Baby Penguins & Blue Tunnels
US $75,250 Early Season
Witness the Emperor chicks as they take their first steps and explore the ethereal Blue Ice Tunnels.
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Baby Emperors
Blue Ice Tunnels
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Itinerary
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Baby Emperors
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).
The early season offers an intimate view of this vulnerable stage of the penguins’ life cycle, as chicks take their first steps onto the ice. The journey to the colony is as memorable as the encounter itself: a 2.5-hour Basler flight reveals the vast ice shelf and surrounding ocean before guests continue by PistenBully, approaching at a respectful distance. As thousands of penguins emerge on the horizon, visitors witness fluffy chicks, watchful parents, and the unfiltered reality of survival in Earth’s harshest environment — a perspective few will ever experience.
“
…to witness an Emperor Penguin colony is to glimpse life at its most tenacious, most beautiful, and most fragile.
-
David Attenborough
Blue Ice Tunnels
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. Inside, light filters through, illuminating shimmering blue walls and creating a cathedral-like world and sense of quiet grandeur, entirely removed from the surface above.
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.
Immerse yourself in the vibrance of the Emperor penguin colony
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.
01
Arrival in Antarctica
Soar across oceans and sea ice on a 5.5-hour flight from Cape Town. Cross into the Polar Circle and bask in endless daylight. Land on a blue-ice runway, then toast your arrival at your camp with cocktails chilled by 10,000-year-old Antarctic ice.
02
Customise Your Polar Adventure
Ease into Antarctica with activities tailored to your level — from gentle hikes to ice climbing or abseiling. In the evening, an inspiring talk introduces you to the world of Emperor Penguins and prepares you for tomorrow’s unforgettable encounter.
03
Journey to Atka Bay
Fly over the ice shelf to the remote colony at Atka Bay, where thousands of Emperor Penguins gather with their newly hatched chicks. Witness one of nature’s most extraordinary and intimate spectacles — fluffy chicks taking their first steps from their parents’ feet, set against endless horizons of white and shimmering blue ice. Few people on Earth will ever stand among them.
04
The Blue Ice Tunnels
Hike to a ridge-line for breathtaking vistas of ancient ice formations shaped over millennia by the relentless power of the Southern Ocean. Step inside the glowing world of the blue ice tunnels. Walking through them feels like entering a natural cathedral of ice — quiet, surreal, and utterly unforgettable.
05
On the Edge
Embark on a glacier hike with expert mountain guides and scale a nunatuk — the tip of a mountain buried beneath the glacial ice.
06
Departure Home
The flight out of Antarctica will be the last of your enduring memories of the great White Continent. Watch as your returning-flight, an A330 or A340 touches down on the blue ice runway. Linger at Wolf Fang’s Ice Bar amidst sculptures carved from ice, explore White Desert’s exclusive boutique, or unwind with a film — before returning to the vibrant energy of Africa.
Our Camps
[ 70º 48’ 00” S, 11º 23’ 00” E ] Whichaway Camp Our original camp, newly reimagined. Rare exposed rock and freshwater lakes — this is a side of Antarctica seldom seen. Learn More（https://white-desert.com/camps/whichaway-camp）
[ 71°32'47" S, 8°50'11" E ] Echo Base Inspired by astronauts, used by explorers. As close as you can get to leaving Earth without stepping off the planet. Learn More（https://white-desert.com/camps/echo-base）
[ 71º 31’ 37” S, 8º 51’ 20” E ] Explorer Camp Polar adventure meets chalet-style. True to our expeditionary roots, a rustic and warm base for the South Pole journey. Learn More（https://white-desert.com/camps/explorer-camp）
Other Trips
South Pole & Emperor Penguins
Our most popular itinerary which includes a journey to the South Pole and a visit to the Emperor Penguin colony.
Learn more（https://white-desert.com/stay/trips/south-pole-emperor-penguins）