Where to stay in the Antarctic Interior

Union Glacier Camp is set deep in the Ellsworth Mountains, on the wide expanse of the glacier that gives the camp its name.

Accommodation is in large heated and insulated clamshell tents tall enough to stand in. Meals are taken communally with fellow guests in a large dining tent, and there is a large comfortable lounge and library. 

Union Glacier Camp is served by Union Glacier runway, with polar flights operating from Punta Arenas. It is the base camp for trips to the South Pole, the emperor penguins at Gould Bay, as well as expeditions to Mount Vinson. 

Adventures away from the main basecamps (including to the South Pole, the emperor penguin colonies and Mount Vinson) all involve staying in remote field camps that can only be reached by ski-equipped plane. 

Remote camps are designed to allow to you experience the Antarctic Interior at its wildest. The camps are relatively simple affairs but all are designed to offer maximum comfort, warmth and protection from the harsh polar environment. Showers are not available, but in some locations such as the South Pole, tents may be heated. Freshly prepared meals are served in heated communal dining tents and relaxation areas. 

A temporary field camp is established every season at Gould Bay, to see the emperor penguin colony there. It the only Antarctic tourist camp erected on sea ice. Accommodation is in single occupancy 4-season mountaineering tents, that are unheated but designed to withstand Antarctic conditions. 

To avoid disturbing the penguins, the camp is erected a minimum of one mile (1.6 km) from the  colony, taking advantage of icebergs to further screen the tents from view. At the end of each season, the camp is completely dismantled to leave no trace on the environment.

The emperor penguin colony Gould Bay can only be accessed from Union Glacier Camp. 

Whichaway Camp sits next to the remarkable freshwater lake of the interior’s otherworldly Schirmacher Oasis, fed by a vast glacier on the camp's doorstep.

There are six cosy polar pods for sleeping, with interiors designed to evoke the ‘Heroic Age’ of Antarctic exploration. In addition there are a variety of support pods, including a luxury dining pod for gourmet meals, a library and lounge.

Whichaway Camp is served by Wolf's Fang runway, with polar flights operating from Cape Town. It is the base camp for trips to see the emperor penguins at Akta Bay, as well as the South Pole. 

If the Antarctic Interior looks unearthly, the luxury pods at Echo Camp positively look as if they’ve just beamed down from outer space.

Echo Camp is Antarctica at its most exclusive, serving just 12 people in six futuristic pods, with floor to ceiling windows to allow the polar wilderness to be a constant companion.

Separate pods offer an art deco lounge and cosy library to retreat to, before your personal chef prepares dinner from a bespoke menu.

Echo Camp is served by Wolf's Fang runway, with polar flights operating from Cape Town. 

The Three Glaciers Retreat is tucked into the Heritage Range of the Ellsworth Mountains.

The camp is home to just eight sleeping suites, serving a maximum of 16 guests. It is the only luxury camp in Antarctica to offer ensuite showers. In addition, there is a dining suite with a private chef and a charming lounge and library to tuck yourself up in after a day of exploration. 

Three Glaciers Retreat is served by Union Glacier runway, with polar flights operating from Punta Arenas. 

All camps in the Antarctic Interior operate to strict environmental standards to avoid leaving any permanent footprint on the landscape.

Camps are solar powered with tents heated passively thanks to 24 hours of daylight. All waste – (including human waste) is removed from the site to be disposed of or recycled in the relevant Antarctic gateway city, and extra protocols and monitoring is in place to guard against snow contamination from aviation fuel.

To increase their positive impacts, our Antarctic Interior operators also work closely with national and non-governmental research programmes, providing logistical support to the vital science carried out on the White Continent.