WHITE DESERT ANTARCTICA LAUNCH 'ECHO' CAMP

WHITE DESERT ANTARCTICA LAUNCH 'ECHO' CAMP // A new camp inspired by astronauts and used by explorers- Pioneers of luxury travel in Antarctica, White Desert, announce the details of their new camp, Echo, which will be launching in November 2022. The land of snow and ice, Antarctica provides an alluring backdrop for its guests. Inspired by the seminal age of Space exploration, Echo will provide exclusive access to the rarely seen interior of the Continent.

The stylish, modern new eco-camp will feature six heated, cutting-edge bedroom ‘sky pods’ complete with expansive floor to ceiling windows commanding views of the dramatic landscape beyond. Crafted from composite fiberglass, each of the space-inspired sky pods will be designed for two guests, with interiors featuring retro space-age detailing and luxurious furnishings. Original photos taken from the International Space Station (ISS) by former Commander, White Desert guest and retired astronaut, colonel Terry Virts will be featured in each pod. Says Virts of the Echo landscape, “The mountains are the most beautiful I have seen across Earth, Venus and Mars.” The camp will also offer a central lounge area, dining and heated shower pods.

 

As with all their camps, White Desert has designed Echo to be dismantled without a trace, leaving no more than a transitory impact on Antarctica.

 

Futuristic in design, Echo has been created especially for clients who’ve travelled the globe in style and understand the privilege of effecting positive change through travel. Perfect for exclusive use groups, Echo caters for up to 12 guests. Echo allows guests to combine an ultra-luxury experience with a once in lifetime adventure. An experienced team of chefs, hosts and expert guides allows guests to relax or explore at their leisure. Guests of Echo will step from the plane and be escorted to a private lounge where a martini, shaken with 10,000 year old ice, will be waiting.

 

Guests will have access to all White Desert activities, which include fat biking, skiing, skidooing and 4x4 Arctic Truck driving as well as expertly guided hiking, ice-climbing and mountaineering. Antarctic interior highlights such as visiting Atka Bay to see the 28,000 strong Emperor Penguin colony or a bucket-list journey to the South Pole are also on offer.

 

HOW: Prices start from $780,000 for an exclusive group of 12 pax or $65,000pp for FIT guests for a 5-day tour and includes return flights & transfers from Cape Town to Antarctica, all accommodation, food & beverages and activities around camp. White Desert Antarctica have pledged to use $1,000 per person per trip on their conservation, community and sustainability initiatives.

About White Desert:

White Desert was established by record-breaking polar explorer duo Patrick and Robyn Woodhead in 2005. Born out of a desire to allow people other than scientists and polar explorers to see the wonders of the interior of Antarctica, the company has been established for 16 years and now employs 80 people from 17 different nationalities. Winner of 5 World Travel Awards, the company is the only operator to fly guests out of South Africa to the Continent.

 

Since White Desert’s inception in 2005, it has recognised the importance of offsetting its carbon emissions and fully offsets its operations through a number of accredited renewable projects. Founded with environmentally conscious principles at its core, White Desert was the first operator to build a luxury camp and to pioneer the use of private jet travel in Antarctica. Carbon neutral since 2007, the company has diversified over the last two years and now also uses its planes to transport scientists to their Antarctic research stations.

 

In 2021 the company signed up to Glasgow Declaration and in line with the UK Net Zero target, White Desert aims to replace all Jet A-1 fuel it uses in Antarctica with SAF over the next 3-5 years. For more on White Desert’s sustainability and environmental policy please click here.