Spring Emperor Penguins of Atka Bay

Arrive into Cape Town a minimum of 2 days before the start of your trip. With the official destination registered as ‘Unknown International Airport’, you will board your 5.5 hour flight to Antarctica, crossing the polar circle into 24 hour daylight. You will be met on arrival and taken to the incredible Whichaway Camp where you can settle in to your warm and comfortable ‘pod’ and go for a gentle trek around the Oasis.

You have the unrivalled opportunity to visit an Atka Bay Emperor Penguin Colony. Fly 2.5 each way hours across the high polar plateau on board a BT67 plane, delivering spectacular vistas of the High Polar Plateau before reaching the colony which is home to over 6,000 penguins and their chicks. A land unfrequented by humans means these majestic birds have no fear of man. You will stand where few have stood before and watch as their curiosity draws them closer and closer to you. You will have the pleasure of filming, or capturing your very own ‘March of the Penguins’. We visit in the beginning of the season when the colony is still in full swing and emperor chicks are leaving their parents feet for the first time.

Explore the ice waves beneath the camp, delving into the series of ice tunnels that are as surreal as they are beautiful. Time for an Arctic Truck safari, winding your way through the snow and ice to an incredible panoramic viewpoint over the waves you have just explored. An adventurous hike along a winding cliff face shows you stunning views of the extraordinary waves of ice that have been created over millennia by constant pressure from the ocean. The world-class mountain guides will lead you on this challenging hike, ensuring your safety at all times on this unforgettable day.

Echo Camp

Inspired by the seminal age of Space exploration, Echo sits in quiet solitude encircled by pitted rock formations on the continent of Antarctcia. Echo is as close as you can get to feeling like you’re off the planet without leaving Earth. The space-age design of the ‘Sky Pods’ makes them look like they’ve been beamed down from Mars. Futuristic and luxurious, the six bedrooms are created from composite fibreglass with floor to ceiling windows allowing guests to soak in the moon-like landscape beyond. Perfect for exclusive use groups and catering for up to 12 people, Echo is an ultra-luxury experience on the 7th Continent. Echo is designed to be dismantled once used, leaving no trace on the Antarctic landscape. There is a whole range of activities and excursions for you to choose from during your stay at the Echo. Each morning after breakfast your personal guides will give you a number of options; the philosophy at this camp is that everything is entirely up to you! Whether you want to push yourself to the limits each day or take a few steps back - you decide. The expert guides are able to teach you everything you will need to become a polar explorer, from technical rock climbing to abseiling and kite-skiing to visiting the nearby 28,000 strong Emperor Penguin colony.