Follow in the footsteps of Antarctica’s great adventurers

Antarctica has become a bucket-list destination for world travellers. But journeying from the South Pole to the unforgiving Ross Sea, tracing the trail of explorers Sir Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen, is a much more exclusive proposition. “No one has ever flown across Antarctica to join a yacht on the Ross Sea because of its harshness and extreme remoteness,” says Rob McCallum, co-founder of EYOS Expeditions, which designed the 15-day journey for Robb Report readers. “It’s as hard-core as Antarctica can get,” he adds, quipping that the more typical itinerary to the peninsula, 20 degrees north, is like a holiday on the Riviera.

A few highlights of the adventure: landing by private jet on a blue-ice runway at Union Glacier, flying on a ski-equipped Basler aircraft to the geographic South Pole and then taking the plane to Ross Sea, where an expedition superyacht will meet the party to explore the world’s most remote ocean. Victoria Land’s dramatic coastal mountains and the ice floes, whale pods, seal herds and penguin colonies define the land- and sea-scape. “The trip will be a combination of yacht-based cruising, snow-shoeing, hiking, sightseeing from a helicopter and seeing the water by Zodiac,” says McCallum. “It’s a nice combination of luxury and exploration.” Guests will even drop by Shackleton’s hut in Cape Royds – built in 1908 during his penultimate expedition and still in its original state, thanks to the cold, dry climate – and catch a glimpse of the book he left by his bed.

Superyacht choice will depend on expedition timing; most have submersibles for underwater exploration. “It’s so remote we definitely won’t see anyone else,” says McCallum. “But that’s part of the appeal.”

US$5.2 million for 12 guests; info@eyos.com