The allure of Antarctica continues to captivate travelers, with the frozen continent experiencing an all-time high in tourism. No longer reliant on the Antarctic Peninsula, which has become increasingly crowded, adventurous explorers are now flocking to East Antarctica, accessible from Australia or New Zealand.
For those willing to brave the long journey, rewards abound. Aurora Expeditions' purpose-built vessel, the Douglas Mawson, set sail for the first time in December 2025 on itineraries that mirrored Sir Douglas Mawson's historic 1911 expedition. Meanwhile, Scenic Tours is hosting a special voyage led by polar explorer Robert Swan in January 2026.
Traversing the open ocean and navigating through pack ice, travelers will encounter towering tabular icebergs and an unparalleled chance to witness emperor penguins in their natural habitat. Shore excursions offer a glimpse into the region's storied history, including visits to Cape Adare, home to over 330,000 breeding pairs of Adélie penguins, and the preserved huts of Shackleton, Scott, and Mawson, now serving as open-air museums.
For those seeking a more exclusive experience, White Desert is offering an ultra-luxury journey from Cape Town to Queen Maud Land. Guests will arrive at a private blue-ice runway, where three intimate camps – Whichaway, Echo, and Wolf's Fang – accommodate just 12 travelers each. The seven-day itinerary includes South Pole flights, ice climbing, and champagne in a glacier bar, all for an impressive $70,000 per person.
With fewer than 500 people visiting the South Pole annually, this is an exclusive opportunity to experience one of the most remote and inhospitable regions on Earth. Travelers willing to take the plunge will be rewarded with experiences that few others can claim – a true adventure in one of the world's most majestic landscapes.
For those willing to brave the long journey, rewards abound. Aurora Expeditions' purpose-built vessel, the Douglas Mawson, set sail for the first time in December 2025 on itineraries that mirrored Sir Douglas Mawson's historic 1911 expedition. Meanwhile, Scenic Tours is hosting a special voyage led by polar explorer Robert Swan in January 2026.
Traversing the open ocean and navigating through pack ice, travelers will encounter towering tabular icebergs and an unparalleled chance to witness emperor penguins in their natural habitat. Shore excursions offer a glimpse into the region's storied history, including visits to Cape Adare, home to over 330,000 breeding pairs of Adélie penguins, and the preserved huts of Shackleton, Scott, and Mawson, now serving as open-air museums.
For those seeking a more exclusive experience, White Desert is offering an ultra-luxury journey from Cape Town to Queen Maud Land. Guests will arrive at a private blue-ice runway, where three intimate camps – Whichaway, Echo, and Wolf's Fang – accommodate just 12 travelers each. The seven-day itinerary includes South Pole flights, ice climbing, and champagne in a glacier bar, all for an impressive $70,000 per person.
With fewer than 500 people visiting the South Pole annually, this is an exclusive opportunity to experience one of the most remote and inhospitable regions on Earth. Travelers willing to take the plunge will be rewarded with experiences that few others can claim – a true adventure in one of the world's most majestic landscapes.
And Antarctica is like, the ultimate destination for those who are really down for an adventure. I mean, $70k per person for a private blue-ice runway and champagne in a glacier bar? 
That's some serious luxury travel right there! But at the same time, it's so cool to see people making this kind of investment into exploring our planet and its most remote corners. And can you imagine witnessing emperor penguins up close? 
Like, that's just a dream come true for any wildlife enthusiast! I'm definitely intrigued by White Desert's ultra-luxury journey – but also kinda jealous that I couldn't afford it lol. Maybe one day I'll make the trip out there and experience it for myself... until then, I'll just have to keep on dreaming of those towering tabular icebergs 
. And what's up with all these luxury camps? Don't get me wrong, it sounds nice and all, but isn't the point of visiting Antarctica to rough it a bit? I mean, emperor penguins are already doing their thing without our help, right? 
But at the same time, I'm also thinking... shouldn't we be leaving this frozen continent alone? I mean, it's getting super crowded already, and we're talking about all these adventurers showing up with their fancy ships and whatnot. Don't get me wrong, it's cool that people want to experience this place, but don't they think we should prioritize preserving the environment and stuff? 
It's just so... Instagrammable. But is it worth the $70k price tag? 
I mean, that's like, totally out of my league. Unless... unless I want to be one of those super exclusive, über-adventurous types, in which case, bring on the ice climbing and South Pole flights! 
With all the options available now, it's super accessible and I think more people should give it a shot. Like, have you seen those emperor penguin spots? Mind blown! 
The White Desert journey sounds like a real luxury getaway too - who wouldn't want champagne in a glacier bar? 
I'm so stoked about these new Antarctica tours! Like, who wouldn't want to see emperor penguins and explore this crazy beautiful continent? 
I've always been fascinated by history, and visiting Shackleton, Scott, and Mawson's huts is like stepping into a time machine. 
And can we talk about how cool it would be to stay in these private camps with only 12 people? 
It's like having your own personal adventure team! 
The $70k price tag is steep, but I get why – this is an experience for the truly adventurous and wealthy. 
. And what's the deal with having so few people visiting the South Pole each year? Is it because it's hard to get there or something? I guess if you're into extreme adventures, Antarctica might be the place to go 
. But for me, I'll stick to more affordable (and warmer) vacations 
.
I think it's fascinating how humanity is drawn to Antarctica, this unforgiving yet breathtaking environment. The allure lies not just in witnessing incredible natural wonders but also in following in the footsteps of legendary explorers like Shackleton and Mawson. These expeditions cater to a niche audience, offering an unparalleled chance to disconnect from modern life and reconnect with nature's raw power.
. Nevertheless, for travelers willing to take the plunge, it's an opportunity to experience one of the world's most majestic landscapes in a truly unique way.
. What's next? Private jet to the moon?! 
.
just saw the pics from those Antarctica tours, it's like a scene from a horror movie... towering tabular icebergs and pack ice everywhere... and all for 70k 
! But, I gotta ask, $70k per person for an ultra-luxury journey? 
. And who knows, maybe one day we'll have more accessible routes to Antarctica 
?
. And I get it, who wouldn't wanna see those emperor penguins up close? 
.
! It's like they're saying, "Hey, we know it's harsh and remote, but come on down and let's make some cash!" But seriously, $70,000 for a 7-day adventure? That's just ridiculous 
.
. But can we please just have a more level playing field here? Let everyone experience this incredible landscape, regardless of their bank account 
I'm low-key surprised by how much demand there is for Antarctic tours, considering it's literally the coldest place on Earth. Like, people are really willing to shell out $70k to go on an ice-climbing, champagne-sipping adventure 
. It's wild that White Desert can offer a private blue-ice runway and camps for just 12 travelers - talk about exclusivity! 
. The idea of visiting those preserved huts where Shackleton, Scott, and Mawson spent time is so cool - you can really feel the history and adventure vibes when you step foot on that ice 
Those icebergs are massive and we need to make sure we're not disturbing the emperor penguins' habitats. And 70k for a luxury trip?