Few people have reached the South Pole on a ski-pulka expedition.
Highlights
- Reach the mythical South Pole
- Breathtaking frozen and snowy landscapes
- Highly experienced English-speaking polar guide
- Personalized follow-up of your preparation included
- H24 medical hotline during your expedition
- Live expedition coverage for your community
- A human adventure beyond the physical challenge
Few have reached the South Pole on skis. This short expedition allows us to reach this mythical point. Led by a very experienced polar guide, we will need energy and determination to get there, pulling our sleds in sometimes extreme weather conditions. From Punta Arenas we fly to Union Glacier. We then join in Twin Otter or Basler, after one or two refueling, the starting point of our expedition at latitude 89° South. One last degree, 111 kilometers and ten days later, we reach the South Pole and the American station of Amundsen-Scott. A mythical and pure expedition in every sense of the word.
Overview
The geographic South Pole is located on the Antarctic continent, at an altitude of 2,835 meters, about 360 kilometers from the Queen Maud chain and 1,300 kilometers from the nearest sea. The ice cap is said to be 2,700 meters thick at the South Pole.
The first humans to reach the South Pole were the members of the Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen on December 14th, 1911. Their competitors in the race to the South Pole, were five members of the British Terra Nova expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott, an officer of the Royal Navy, who reached the pole a month later on January 17th, 1912. This expedition marked one of the greatest tragedies of polar exploration. Once at the Pole, not only did they realize that they had arrived after Amundsen, but all the members of the expedition died of cold and hunger on the return trip to the coast leaving particularly moving written accounts of their sufferings.
The location of the geographic South Pole is marked by small sign on a picket in the ice, repositioned each year to mark the new year and offset the glacial drift which is about 10 meters per year. The sign states the date of arrival of Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott to the Pole. At the South Pole is found the American station Amundsen-Scott, built in 1956. It was during the winter of 1957 that were recorded the coldest temperatures that reached -74°C... Since its creation, it has always been inhabited.
During the austral winter, the South Pole is plunged into the polar night. During the summer, the sun is still low in the sky and most of the light that reaches the surface is reflected by the snow. This lack of heat lavished by the sun combined with the high altitude of the location (over 2,800 m above sea level) means that the South Pole is one of the coldest places on Earth.
In the middle of the austral summer (late December to early January), so during our expedition, the average temperatures at the South Pole are between -25°C and -45°C. In the winter, the temperatures remain constant, around -65°C. The warmest temperature record was calculated at the Amundsen-Scott Base, at -12.3°C (on December 25th, 2011) and the coldest temperature record was at -82.8°C (on June 23rd, 1982).
The climate of the South Pole is polar desert and the place hardly receives any precipitation (snow representing the equivalent of 70 mm of water). The air humidity is near zero. However, the winds can be strong.
For this last degree towards the South Pole, we fly from Punta Arenas (Chile) to Union Glacier, then from Union Glacier to land at 89 degrees south latitude after a flight of over 4 hours, for the start of the expedition.
Itinerary
Day 0
Sometimes we get stuck for weather reasons at the American Amundsen-Scott station of one to two days, so the Twin Otter cannot fly. These precaution days can also be used for the same reasons at the beginning of our expedition, or during, if we're stuck in a tent to shelter us. We are reminded of the fact that Mother Nature still reigns in extreme climates like this…
DAYS 1 TO 3: ARRIVAL IN PUNTA ARENAS, WELCOME AND EQUIPMENT CHECK
Day 1
We arrive in Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. Upon our arrival at the airport, we are met by our partner ALE and taken to our hotel. During these two days, we check our equipment with our guides. We are also invited to a welcome dinner.
DAY 4: BRIEFING DAY AND BAGGAGE PREPARATION
Day 4
Expedition preparation day. Safety briefing, detailed schedule. Weather forecast. Answers to questions. We pack for the next day's flight.
DAY 5: FLIGHT TO UNION GLACIER (ANTARCTICA)
Day 5
Loading of equipment and boarding for Union Glacier. This flight is subject to weather conditions, the state of the track in Antarctica. It will take us 4 to 5 hours of flight from Punta Arenas. After a few hours of flight, we pass the Antarctic Circle and we see our first icebergs! An hour before landing, we put on our polar clothes in preparation for the landing. We are welcomed at the camp.
DAYS 6 & 7: EXPEDITION PREPARATION
Day 6
We take our breakfast in the camp then we visit the surroundings and we relax. Weather briefing and answers to participants' questions. Checking and testing of equipment.
