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ANTARCTICA

Polar Pioneers Challenge

Journey from Union Glacier into the wilderness of the Heritage Mountain Range to summit a pristine Antarctic peak.

Polar Pioneers Challenge

Foundations programme

The complete programme to prepare you psychologically, physiologically and nutritionally to succeed on your Challenge.

Polar Pioneers Challenge

Historical Beginnings

Punta Arenas is a place steeped in Antarctic and maritime history where the challenge starts. Sir Ernest Shackleton used the city as headquarters to plan the remarkable rescue of his Endurance crew stranded on Elephant Island. His legend endures throughout the history of this city.

Polar Pioneers Challenge

Experience Antarctica HQ

Union Glacier is the central hub for an extraordinary blend of people all with their own incredible story. In this unique place, you'll share days and dinners with expedition teams, explorers, film-makers and scientists fulfilling their own purposeful missions.

Polar Pioneers Challenge

All-Inclusive Expedition

Benefit from the ultimate expedition piece of mind as from the moment you touch down in Punta Arenas, everything you need is taken care of.

Polar Pioneers Challenge

Multi-Environment Experience

The special combination of polar and mountain environments provides a fulfilling and challenging expedition.

Polar Pioneers Challenge

Unclimbed Peaks

This is an opportunity to do something truly unique as you summit mountains that have never been touched by human beings before.

Write your own chapter in the pioneering history of Antarctica on this unique Shackleton Challenge. Launching from our HQ at Union Glacier, you will ski-travel or skidoo into the Heritage Range which forms the Southern region of the highest mountain range in Antarctica, the Ellsworth Mountain system. The stunning topography consists of ridges, peaks, escarpments and nunataks within a network of intervening glaciers. Led by our world-class team of expert polar and mountaineering guides, you will enjoy a multi-day ski journey following a majestic route into the heart of the mountains. With ice couloirs, classic ridge traverses, rock pyramids and hidden valleys, the Heritage range offers a Challenge to suit any climber’s level of experience. It is here where we will transition into mountaineering mode and you will make an ascent of a peak in the area. Once descended, you will journey back to Union Glacier by ski or skidoo. This is a truly remarkable Challenge, combining two expedition experiences into one compelling adventure.

  • Discover (L1): Learn fundamental skills that enable you to operate in extreme environments
  • Explore (L2): Develop your capability with longer, more demanding and self-sufficient expeditions Pioneer
  • Pioener (L3): Create your own chapter in the history of exploration with long-range expeditions along untrodden paths
  • 1: Ability to hike for a day of 6 hours with a backpack
  • 2: Ability to hike for 4 consecutive days of 6 hours with a backpack
  • 3: Ability to hike for over one week in consecutive days of 6 hours with a backpack
  • 1. No experience required
  • 2. Foundational Challenge specific skills required
  • 3. Advanced Challenge specific skills required

Included

  • Foundations: Expedition Preparation Programme- Challenge-Specific Expedition Equipment (Loan):
  1. Pulk Jacket & 800-fill Down Jacket
  2. Skis, Pulks
  3. Crampons, harness, helmet, ropes
  4. Camping Gear: Tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, expedition rations
  • Accommodation, Travel & Logistics during the Challenge

Not Included

  • Return flights to start destination
  • Expedition Kit List
  • Personal Insurance

SHACKLETON DESIGN & MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD (“Shackleton”) BOOKING CONDITIONS 

These Booking Conditions (“Booking Conditions”), together with our Privacy Policy, Acknowledgment of Risk form and any other written information we brought to your attention before we confirmed your booking, form the basis of your contract with Shackleton of Flint Buildings, 1 Bedding Lane, Norwich NR3 1RG with company number: 07169051 (“Shackleton” “we”, “us”, “our”). Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations. In these Booking Conditions references to "you" and "your" include the first named person on the booking and all persons on whose behalf a booking is made or any other person to whom a booking is added or transferred.

$193,805.00

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Polar Pioneers Challenge
Polar Pioneers Challenge
Polar Pioneers Challenge

“The journey is as much inward as it is outward.”

"At the end of this experience I truly felt as if I had conquered a side of myself that didn’t believe intense physical challenges were something for me."

“It was probably the best experience of my life so far."

Equip yourself for the Polar Pioneers Challenge