Expeditions to the South Pole are tours in which enthusiastic extreme travelers who have enough financial means go (the cost of tours starts at $ 45,000).
Expedition tour to the South Pole
Going on an expeditionary tour to the South Pole, it is important to get medical insurance in the amount of $ 100,000-300,000. Since no Russian company provides insurance for such trips, it makes sense to contact an American company, for example, Tokio Marine HCC Medical Insurance Services Group.
Expedition tours, lasting from 7 days, are organized in December-January, when the Arctic summer is in full swing and the air temperature is about -22-26˚C. A more favorable climate at this time in the tent camps of the stations (outside -5-10˚C, and inside + 15˚C).
Unlike the North Pole, which can be reached by cruise ship, ski or helicopter, tourists arrive at the South Pole exclusively by air. Such flights are organized by two companies: the first company is engaged in the delivery of all comers from Punta Arenas to the American station "Union Glacier" on IL-76 (the flight will last 4.5 hours); the second carrier carries passengers from Cape Town to the Russian station "Novolazarevskaya" there is a Russian bath).
After 1-2 days, passengers are transported to the Amundsen Scott station (a tour of the station equipped with a shop, laundry, gym, canteen, music studio, greenhouse, hospital, post office, lasts several hours) on board BT-67 or DC aircraft -3, from where the South Pole is just a stone's throw away (about 100 m).
Extreme climbers can ski the last section of the route (22-111 km). They will have a 2 or 5-day hike with a stop in tents (provisions and equipment will have to be pulled along in a sleigh weighing 30 kg). In general, the combined tour "plane + ski" will last 12-15 days, and its cost, in comparison with the standard one, will increase to at least $ 10,000.
Those who come to the South Pole will see a pillar on which a mirror ball (its diameter is 30 cm) and flags of the countries that participated in the development of Antarctica are located around.
Six-day tour "Flight to the South Pole"
On the first day of the tour from Punta Arenas, tourists will be taken to the Union Glasher camp, where they will be met by expeditionary personnel and offered to satisfy their hunger with a welcome lunch, after which they will be accommodated in 2-person heated tents (they will be provided with a cot, a sleeping bag, an insulating mat, bed linen). Until nightfall, you can relax here passively or actively - admire the snow statues (the creator of them is the wind), go skiing, go to the icy lakes or get to the local mountains on snowmobiles.
Day 2-5 will be devoted to a flight to the South Pole (takes 6 hours) and a stopover in the Thiel mountains (refueling will take place here). Those who arrive at their destination will communicate with scientists and purchase souvenirs at the station. And those returning to Union Glasher will be greeted with a festive dinner. On the 6th day, there will be a flight to Punta Arenas.
The approximate cost of the tour is $ 48,100 / 1 person, which includes a briefing and breakfast before flying to the camp, transfers, flights within Antarctica, hot meals and services of staff and a doctor in the camp, a festive lunch and a certificate confirming that the tourist has reached the South Pole
Expedition to the South Pole "The Last Degree"
The tour program is identical to the previous one, only 111 km to the South Pole, the plane will land the travelers on a snowy plateau, after which they will have to cover 12-15 km of skiing every day (a day trip lasts 7-8 hours).