DAY 8: FLIGHT TO THE LAST DEGREE
Day 8
We are ready and awaiting the go from the pilots and the weather. After breakfast, we check our equipment and start loading the Twin Otter or Basler BT-67 plane for our flight south. Then we take off. We land to refuel once or twice. It will take us again 4 to 5 hours to reach the starting point of our expedition. We land some 111 kilometers from the South Pole. We set up camp and prepare for the next day.
DAYS 9 TO 13: EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH POLE
Day 9
Today, we really start our expedition. Our sleds are loaded and balanced. In total, we have eight days to reach the geographic South Pole.
The surface of the ice shelf is sour and wrinkled with the presence of sastrugi (sharp topographical irregularity on a snow surface resulting from erosion caused by the wind) the highest of which can reach 50 centimeters in height… We are in the white immensity, blindingly pure and so isolated. The harshness, the austerity, the vastness... There is no other place on earth that resembles what we see day after day.
Theoretically, the weather is fine and dry with a little wind and the temperature is still mild at this time of the year, between -15 and -30 °C. We progress and take regular breaks to eat and hydrate. We feel a bit like the first explorers experienced when they came here almost a century ago.
Every evening and then every morning, the routine of the camp, filling in our diary, exchanging our impressions with a very international team.
DAY 14: REACHING THE SOUTH POLE
Day 14
Today, if the conditions allowed us and if we held on, we arrived at the South Pole. We can already see it from 15 kilometers away because the American station of Amundsen-Scott is clearly visible! When we arrive at the South Pole mark, we will go around it (little world tour!) to celebrate our achievement.
We meet a member of the National Science Foundation (NSF) if available who shows us around the base. We can even find a souvenir for our loved ones!
We stay about 2 to 3 hours at the South Pole and then our plane picks us up. We then perform a 15' flight, the time to land to refuel... and to spend the night!
DAY 15: RETURN FLIGHT TO UNION GLACIER
Day 15
We return today to Union Glacier which we reach at the end of the day. It will have been necessary to refuel again on the way. We are welcomed with a “sumptuous” dinner (everything remains relative) to celebrate our return.
DAY 16: RETURN FLIGHT TO PUNTA ARENAS
Day 16
Today, according to the schedule of our aircraft and the weather, we explore the surroundings of the base, enjoy a little of the privileges given to us being here. Then we get on the plane to the North and the heat! A contingency day is still expected. We land in the morning.
DAYS 17 & 18: RETURN FLIGHT TO EUROPE
Day 17
In Punta Arenas, we take our flight back to Europe. Landing the next day.
END OF EXPEDITION
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Trip notes
Guiding
For this expedition, you are guided by an English-speaking polar guide, experienced in the Antarctic environment. He helps you in particular in the installation of the camps. However, you have to take care of carrying your personal belongings and personal altitude food (which will be distributed at the beginning of the expedition).
The pace of the climb and the daily progress plan are established by your guide and are focused on the safety and success of your expedition.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Difficulty level
Level rated: challenging
This program is designed for participants who take part in a regular sports activity several times a week, including endurance activity.
The altitude of the South Pole at 2,835 meters in these particularly low latitudes, due to the lower atmospheric pressure prevailing at the poles, can be compared to a pressure altitude of approximately 3,500 meters at the equator, with the corollary effects on hypoxia. The effect on the breath remains however marginal but it can be felt.
The carrying is provided by the participants in the pulkas which weigh nearly 60 kg at the start. No special technical skills are required. Experience of the Far North and Nordic ski touring is naturally a plus.
The weather conditions can also deteriorate and temperatures, even at the time when we are carrying out this expedition, that is to say during the austral summer, can become very negative, from -20°C to -30°C, or even lower even if it is rare in this season.
All in all, it is therefore essential to have a good physical and mental preparation, due to the hostile environment (remoteness, cold, bad weather, discomfort), and medical to optimize the chances of success. It is also important to have team spirit. Each participant is responsible for the application of the safety rules, their equipment and its maintenance, the installation of the camp, the preparation of meals. As always in this type of project, the key to success remains the collective and team spirit.
We remind you that the language of the expedition is English, so a basic knowledge of Shakespeare's language is a must.
Also, participation in preparation days is highly recommended.You will also be asked to provide an expedition / trek / sports resume, allowing to measure your ability to successfully complete the project with a high probability. Under 65, no need for a medical certificate.
Meeting point
We leave with ALE from Punta Arenas then from Union Glacier. They are the ones who take care of the logistics which represents more than 80% of the total price of this expedition. If international flights are not included in the price, we can arrange reservations free of charge. Regular companies to Punta Arenas are Aerolíneas Argentinas, Iberia, Air France, Lufthansa, etc.
