The nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory takes us to Russia’s two most remote Arctic archipelagos — following Sedov, Brusilov and “The Two Captains”. Helicopter landings, polar bears and walruses, the musical “Saint Anna” in Tikhaya Bay and well-known guests on board.
About the cruise
Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya are the most inaccessible archipelagos of the Russian Arctic — and the stage on which the history of the great polar expeditions was written. Georgy Sedov wintered here, the lost schooner Saint Anna of Georgy Brusilov was searched for here, and Ivan Papanin opened the first Soviet polar station here. The Polar Travel Club spent ten years preparing this route, and for the first time in twenty years expedition leader Nikolai Saveliev will once again guide travellers to both archipelagos.
We set sail from Murmansk aboard the nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory. Several times a day — Zodiac landings and shore walks, helicopter flights to the finest viewpoints, encounters with polar bears, walruses and bird cliffs. And a special cultural programme: the musical “Saint Anna” with the Russian Army Theatre and music by Maxim Dunaevsky, a one-man show by Evgeny Grishkovets in Russkaya Gavan and guests who will share this expedition with us.
Highlights
Every guest will see the Arctic from the air: helicopter flights are included in the price. The helicopter reaches places no one can get to on foot or by boat — the most spectacular and inaccessible panoramas of the archipelago.
Polar bears are the true masters of these lands, alongside vast walrus haul-outs and famous bird cliffs. Together with scientists we observe Arctic wildlife in its natural habitat.
Several times a day — Zodiac outings to rocky shores, glaciers and icebergs. We approach the ice labyrinths of Novaya Zemlya and watch icebergs being born before our eyes.
Payer, Leigh Smith, Sedov, Brusilov, Papanin — we follow in their footsteps and listen to archive recordings in the very places where they were made. Winter huts, polar stations and memorials turn history into a living experience.
Ice domes and mighty glaciers, the sheer cliffs of the Oranskie Islands and Cape Zhelaniya, where the Barents Sea meets the Kara Sea. A wilder, harder-to-reach Arctic that very few people ever see.
Talks by polar experts, creative evenings, tours of the engine room with its working nuclear reactors and even time with the crew on the captain’s bridge. 50 Years of Victory is the only nuclear icebreaker in the world open to travellers.
Together with the Russian Army Theatre we present a special immersive version of the musical “Saint Anna” — a reconstruction of real events at the first Soviet polar station. The performance takes place in a 1929 aircraft hangar, to live music by Maxim Dunaevsky.
Guests on board
People known across the whole country are coming with us on this expedition. They will be not just guests but full members of the voyage.
Founder of the Polar Travel Club, expedition leader
The man who made Arctic voyages aboard a nuclear icebreaker possible — and the true soul of the expedition. For the first time in twenty years he will again lead travellers to Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya along this legendary historic route.
Composer, People’s Artist of Russia
A composer whose music has become part of the cultural memory of several generations. He leads the special production of the musical about the schooner “Saint Anna” — in the very places linked to the fate of Georgy Brusilov’s expedition.
Film director, screenwriter, producer
Director of the blockbuster “Kholop” (“Serf”), the first director in history to shoot a feature film aboard the ISS, and a laureate of the State Prize of Russia. He reached the North Pole with us in 2024.
Stage and screen actor, producer, singer
One of the most recognisable actors of his generation, with more than 30 films and series in Russia and abroad, including the lead role in “Kholop”. He joins a Club expedition for the first time, trading film sets for the open Arctic.
Writer, playwright, theatre director
Winner of the Golden Mask award, author of the novel “The Shirt” and founder of his own theatre. He has reached the North Pole with us twice — in 2021 and 2025. This time he will perform his one-man show in Russkaya Gavan.
Arctic explorer and expedition coordinator
A veteran of UN missions and search-and-rescue operations and an expert in Arctic safety. In 2010, as part of the “In the Footsteps of the Two Captains” project, he took part in the search that, 96 years on, found the remains of one of the lost members of Brusilov’s expedition.
Historian, geographer, leading researcher at Moscow State University
An Honorary Polar Explorer who over 35 years has taken part in and led more than 80 expeditions — from the Kola Peninsula to Chukotka. One of our guests’ favourite lecturers.
Together with the Russian Army Theatre we are staging an immersive version of the musical “Saint Anna”. It is more than theatre: it reconstructs real historical events at the first Soviet polar station in Tikhaya Bay on Hooker Island. The musical is performed in a 1929 aircraft hangar, and live music by Maxim Dunaevsky makes it feel remarkably real.
Itinerary
Day 1
Murmansk, Russia
The expedition begins in Murmansk — the largest city in the world north of the Arctic Circle and the traditional departure point for voyages to the Arctic archipelagos. We meet you on arrival and take you to a hotel in the city centre; the night and breakfast are included. Tomorrow we set out on a route our team has spent ten years designing — to Russia’s most remote and least-visited islands.
