Upon arrival at the Punta Arenas Airport, meet your seasoned Mt. Vinson climbing/mountaineering guide. Spend your first day settling into your accommodation and soaking up the stunning surroundings of Punta Arenas, the southernmost large city globally. The following day, dive into an in-depth gear check, ensuring that you are adequately equipped for the upcoming Antarctic expedition.
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Embark on an epic expedition spanning over two weeks and ascend the mighty Mount Vinson in Antarctica. Starting in Punta Arenas, Chile you'll fly to Union Glacier, Antarctica. From there, the adventure continues to Vinson Base Camp, culminating at the continent's highest point before returning to your starting point. This comprehensive package includes everything you need, from accommodation in Punta Arenas to flights, meals, permits, fees, and group gear, allowing for an unforgettable journey with all the details seamlessly taken care of.
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Please keep in mind that this itinerary is not set in stone. Due to extreme climate conditions in Antarctica, itinerary is subject to change. Variations may include prolonged stays at specific locations, thus extending the expedition’s duration. This is accounted for with the added “weather contingency days,” but in the event of favorable conditions, the itinerary may be slightly shorter, whereas challenging weather may cause an extension of your journey.
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Embark on a remarkable journey from Punta Arenas, Chile, to the pristine landscapes of Union Glacier, Antarctica. This approximately 4-hour flight will transport you to the Blue Ice Runway, where you will be greeted by spacious transport vehicles for a short 3-mile drive to Union Glacier Camp.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
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From Union Glacier Camp, board Twin Otter airplanes for an awe-inspiring flight to the Vinson Base Camp (VBC). Nestled on the western slopes of Mount Vinson, the Vinson Base Camp sits at an elevation of approximately 7,000 ft (2,133 m).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Today you’ll go on a journey from VBC to Low Camp, covering around 5.5 miles (8.8 km) with an elevation gain of just over 2,000 ft (609 m). This day’s adventure spans 4 to 6 hours and includes pulling sleds across a gently ascending glacier with some crevassing.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Today’s objective involves transporting food and fuel to the High Camp, ensuring more manageable loads on the move day and aiding acclimatization. Ascend the fixed ropes, covering approximately 3,500 ft (1,067 m) of elevation gain, with slopes reaching a maximum angle of 45 degrees. The terrain features some rocky sections but primarily consists of snow and ice.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Prepare for an exhilarating transition as you pack up and journey to the High Camp. Expect this day to span 6 to 8 hours. Upon reaching the summit of the fixed lines, retrieve your cache from the previous day and transport everything to the High Camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Following the strenuous move to the High Camp, relish a well-deserved rest day. Nestled at 12,500 ft (3,810 m), take the opportunity to prepare yourself mentally and physically for the impending summit day.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Summit Day promises an epic ascent, encompassing 3,700 ft (1,128 m) of vertical gain over 4.25 miles (6.8 km). This round trip, spanning approximately 8 to 12 hours, commences with a gradual ascent up a broad valley, eventually culminating in a steeper slope of around 40 degrees. At the summit ridge, marvel at the breathtaking views before reaching the summit itself at 16,160 ft (4,928 m).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Today, you will descend from the High Camp to the Vinson Base Camp, dedicating 4 to 5 hours to this effort. Settle into your camp and take some more rest after a successful (and strenuous) ascent.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Bid farewell to the Vinson Base Camp as you embark on a flight back to the Union Glacier Camp. Upon your return to the semi-civilization, celebrate your successful ascent of Mt. Vinson with fellow adventurers and your guide.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Antarctica’s unforgiving environment demands flexibility. These additional days in the itinerary provide necessary buffer time for unforeseen circumstances.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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After breakfast, bid Antarctica adieu and board a flight back to Punta Arenas. If you still have the energy, explore the city’s vibrant streets, bars, and restaurants alongside fellow adventurers and your guide, making the most of your last day in this unique location.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Enjoy a final breakfast in Punta Arenas before departing for your journey home, brimming with cherished memories and a profound sense of accomplishment. Bid farewell to your fellow travelers, guide, and the beautiful landscapes of Chile—or continue touring on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
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What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced, ACMG and IFMG-certified mountaineering/rock climbing/backcountry skiing guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 12-day expedition in Antarctica, involving the Mount Vinson ascent
- Hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas before and after the expedition (2 nights before and 1 night after)
- Icelandic Air flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to Union Glacier, Antarctica
- Twin Otter flight from Union Glacier to Vinson Base Camp
- All meals in Antarctica
- Liability insurance
- Permits and fees
- Group gear
What’s not included:
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- Personal technical mountaineering gear
- Airfare to Punta Arenas
- Visa fees
- Meals before arriving in Antarctica and upon return in Punta Arenas
- Extra nights in hotels
- Single room supplements
- Expenses incurred in rescue or early departure (travel and rescue insurance are highly recommended)
- Guide gratuities — optional
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To enjoy this Mt Vinson guided mountaineering trip, you need to be in excellent physical shape. During this expedition, you’ll experience varying durations of activity, ranging from 4 hours on easier days to 12 hours on the summit day. Terrain conditions can be demanding, with rapid elevation changes, such as ascending 3,700 feet in just 4.25 miles on the summit day.
