Your independent arrival at Helsinki international airport. Independent transfer to the hotel – our representatives meet you at the lobby of the hotel.

After a short Helsinki city tour we fly to Murmansk (duration of the flight is about two hours). Having boarded the "50 Years of Victory", one of the most powerful ships in the world, we leave the city port via the Kola Bay.

While our ship is heading northwards, we are instructed on safety rules:
- aboard the "50 Years of Victory"
- during operations in the High Arctic latitudes.

Getting familiar with the ship, learning of her incredible icebreaking abilities and of how the ice is negotiated – all of this is on the agenda. The engine room tour will amaze you!

In our case it’s hard to say what is more exciting: this very special victorious feeling when the goal is achieved or actually the process of reaching the goal! The experience of being on open decks of the 75,000 horsepower "50 Years of Victory" battling her way through the hard Arctic ice is one of the most memorable. So are the views of enormous Arctic ice fields!

Things that might be done on the way to the North Pole:
- helicopter flights over the icebreaker while she is going through the ice
- walking on the ice field – if time, ice and weather factors seem suitable to the Expedition Leader

The lecturers of our experienced Expedition Team these days will be telling you a lot about the types of ice, the Arctic wildlife, history of the Arctic exploration and many more… 

Today we expect to reach the North Pole. The Captain slowly maneuvers the huge ship to position her exactly onto the Geographical North Pole – this does require excellent navigation skills! After some time the GPS on the bridge shows “90° N”!

The celebration that started on the bridge will continue during North Pole barbecue – as soon as suitable ice-field is found.  Now you know what it is like: standing on the top of the world. The most daring can take a plunge into the Arctic Ocean.  You can literally have a round-the-world walk in our International round dance.

WIn 2009 “Poseidon Arctic Voyages” celebrates its 10-year anniversary. During our operations in the Russian Arctic we’ve gained unique experience in exploring the Arctic lands. We are always pleased to share it with you!

On the way back we plan to explore Franz Josef Land archipelago. If ice and weather conditions are favorable – we might have enough time to land onto the Northern Tip of Novaya Zemlya; and, maybe, Kolguev Island.

Franz Josef Land Archipelago in brief:
- home place to Polar Bears, walruses and plenty of the Arctic birds
- consists of about 190 islands – most of them will remind you of Moon craters, therefore is called sometimes “Moon Archipelago”
- famous for its “mysterious” round boulders found only on one island of the archipelago (Champ Island)
- offers excellent exploration  and photographic opportunities due to its vivid landscape and large number of historical sites

In 2009 there will be 80 years since the first Polar Station on Franz Josef Land was launched. This is polar station in Tikhaya Bay. We’ll do our best to have something special for this occasion!

At the northern tip of Novaya Zemlya we might visit Inostrantseva Bay. Photographers will appreciate the view!

Kolguev Island:
- the Nenets reindeer herders live here
- is a unique area in terms of wetlands and breeding and migrating birds (several species of geese that migrate to Western Europe in winter)
- unlike other Arctic islands, there are no lemmings
- is of interest to several International Arctic research projects, one of them is ECORA (http://www.grida.no/ecora/about.aspx) 

You will have time to share your emotions with your companions and Expedition team and to comprehend that now you belong to a select group of people who have conquered the North Pole.

After disembarkation in the port of Murmansk we will fly to Helsinki to spend one more evening in the capital of Finland.

After breakfast independent transfer to the international airport for the flight home.