40 to 50 km Ski to the Pole (5 days/4 nights on the ice) - You fly to Borneo and then take a helicopter to within 40-50 km of the Pole. Each member of the group pulls a lightweight sled loaded with a small amount of supplies. This trip gives skiers a great North Pole adventure ski experience, but distances are much shorter and the pace is much easier than in longer, more serious expeditions. You will sleep each night in expedition tents, but your food is of a higher quality and your exposure to the cold during the day isn’t as intense. The entire trip has a rather lighthearted feel to it. You are guaranteed an overnight campout at the Pole, along with a satellite phone call and a group snowman construction. The next day, you fly by helicopter back to Borneo for champagne and a celebratory meal, followed by an evening flight to Longyearbyen. Cost: $28,560.

Ski the Last Degree (12 day trip; 9 days on the ice) - This trip is identical to the trip described above, except that you ski from the Borneo Ice Station (89°N) to the North Pole, a distance of 69 miles, over 7 to 8 days. You will haul heavier loads and the expedition requires better physical conditioning, skill, and stamina. All equipment, clothing, food, etc. is supplied by the tour company. Cost: $29,300.

Ski Last Two Degrees (23 day trip; 22 days on the ice) - Some tour companies call this their “North Pole Extreme” trip. You meet your guides and group in Longyearbyen, where you are outfitted with gear. Included in the price of your trip are tents, sledges, stoves, fuel, skis, boots, poles, backpack, major expedition clothing (windproof insulated coats, head and hand gear, pants, etc.), and much more. The expedition clothing and backpack will be yours to keep. Also included in the cost is the use of a satellite GPS, a 2-minute satellite phone call to a loved one, your professional guide, all food while in Antarctica, ski lessons, and many more services. Cost: $27,850 to $30,200.

You fly to Ice Station Borneo where you board a helicopter and fly south to 88°N – approximately 138 miles from the Pole. Each member is harnessed to his or her own heavily-laden (85-110 lbs.) sled. Depending on the structure of the trip, you will spend anywhere from 8 to 20 days on the Arctic ice, living from the supplies you have brought along. You will have no outside support. Teamwork is essential to the success of this trip, and everyone helps out with cooking, route finding, and watching out for polar bears. You will experience complete isolation until you reach the North Pole. Once there, depending on weather and timing, you may camp overnight before a helicopter arrives to take you back to Borneo. After the 40-minute flight, there will be a champagne ceremony. You may spend the night at Borneo (hot meals and warm bunks) before flying back to Longyearbyen.

Unsupported Trips

Ski the Last Degree (Unsupported) - Even for $15,500, you are very much on your own on this trip. The company will fly you from Moscow to Ice Station Borneo. You, however, are responsible for all your own supplies, sleds, fuel, food, stove, radio, etc. If you feel you need a guide, the company can supply one for an extra fee. Starting date should be between April 15 – 18, and the company allows you 5 to 7 days to ski to the Pole. They will eventually send a helicopter to fly you back to Borneo. While you’re on the ice, you must supply your own support group (doctor and radio operator who stay at the ice station). In fact, the company suggests that you bring along “a friend or girlfriend to control your movements along the route.” Cost: $15,500.

Extreme Expeditions - For those who want to truly test themselves in the Arctic, one of the most extreme North Pole expeditions attempts to cross the Arctic Sea, from Siberia to Canada, on skis. You will have to find your own sponsors for this trip – no commercial company offers it. Cost: $25,000+.

Short of that, there are expeditions originating in Canada (Ward Hunt) and Siberia (Cape Arktichevsky) that attempt to ski the 480+ miles to the North Pole. You are advised to start no later than the beginning of March. You can choose one of two styles for your attempt: “autonomous” (you haul everything with you on sledges) or “merciful” (you haul a limited amount of food, fuel, and supplies, and the rest is delivered by helicopters or parachuted from aircraft as needed). Either way is extreme and dangerous. Route-finding is a challenge, and the list of hazards, from terrain to polar bears, is intimidating, to say the least. Depending on the amount of support you require, this trip could cost at least $25,000 per person – much more if you require search and rescue – and you must purchase all gear, food, clothing, fuel, and supplies separately.