Basic mountaineering skills, including knowing how to use an ice axe, familiarity with crampon techniques, and a grasp of basic rock climbing techniques, are recommended. It is also vital to maintain an active lifestyle, engaging in physical activities involving both strength training and aerobic exercise regularly, at least 2-3 times a week, and often including the weekends.
Climbing Mount Vinson doesn’t demand advanced mountaineering expertise and is generally not highly technical. However, you will traverse rugged terrain, often carrying a heavy pack. Extreme conditions, including exceptionally low temperatures and swiftly changing weather, ranging from pleasant (with the right clothing!) to extremely harsh, are to be expected. It’s worth mentioning that the success rate exceeds 90%, and you’ll always have an expert guide ensuring safety and providing logistical support, the lack of which presents the biggest obstacle for a successful Mount Vinson ascent. With expert guidance and all the logistics ensured, even moderate mountaineers and climbers can ascend Mount Vinson successfully.
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For technical mountaineering gear, it is essential to bring:
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- Ski poles (three-section collapsible poles with necessary snow baskets)
- Ice axe (a size-appropriate modern mountaineering ice ax)
- Crampons (ensure a good fit with your boots, with horizontal front points and anti-balling plates)
- Alpine climbing harness (a modern alpine harness with gear loops and a belay loop)
- Mechanical ascender (used for ascending fixed lines — recommended)
- Belay device (a basic tube-style device that can accept various rope diameters)
- 4 Locking carabiners (large pear-shaped auto lockers are preferred)
- 6 Standard carabiners (light and modern wire gate carabiners are preferred)
- 30 feet of cord (6mm) (this cord is essential, but rescue prussik’s or slings can be used in place of some of it)
For footwear, it is essential to bring:
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- Mountain boots (warm, high-altitude mountaineering boots sized up at least half a size from street shoes)
- Camp boot (warm winter boots for flights and Union and Base Camps)
- Down booties
- Socks (4-5 pairs of medium-weight wool or synthetic socks)
For gloves, it is essential to bring:
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- 2 Pairs of liner gloves (thin enough to fit inside expedition gloves or mittens)
- Mid-weight insulated gloves (well-fitting gloves with light insulation, good dexterity, and leather palms)
- Expedition gloves (well-insulated, water-resistant gloves with leather palms)
- Insulated mittens
For headwear, it is essential to bring:
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- Sun fat (that fits under your helmet)
- Beanie (a mid to lightweight beanie)
- Facemask (it should cover your entire face when wearing goggles)
- Lightweight neck gaiter
- Sun glasses (CAT 3-4 full coverage sunglasses)
- Goggles (goggles with changeable lenses for varying light conditions are recommended)
For upper body clothes, it is essential to bring:
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- Hardshell jacket (lightweight, fully waterproof with a hood)
- Soft shell jacket (wind and water-resistant, suitable for everyday wear)
- Lightweight puffy (a lightly insulated synthetic puffy)
- Down parka (light-construction 800-fill down jacket with a hood)
- Base layers (a light and midweight base layer for versatility)
- Synthetic hoodie (any non-cotton layer for approaches and added insulation)
For lower body clothes, it is essential to bring:
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- Hard shell pants (consider a light and a waterproof option for versatility)
- Bottom base layer (have at least two pairs of bottom base layers)
- Insulated pants (insulated pants for added warmth)
For personal gear, it is essential to bring:
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- Climbing pack (70-100 L backpack, lightweight and climbing-specific)
- Cache bag (35-L waterproof bag for caching personal gear)
- Large sled duffel (used on your sled for personal and group gear)
- Sleeping bag: (-20°C or warmer degree sleeping bag)
- Sleeping pads (an insulated blow-up pad and a closed-cell foam pad)
- Pee bottle (wide-mouth with one-liter capacity at the least)
- Water bottle and thermos (oth a water bottle and a hydration system are recommended)
- Cup, spoon, and bowl (a mug for hot drinks, a bowl for meals, and utensils for eating)
- Personal electronics (camera, headphones, phone, external battery, small solar panel, etc.)
Please note that sourcing most of these items in Punta Arenas for purchase or rental can be challenging. If you require rental of technical equipment or other listed items, we strongly advise securing them before your journey to Punta Arenas, either in Santiago de Chile or in your home country. Upon booking, your guide will provide ample opportunity to discuss gear and rental choices in detail. You can also contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For this group adventure, the usual (and maximum) client-to-guide ratio is 4:1.
- It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate.
- The cost is per person and doesn’t decrease as the group grows.
Climbing and skiing Mt Vinson can be arranged for private and larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors are not permitted to join this Mt Vinson ski mountaineering adventure.
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to Punta Arenas, Chile most people fly into Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport, which is 30 minutes away. Please note that international flights to Punta Arenas are limited and thet you will likely first have to fly into Santiago de Chile Airport.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary and your flight is confirmed, your guide will suggest the best time to meet you at the airport. Airport transfer to your hotel is included.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency rescue and travel insurance. With rescue insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
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