Day 0: Pre-Tour Briefing in Punta Arenas
The evening before your Antarctic flight, you will be met by your Guide at the tour office for an important safety briefing. The briefing will describe the flight dispatch process, current weather, and landing preparations.
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 the 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 2-4: Explore Union Glacier
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.
Day 5: Flexible Flight Day over Ellsworth Mountains
Once weather conditions permit, you will board our ski aircraft and get a bird’s eye view of the breathtaking Ellsworth Mountains including the Heritage and Sentinel Ranges. Majestic peaks and nunataks rise out of the endless Antarctic ice and form some of the most spectacular scenery on the continent.
You may even get a chance to see Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak and one of the World’s Seven Summits. View the 16,050 ft (4892 m) peak from all angles and watch for mountaineers making their way to stand on top of the bottom of the world. No matter where your flight takes you, enjoy a truly unique perspective of a landscape few will ever experience.
Day 6: Return to Punta Arenas
When weather and runway conditions permit, the Ilyushin will arrive at Union Glacier to transport you back to Chile. Our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you back to your hotel.
