Founded by genuine polar explorers, White Desert continues to explore whilst staying true to our principles of adventure and environmentally responsible travel
Antarctica is a mythical and awe-inspiring destination. The coldest, driest, windiest, most remote place on Earth – it’s the closest you’ll feel to being on another planet. The area White Desert operates within was discovered by a Norwegian expedition in 1930, claimed by Norway in 1939, and declared a dependency of that nation in 1949. Named in honour of the then Norwegian queen, the region is perfectly situated for exploring the interior of the continent. It takes us 5-hours by private charter flying from Cape Town and landing on the private blue ice runway, Wolf’s Fang.
If time is of the essence or if you’re just not keen on sleeping in polar conditions, then White Desert offers a specialized, express visit to the continent in one day. We, however, think it’s worth the time and money to spend 5 nights and visit an emperor penguin colony or up to 8 nights and voyage all the way to the South Pole.
- The Greatest Day – 1 day: This is your chance to experience the real interior of Antarctica in a single day. After hiking to the top of a rugged peak with views to every horizon, you will celebrate by sipping a cocktail with 1000-year-old glacial ice and a freshly prepared picnic before taking the 5-hour flight back to Cape Town.
- Early Emperors – 5 days: A wildlife photographer’s dream. This trip offers unique access to a magnificent penguin colony when the chicks are taking their first steps off their parent’s feet.
- Emperors & South Pole – 8 days: This luxury adventure takes you into the heart of Antarctica to see the Emperor Penguins. Then it’s on to the southernmost point on earth – the South Pole!
- Owners’ Club: This is an extremely rare opportunity to land your personal aircraft on the first and only runway specifically designed for private jets in Antarctica.
This carbon-neutral experience is as luxurious as it is adventurous. With only 12 guests on each trip with White Desert and professional polar explorers as your guides, the day’s itineraries are tailored to each individual. From gentle treks and picnics overlooking the ice waves, to more adrenalin-fueled activities, such as kite-skiing and ice climbing.
Exhilarating adventure activities on offer:
- Rope Walk
- Rock Climb
- Nunatak Climb
- Ice Lake Traverse
- Ice Climbing
- Ice Tunnels
The highlight on a multi-night itinerary is flying 2 hours along the coast to an emperor penguin colony of over 3,000 breeding pairs and their newly hatched chicks. These rarely visited penguins are unafraid of humans and often waddle right up to you – it’s an honor to witness such a rare and secluded wildlife spectacle.
On the 8-day itinerary, you’ll journey all the way to the South Pole – the lowest point on earth and the holy grail of early explorers. You’ll earn a photo at the designated marker at the bottom of the world and the rarest of stamps in your passport at the American ‘Amundsen-Scott’ Science base.
