A New Chapter for White Desert
Two Pioneers, One Philosophy
Both White Desert and Lindblad Expeditions were founded on the same belief: that people will only care about what they've experienced for themselves.
Lindblad invented modern expedition travel nearly 60 years ago. Its founder, Lars-Eric Lindblad, led the first citizen expedition to Antarctica aboard a ship; the company has spent the past six decades taking people to the world's most remarkable places by sea, committed to small-scale, immersive, and responsible experiences.
This operating ethos mirrors White Desert's own, making them the perfect partner for the future. Like other companies that have joined the Lindblad family, White Desert will continue to operate as a stand-alone offering, preserving the vision and culture, while benefiting from Lindblad's resources and capabilities to strengthen White Desert's entire operation. For the first time, land, sea and air will all be connected in polar travel.
For everyone who works with us — guests, travel agents, and suppliers alike — that means nothing changes: same people, same standards, same experience.
Your Questions, Answered
Lindblad Expeditions has acquired majority ownership of White Desert. White Desert has spent two decades building a one-of-a-kind Antarctic operation, and preserving what makes the business distinctive was central to the partnership. Lindblad brings additional resources, reach and infrastructure to support White Desert’s continued growth, while its team, camps, operating standards and approach to the guest experience remain intact.
No. If anything, it strengthens it. Lindblad brings decades of small-ship, responsible, polar-expedition heritage, and White Desert's standards on the ice remain unchanged — every camp is semi-permanent and removable, all waste is flown out of the continent, and the company continues to be Carbon Neutral, as it has been since 2007.
After two decades of pioneering travel into Antarctica’s interior, White Desert reached a natural moment to consider what comes next. With opportunities to bolster the business while bringing Patrick's newest venture, Echo Charlie, to life, partnering with Lindblad makes this a reality.
Patrick Woodhead becomes Chairman of White Desert and will continue to be a public ambassador while serving as CEO of sister brand Echo Charlie. The current executive team will continue to lead White Desert, with the offering and operating standards unchanged.
No. Itineraries, dates, guest experience, pricing, billing and payment terms remain exactly as they were.
If you have any additional questions, you may contact Guest Services at guest-liason@white-desert.com.
Having spent the last 20 years pioneering tourism in the interior, we are privileged to join forces with people who did exactly the same thing, only 40 years earlier on the coastline of Antarctica. With a shared ethos for small-scale, responsible travel, we are thrilled for what lies ahead.
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Patrick Woodhead
Founder and Chairman of White Desert
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