Blue Rivers & Science Week
19 – 26 JANUARY 2027
This exclusive seven-day expedition places you alongside leading glaciologists, geologists and climate researchers as they uncover the forces shaping Antarctica — and, in turn, our planet.
Experience the frozen continent up close while gaining rare, first-hand insight into the science driving global climate understanding. Presentations are followed by immersive field excursions, where expert guides and scientists bring theory into the landscape itself. From ice sheet dynamics and geological history to living ecosystems and environmental monitoring, guests engage directly with the systems that define the White Continent.
Discussions around sea ice, ocean circulation and atmospheric systems culminate in a magnificent hike to the Blue Rivers — where local observations connect powerfully to the planet’s wider climate story. View more trip information and rates here.
At the Heart of the Climate System
Professor Steven Chown, Director of Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future and one of the world’s leading polar scientists, anchors these conversations throughout the week. With four decades of Antarctic research and policy experience, he brings both scientific depth and practical insight to discussions about the continent’s past, present and future.
Through focused discussions and field visits, guests explore how ice, ocean and atmosphere are tightly connected — and how changes here ripple through global climate systems. The goal is not abstract theory, but to find yourself standing in Antarctica, absorbing the vastness before you, and recognising that what happens here carries consequences far beyond its shores — and in that, gaining new perspective.
A visit to the Blue Rivers brings this into sharp focus. Standing among exposed blue ice and meltwater channels, scientists unpack how ice structure, melt processes and surrounding ocean dynamics interact. Concepts introduced in conversation suddenly become tangible in the landscape itself.
And in the end, the lesson is both scientific and philosophical: Antarctica is not a remote frontier, but a vital pulse point of the planet — where ice, ocean and atmosphere intertwine, and where the balance of its systems quietly shapes the future of our own.
Immersive Science, Real Adventure
While Science Week is deeply focused on learning, guests still benefit from the full White Desert experience. Guided by our IFMGA accredited team, the week merges rigorous science with real adventure: from ice climbing and crevasse exploration to long hikes across extraordinary terrain. Even the Blue Rivers became a glaciology lesson: their vivid colour comes from dense glacial ice absorbing most colours of light except blue, which is reflected back to our eyes. Understanding the science behind the beauty only amplified the experience.
Importantly, Science Week operates within a philanthropic model. The vast majority of the cost of the trip is an active contribution toward next season’s science grant. Guests meet the current grant recipients, understand the work being funded, and directly contribute to future research.
Sample Itinerary
Science Week
White Desert Foundation
Tax deduction & donation
65% of the trip price is a donation directly to the White Desert Foundation Science Grant, which supports crucial climate-related research in Antarctica. This portion of the trip cost qualifies as a charitable donation. US guests may be eligible for tax deductions, and UK guests will receive a Gift Aid certificate.
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