Antarctica's remote interior, a vast frozen wilderness inaccessible by sea, is a world few will ever witness. With over 20 years of experience operating in this extreme environment, White Desert offers unparalleled access to the frozen Continent.
For just 11 weeks each Antarctic summer, guests can fly in business class comfort from Cape Town direct to the interior of Antarctica. Stay at White Deserts award-winning camps, Whichaway and Echo, where every moment is curated for indulgence: gourmet dining, breathtaking vistas, and intimate encounters with Antarctica's most iconic wonders — from the South Pole to Emperor penguin colonies.
Direct flights from Cape Town by Airbus A340/30 to our private blue-ice runway.
Two award-winning luxury camps designed for only 12 guests at a time.
Be one of the few visitors per year to the South Pole and Atka Bay's famous Emperor penguins.
View our itinerary
We pride ourselves on being carbon neutral since 2007, recognized with multiple luxury travel awards, and fully accredited by IAATO, reflecting our commitment to responsible, sustainable exploration. With White Desert, you experience Antarctica’s interior as very few ever will.
ANTARCTIC ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
Early Emperors
South Pole & Emperors
November – December
From $71,500 | 5–6 days
December – January
From $110,000 | 7–8 days
This journey offers rare access to a remote Emperor Penguin colony at the height of the breeding season, when tiny chicks are taking their first steps from the safety of their parents' feet. After a two-hour flight in a Basler BT-67 from our main camp, guests arrive at a site home to over 20,000 penguins and their young. Unafraid of human presence, they often waddle within a few meters, surrounding you in a world of movement, sound, and life. To witness this gathering is to see one of the greatest — and least observed — wildlife events on Earth.
Follow in the footsteps of history's greatest explorers on an extraordinary journey that combines a visit to the Emperor Penguin colony with a flight and expedition to the Geographic South Pole.
At exactly 90° South, you can walk around the world in just a few paces — where every direction is North. To stand here is to experience one of the planet's most elusive milestones: a place reached by fewer than 500 people each year, yet unmatched in its sense of isolation, wonder, and achievement.
‘White Desert is a marvel of vision and logistics, like something out of a James Bond film. You can’t believe someone actually made this happen; it seems so far-fetched.’
- VOGUE, 2023
OUR LUXURY ANTARCTIC CAMPS
White Desert's exclusive camps bring comfort, style, and adventure to some of the planet's most remote landscapes. Each camp is thoughtfully designed to offer a unique perspective on Antarctica's stark beauty, combining warm, luxurious accommodation with unparalleled access to the White Continent's extraordinary natural wonders.
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WHICHAWAY
ECHO BASE
Located on a rare rocky outcrop in the Schirmacher Oasis, surrounded by vast glacial cliffs and frozen lakes.
Six heated, elegant pods designed for comfort amid a striking Antarctic setting.
Each pod has been recently upgraded with a large glass conservatory that offers expansive views of the glacier outside. Spacious communal areas provide the perfect environment for meals, cocktail hours, and relaxation between activities.
The camp includes a Wellness Dome for yoga and meditation, a sauna, ice plunge, and daily massage and physiotherapy treatments.
Perched on a vast ice plateau, surrounded by some of the most dramatic and otherworldly scenery on Earth.
Six heated sleeping pods inspired by astronauts and explorers,
with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Each pod offers uninterrupted views of lunar-like landscapes, creating a truly surreal wake-up experience. Spacious communal areas provide the perfect environment for meals, cocktail hours, and relaxation between activities.
The camp includes a Wellness Dome for yoga and meditation, a sauna, an ice plunge, and daily massage and physiotherapy treatments.
Activities
From gentle hikes to heart-racing climbs, our Antarctic adventures are designed to inspire excitement and awe for every level of fitness. Led by our expert IFMGA-rated mountain and activity guides, guests explore this frozen wilderness safely — venturing amid glaciers, over snowfields, and into glittering blue ice caves before returning to camp for cocktails chilled with thousand-year-old ice.
- Tobogganing.
- Fat biking.
- Discovering hidden ice caves.
- The Wellness Dome for yoga and personal workouts.
- Guided hikes across pristine snowfields.
- Rock climbing and abseiling.
- A thrilling rope walk along a dramatic cliff edge.
- Ice climbing adventures.
- Exploring the blue ice river.
Ice plunge & sauna for ultimate rejuvenation
Each camp has a dedicated medical professional and physiotherapist on hand to provide treatments and massages. Nearly all ages and fitness levels are welcome, allowing guests to conquer personal challenges or simply reflect in the most remote place left on the planet.
Copyright White Desert 2025