Day 2
Murmansk — departure
After breakfast the expedition team holds a briefing on the route, life on board and the landings ahead. Then on to the Atomflot port and aboard 50 Years of Victory — a genuine working nuclear icebreaker. The Murmansk shore slowly slips away, and ahead lie the Barents Sea and the waters once crossed by the first explorers of the Arctic.
Day 3
Barents Sea
A full day at sea: wind, gulls in the wake and the feeling that we are truly in the High North. The great expeditions of the past set out for the Pole across the Barents Sea, and our scientists tell the stories of the boldest among them. After the lectures, familiar names on the map become the stories of real people.
Day 4
Franz Josef Land · Bell Island
From today the expedition switches to its active rhythm: Zodiac landings, shore walks and helicopter flights several times a day. First comes Bell Island, discovered by Benjamin Leigh Smith in 1880 and named for its bell-shaped mountain. Here stands Eira Lodge — the very first building on the archipelago, its walls covered with the signatures of polar explorers from 1881 to 1930.
Days 5–9
Hooker Island · Tikhaya Bay
Hooker Island and the legendary Tikhaya Bay. In 1912–1914 Georgy Sedov’s expedition wintered here — the story that inspired Veniamin Kaverin’s novel “The Two Captains”. Later Ivan Papanin opened the first Soviet scientific station in the Arctic in the bay; its buildings survive and show how polar explorers lived at the time. The world’s northernmost post office operates here, so you can send a postcard home from the edge of the world. And in a 1929 aircraft hangar we will see a performance of the musical “Saint Anna”.
Days 5–9
Rudolf Island
Rudolf Island is the northern edge of Franz Josef Land. It was discovered in 1873 by Julius Payer’s expedition and named after the heir to the Austrian throne. In 1914 Georgy Sedov died here during his march towards the Pole and was buried on the island — a memorial plaque at Cape Auk keeps his memory. A stern, majestic place where the history of polar discovery feels very close.
Days 5–9
Champ Island
Champ Island is perhaps the most remarkable place on the archipelago. Its shores are scattered with almost perfectly round stone spheres, some of them several metres across. Scientists still debate how these concretions formed, and photographs among them are always among the most striking images of the voyage.
Days 5–9
Heiss Island
Heiss Island is home to the Ernst Krenkel meteorological station, one of the key points on the map of the archipelago. Polar staff still observe the weather, the ice and Arctic wildlife here today. We visit a genuine working station, see how life is organised in the high latitudes and meet people for whom the Arctic is everyday work.
Day 10
Hall Island · Cape Tegetthoff
Our final stop in Franz Josef Land is Cape Tegetthoff on Hall Island. These were the cliffs first sighted in 1873 by members of Payer’s Austrian expedition — the moment the world learned of a new archipelago. From here the icebreaker turns south-east, towards Novaya Zemlya.
Days 10–11
Novaya Zemlya · Russkaya Gavan
One more crossing of the Barents Sea brings us to Novaya Zemlya, the climax of the whole route. Russkaya Gavan is home to a historic polar station whose story inspired the classic Soviet film “The Seven Brave”. Our day on this shore ends with a one-man show by Evgeny Grishkovets.
Days 10–11
Novaya Zemlya · Oranskie Islands
The Oranskie Islands are one of the great natural treasures of Novaya Zemlya. Their sheer cliffs echo with seabird colonies. From the Zodiacs we take in the rugged coastline and see one of the largest walrus haul-outs in the entire Arctic.
Days 10–11
Novaya Zemlya · Cape Zhelaniya
Cape Zhelaniya — the Cape of Desire — is the northernmost point of Novaya Zemlya, where the Barents Sea meets the Kara Sea. An old lighthouse and a mothballed polar station from the 1930s survive here. The empty shore and abandoned buildings create a strikingly mysterious atmosphere.
Day 12
Barents Sea
Our last day at sea is a time to look back. We watch a film about our journey, relive the brightest and most moving moments and share our impressions. In the evening — a farewell dinner with the captain and live music.
Day 13
Murmansk, Russia
The icebreaker returns to Murmansk. Behind us — days among the ice, two great archipelagos and the routes of legendary polar explorers. After breakfast we disembark and transfer to the airport or the city centre. Over these two weeks the icebreaker has become home, and our fellow travellers kindred spirits who now share an Arctic story with us.
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About the vessel
50 Years of Victory (originally 50 Let Pobedy) is the largest and most modern nuclear icebreaker in the world. An Arktika-class icebreaker commissioned in 2007, her two nuclear reactors deliver a combined 75,000 horsepower — enough to break through ice up to three metres thick.
Her robust design allows the vessel to reach the North Pole on a regular basis and return safely home. Over her career she has completed more than 60 voyages to the “Top of the World”.
On board
Dates and prices
Prices are quoted per person.
Questions & answers
An expedition cruise lets you reach remote and difficult-to-access places without sacrificing a reasonable level of comfort. You see, in person, what most people only see on television.
