EXPLORING ANTARCTICA

EXPLORING ANTARCTICA IN STYLE

AN INCREASING NUMBER OF LUXE TOUR OPERATORS ARE VENTURING TO THE COLDEST, MOST UNEXPLORED PART OF THE WORLD

(2) White Desert Antarctica No destination evokes such mystery as Antarctica, by far the least visited of the planet’s continents. Nearly twice the size of Australia, the “white continent” remains largely untouched, with almost no attractions or visitor services to speak of. This explains why visitors must enlist the aid of an established tour operator, and given the proliferation of ships (and planes) venturing across the Antarctic

Circle and through the Southern Ocean, there are more choices than ever.

These companies stand out from the competition by providing fi rst-time visitors with a next-level experience, complete with the kinds of access and extras rarely made available in the past.

Some make it as easy as can be, providing all the arctic gear and helpful insight one needs to explore the coldest place on Earth.

When it comes to luxury access, no operator pulls out the stops like White

Desert. Established in 2005 by worldrecord holding, husband-and-wife polar explorers Patrick and Robyn Woodhead, the venture was born out of a desire to allow people other than scientists and explorers to see the wonders of the continent’s interior.

As the only company off ering travel to Antarctica by private jet—guests fl y directly from Cape Town, landing on the operator’s unique blue-ice runway—the majority of White Desert’s itineraries are unique. (The operating season typically runs from November through February.) There are three adventure camps, the newest of which (Echo) opened earlier this year; each provides comfy sleeping pods, cozy communal spaces, and oncein-a-lifetime activities.

The camps, each of which holds up to 12 guests, off er intimacy and privacy. Multigenerational groups can opt for exclusive use of a camp, allowing families to bond while sharing gourmet meals, sipping cocktails made with 10,000-year-old ice, and relaxing in saunas with glacier views.

Ever mindful of the climate issues facing the continent, White Desert— which has been carbon neutral since

White Desert pulls out all the luxury stops when it comes to its exploratory trips to the “white continent,” shown at left and above.

2007—is the first operator in Antarctica to make use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Furthermore, it shares its aircraft with scientists, delivering them to their research bases more efficiently and with less environmental impact.

The majority of visitors experience Antarctica via an expedition ship, most of which have evolved and modernized in order to satisfy the modern adventurer.

The French cruise operator Ponant introduced its Le Commandant Charcot craft in 2021. After spending its maiden season in Antarctica, the vessel—the world’s only luxury icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas—headed to the Arctic for the summer, when it became the first upscale passenger ship to reach the true geographic North Pole.

Le Commandant makes use of an environmentally friendly hybridpropulsion system to reduce its footprint, and there’s a research lab on board for studying the polar environments it traverses. Creature comforts include cuisine from Alain Ducasse, free-flowing Veuve Clicquot, an indoor swimming pool, and heated lagoonstyle baths. The vessel carries up to 245 guests to parts of Antarctica that most other ships can’t reach, including the Charcot and Peter I islands, and the ice-covered Amundsen Sea, a remote region that remains mostly unexplored.

Building on almost 130 years of Norwegian pioneering heritage, Hurtigruten is the world’s largest expedition-cruise company. Having operated in Antarctica for 20 years, Hurtigruten Expeditions was the first cruise liner to introduce science centers onboard, staffed by an expert-led expedition team with guest lecturers/ scientists. When not engaging with nature through shore landings, kayaking excursions, and expedition adventures, passengers can participate in Citizen Science research projects for third-party organizations.

In 2019, Hurtigruten debuted the MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first battery hybrid-powered cruise ship. Environmentally conscious adventures can explore Antarctica aboard the stateof-the-art vessel, which features new

Clockwise, from top: White Desert is the only operator offering private-jet service to Antarctica; an up-close view of penguins with Abercrombie & Kent; Silversea Cruises has three ships in Antarctica, and offers options ranging from 10 to 28 days. and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology to reduce fuel consumption.

Travelers with a hankering for adventure are wise to consider Aurora Expeditions, which has been delighting thrill-seekers in Antarctica since 1991. There’s a focus on immersive experiences such as trekking, camping, scuba diving, sea kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and climbing.

The 100% climate neutral operator takes small groups (average of 132 passengers) on intimate expeditions varying in length from 9 to 26 days; fewer people means these expeditions are able to make more landings than the competition, with greater flexibility if tides, currents, ice, or weather dictate a schedule change. Travelers are accompanied by seasoned expedition specialists, including remote-area specialists, professional photographers, and scientists who host lectures.

Silversea Cruises, which has three ships in Antarctica, offers nearly 50 sailing options ranging from 10 to 28 days. All-inclusive packages include everything from private executive transfers and butler service to shore excursions and expedition gear.

Those looking to reach Antarctica without navigating the notoriously rough Drake Passage can opt for Silversea’s Antarctica Bridge Fly & Cruise service, in which guests fly business-class from Punta Arenas, Chile, straight to Antarctica, then explore the continent aboard one of the luxurious ships. The only luxury line to offer such a service, Silversea saw the need to create an option for guests who are short on time but still want to experience their Antarctica bucket-list trip. Due to high demand, Silversea has added additional Fly & Cruise itineraries.

Adventurous types looking to knock multiple entries off their travel bucket lists can opt for one of the luxury tour operators offering multidestination packages centered on Antarctica.

Notable options include Abercrombie & Kent, which has been operating in Antarctica for more than 30 years. The much-decorated company takes its guests on multiweek adventures that incorporate luxury expeditions aboard Ponant ships, ensuring every guest has a private balcony.

Each year, the operator hosts a special cruise with climate scientist Dr. James McClintock, during which passengers discover the effects of rising global temperatures via enthralling lectures and meetings with scientists at Palmer Station, the only U.S. station north of the Antarctic Circle. Daily Zodiac excursions allow guests to witness rare and thrilling wildlife up close, from lively penguin colonies to several species of whales.

As one of the most versatile luxury tour and travel operators, Red Savannah specializes in opulent villas, over-the-top safaris, luxe yacht charters, and more. The company offers seven Antarctica itineraries including an eight-day Antarctica by Private Jet package that incorporates White Desert’s camps, with rates running into the six figures per person.

Through its partnership with Quark Expeditions, Red Savannah clients can experience Antarctica aboard Quark’s Ultramarine, a purpose-built vessel equipped with all the latest technology, including two twin-engine helicopters. A 15-minute helicopter flightseeing excursion is included for guests on every departure, and adventurers can access some of the continent’s rarely visited wonderlands by booking an additional heli-touring, -landing, or -trekking activity. Closer to land, kayaks and paddleboards allow guests to get up close to vivid blue icebergs.