Day 0: Pre-Tour Briefing in Punta Arenas
We ask you to arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile at least two full days prior to your scheduled Antarctic flight in order to fully prepare you for
your upcoming experience. These days also allow a buffer for flight and luggage delays should your travels to Chile not go as scheduled. We do not hold Antarctic flights for delayed passengers or luggage.
Do not forget to collect your checked luggage in Santiago, before clearing customs! Upon arrival in Chile, you will pass through immigration, collect your checked luggage, go through customs, and then go to the 3rd floor of the terminal and re-check your bags for your domestic flight to Punta Arenas. If your luggage does not arrive, complete a missing form for lost luggage before leaving the
Santiago airport.
Upon arrival at Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport (PUQ), our representative, holding an ALE sign, will be waiting for you at the exit of the luggage claim area and will transport you to your hotel.
Day 1: Fly to Antarctica
We will call you at your hotel in the morning to advise you of current conditions in Antarctica. If the weather is suitable for our flight, we will pick you up at your hotel by bus.
At Punta Arenas Airport, we board our chartered jet for the 4¼ hour flight to Antarctica. Our route crosses the Drake Passage, then follows the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the spine of the Ellsworth Mountains. We land on a naturally occurring blue-ice runway on Union Glacier where you will take your first steps on Antarctica.
Climb aboard one of our specially-adapted van for the 5 mi (8 km) shuttle to our main camp. Our friendly staff will provide a welcome tour of camp and show you to your tent.
Day 2-5: Explore Union Glacier - Overnight Camping in the South Pole
During your week stay in Antarctica, you’ll have multiple days to explore Union Glacier. Our meteorologists will carefully monitor the weather conditions and find the best day for your South Pole Flight.A typical day at Union Glacier starts with a guest briefing after breakfast where you’ll meet with your guide to discuss the day’s options and choose an activity tailored to the weather and your interests. Union Glacier excursions can include any of the following destinations:
*Passengers who have booked the 7 Day departure will spend an extra day exploring the Union Glacier.
Elephant’s Head
Ride in one of our vehicles to this dramatic marbles buttress overlooking the blue-ice runway. Beautiful ice pools and moraines offer endless opportunities for photography. If you’re looking for something more active, you’ll have the opportunity to hike up to the base of Elephant’s Head or all the way to the top of Rhodes Bluff for panoramic views of Union Glacier and the Heritage Range.
Drake Icefall
Named in the 1960s after geologist Benjamin Drake IV, this impressive ice fall tumbles off the polar plateau into Union Glacier. Winds from the South Pole carve huge waves into the blue-ice and polish the surface into a high shine.
Charles Peak Wind Scoop
Discover the power of wind on ice as you wander through a sparkling turquoise corridor. If you’re truly adventurous, this is a prime place to try ice climbing with one of our experienced guides. For the less vertically inclined, you can rock hunt until your heart’s content. Just remember to leave them in place, as nothing may be removed from Antarctica.
The Beach at Rossman Cove
Another spectacular setting for blue-ice photography and panoramic views! Take cross-country skis with you or a picnic lunch and enjoy Antarctica’s version of a glacial beach getaway.
Hidden Valley
Our staff’s favorite getaway—this secret canyon opens up to a beautiful valley prime for hiking, climbing, and backcountry skiing.
If you’d prefer to stay closer to camp, we have a variety of activities for all abilities. You can checkout a pair of cross-country skis or a fat-tire bike and take a spin around our groomed 10k loop or you can enjoy a cup of tea, an Antarctic book, or fun game in our camp library. In the evenings, we regularly offer lectures and films tailored to your experience.
Flexible Flight Day - Overnight camping in the South Pole
Once weather conditions permit, you will board our ski aircraft and head for the southernmost point on Earth! The flight to the Pole will take approximately 4-5 hours over the high, polar plateau. Below, you will see wind affected snow called sastrugi, crevasse fields, and an endless expanse of white. You’ll pass the Thiel Mountains approximately halfway to the Pole and continue to fly over the plateau.
As you near 90° South, you will catch sight of the South Pole station, a cluster of buildings surrounded by snow and sky.
Our aircraft lands on a groomed ski-way and you’ll deplane near the South Pole marker. You’ll walk over ice almost 10,000 ft (3000 m) thick to reach the southernmost point on Earth. You are now a member of an exclusive group of people who have journeyed this far south on our planet.
Be prepared for extreme cold and the effects of altitude as you disembark. South Pole temperatures range from -31° to -13°F (-35° to -25°C) and even the slightest breeze can quickly freeze exposed skin. Put on warm layers and cover your hands and face completely. The physiological altitude (how high it feels) at the South Pole is roughly 11,000 ft (3300 m). You may feel the effects of altitude, including shortness of breath and mild headache. Take it slow and steady to help your body cope with these unfamiliar conditions.
One of our experienced medics accompanies all South Pole Flights and is ready to assist you should you have any issues with the cold or altitude.The United States of America maintains a research station at the South Pole, named Amundsen-Scott Station in memory of those intrepid explorers. If time allows and the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) staff are available, you will be escorted inside the research station for a guided visit.
Outside the station, you will have plenty of time to take photos at both the Geographic and Ceremonial Poles. Enjoy this special place and imagine how it must have felt to stand here a century ago with only the sound of the wind and an endless expanse of white stretching northward in all directions. A 6 mi (1 km) walk brings you to our private South Pole Camp for your overnight stay. Enjoy a celebratory meal prepared by one of our talented chefs and mingle with your fellow explorers in the large, heated dining tent.
Depending on the time of your visit, you may also get the chance to greet ski teams just completing their journey to the Pole. After a momentous day, climb inside your expedition-style tent and get snuggled up for a southerly snooze at 90°S.The next morning, you’ll pack up for the return flight to Union Glacier Camp where a champagne toast awaits to celebrate your achievement!
