Antarctica · South Pole
Cape Town to Atka Bay to the Geographic South Pole — a rare journey to the most remote and defining coordinates on Earth.
About This Expedition
“A journey to 90° South — where the world simplifies into light, silence and horizon.”
This expedition brings together two of Antarctica's most extraordinary experiences: standing at the Geographic South Pole and encountering one of the largest Emperor penguin colonies on Earth. From Cape Town, the route extends deep into the Antarctic interior — across blue ice runways, vast mountain ranges and the High Polar Plateau.
Travel is conducted by specialised polar aircraft, allowing access to locations that remain beyond the reach of traditional expeditions. At 3,000 metres above sea level, the South Pole offers a rare perspective — a place where all directions lead north, and where the scale of the continent becomes almost abstract.
This is not exploration in the traditional sense, but a carefully supported passage into one of the last truly inaccessible places on Earth.
What Is Included
Day by Day
Every day has been sequenced to create a natural rhythm — arriving rested, departing enriched, and never once conscious of the machinery moving beneath you.
“The best journeys are felt in the body before they are understood by the mind.”
Cape Town
Arrival in Cape Town marks the beginning of the expedition. The day is dedicated to preparation — a full safety briefing, equipment fitting and final alignment with the polar team. Your evening is spent at The Silo Hotel, overlooking Table Mountain and the Atlantic, before departure south.
The Silo Hotel, Cape TownAntarctica — Atka Bay
A five-hour flight carries you across the Southern Ocean and into Antarctica, landing on the blue ice runway at Wolf's Fang. From here, a smaller aircraft continues across the ice shelf to Atka Bay. Here, one of the world's largest Emperor penguin colonies gathers — thousands of birds moving across the ice in a landscape defined by silence and scale. Encounters are conducted with care and distance, allowing for rare and uninterrupted observation of their natural behaviour.
Whichaway Camp, Antarctica
Atka Bay — thousands of Emperor penguins gathered at the edge of the world, in one of the most remote and extraordinary settings on Earth
Antarctica — Ice Landscapes
The day is dedicated to exploration of Antarctica's sculptural terrain — ice waves, frozen tunnels and vast open expanses shaped by wind over centuries. Guided hikes reveal hidden formations and elevated viewpoints, often paired with moments of stillness — a Champagne pause overlooking one of the most untouched environments on Earth.
Whichaway Camp, AntarcticaThe Geographic South Pole
The defining moment of the journey begins with a long-range flight across the Antarctic interior, with a refuelling stop at Dixie's Camp before continuing to the South Pole. At 90° South, the landscape becomes absolute — horizon without interruption, light without shadow. You stand at the southern axis of the planet, a place reached by fewer than 500 people each year. The night is spent at Dixie's Camp, on the High Polar Plateau, in complete isolation.
Dixie's Camp, High Polar Plateau
90° South — the only point on Earth where every direction leads north, and where the horizon stretches without limit or reference
Return from the Plateau
Morning at the Pole offers a final moment to absorb the stillness before returning by air to camp. That evening, a private dinner and Champagne celebration mark the completion of the journey — a rare achievement in modern travel.
Whichaway Camp, AntarcticaAntarctica — Exploration & Stillness
The final full day remains flexible. Options range from guided hikes across pressure ridges and ice cliffs to quieter moments within camp, reflecting on the experience. For those seeking a more active perspective, routes led by expert polar guides reveal panoramic views across Antarctica's untouched terrain.
Whichaway Camp, AntarcticaReturn to Cape Town
The departure flight offers one final view over the White Continent — a vast, uninterrupted landscape that remains one of the least explored on Earth. Arrival back in Cape Town marks the close of a journey defined not by distance, but by access and perspective.
Cape TownWhere You Will Stay
Design Hotel · Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
A striking design hotel with panoramic views of Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront.
White Desert · Antarctica
Antarctica
A luxury polar camp of heated pods, fine dining and remarkable comfort in the heart of the Antarctic wilderness.
White Desert · South Pole
High Polar Plateau, Antarctica
A remote expedition outpost offering direct access to the Geographic South Pole and one of the most extraordinary overnights in travel.
Private Enquiry
This itinerary is a point of departure, not a fixed schedule. We will adapt every element to your preferences, your travel party, and the season of travel. Submit your details and a Martins Travel advisor will respond personally within 24 hours.