ARCTIC EXPLORERS - FROM THE TAFELBERG OF CAPE TOWN TO THE "WHITE DESERT" OF ANTARCTICA

Would you like to land your personal plane on the only runway in Antarctica designed specifically for private jets? Or would you like to be the first to climb an icy mountain peak in the heart of the "White Desert?” Would you like to visit a magnificent penguin colony as the newborn babies take their first steps away from their parents?

If that's what you want and you have enough spare change, “White Desert" is the Travel Agency for you. This English company flies its clients from Cape Town in South Africa to the South Pole. They offer their customers a tailor-made adventure in one of the most extreme areas on earth. Those who want to experience the best of the Antarctic do not have to sacrifice on comfort. Luxurious, state-of-the-art heated "igloos" stand ready in the middle of the perpetual ice. However, this luxury and temptation come at a price: $780,000 for an exclusive group of twelve or $65,000 per person.

“White Desert” was founded in 2005 by arctic explorers Patrick and Robyn Woodhead. They provide everyday people with the opportunities to see the wonders of Antarctica. Their travel agency now employs 80 people representing 17 different nationalities. As the winner of five World Travel Awards, their company is the only operator flying guests from South Africa to Antarctica.

As a land of snow and ice, Antarctica offers enticing scenery for its guests. Inspired by the pioneering age of space exploration, "Camp Echo," which was opened in December 2002, offers exclusive access to the continent's rarely seen interior vistas. The stylish, modern new eco-camp features six heated, state-of-the-art bedroom "sky pods," with large floor-to-ceiling windows that offer magnificent views of the dramatic landscape beyond. Made of composite fiberglass, each of the space-inspired "sky pods" is designed for two guests and features interiors with retro space-age details and luxurious furnishings.

Original photos taken from the International Space Station (ISS) by former commander, "White Desert" guest and retired astronaut Col. Terry Virts are on display in each Sky pod of “Camp Echo”. "The mountains are the most beautiful I've ever seen on Earth, Venus and Mars," Virts says of the "Echo" landscape.
 
 Camp Echo also features a central lounge area, dining rooms as well as heated shower stalls. As with all of its camps, "White Desert" has designed their newest camp to be dismantled without leaving a trace, imparting nothing more than a temporary impact on Antarctica. "Camp Echo" is perfect for exclusive groups and can accommodate up to twelve guests. This new camp allows guests to combine an ultra-luxurious experience with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

An experienced team of chefs, hosts and expert guides empowers adventurers to relax on-site or explore at their leisure. Guests of "Camp Echo" step off the plane and are escorted to a private lounge where a martini shaken with 10,000-year-old ice awaits them. Guests have access to all the available activities in the "White Desert," including biking, skiing, skidooing and 4x4 Arctic truck driving. There’s also guided hikes, ice climbing and mountaineering options. The highlights of the Antarctic, such as a visit to Atka Bay to see the 28,000-strong Emperor penguin colony or a bucket-list trip to the South Pole, are also on offer.

The first luxury camp of "White Dessert" in Antarctica was the "Whichaway Camp". It is located on the shore of one of the freshwater lakes of the ice-free Shoemaker Oasis.
 
 The “Whichaway camp” is a camp that allows guests to get a sense of Antarctic exploration. It is designed with six heated "polar capsules" each having ultra-modern exteriors and old-fashioned interiors. In another camp - "Wolf's Fang" - luxury and adventure meet in the mountains of Queen Maud Land. "Wolf's Fang" offers a relaxed yet refined interior reminiscent of the bygone age of explorers and features six heated bedroom tents equipped with en-suite washrooms and shower rooms.
 
 The comfortable lounge area is an oasis of comfort and warmth no matter how harsh the outside conditions are. The well-equipped dining area is the ideal place to review the day's explorations with your fellow adventurers.

COMMENT:

With three camps in different locations and different experiences to offer in Antarctica, the "White Dessert" company offers something extremely extraordinary, which not only the elite would want to experience, but also ordinary people will dream of. Adrenaline junkies can enjoy a variety of exciting activities on this vast continent, including rappelling, ice climbing and rope walking. Guests who seek peace and serenity can enjoy gentle hikes, skidoo rides, or simply gazing at the breathtaking scenery. Guests can be as active or as passive and relaxed as they wish, during their stay. Another unique highlight In the middle of the harsh wilderness, guests are pampered with immersive luxury.

ARCTIC EXPLORERS - FROM THE TAFELBERG OF CAPE TOWN TO THE "WHITE DESERT" OF ANTARCTICA