Emperors & Explorers

• Pre-departure Days

• Flight Check-in &

• Baggage Drop-off

• Welcome & Safety Briefing

Known as the gateway to Antarctica, all of our flights depart from the Chilean city of Punta Arenas.

We ask you to arrive in Punta Arenas at least three nights prior to your trip start date. Here you will meet your fellow team members, pack expedition food rations, and complete the pre-departure process. The pre-departure period also provides a buffer for flight and luggage delays should your travels to Chile not go as planned. We do not hold Antarctic flights for delayed passengers or luggage.

We will be waiting for you in the terminal when you arrive at Punta Arenas airport and will transport you to your hotel. The following day, you will have an individual Gear Check at your hotel, where we will review the personal clothing and equipment you will need in Antarctica.

The day before your Antarctic flight there is a Welcome and Safety Briefing in the ALE Office. Here we will explain the flight dispatch process, review environmental and safety

At the Punta Arenas airport, you will check-in for your flight, pass through normal Airport Security then board our chartered jet for the 4 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 in Antarctica.

Climb aboard one of our specially-adapted vans 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.

Guests usually enjoy a few days at Union Glacier as part of their experience.

A typical day starts with breakfast, then a meeting with your guide to discuss the day’s options and choose an activity tailored to the weather and the group’s interests. Excursions may include any of the following destinations and activities:

Elephant’s Head

Ride in one of our wheeled vehicles to this dramatic marble buttress overlooking the blue-ice runway. Beautiful ice formations and moraines offer endless opportunities for photographers to capture close-up frozen formations or wide angle glacial landscapes. Hikers can trek 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.

Rhodes Bluff and Fossil Garden

Geology lovers will be delighted to explore this hotspot for ichnofossils. Our experienced guides can help you navigate by GPS to known trace fossils or accompany you on a mission to discover new ones.

Buchanan Hills

Board our one-of-a-kind Tucker Bus, a custom designed tracked vehicle, for the scenic drive to the remote Buchanan Hills. You’ll arrive at a high pass that offers expansive views of Union Glacier as it flows into Constellation Inlet. Higgins Nunatak pokes through the ice, like an atoll in a frozen ocean. For the fit and adventurous, there are two easy hiking routes that require no prior experience and grant you the rare opportunity to summit a peak in the heart of Antarctica.

Drake Icefall

Named in the 1960s after geologist Benjamin Drake IV, this impressive icefall 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 Windscoop

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 to 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 photography and panoramic views! Head out on cross-country skis and enjoy Antarctica’s version of a glacial beach getaway.

If you’d prefer to stay closer to camp, we have a variety of activities for all abilities. You can check out 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.

Lectures and films tailored to your experience round out our camp activities.

As soon as weather conditions permit, we will fly to the colony. The flight takes about 4 hours, traveling north-eastward over the Ronne Ice Shelf and Berkner Island where we may stop to refuel if necessary.

We land on sea ice where our staff has prepared a field camp 1-2 mi (2-3 km) from the colony. Our Emperor Field Camp Manager will give you a tour of the camp and review safety and biosecurity procedures for travel to and from the colony. In this unfamiliar environment and remote location, it is vital that you follow the instructions given by our experienced staff. Your safety and the protection of wildlife are our top priorities.

Live with the Emperors

Over the next days, you will immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the colony. Walk to the colony with our experienced field guides to photograph penguins and seabirds. We provide small sleds and walking poles to help transport your camera equipment between camp and the colony. The sea ice generally provides a hard surface to walk on.

We do not wish to disturb wildlife at all and strictly follow Emperor Penguin Colony Visitor Guidelines. These include keeping a minimum distance of 17 ft (5 m) from all wildlife, including seals. We also have enhanced biosecurity procedures to minimize the chance of introducing avian influenza (HPAI). Our guides are on hand to answer any questions you may have about the wildlife and their unique adaptations to the Antarctic environment.

24-hour daylight allows us to adapt our schedule to the best weather and lighting for photography. While our guides are happy to accommodate individual requests, please discuss your wishes with them in advance so they can tailor the camp schedule to include meals and sleep for everyone.

Return to Union Glacier

Our field staff will stay in close contact with Union Glacier Camp to identify the best ‘weather window’ for your return flight.

Fly to the South Pole

Once weather conditions permit, you will board our ski aircraft and head for the southernmost point on Earth!

The flight takes 4 to 5 ½ hours depending on the aircraft, the shortest flight-time fom any private camp. En route, you will fly over the high, polar plateau, viewing wind affected snow called sastrugi, crevasse fields, and an endless expanse of white.

As you near 90° South, you will catch sight of Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, a cluster of buildings surrounded by snow and sky.

We land on a groomed ski-way and you’ll deplane near the South Pole marker. Here all 360 lines of longitude meet and beneath your feet the ice is almost 10,000 ft (3000 m) thick! You have joined an exclusive group of people who have journeyed this far south on our planet. Congratulations!

Your flight is planned to return the same day but we will bring food and camping equipment, in the unlikely event weather conditions change and an overnight stay is necessary. Our guest services team will assist you in packing your sleeping bag.

Our visit will include plenty of time for photos at both the Geographic and Ceremonial Poles, as well as time for reflection. 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.

We typically spend 2-3 hours at the Pole. We’ve found this to be the perfect amount of time for guests to accomplish their objectives and enjoy the experience, given the cold conditions and altitude.

South Pole temperatures range from -31° to -13°F (-35° to -25°C) and even the slightest breeze can quickly freeze exposed skin. Wear 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.

Our mission accomplished, we’ll board our ski aircraft and return to Union Glacier Camp.

Depending on flights, you may have a few days at the end of your experience to explore more of Union Glacier. You will also enjoy a celebration event and receive a certificate to commemorate your Emperors and Explorers Experience in Antarctica.

When weather and runway conditions permit, our intercontinental, passenger aircraft will arrive at Union Glacier to transport you back to Chile. Our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

Fly Home

Your flight home concludes this remarkable adventure. We recommend keeping a flexible schedule due to the possibility of weather delays. Allow yourself to savor your experience without the pressure of other commitments.