During your stay in Antarctica, multiple days are available to explore Union Glacier. Meanwhile, meteorologists closely monitor the weather to determine the optimal day for a Scenic Flight.
A typical day begins with breakfast, followed by a meeting with the guide to discuss the day’s options and select an activity suited to the weather and group interests. Excursions may include the following destinations and activities:
Elephant’s Head
A ride in wheeled vehicles takes you to this striking marble buttress overlooking the blue-ice runway. Stunning ice formations and moraines provide endless photographic opportunities, from close-up frozen formations to wide-angle glacial landscapes. Hikers can trek up to the base of Elephant’s Head or ascend to the top of Rhodes Bluff for panoramic views of Union Glacier and the Heritage Range.
Rhodes Bluff and Fossil Garden
Geology enthusiasts can explore this ichnofossil hotspot. Experienced guides assist in navigating by GPS to known trace fossils or accompany those seeking to discover new ones.
Buchanan Hills
The custom-designed Tucker Bus, a tracked vehicle, transports you to the remote Buchanan Hills. Arriving at a high pass, you can see expansive views of Union Glacier flowing into Constellation Inlet. Higgins Nunatak pokes through the ice, resembling an atoll in a frozen ocean. Two easy hiking routes, requiring no prior experience, offer a rare opportunity to summit a peak in the heart of Antarctica.
Drake Icefall
Named after geologist Benjamin Drake IV in the 1960s, this impressive icefall cascades from the polar plateau into Union Glacier. Winds from the South Pole carve large waves into the blue ice and polish the surface to a high shine.
Charles Windscoop
Discover the power of wind on ice as you wander
through a sparkling turquoise corridor. Adventurers may try ice climbing with an experienced guide, while others can enjoy rock hunting, though all rocks must remain in place as nothing may be removed from Antarctica.
The Beach at Rossman Cove
This location offers another stunning setting for photography and panoramic views. Head out on cross-country skis and enjoy Antarctica’s version of a glacial beach getaway.
For those who prefer to stay closer to camp, various activities are available for all abilities. Cross-country skis or fat-tire bikes can be checked out for a spin around the groomed 10k loop. Alternatively, relax with a cup of tea, an Antarctic book, or a game in the camp library—lectures and films tailored to the Antarctic experience round out the camp activities.
When weather conditions allow, boarding a ski aircraft offers a bird’s-eye view of the stunning Ellsworth Mountains. Majestic peaks and nunataks emerge from the vast Antarctic ice, creating some of the continent’s most spectacular scenery. This 30-minute scenic flight provides a rare and unique perspective of a landscape seen by very few.
