Believe it or not, you can go to the North and South Poles in one trip. While many go to the North and South Poles on different occasions, combining these trips for the ultimate (almost unheard of) expedition isn't out of reach.
Many people visit the Poles to experience the unique landscapes, untouched wilderness and fascinating wildlife.
In this article, we’ll break down what each Pole has to offer, the best time to visit and what to expect if you combine the North and South Poles in one trip.
It took Matthew Henson and Robert Peary eight attempts to be the first to reach the North Pole in 1909. Nowadays, anyone with the necessary resources and curiosity can explore the northernmost part of Earth.
There are two times of the year to get the best experience of the North Pole. One is during the Fall when you can observe the extraordinary event of polar bear denning. The other is in the Spring when you'll see the polar bears emerging from their dens.
Polar bear denning is when pregnant polar bears dig a den in the snow drifts to have a safe place to give birth to their future cubs. During the winter, snowfall encloses the den so predators can't see it from above. The den needs to remain uninterrupted to give the newborn cub a safe place to develop until the cub and mother emerge in the Spring.
Unfortunately, climate change and other human affairs have introduced challenges to denning. Climate change has reduced the amount of ice, which has reduced the area where polar bears can den. On top of the decreased denning area, oil drilling operations have increased in the Arctic, creating more of a challenge for mother polar bears to den in peace.
Seeing the denning phenomenon in person gives visitors first-hand insight into maintaining their environmental efforts and spreading awareness.
If you visit the North Pole in the Spring, you can see the polar bear mothers and cubs emerge from their dens. It’s a beautiful opportunity to watch a cub explore their new home and interact with the other cubs.
There are several ways to visit the North Pole. Some enjoy visiting by ship during the summer months of June and July when there's less ice, so they can enjoy the usual creature comforts a ship offers.
The more adventurous choose to visit by helicopter or plane. This means of transportation allows you to visit the North Pole year-round and see some truly unique sights.
Arctic Kingdom is proud to offer bespoke experiences to the North Pole, allowing you to visit in an exciting and comfortable way.
Similarly to the North Pole, the best time to visit the South Pole is during the Spring (March-May) and Fall (September-November). Keep in mind that seasons are opposite in the Antarctic compared to North America. But, to avoid confusion, we’ll refer to North America’s seasons.
In the Fall, you can expect to see the remarkable births of emperor penguin chicks. What polar bears are to the North Pole, emperor penguins are to the South Pole. And, to see the birth of these penguins in colonies of 500 to 20,000 pairs may be one of the most incredible things you’ll ever see.
Sadly, the emperor penguins are also feeling the effects of global warming. They've officially been declared endangered by the US government. A study suggests that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at the current rate, emperor penguins will be extinct by 2100 — about 80 years from now.
Apart from seeing the adorable penguins, you can also expect to witness pods of whales arriving in the Antarctic, where they go to feast on krill. Over eight species of whales visit the Antarctic, with humpback whales being the most sighted.
Visiting the Antarctic in the Spring is the perfect time to see the Southern Lights — Aurora Australis.
The Southern Lights are just as elusive and impressive as the Northern lights. The northern lights boast palettes of blue and green, whereas the southern lights show off additional palettes of pinks, purples, oranges and even gold.
Now combine the idea of watching the Southern Lights dance above the emperor penguins and their chicks. Arctic Kingdom can make that happen for you.
The only way to get to the South Pole is by plane or helicopter. Unlike the North Pole, which is on the sea, the South Pole is on land.
The most common route is flying to Argentina, the southernmost tip of South America. From there, you can take a quick two to four-hour flight, depending on the aircraft and weather.
If you have more time to spare, you can also cruise to Antarctica and back from Argentina before or after you reach the South Pole. This is an excellent opportunity to experience the exhilarating trip through the Drake Passage and see the Blood Falls.
To make the most of your trip down South, contact Arctic Kingdom to begin planning your bespoke, private South Pole extravaganza.
For a truly unique experience, you can visit the North and South Poles in the same trip instead of making two separate trips at different times of the year.
This is an experience only a few people can say they have done since barely any adventure operators offer it. But Arctic Kingdom does.
Depending on the amount of time you have and what you want to witness, Arctic Kingdom can plan a personalized and private trip to get you from the North and South Poles in one go.
If you choose to visit the North and South Poles in the Spring, you have opportunities to see the following:
North Pole - Polar bear mothers and cubs come out of their dens
South Pole - Southern lights
You’re likely wondering how you can complete such a long trip. Ultimately, it’s up to you, how you’d like to travel and how much time you have. When planning with Arctic Kingdom, we need to know your preferences and we’ll organize the rest.
Typically, we visit the North Pole first. As we head down to the South Pole, we stop in Panama. This is an excellent opportunity to warm up and witness humpback whales arriving as they take advantage of the warm weather themselves.
At Arctic Kingdom, we’re passionate about spreading awareness about the animals that call the Arctic and Antarctic home. We're happy to plan a bespoke trip for you that involves seeing both Poles in one excursion so we can share our passion with you.
Start planning your Pole-to-Pole expedition by getting in touch with us. We can’t wait to share this experience with you.