Harpreet “Polar Preet” Chandi MBE, the celebrated British adventurer and four-time Guinness World Record holder, is preparing for what could be the pinnacle of her extraordinary career: a solo, unsupported expedition to the North Pole, scheduled for March 2026. If successful, Chandi will become the first woman in history to complete this formidable journey, an achievement that has eluded explorers for generations.
Chandi’s previous feats include conquering the South Pole, skiing over a thousand kilometres across one of the planet’s harshest landscapes. Yet the North Pole presents an entirely different set of challenges. Unlike the solid, stable ice of Antarctica, the Arctic is a constantly shifting expanse of frozen water. Every step must account for drifting ice, treacherous open water leads, and temperatures plunging to -50°C. Frostbite, exhaustion, and the unpredictability of nature will be constant companions on a journey where there can be no resupplies, no external assistance—only absolute self-reliance.
“Historically, the North Pole has been a place where hopes and dreams can be lost,” Chandi reflects. “To take it on solo and unsupported means being entirely self-reliant. It’s a test of physical endurance, yes, but even more so of mindset and resilience.”
Only two men have ever completed a solo, unsupported journey to the North Pole. No woman has yet succeeded. Chandi’s expedition is poised to change that, demonstrating not only the possibilities of human endurance but also the power of representation in exploration.
A former officer in the British Army, Chandi brings the discipline, leadership, and determination forged in service to her expeditions. But her path to adventure was unconventional. “I wasn’t born into adventure,” she says. “People say the outdoors is for everyone, and it is. Yet when your community hasn’t had that connection, adventure feels like a language you were never taught. I just started by taking one step. And then another. I want others, especially young people, to see that you don’t have to come from a certain background to push boundaries.”
To prepare for the extreme conditions ahead, Chandi has partnered with Dacia, a brand synonymous with rugged reliability and accessible adventure. The Dacia Bigster plays a central role in her training and logistics programme, enabling her to reach remote environments and replicate the challenges of Arctic conditions. Her preparations have been intensive: she has been dragging heavy tyres around the streets near her home outside Derby, simulating the sled—or pulk—she will pull at the Pole, laden with over 130kg of food and essential equipment.
“Adventure isn’t just about far-off places,” says Lina Ribeiro, Dacia Brand Director for the UK. “It’s about finding new experiences wherever you are. At Dacia, we build cars that help make that possible, whether it’s a weekend escape or something as extraordinary as Preet’s incredible challenge.”
As the countdown to March 2026 begins, Polar Preet is once again pushing the limits of human endurance and imagination, forging a path through ice and history alike. Her journey is not only a test of physical and mental resilience but a beacon of inspiration, proving that determination, courage, and vision know no bounds.