The whole point is to land — repeatedly — on shores with no infrastructure. That’s why expedition vessels are small: they reach places that standard cruise ships can’t.
For polar landings you will need warm waterproof clothing: thermal base layers, a fleece, a waterproof jacket and trousers, and warm boots with non-slip soles. Gloves and a hat are essential.
On board — comfortable everyday clothes. For the farewell dinner with the captain you may wish to bring something more formal. We recommend confirming the full packing list at the time of booking.
No special physical preparation is required. General fitness is enough — being able to walk on uneven surfaces and transfer in and out of Zodiac landing craft during shore landings.
Medical restrictions are minimal, but we recommend consulting your doctor, especially in the case of chronic conditions.
Yes — children are welcome from age 6. The expedition gives children a unique educational experience: lectures by polar scientists, wildlife observation and the chance to visit Russia’s northernmost archipelagos.
We recommend confirming accommodation details and family-friendly aspects of the programme with our manager in advance.
The day starts with a briefing where the team outlines the upcoming landings and weather conditions. Then come the expedition activities: shore landings by Zodiac, wildlife observation, helicopter flights.
In the evening — lectures by polar experts, dinner and informal time together. The programme is flexible and adapts to the weather and ice conditions.
The main factor when choosing your clothing is comfort. Casual and informal clothing is fine. For the evening events — the captain’s cocktail and the farewell gala dinner — we recommend bringing something more elegant.
Satellite communication is available on board. Bandwidth is limited — fine for messaging and email, not for video streaming. The ship offers satellite phone service for urgent calls home.
There is no mobile coverage on the archipelagos, but the ship’s communications keep you in constant contact with the mainland.
Yes, a professional ship’s doctor is on board and a medical station is fitted out. Helicopter evacuation is possible if required. We recommend bringing any necessary medication and arranging insurance with evacuation cover.
The IMO ranks ocean cruising among the safest forms of leisure travel. All vessels meet strict international certification, and crews regularly drill emergency procedures.
A full set of safety and rescue equipment is available on board. The icebreaker <em>50 Years of Victory</em> has completed more than 60 successful voyages to the North Pole and sails regularly to Franz Josef Land.
The expedition programme may be adjusted depending on ice conditions, weather and decisions of the captain. This is the nature of polar expeditions — nature dictates the route.
The team always aims to deliver the full programme, and any changes are compensated with alternative activities.
Shore and ice landings are made by Zodiac — agile, reliable and safe, the standard for expedition cruises.
On this expedition helicopters will also take us to the most inaccessible points of the archipelago — flights are included in the price and operate subject to weather.
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Reviews
The expedition to the North Pole was excellent. The impressions began the moment we saw the icebreaker 50 Years of Victory — she is huge, slightly intimidating, and the cabins are very comfortable. We had no prior experience of cruises like this, but I would not say it was hard. An unusual journey that will stay with you for a long time.
We took the cruise to the North Pole. A grand journey, every part of it unique and unusual — we absolutely loved it. The photographs came out unreal, and the polar banya stays with you. Every activity was included, and they even gifted us a jacket. Thank you for the excellent organisation.
Best operator for expedition cruises — and I have a lot of experience here. The destinations really are unusual, and everything is fully planned and organised: from the cabins to the programme and the locations. A professional approach at every stage.
In 2019 we sailed to the North Pole with a stop at Franz Josef Land — I recommend it without hesitation. This year our friends are going. We want to repeat a journey like this — that says it all.
It was a long-held dream of mine to reach the North Pole. There are many operators; I chose carefully — read the programme, looked at the reviews. Settled on this one and did not regret a single moment. Everything met my expectations and even exceeded them.
Our family wishes to thank you for the trip. Everything went very smoothly — we travelled with two children aged 7 and 11. A cruise on a comfortable vessel, with everything you need at hand. The programme is full but manageable, and genuinely engaging.
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About the company
A trusted guide to the world of expedition travel — helping you reach the most remote corners of the planet.
Oscar is the son of Fyodor Konyukhov — the Russian explorer who has reached both Poles, summited Everest and sailed solo around the world. Guests on the show are people with global ambitions: polar explorers, entrepreneurs and researchers. Topics include leadership, resilience and the experience of trailblazers.
Operating expedition cruises since 2013. Thousands of clients have visited the most inaccessible places on the planet.
The North Pole, Antarctica, the Arctic, the Russian Far East, the Galápagos, French Polynesia and round-the-world voyages.
A small group means every guest receives personal attention. No crowds — only like-minded travellers.
We work directly with the world’s leading cruise operators. No hidden mark-ups — you pay only what the journey costs.
We work with Poseidon, Swan Hellenic, Ponant and other leading operators — only proven vessels and professional expedition teams.
Our managers stay in touch at every stage — they will help you choose a route, prepare your documents and answer questions at any time.
Officially registered tour operator under Russian law, with mandatory financial liability cover. Russian Tour Operator Registry: РТО 022681
All trips are fully protected — financial responsibility and client insurance are guaranteed by law.
