South Pole All the Way
The full journey across Antarctica to the Geographical South Pole
A FULL JOURNEY ACROSS THE CONTINENT
To ski from the shelf — outside the continent line — across roughly 1,000 km of gradually higher, colder, ever harsher ice, is a challenge unlike anything else. Physically it is daunting. But the zen-like, plain, almost non-nature of these snowfields turns the months into an inner journey too. Something that strengthens and enlightens you, and goes on evolving in you for years after.
Arriving at the Geographical South Pole is like stumbling across a station in space. The continent has witnessed huge drama and endeavour. As a place, it is outstanding and different in every way. As a challenge, it is a mix of fighting the elements, enduring physically, and surviving mentally.
Few goals will give you a better read on yourself, or greater satisfaction.
Duration: [TBC] days on the ice — typically 50–60 days from coast to Pole
Distance: Approximately 1,130 km on skis with pulks (from Hercules Inlet — confirm if you use a different start)
Group size: [TBC] — typically 1–2 guides and a small team
Departure point: Punta Arenas, Chile — flight to Union Glacier, then onward to the start
End point: Geographical South Pole (90°S), flight out via Union Glacier to Punta Arenas
Dates: Antarctic summer, November–January [TBC for next season]
Price: [TBC] (deposit [TBC])
EXPEDITION FACTS
Expedition Details
The route runs from the Antarctic coast to 90°S. The first weeks are the heaviest — a full sled, the climb up onto the plateau, crevassed sections to navigate. The middle weeks are the long grind across the polar plateau, where the surface becomes harder and the sastrugi more punishing. The last weeks bring altitude, cold, and the strange thinning of the air at the Pole.
We ski with pulks the whole way. No resupply, no support — you carry everything you need from the start. Tents at night, stove going for water and food, navigation by GPS with compass back-up. Days are long, often 8 to 10 hours of skiing, sometimes more. Rest days are rare and earned.
This is the trip Børge knows better than anyone, and the lessons from his solo crossings sit inside how we run it. We keep teams small. We are honest about what the trip costs in body and mind. And we put real weight on preparation — see below.
The Route
SIGNING UP / DEPOSIT / INVOICE
A trip of this scale needs early commitment — both for ALE logistics and for the preparation programme. Get in touch and we'll talk through fit, timing, and the next steps. Once we've agreed you're on the trip, we send a deposit invoice — non-refundable per our Travel Conditions. The remaining balance is invoiced on a schedule we set together, given how far out the booking sits.