Best of Both Camps | White Desert

Intro

South Pole

Our Camps

Itinerary

Other Trips

Why Choose?

At White Desert, each of our camps reveals a different facet of Antarctica’s astonishing beauty — Whichaway, with its elegant warmth and dramatic rocky outcrop, and Echo, a strikingly futuristic retreat set within a pristine white wilderness where nunatak peaks rise like ancient sentinels from the endless expanse. Guests often ask which to choose. The answer is simple: experience them both.

Between these two remarkable bases, you’ll also fly to one of the most elusive destinations on Earth: the Geographic South Pole. Standing at 90° South, you become part of a story shared by only a handful of people each year.

“

The bucket list. The last continent (for some) and the trip of a lifetime! This is an incredible experience!

F.G.

Guest

The Bottom of the World

The South Pole sits at one of the planet’s defining coordinates. Located at 90°S, it marks the southernmost point on Earth, where all lines of longitude converge, and every step leads north. A place long synonymous with exploration, endurance, and the limits of human travel, time here is quiet and reflective, shaped by the knowledge that few will ever reach this point.

Reaching the South Pole means travelling deep into Antarctica’s interior. From our main camps, guests fly 2,400 km (1,500 mi) on a five-hour journey to Dixie’s Camp on the High Polar Plateau, before continuing south after refuelling on a further two-hour flight to the bottom of the world. Cruising at 3,000 m (10,000 ft) above the ice, the immense scale of the continent becomes unmistakable. The journey concludes with an overnight stay at Dixie’s Camp at 83°S, immersed in vast, uninterrupted whiteness and the profound stillness known only to those who venture this far into Antarctica.

Our Camps

[ 70º 48’ 00” S 11º 23’ 00” E ]

Whichaway Camp

Our original camp, newly reimagined. Situated on the rare exposed rock and freshwater lakes of the Schirmacher Oasis.

[ 71°32'47" S 8°50'11" E ]

Echo Base

Inspired by astronauts, used by explorers. Perched atop a glacier overlooking the Drygalski Mountains, like being on another planet.

[ 71º 31’ 37” S 8º 51’ 20” E ]

Explorer Camp

A limited-season, expedition camp. Set at the foot of T-Rex Mountain, a new base for our signature South Pole journey.

Sample Itinerary

The Long Stay

Day-to-Day

A Note About Weather

Our main priority is to fly guests safely and successfully to the penguins and the South Pole, and we adjust each week's itinerary for those optimal flying windows. These can often change, so it's important to remain flexible. Remember, Antarctica's the dealer.

Arrival at Whichaway Camp

Your Antarctic adventure begins with a scenic flight from Cape Town to Wolf's Fang Runway. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to Whichaway Camp where you'll settle into your heated sleeping pod and enjoy a welcome dinner under the midnight sun.

Discovering Whichaway

Begin your adventure at Whichaway, surrounded by dramatic rocky outcrops and iridescent blue ice. Explore the landscape on a guided hike, visit the surreal ice waves, or descend into the crystalline blue river system that makes this camp so iconic. In the evening, unwind in the sauna or enjoy a fireside dinner overlooking the vast expanse.

Ice Adventures at Whichaway

Experience the thrill of abseiling down ancient ice cliffs. For a gentler pace, enjoy yoga in the dome, a massage with our in-camp Physical Therapist, or a peaceful trek across the frozen lake leading to panoramic viewpoints.

South Pole Expedition

The South Pole awaits. Board our Basler aircraft and fly over vast mountain ranges and shimmering plains. After refuelling at Dixie’s Camp, continue to the southernmost point on Earth. Stand at 90° South, capture the moment, stamp your passport, and overnight on the High Polar Plateau — a true explorer’s rite of passage.

Return and Camp Transition

Awaken under canvas on the High Polar Plateau. After breakfast, fly back across the continent and settle into Echo, your second camp. Celebrate your Pole achievement with a refined three-course dinner and champagne beneath the endless Antarctic sky.

Echo’s Otherworldly Playgrounds

Echo offers a landscape straight from another planet. Explore the surrounding nunatak peaks, try your hand at ice climbing, or trek across untouched ridgelines with breathtaking views in every direction.

High-Mountain Exploration

Embark on a challenging hike led by IFMGA-certified mountain guides. Traverse exposed ridges and dramatic rock spires that pierce the ice cap, offering some of the most surreal vistas on the continent.

Departure Home

The flight out of Antarctica will be the last of your enduring memories of the great White Continent. Watch as your returning A330 or A340 touches down on the blue-ice runway. Linger at Wolf Fang’s Ice Bar among sculpted ice forms, explore White Desert’s exclusive boutique, or unwind with a film before returning to the vibrant energy of Africa.