POLAR EXPEDITION ARCHIVE / WINTER 2026 DEPARTURES

CROSS THE WORLD'S DEEPEST FROZEN RIFT.

A 7-day high-latitude glacial crossing across the black mirror ice and azure tectonic fault lines of Lake Baikal. Navigated by certified IFMGA polar mountaineers and hovercraft ice pilots.

MAX DEPTH 1,642 M

CROSSING ROUTE 280 KM

ICE RESISTANCE 1.8 MPa

BASE EXPEDITION FROM $2,850 USD

CONFIRMED 2026 BERTH SCHEDULE:

FEB 04 – FEB 11 (3 BERTHS LEFT) FEB 14 – FEB 21 (SOLD OUT) MAR 02 – MAR 09 (5 BERTHS LEFT)

EXPEDITION CORRIDOR

The 280km Glacial Crossing

Select any waypoint to examine terrain physics, transit equipment, and scientific survey objectives.

STAGE 01 // DAY 1 0 KM (BASECAMP ARRIVAL)

Irkutsk Arrival & Polar Gear Inspection

Arrival at Irkutsk International Airport. Transfer to expedition HQ for mandatory gear fitting, thermal Arctic suit checks, satellite beacon configuration, and briefing by senior polar guides.

Thermal Arctic suit (-40°C rated) custom fitting
Garmin inReach satellite communication pairing
Traditional Siberian welcome banquet with local guides

ICE SURFACE TEMP -18°C

TERRAIN MATRIX URBAN / BASECAMP

PRIMARY TRANSIT 4WD ARCTIC BUS

DAILY ELEVATION 456M ASL

SAFETY ARCHITECTURE

Mandatory Arctic -40°C Equipment Protocol

Our base camps provide professional expedition hardware. Review what is issued vs. personal baselayers required.

ISSUED BY EXPEDITION

Technical Extreme Outerwear

800-Fill Goose Down Parka — Rated to -45°C with expedition snorkel hood
Salopette Bib Trousers — Gore-Tex Pro 3-layer windproof shell
Baffin Polar Ice Boots — Multi-layer removable inner boot rated -60°C
Black Diamond Ice Crampons — Custom 10-point walk-mode spiked bindings
Petzl Meteor Polar Helmet — Impact shell with high-clarity visor

GUEST PERSONAL CHECKLIST

Recommended Thermal Baselayers

250 GSM Merino Wool Tops (x3) — Non-itch, high breathability
Merino Long Johns & Midweight Fleece — Polartec High Loft grid
Category 4 Glacier Glasses — Side shields for albedo snow reflection
Chemical Hand & Foot Warmers (20 pairs) — HotHands expedition pack
Insulated 1.5L Thermos Flask — Double-wall stainless vacuum seal

EXPEDITION TIERS

All-Inclusive 2026 Polar Berths

Includes all heated lodge stays, hovercraft transport, chef meals, satellite comms, and guide fees.

TIER 01

Base Camp & Olkhon Ice Trek

$2,850/ person

7-Day standard expedition. Shared twin heated yurt lodges, hovercraft convoy, full group guide escort.

✓ All 7 days lodging in heated Siberian lodges & yurts
✓ Hivus-10 hovercraft convoy support across hummock zones
✓ 3 chef-prepared hot meals daily + hot berry teas on ice
✓ IFMGA polar guide team & Garmin inReach satellite beacon
✓ Full technical gear rental (Parka, Baffin boots, crampons)

RECOMMENDED

TIER 02

Complete 280km North-South Crossing

$4,200/ person

The definitive Baikal crossing. Semi-private hovercraft, methane bubble grottoes, ice banya sauna experience.

✓ Everything in Base Camp package, plus:
✓ Single occupancy heated cedar cabin upgrade
✓ Dedicated mobile Siberian wood banya with private ice plunge
✓ Nighttime auroral astrophotography session with tripod gear
✓ Specialized Nordic ice-skating endurance run on mirror ice
✓ Airport VIP lounge transfer at Irkutsk

TIER 03

VIP Private Master Expedition

$5,600/ person

Exclusive private charter for photographers, researchers, or private parties. Dedicated hovercraft and personal glaciologist.

✓ Private chartered Hivus-10 hovercraft & veteran captain
✓ Private glaciologist guide & dedicated aerial drone pilot
✓ Custom routing through uncharted northern crack fissures
✓ Private caviar and smoked omul tasting dinners
✓ All raw 4K RED cinema footage & licensed expedition photo book

CERTIFIED COMMAND

Led By Polar & Glaciological Veterans

Our leaders maintain active UIAGM credentials and over 100 cumulative Siberian crossings.

IFMGA / UIAGM

Dmitry Voronov

Head Expedition Leader · 16 Seasons

44 successful crossings of Lake Baikal. Certified Arctic Wilderness Emergency Medic & Mountain Rescue Inspector.

PH.D. GLACIOLOGY

Dr. Elena Makarova

Senior Glaciologist & Route Navigator

12 years researching Baikal acoustic resonance, methane venting dynamics, and tectonic stress fracture modeling.

CHIEF HOVERCRAFT PILOT

Capt. Sergei Chen

Amphibious Commander & Ice Diver

14,000+ nautical miles piloting Hivus crafts over 2-meter pressure hummocks in zero-visibility blizzard conditions.