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Ponant Explorations has announced it is honored to support an 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 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 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 degrees North on Saturday evening, and the team ventured ashore on Sunday morning July 27 to commemorate the moment.
“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,” said Mark Armstrong. “Researchers aboard are measuring salinity, nanoplastics, sea ice thickness—offering critical data in a rapidly changing environment. It gives me hope.”
This 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 degrees North, the northernmost point on Earth. The company began North Pole expeditions in 2022 and recently announced 12-night voyages beginning July of 2027.
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