We have selected ALE for the implementation of the air logistics and it is therefore also with ALE that you contract on this logistics part and you must therefore also sign all of their documents (registration form; medical form; discharge responsibility) and having accepted their general and specific conditions of sale and finally, to prove that you have repatriation and health insurance. We naturally assist you in providing these documents.
Given the diverse origins of the participants on this trip, international outward and return flights are not included in this package. In most cases, we book flights on your behalf to ensure that the whole group arrives at the destination at the same time. We do not charge any fees for these air bookings. Please do not hesitate to contact us. If you book your own tickets, we will advise you on the ideal flight schedule to enable all participants to arrive within a reduced time frame. At the very least, you need tickets that can be modified.
Accommodations
In a hotel in Punta Arenas (accommodation at leisure, not included in the price), in a camp at Union Glacier and in tents during the expedition.
Meals
Meals are not included in Punta Arenas. Meals are included in the camp at Union Glacier. During the expedition, meals will have been prepared in advance in freeze-dried form. They give us all the calories necessary for the expedition while emphasizing balance, weight and simplicity of preparation.
Transfers / Transport
Transfers from or to the airport, from or to the starting point of the expedition are provided by minibus by our local teams.
Group size
The group is composed of 1 to 12 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Equipment
All logistics equipment is provided, including individual tents as well as all individual cooking equipment, stoves, etc.
Your guide has a satellite phone to keep in touch with the outside world and communication and security equipment, a geolocation beacon, etc.
Expeditions Unlimited also entrusts you with an Iridium phone to allow you to contact us at any time, for technical or medical reasons, or your loved ones (within the limit of one hour of communications included).
The rest of the personal equipment is not provided. A complete list is provided below in this document and will be completed during our expedition preparation meetings.
Our commitments to sustainable development
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
These calculations made us aware of the importance of the total carbon emissions generated by our activity. Also, we have committed in 2022 to a carbon reduction that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. Thus, in 2030, we commit ourselves not to exceed 2,160 tonnes of C02. Thus, our maximum “carbon” budget for 2024 is 2,950 tonnes and for 2025, this budget will be reduced to 2,800 tonnes. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 8,38 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €251 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €7,000 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Departures and pricing
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
No date works for me!
I initiate a new datePrice includes
- Return flights from Punta Arenas to Union Glacier.
- 25 kg free baggage allowance plus one carry-on bag whose dimensions cannot exceed (46cm x 41cm x 26cm) between Punta Arenas and Union Glacier.
- Flight from Union Glacier to 89° South.
- Flight from the South Pole to Union Glacier.
- Welcome dinner upon arrival in Punta Arenas and celebration dinner at Union Glacier.
- Airport/hotel transfers in Punta Arenas.
- Full board meals during the expedition.
- Base camp food supply.
- Equipment necessary for life in the camp: equipped kitchen tent, mess tent for meals, toilet tent, table and chairs.
- Cooks and helpers at Union Glacier.
- Tents for two people, freeze-dried food, stoves and fuel.
- Highly experienced English-speaking mountain guide in the polar environment.
- Individual equipment necessary for the expedition (pulka, harness).
- A personal satellite phone entrusted to you with one hour of free telecommunications.
- Climbing taxes and permits, rope fixing fees and other government taxes.
- Medical follow-up by Ifremmont during the expedition (see above).
- Preparation days in France (practical, medical).
- Live expedition coverage for your community (InReach beacon supply, IridiumGo and subscriptions, LivExplorer service configuration).
Price does not include
- International flight to/from Punta Arenas.
- Hotel nights and full board in Punta Arenas.
- Consular fees (visa).
- Excess baggage, beyond the 25 kg allowance between Punta Arenas and Union Glacier, charged locally at 75 US$ / kg.
- Any customs taxes upon arrival in Chile.
- Any taxes for the importation of satellite phones, professional communication equipment and filming of a commercial nature.
- Costs related to an expedition schedule shift (additional nights of accommodation, air supplements)
- Costs related to an early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, modification of plane tickets or other unforeseen activities in this program
- Tips for the guides, to be shared with the other participants according to your satisfaction.
- Hotel nights, full board and other personal expenses during the preparation days in France (practical, medical).
- Pre-acclimatization protocol developed with Ifremmont and Sport Altitude (personalization, advice, monitoring, equipment) as described above.
- Personal equipment including individual high mountain and polar equipment.
- Drinks and all personal expenses (personal visits, taxis, souvenirs, laundry, etc.).
- Travel and expedition insurance (assistance, evacuation and repatriation).
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
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