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The South Pole & Emperors
7 night trip
From $105,000 / person
Pricing info
We are the No. 1 Tour Operator in the world 2024!
As voted for in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards
Trip summary
Your journey begins in Cape Town, where you'll take off on a flight over miles of ocean swells and icebergs, before swapping the African night for the eternal summer sunshine of the Antarctic Circle.
After landing on Wolf's Fang blue-ice runway, your first two days will be spent getting acquainted with this wintery dreamscape. Explore crystal caves and deep-blue ice tunnels, picnic above a sea of frozen waves, and scale a sheer wall of ice, rewarded with a champagne picnic at the top.
On your third day, you'll fly or travel by specially-modified 4x4s to Atka Bay where you'll stand in awe as 28,000 Emperor Penguins and their young honk and parade right in front of you. Undisturbed by human presence, the penguins often wander near the group, letting you admire their shining tuxedo or fluffy coat at a close (but safe) distance.
After returning to camp for a day of abseiling, rock climbing and Arctic Truck safaris, or a bit of down time, you'll make your flight to the Geographical South Pole. You'll have to chance to circumnavigate the 'world' in a few paces, get your passport stamped, and check off a major bucket list item.
You'll spend the night under canvas at the FD83 Expedition Camp before your last full day in Antarctica and flight back to Cape Town.
Whichaway Camp
Start: Cape Town International Airport
Notes
You will attend a safety briefing the day before your scheduled flight to Antarctica, where the staff will explain all kit requirements, assist with any last-minute preparations and update on the latest weather forecasts for Antarctica.
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Flight transfer
You will travel in uncompromising comfort across the mighty Southern Ocean in a Gulfstream 550. During the five-hour flight, the African night turns to the Antarctic day as we soar over thousands of icebergs and pass into 24 hours of continuous sunshine.
5hrs
Check in to Whichaway Camp
If you crave an adventure to one of the most remote and serene places on the planet, the White Desert might just be calling your name. Picture soaring over the icebergs and deep swells of the Southern Ocean in a private Gulfstream, then landing on a blue ice runway and rumbling over the glacial landscape to reach camp. Once there, you'll be greeted by the heated pods, scattered like pebbles on a granite oasis, all with breathtaking views of freshwater lakes and ice waves... This is Whichaway, winner of multiple World Travel Awards, and a place that takes glamping to a new level - especially in a location where luxury is hard to come by. And best of all, it's completely carbon neutral, removable AND eco-friendly, so you'll be leaving paradise just as you found it.
Why you'll love it
Being in a place few have ever experienced - the world's largest desert! You don't get views like this every day...
4 Nights
Room Type
Heated Tent
Whichaway Camp
Antarctica
About Antarctica
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Settle into camp and do as much or as little as you like each day. Activities range from gentle treks up a nearby Nunatak, ice climbing and even abseiling! After the day’s activities you will hear a talk about the incredible life cycle of the emperor penguin in preparation for your visit on the third day.
Day three: You will fly 2 hours across Antarctica, providing beautiful views of the nearby mountain ranges and coastline, before landing at the emperor penguin colony at Atka Bay.
You will be among the very few who have ever witnessed such a spectacle, observing the real-life stars of March of the Penguins
Visit the Emperor Penguin colony in Antarctica
Try your hand at ice climbing in Antarctica
Go on an abseiling adventure in Antarctica
Scale a ice glacier for an epic view in Antarctica
Dixie's Expedition Camp
Flight transfer
We leave early in the morning in our Basler BT-67 aircraft, flying over stunning mountain ranges before landing at 83° South to refuel.
Check in to Dixie's Expedition Camp
Antarctica is in a class of its own when it comes to remote, unspoiled and utterly beautiful destinations, and a one-night stay at White Desert's FD83 Expedition Camp completes the picture. You'll spend the day surrounded by the surreal, pristine landscape of the Geographical South Pole, before flying to FD83 where explorers and researchers would historically refuel and bed down for the night. You'll do the same - but in much greater style, reflecting on the day's excitement round the woodburner and falling asleep to the sound of the wind whistling over the High Polar Plateau.
Why you'll love it
The feeling of true adventure in one of the wildest and most beautiful places on Earth.
