Antarctica : Antarctic Odyssey

From the moment you arrive in Punta Arenas, you’ll be building up to your Antarctic adventure with a full briefing and kit check from the staff there. This will ensure that you are fully prepared for the journey to come. You will need to arrive in Punta Arenas a minimum of 2 days prior to your scheduled departure for Antarctica – our team will be happy to assist with your accommodation arrangements pre- and post- your Antarctic Odyssey.

Timing is wholly dependent on weather systems at Union Glacier’s blue ice runway, therefore while every effort will be made to keep to the scheduled departure date from Chile, aircraft serviceability and local conditions will determine when the flight departs. Days of delay are part of the Antarctic travel experience and should be expected. The team in Punta Arenas will keep you informed of any schedule changes. This also means that as soon as the conditions become suitable, you’ll have to prepare for departure quickly. This really is an adventure after all! 

No two Antarctic adventures are exactly the same. This is part of the magic and excitement of Antarctic travel. The itinerary below is intended to outline general program objectives and highlight typical activities and experiences. Exact timeline, activities, and program details will vary from trip to trip.

Day 1 Punta Arenas - Antarctica
Subject to weather conditions you will depart for Antarctica today - the flight time from Punta Arenas to UNion Glacier is approximately 4.5 hours. 
At approximately 60° south you will reach the winter limits of frozen seas and enter the area governed by the Antarctic Treaty. At 66° south cross the Antarctic Circle, where the sun never sets at the austral summer solstice and never rises at the austral winter solstice. Further south Antarctic days and nights lengthen until at the South Pole the sun rises and sets only once a year.  Your first sight of the icy continent is Charcot Island close to Alexander Island, at 71° south. The ice sheet continues to stretch inland until in the distance appear the spectacular Ellsworth Mountains, the highest range in Antarctica. Union Glacier camp is located 8km from the runway at the base of Mount Rossman. On landing, you will be directed to a heated passenger terminal where you will pick up a shuttle service to the camp. On arrival at camp you will settle in and enjoy a welcome meal. 

Day 2 - Orientation at Union Glacier Camp, Antarctica
The Antarctic Odyssey group will meet in the morning for an orientation to Union Glacier. Your guide will brief you on logistics as well as environmental and safety considerations for your stay and you will tour camp to discover the intricacies of daily life in Antarctica. Your guide will let you know the range of activities that are available and will want to hear about your interests in order to tailor the daily programme to you. The afternoon will include optional, easy activities to allow you to settle in and acclimatize to your new environment. 

Days 3-6 (or 8) - Exploring Union Glacier
During your stay at Union Glacier you can be as active or as relaxed as you wish. Your guide will organize a daily program of activities, based on group interests and weather conditions. Some of the active pursuits you can enjoy include an ascent of the nearby peaks with panoramic views of the Ellsworth Mountain Range; snow machine assisted tours to the local mountains; excursions to view unusual ice and rock formations nearby; short walking trips across the vast polar landscape; opportunities to learn and practice cross country skiing; and navigation lessons. 

For those who are interested there will be an overnight camping trip, so that you can experience first hand the remoteness of this continent and the thoughts and feelings of both early explorers and modern day expeditions.
Photographers will enjoy the unusual windsculpted snow features, ice pools, dramatic peaks, spectacular open skies and cloud formations, as well as the golden light cast by the midnight sun. 

In camp, experienced staff will share their knowledge of the icy continent, giving talks on diverse themes. You can join the meteorologist for weather observations; learn rope handling skills, track expeditions as they make their way 
southward; carve snow sculptures, play indoor games and exchange stories with some of the other adventure travellers you meet on your journey. The variety of activities available is only limited by your enthusiasm and imagination. Whatever activities you choose, take time to enjoy the solitude, space and silence that is unique to Antarctica. 

Providing conditions allow, you will also take a flight by ski equipped aircraft over the spectacular Ellsworth Mountains. During the 1 hour flight you will pass over vast ice streams and glaciers sweeping out from the mountains and look down on nunataks – the rocky summits of peaks buried under thousands of feet of ice. 

Day 7 (January trip) or Day 9 (December trip) Antarctica - Punta Arenas
Weather permitting, the aircraft from Punta Arenas will arrive in Union Glacier on the scheduled departure day for the final leg of your Antarctic journey, back over the ice to Punta Arenas. 

Please note that you are travelling to an expedition base camp situated in the interior of Antarctica, the most isolated and windiest continent on earth. Every effort will be made to follow the above itinerary but it is offered subject to change based on weather, aircraft serviceability, and local conditions. You will be accommodated and looked after in Union Glacier during any flight delays to Punta Arenas. 

Days of delay are a normal part of Antarctic travel. DO NOT plan anything important for a minimum of two weeks after your scheduled return. Give yourself time to enjoy this unique experience without the stress of pending commitments.