Ponant x North Pole: 40th Anniversary of Historic Expedition

PONANT EXPLORATIONS is honored to support a remarkable expedition retracing the steps of the little-known 1985 journey to the Geographic North Pole, led by Sir Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong. Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker, descendants and team members of the original mission have returned to the top of the world—exactly 40 years later.

In the summer of 1985, a quietly assembled group of adventurers—led by professional expedition leader Mike Dunn and including Hillary, Armstrong, Steve Fossett, and Patrick Morrow—traveled to the North Pole. The expedition remained out of the public eye by design, at Armstrong’s request. Today, the story is finally being told.

Currently onboard Le Commandant Charcot are Peter Hillary—who participated in the original 1985 journey alongside his father, Sir Edmund Hillary—Mark Armstrong, son of Neil Armstrong, Alexander Hillary, grandson of Sir Edmund Hillary, and expedition leader Mike Dunn. They are retracing the original route through the drifting Arctic ice, supported by cutting-edge technology, polar research, and the enduring legacy of their fathers’ pioneering spirit.

The expedition is part of a 15-night voyage from Svalbard that departed on July 22, 2025, and is organized with the support of PONANT EXPLORATIONS.

The ship, which features a hybrid electric propulsion system powered by LNG, reached 90° North on Saturday evening, and the team ventured ashore on Sunday morning July 27 to commemorate the moment.

“It’s always both thrilling and humbling to reach the North Pole, and this expedition added even greater meaning to the moment,” Captain Étienne Garcia said. “As a company with exploration in our DNA, PONANT EXPLORATIONS is proud to support this extraordinary journey retracing the footsteps of two legendary explorers. Le Commandant Charcot was purpose-built for exactly this kind of mission—uniting safe polar navigation, scientific discovery, and cultural storytelling at the ends of the Earth.”

“Sir Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong are two of the pivotal explorers of the twentieth century,” Peter Hillary said. “To share with them an adventure to the North Pole was an extraordinary opportunity—and now, to revisit from the bow of this revolutionary vessel, 40 years later, is truly humbling.”

“I’ve been impressed by the ship’s capabilities—especially its robust science program,” Mark Armstrong said. “Researchers aboard are measuring salinity, nanoplastics, sea ice thickness—offering critical data in a rapidly changing environment. It gives me hope.”

“The 1985 expedition was unique,” Mike Dunn said. “In order to understand the future of the North Pole, we need to understand its past. That’s what makes this return so important.”

This groundbreaking return voyage also serves as the foundation for a new documentary, North Pole ’85, directed by Icelandic filmmakers Orly Orlyson and Rafnar Orri. The film will bring the original expedition to light for the first time, combining never-before-seen 1985 footage, contemporary interviews, and stunning visuals captured from Le Commandant Charcot. The premiere date will be announced soon.

Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, guests experience the polar regions with unparalleled access, comfort, and care for the environment. The ship’s state-of-the-art laboratories, constant scientific activity, and minimized impact ice-navigation systems are emblematic of the PONANT EXPLORATIONS ethos: pushing the boundaries of discovery while preserving the planet’s most fragile ecosystems. With its Polar Class 2 (PC2) classification, it is the only cruise ship in the world capable of reaching 90° North, the northernmost point on Earth. The company began North Pole expeditions in 2022 and recently announced 12-night voyages beginning July of 2027.

For more information on PONANT EXPLORATIONS, visit us.ponant.com or call 1-888-400-1082.