Ever wanted to ski in Antarctica?
Here's your chance, as Aurora Expeditions adds ski touring and snowshoeing to its 2017/18 expedition cruising season.
Aurora Expeditions has expanded its Antarctic activities for the 2017/18 season with the introduction of ski touring and snowshoeing.
Antarctic ski touring will offer the experienced (and bold) the opportunity to ski near-virgin glacial slopes, traverse remote areas to iceberg-studded bays, see penguin rookeries and breaching whales in hard-to-access locations, and even follow in Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps across South Georgia.
The skiing won’t be without its challenges, as snow conditions are unpredictable and terrain can include crevassed glaciers and alpine bowls.
Skiers will travel in small groups with experienced mountain ski guides. They'll learn mountaineering and ski touring skills such as ice axe and crampon use, roped glacier travel, avalanche procedures and emergency shelter construction.
A physically gentler option is snowshoeing. The most efficient way to travel across the snow, it’s straightforward to learn and far easier than walking in boots. Guests will be off after half-an-hour's training by an expert guide.
Expeditions last for up to three hours, so a reasonable level of fitness is necessary. As with ski touring, the aim is for six excursions or more per voyage, depending on the weather and landing sites.
(Image at top by Elena Wimberger.)
Fact File
- The two new activities are available on selected 2017/18 itineraries, including the In-depth South Georgia and Antarctica and Spirit of Antarctica expeditions. Departing on November 27 and December 16, fares start from $US8900 ($11,706) per person.
- Ski touring is from an additional $US900 per person and snowshoeing from an additional $US250 per person.
- For more information on the new activities and others such as polar snorkelling and diving, sea kayaking, camping and mountaineering, see Aurora Expeditions' new Active Antarctica Guide.
- For more, phone (02) 9252 1033, email info@auroraexpeditions.com.au or visit auroraexpeditions.com.au.
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