1 Night
Room Type
Heated Tent
Dixie's Expedition Camp
Antarctica
Includes
- Safety briefing (return transfers provided)
- Return transfers for Antarctica flights
- Return flight to Antarctica (inc. 30kg baggage allowance)
- All accommodation, food and drink (including all alcohol) in Antarctica
- All guiding fees, support of field guides and logistics staff
- The use of certain items of polar clothing, as denoted on equipment list
- Payment of a ‘Carbon Tax’ for offsetting emissions created by all logistics associated with Antarctic travel
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Excludes
- Commercial flights to and from Cape Town, South Africa
- Accommodation and meals whilst in Cape Town
- Polar clothing (you will be sent a tailored kit list in advance of your trip to help you purchase the necessary items)
- Comprehensive insurance cover(We can advise you as to the appropriate cover required)
- Additional expenses incurred in Cape Town due to any delay
- Additional baggage costs over the agreed amount
- Use of a satellite phone whilst in Antarctica
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About Antarctica
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Get advice and suggestions to make this your perfect
trip.
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After a walk on the High Polar Plateau we will continue to the South Pole, where you will have plenty of time for photos and a chance to stamp your passport before flying back to 83° South and overnighting in the great wilderness of the Plateau.
Whichaway Camp
Flight transfer
After a night under canvas, you’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast before boarding the plane once again for the flight back to Wolf’s Fang.
The flight is the perfect chance to appreciate the immense scale of Antarctica, before you return to our camp for a three-course champagne dinner to celebrate your achievement.
Check in to Whichaway Camp
If you crave an adventure to one of the most remote and serene places on the planet, the White Desert might just be calling your name. Picture soaring over the icebergs and deep swells of the Southern Ocean in a private Gulfstream, then landing on a blue ice runway and rumbling over the glacial landscape to reach camp. Once there, you'll be greeted by the heated pods, scattered like pebbles on a granite oasis, all with breathtaking views of freshwater lakes and ice waves... This is Whichaway, winner of multiple World Travel Awards, and a place that takes glamping to a new level - especially in a location where luxury is hard to come by. And best of all, it's completely carbon neutral, removable AND eco-friendly, so you'll be leaving paradise just as you found it.
Why you'll love it
Being in a place few have ever experienced - the world's largest desert! You don't get views like this every day...
2 Nights
Room Type
Heated Tent
Whichaway Camp
Antarctica
About Antarctica
Chat to an expert
Get advice and suggestions to make this your perfect
trip.
Save trip
A convoy of Arctic Trucks, and skidoos for the more adventurous, will traverse you across the glacier to the base of the Needle peak, so named as the rock explodes vertically out of the ice. An exciting rope walk has been set up at the base by our guides to help you safely navigate the interest features of rock and ice. Late lunch will be served before the journey back to camp.
Flight transfer
The flight out of Antarctica will be the last of your enduring memories of the great White Continent before you dive back into the vibrant energy of Africa. You will be transferred to your hotel where you will have a chance to relax and reflect on your Antarctic adventure!
5hrs
End: Cape Town International Airport
Chat to an expert
Get advice and suggestions to make this your perfect
trip.
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Inclusions
What's included
Safety briefing (return transfers provided)
Return transfers for Antarctica flights
Return flight to Antarctica (inc. 30kg baggage allowance)
All accommodation, food and drink (including all alcohol) in Antarctica
All guiding fees, support of field guides and logistics staff
The use of certain items of polar clothing, as denoted on equipment list
Payment of a ‘Carbon Tax’ for offsetting emissions created by all logistics associated with Antarctic travel
+ Read more
What's excluded
Commercial flights to and from Cape Town, South Africa
Accommodation and meals whilst in Cape Town
Polar clothing (you will be sent a tailored kit list in advance of your trip to help you purchase the necessary items)
Comprehensive insurance cover(We can advise you as to the appropriate cover required)
Additional expenses incurred in Cape Town due to any delay
Additional baggage costs over the agreed amount
Use of a satellite phone whilst in Antarctica
+ Read more
Notes
This itinerary is entirely subject to weather conditions in Antarctica and is meant purely as a guide to what
guests may expect day by day. The exact sequence of activities and the types of aircraft mentioned may vary.
Trips only run between November and January
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Valid travel dates
Prices based on a 7 night trip with 2 people sharing. Please enquire about dates outside these periods.
26 Jan '23 - 30 Nov '24
Not available
1 Dec '24 - 2 Feb '25
$105,000/person
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Got a question about this trip? Send us a message and we’ll will get back to you shortly.
Travel Expert
What our guests are saying
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Everything went super smoothly and everyone was very helpful along the way!
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Annie was our travel consultant and she was excellent! She answered all questions in a timely manner and provided... Read more
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From her first email, Joana treated us as family. She asked thoughtful questions and offered responsive suggestions.... Read more
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Jenna was great handling the lodging, and Bekim from Exito travel was great handling the flights. I would use... Read more
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I mentioned this on the previous page.
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Annie Irankunda went to all lenghts and further to make my trip to Kenya lovely. She helped with all the things I... Read more
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