Travelers Can Fly to Antarctica and Visit 20,000 Penguins for a Pretty Penny
The travel arrangement company White Desert has created a new experience that will fly travelers into the interior of Antarctica, where they can visit a colony of more than 20,000 birds.
The company is getting some new attention after Lindblad Expeditions announced on Sept. 15 that it acquired a 60% stake in White Desert and aviation company Echo Charlie for about $61 million. White Desert will continue to operate as a stand-alone brand.
Instead of taking a cruise across the Drake Passage, guests start in Cape Town, South Africa. From there, White Desert takes them on a 5.5-hour flight to Antarctica, where the plane lands on a blue-ice runway.
White Desert offers several trips, including one focused on emperor penguin chicks and another that takes guests to the Geographic South Pole. The six-day Baby Penguins & Blue Tunnels trip currently starts at $65,000 per person for the 2026-27 season.
You Can See Thousands of Emperor Penguins
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On the third day of the Baby Penguins & Blue Tunnels trip, guests fly across the ice shelf to the emperor penguin colony at Atka Bay. White Desert says the colony includes thousands of adult penguins and newly hatched chicks.
The flight to Atka Bay takes about 2.5 hours. Early-season trips are timed so guests can see the chicks while they are still young and taking their first steps away from their parents.
The Trip Gets Even More Expensive
The $65,000 price is for guests staying at Explorer Camp. The same Baby Penguins & Blue Tunnels trip costs $75,250 per person with a stay at Whichaway Camp or Echo Base.
Travelers who also want to visit the South Pole can book the eight-day South Pole & Penguins trip. For the 2026-27 season, it costs $95,000 with Explorer Camp or $115,500 with Whichaway Camp or Echo Base.
Weather Can Change the Plans
Traveling to Antarctica also means you have to be flexible. White Desert says weather conditions can change the order of activities and flight departure times.
The company asks guests to arrive in Cape Town at least two days before their scheduled trip and leave two extra days after returning from Antarctica in case weather causes delays. Guests also need travel insurance and a medical check before the trip.
