Backcountry Skiing and Sailing in Antarctica

Things to know

• Covid measures in Ushuaia, Argentina and Antarctica

  57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

  We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Ushuaia, Argentina and Antarctica please refer to Argentina’s official COVID-19 Guidance and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 in Argentina.

  Seeing as Antarctica is an internationally administered region, it is subject to the entry rules of the country from which the continent is accessed, in this case Argentina.

  Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

• What’s included?

  What you get in this adventure:

  • • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Backcountry skiing tour in Antarctica
    • 2-day Antarctic Prep/Glacier Travel Clinic in Ushuaia
    • Presentations by Expedition Team and guest speakers
    • Expedition certificate
    • 3-nights pre-expedition shared hotel accommodation in Ushuaia, Argentina
    • Accommodation on the Ocean Diamond (pricing varies by room choice)
    • A continental breakfast in the room in Ushuaia
    • Group dinner in Ushuaia
    • Breakfast, lunch and dinner on board the Ocean Diamond
    • Group transfers from the hotel to the ship on embarkation and from the ship to the airport on disembarkation and all miscellaneous service taxes and port charges
    • Shore landings and Zodiac excursions as permitted by weather and local conditions
    • Photographic DVD chronicling the voyage
    • Comprehensive pre-departure information package
    • Use of a pair of rubber expedition boots on loan for shore landings (these will be returned at the end of voyage)
    • All group climbing gear (ropes, first aid kit, emergency communication device)

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to and from Ushuaia
    • Technical backcountry ski touring or trekking equipment
    • Any meals ashore (with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel and the welcome dinner on the evening prior to departure)
    • Baggage, cancellation and travel insurance
    • Mandatory emergency medical evacuation insurance
    • Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges onboard or at the hotel
    • Telecommunications charges
• How fit do I need to be?

  To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in very good physical shape. You will be on your feet for hours on end, covering lots of terrain every day. You will need to manage controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  To participate in this tour, you need to have previous backcountry skiing experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain every day. Your guide will take care of the planning, oversee your technique, and teach you how to better manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training necessary to keep you safe. You do not need to have glacier travel experience but it is a plus.

• What equipment do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins
    • Touring boots and poles
    • Intuition Mukluk Liner
    • Avalanche safety equipment:
      • Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
      • Lightweight snow shovel
      • Avalanche probe
      • Harness for glacier travel (for advanced touring)

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Helmet
    • Polarized sunglasses and ski goggles for the glacier
    • Wool or fleece hat
    • Face mask (neoprene works best)
    • Thermal and fleece balaclava
    • Fleece neck scarf
    • Thermal and fleece gloves
    • Thick wool and fur-lined mittens
    • Over-gloves
    • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Waterproof over-trousers (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Fleece pants
    • Thermal tights
    • Down jacket or vest
    • Down parka with hood
    • Thick fleece jacket
    • Sweatshirt or thinner micro-fleece jacket
    • Long sleeve thermal t-shirts
    • Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
    • Thin thermal socks
    • Warm socks
    • Regular walking shoes for prior and after the expedition
    • One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
    • Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
    • Water bottle and 2L of water
    • Thermos with a warm beverage
    • Food you can eat on-the-go
    • First aid kit
    • High index sunscreen and lip balm
    • Toiletries (pack towel, wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, anti-bacterial gel, lotion, contact lens solution, feminine products, etc.)
    • Personal first-aid kit (Band-Aids, super glue, blister kit, foot powder, tape, antiseptic, pain medication)
    • Pocket knife
    • Headlamp and spare batteries
    • 4-5 waterproof bags of different sizes to compartmentalize your belongings in your bag
    • Small quick-drying bath towel
    • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 35-40L backpack)
    • Solid waterproof bag or backpack (60-70 L)
    • Camera — optional
    • Spare contact lenses or prescription glasses — optional

  Your guide will provide a more detailed list of equipment after you’ve booked your trip.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing:

  • • For this adventure, the client-to-guide ratio is 4:1. All prices are per person.
    • Cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.
    • If joining alone, you’ll be placed with peers that share a similar level of experience.

  Ski touring in Antarctica can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.

  If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Ushuaia, most people fly into Aeropuerto Internacional de Ushuaia Malvinas Argentinas. From there, you can rent a car or take a taxi to get to town.

  Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet in Ushuaia. On Day 4, you’ll board the Ocean Diamond and head towards Antarctica. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  A 50% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies, and deposits are no longer refundable. The remaining 50% of the amount is paid the latest 3 months (90 days) prior to departure.

  In case you need to cancel the trip, the following cancellation costs would be incurred:

  • • If you cancel for any reason prior to 30 days before the expedition start, you may rebook a later date for 100% credit, subject to availability, or receive a refund minus a 5% cancellation fee
    • If you cancel for any reason less than 30 days before the expedition start date, the full trip amount will be forfeited. When a trip is booked, Indigo Alpine Guides immediately begin incurring expenses, including deposits for guides, huts, and transportation
    • Third-party expenses will be subject to their own cancellation policies

  All policies regarding cancellation will be clearly laid out by your guide after booking your adventure.

  If your guide cancels your expedition prior to its start due to natural disasters, hazardous weather conditions or other reasons of that nature, you may reschedule to a later date or receive a credit that never expires.

  If your guide cancels an expedition prior to its start for low enrollment, there are a few options:

  • • You may reschedule for a later date or receive a credit
    • You may pay a “guaranteed greenlight” rate, which allows the course to run for a significant discount off the private rate
    • You may receive a refund

  In the event that the minimum number of people to confirm the trip is not reached, Indigo Alpine Guides can cancel the departure. Please note the trips for 2022 are expected to reach the minimum number of people soon, and the likelihood of a trip not happening is very low.

  After departure, IAG reserves the right to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, to substitute hotels or leaders, to change any means of conveyance without notice and without allowance of refund, with liability for increased costs (if any) borne by the trek, course or expedition members.