Antarctic Odyssey

• Pre-departure Days

• Gear Check, Welcome and

• Safety Briefing

Known as the gateway to Antarctica, all of our flights depart from the Chilean city of

Punta Arenas.

We ask you to arrive in Punta Arenas at least three nights prior to your trip start

date, to allow time to complete the pre-departure process. This also provides a

buffer for flight and luggage delays should your travels to Chile not go as planned.

We do not hold Antarctic flights for delayed passengers or luggage.

We will be waiting for you in the terminal when you arrive at Punta Arenas airport

and will transport you to your hotel. The following day, you will have an individual

Gear Check at your hotel, where we will review the personal clothing and equipment

you will need in Antarctica. If you have requested any rental items, they will be

issued from our warehouse.

The day before your Antarctic flight there is a Welcome and Safety Briefing in the

ALE Office. Here we will explain the flight dispatch process, review environmental

and safety procedures for your stay in Antarctica, and provide the latest weather

updates.

At the Punta Arenas airport, you will check-in for

your flight, pass through normal Airport Security

then board our chartered jet for the 4hour flight to

Antarctica. Our route crosses the Drake Passage,

then follows the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula

and the spine of the Ellsworth Mountains. We

land on a naturally occurring blue-ice runway on

Union Glacier where you will take your first steps in

Antarctica.

Climb aboard one of our specially-adapted vans

for the 5mi (8km) shuttle to our main camp. Our

friendly staff will provide a welcome tour of camp

and show you to your tent.

During your stay in Antarctica, you’ll have multiple

days to explore Union Glacier. Meanwhile, our

meteorologists will carefully monitor the weather

conditions and find the best day for your Scenic

Flight.

A typical day starts with breakfast, then a meeting

with your guide to discuss the day’s options and

choose an activity tailored to the weather and the

group’s interests. Excursions may include any of the

following destinations and activities:

Elephant’s Head

Ride in one of our wheeled vehicles to this dramatic

marble buttress overlooking the blue-ice runway.

Beautiful ice formations and moraines offer endless

opportunities for photographers to capture close-up

frozen formations or wide angle glacial landscapes.

Hikers can trek up to the base of Elephant’s Head or

all the way to the top of Rhodes Bluff for panoramic

views of Union Glacier and the Heritage Range.

Rhodes Bluff and Fossil Garden

Geology lovers will be delighted to explore this

hotspot for ichnofossils. Our experienced guides can

help you navigate by GPS to known trace fossils or

accompany you on a mission to discover new ones.

Buchanan Hills

Board our one-of-a-kind Tucker Bus, a custom

designed tracked vehicle, for the scenic drive to

the remote Buchanan Hills. You’ll arrive at a high

pass that offers expansive views of Union Glacier

as it flows into Constellation Inlet. Higgins Nunatak

pokes through the ice, like an atoll in a frozen

ocean. For the fit and adventurous, there are two

easy hiking routes that require no prior experience

and grant you the rare opportunity to summit a

peak in the heart of Antarctica.

Drake Icefall

Named in the 1960s after geologist Benjamin Drake

IV, this impressive icefall tumbles off the polar

plateau into Union Glacier. Winds from the South

Pole carve huge waves into the blue-ice and polish

the surface into a high shine.

Charles Windscoop

Discover the power of wind on ice as you wander

through a sparkling turquoise corridor. If you’re truly

adventurous, this is a prime place to try ice climbing

with one of our experienced guides. For the less

vertically inclined, you can rock hunt to your heart’s

content. Just remember to leave them in place, as

nothing may be removed from Antarctica.

The Beach at Rossman Cove

Another spectacular setting for photography and

panoramic views! Head out on cross-country skis

and enjoy Antarctica’s version of a glacial beach

getaway.

If you’d prefer to stay closer to camp, we have a

variety of activities for all abilities. You can check

out a pair of cross-country skis or a fat-tire bike and

take a spin around our groomed 10k loop or you

can enjoy a cup of tea, an Antarctic book, or fun

game in our camp library.

Lectures and films tailored to your experience round

out our camp activities.

Flexible Flight Day

Once weather conditions permit, you will board

our ski aircraft and get a bird’s eye view of the

breathtaking Ellsworth Mountains. Majestic peaks

and nunataks rise out of the endless Antarctic ice

and form some of the most spectacular scenery on

the continent.

Your 30 minute scenic flight will give you a truly

unique perspective of a landscape few will ever

experience.

When weather and runway conditions permit,

our intercontinental, passenger aircraft will arrive

at Union Glacier to transport you back to Chile.

Our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer

you to your hotel.

Flexible Departure Day Fly Home

Your flight home concludes this remarkable

adventure. We recommend keeping a flexible

schedule due to the possibility of weather delays.

Allow yourself to savor your experience without the

pressure of other commitments.