It normally takes 40 days of blood, sweat and tears, but a British tour company is offering a new way to reach the North Pole - on a luxury three-day break.
The 'expeditioners' will be picked up at home by limousine to fly by private jet and helicopter to the Pole. There, says the brochure, 'champagne will be served'. The 58-hour trip costs £14,990. On hand to answer any questions will be polar veteran Sir Ranulph Fiennes. On his last expedition to the Pole, Fiennes got frostbite in four fingers and a thumb, and sawed them off himself.
This time the greatest danger is likely to be indigestion. The trip, aimed at time-poor, cash-rich thrill seekers, begins with a champagne reception at Luton airport. The team then flies to the Arctic island of Spitsbergen ('champagne, canapés and lunch will be served') where they stay the night at a Radisson luxury hotel.
After breakfast next day comes a flight to Ice Station Borneo, a Russian base, and a helicopter ride the final 40 miles to the Pole. After photos, the team returns to the hotel for a 'celebratory dinner'. 'You have done it!' says the breathless brochure.
The trip, which starts next April, is being organised by Flights of Fantasy (020 8515 4677; www.flightsoffantasy.com). It claims to be the first company to offer the North Pole by private jet, although it is an increasingly popular tourist destination.
On 26 April, the British explorer Tom Avery reached the Pole after skiing for 37 days from Canada. Three seals were the only sign of life he saw on the way.
However, about two hours after pitching his tent at the Pole, he heard voices and outside found two Russians and a Czech who had skied from Borneo base. Two minutes later, 'this huge helicopter touched down right next to the tent', said Avery. 'In it were eight Portuguese tourists. They had a glass of champagne, while the helicopter crew smoked, and within an hour they'd gone. It was utterly surreal.'
Borge Ousland, a Norwegian explorer, saw no one on his 52-day solo trek across the Arctic Sea, except at the Pole. There, standing beside a helicopter, was an Arab sheikh in traditional robes.
The trend for condensed adventures of all kinds is growing. Explore (0870 333 4001; www.explore.co.uk) last week launched a short break brochure, including a six-day trip to watch gorillas in Uganda. 'Ten years ago that would have been a three-week expedition, but now people want instant gratification and don't want to take much time off work,' said Explore's Derek Moore.
