The First Steps
In November, Atka Bay awakens to a flurry of tiny Emperor Penguin chicks, newly hatched and beginning to wobble from their parents’ feet. Each chick faces a staggering challenge: nearly half will not survive the extreme Antarctic conditions. Their insulating grey down — delicate yet remarkably resilient — helps them endure temperatures plunging below –50°C (–58°F) and winds exceeding 190 km/h (120 mph).
Even before you reach the Emperor Penguin colony, the journey captivates you. The 2.5-hour flight to Atka Bay, soaring over the vast white expanse in our Basler aircraft, offers surreal views of the ice shelf, the ocean, and the sheer scale of the continent below. After landing a respectful distance from the colony, guests travel by PistenBullies across the frozen landscape, watching as the distant specks on the horizon slowly reveal themselves as thousands of penguins.
The early season offers an intimate view of this vulnerable stage of their life cycle as chicks take their first steps onto the ice. Every tentative movement reflects both the hardship and the hard-won resilience that define life at the bottom of the world. Visitors witness not only the charm of fluffy chicks and watchful parents, but also the powerful, unfiltered reality of survival in Earth's harshest environment — a perspective few will ever experience.
Nature's Cathedrals
Hidden beneath the Antarctic surface lies one of the continent’s most otherworldly wonders: the blue ice tunnels. Formed over thousands of years as compacted snow transforms into ultra-dense glacial ice, these tunnels are carved by meltwater streams and shaped by the slow movement of the glacier itself.
Reaching them is an adventure in its own right. As much as the destination is the point, the journey builds the anticipation: a two-hour hike across undulating, sweeping icefields, where the horizon glows white in every direction. You descend into a quiet valley, then climb toward the tunnel entrance, a contrast so striking that the moment the blue reveals itself feels almost cinematic.
Inside, shimmering walls illuminated by light filtering through metres of ancient ice create a surreal, cathedral-like world that feels entirely separate from the surface above. Exploring the blue ice tunnels is a rare privilege. Few places on Earth allow you to step inside the glacier itself, to walk between layers of ice older than human history, and to feel the profound stillness of a world carved entirely by nature. For many guests, it becomes one of the defining moments of their Antarctic journey — equal parts adventure, science, and awe.
Our Camps
Sample
Itinerary
Baby Penguins & Blue Tunnels
Day-by-day
A Note About Weather
Our main priority is to fly guests safely and successfully to the penguins and the South Pole, and we adjust each week's itinerary for those optimal flying windows. These can often change, so it's important to remain flexible.
Other Trips
South Pole & Emperor Penguins
Combine iconic wildlife with one of the most legendary destinations on Earth. Explore the Emperor Penguin colony at Atka Bay, and venture to the geographic South Pole, guided by experts who ensure comfort, safety, and unique access to remote landscapes.
Long Stay
Combine the luxury of both Whichaway and Echo Camp with a range of unique Antarctica experiences — from ice cave explorations and nunatak hikes to ice climbing and traversing ice waves — as well as an expedition to the geographic South Pole, one of the most iconic destinations on the planet.
A Day on Ice
Cape Town to Antarctica and back — descend into a crystal cave, rappel down an ice shelf and toast with champagne in our ice bar during this extraordinary day trip.
Dates & Prices
Explore available travel dates and premium expedition rates as you prepare for an unforgettable journey into the heart of Antarctica.
