Mount Vinson

• 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.

Your climbing team will spend the first few days at Union Glacier brushing up on skills and getting acclimated to the Antarctic conditions. You’ll practice rope work, crevasse rescue, navigation, weather observations, and polar camping skills. During this period, you will also discuss and plan your objectives with your guide and pack your equipment to ready for departure.

While based in Union Glacier Camp, you may also have time to join an excursion to one of the following destinations:

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.

It’s time to explore Antarctica as it should be, untracked and pristine. Peaks, ridges, and canyons await and your itinerary is up to you and your guide. Together you’ll develop an expedition plan to match your skills and interests. You can do local day trips and return home to Union Glacier Camp each evening for dinner, or you can set out on a multi-day expedition to explore many of the valleys and peaks in the Heritage Range.

Routes vary from technical ascents and easy snow climbs to magnificent ridge traverses with views over the Ronne Ice Shelf and Polar Plateau.

Each experience is unique and the opportunities for exploration are endless. Only a handful of people have passed through this terrain and it is exhilarating to think that you may be one of the only people to stand on a summit and marvel at the view below.

Once your climbing dreams are fulfilled, you’ll return to Union Glacier Camp to celebrate and toast your achievements!

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.

Flexible Departure Day 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.