the Russian Geographical Society Expedition Centre, certifying you have reached the geographic North Pole.

DAY 4 Return to Longyearbyen
After a relaxing breakfast, you’ll have some time to wander around the camp and take in those last moments of your pristine surroundings before you bid farewell to Barneo Ice Camp and return to Longyearbyen. In Longyearbyen you may wish to visit the museum, shop for souvenirs, or just walk through the town. A special farewell dinner is planned to swap stories and recount the details of your expedition to Barneo Ice Camp and the North Pole.

DAY 5 Departure
Transfer to the airport after breakfast today for your return flight home, or spend time exploring Longyearbyen.