Credit Dixie Dansercoer
Polar Expedition in Queen Maud Land – Antarctica
from £29,950
Flying in we arrive from Cape Town South Africa in the Russian Novo Airbase, Antarctica.
After checking our equipment we take our Basler plane to the magnificent region of the Drygalski Mountains, a 30 minutes flight to our camp, Wolf’s Fang. From there, we will stay for 7 days in an extraordinarily beautiful and wild polar environment.
We will not only be moving on foot, but by the wind equipped with our skis, sledges and kites!
It’s near Indlansis where we will be sure to do some kite skiing! Furthermore, we’ll also make a few climbs for some seriously unforgettable ski descents!
From our mobile base camp, we face an icy vastness, magnificent landscapes and purely impressive mountain ranges.
This unique experience is one of the best in Antarctica.
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- Style Type
- Cross-country-skiing
- Expedition
- Polar
- Secret Planet
-
- Level Moderate
- Group Size Small Group
All about the Polar Expedition in Queen Maud Land – Antarctica.
Queen Maud Land, is located in East Antarctica between the British territories to the West and the Australian territories to the East. It covers 2.7 million square kilometers and is named after Queen Maud (1869-1938), wife of King Haakon VII of Norway.
The ice sheet of Antarctica covers this area and a thick wall of ice extends along the coastline with ice cliffs of 20 to 30 meters making its access by the sea, called “Haakon VII”, complicated. We get there by air either through Troll Airfield, a nearby station, or through the Russian Novolazarevskaya Base, also known as Novo Airbase. The latter being the one we will most likely take.
Heading inland, the mountain ranges stand out of the ice sheet (Alt. 2,000 m.) and offer a favorable site for flora as well as migratory birds. Its highest point is Jøkulkyrkja 3,148 meters above sea level in the Mühlig-Hofmann Mountain chain. Among others are the little less high ranges of Heimefront in Orvin, Wohlthat and Sør Rondane mountains which are free of ice in the hinterland.
The shorelines called “Prince Olav Coast” and “Princess Ragnhild Coast” were discovered in 1930 by Norwegian aviation pioneers. It is the Norwegian Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen who explored this territory for the first time. Since 1961, Queen Maud Land is considered a de-militarized zone under the Antarctic Treaty, but it remains with Peter the First Island … one of the two territorial claims of Norway in Antarctica. Since 1939 it has been administered by the Norwegian Judiciary and Police Ministry’s Polar Department in Oslo.
The first scientific expedition within Queen Maud Land was a British-Swedish-and-Norwegian expedition that took place from 1949 to 1952. To date, there are twelve stations that can house up to 40 researchers depending on the season. Six of the stations are permanently occupied, the others being used in the Austral Summer.
During the Austral Winter, this land is plunged into the polar night. During the summer though, the sun is still low in the sky and most of the light that reaches the surface is reflected by the snow. This lack of heat lavished by the sun combined with the high altitude of the location (over 2,000 m above sea level) means that the temperature is still cold. In the middle of the Southern Summer, the average temperatures range between -10°C and -30°C.
The climate is typical to that of a genuine polar desert and the place receives virtually no rainfall (snow representing the equivalent of 70 mm of water). The air humidity is near zero. However, the winds can be strong.
We move on crampons on the “Blue Ice” with ice ripples that make progression difficult. Near the mountains, snow is sometimes hard, sometimes soft, and sometimes deep. We advance with skis on sealskins and kite-ski when the terrain and the wind are in our favour.
We will be located just 2,000 km from the South Pole. For polar experts and enthusiasts, this area is probably one of the best places ever.
The program is run by our trusted partners Expeditions Unlimited, who are part of the Secret Planet Group.
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.by GOV.UK on 06/03/2024 at 12:38 pm
The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
- Transfers as indicated in the program and in the “transfers/transportation” rubric. Accommodation as indicated in the program and in the “accommodation” rubric. Meals as indicated in the program and in the “nourishment” rubric. The guiding as listed in the program and in the “Your Guide” category. The equipment as indicated in the “equipment” category. The fees and permits for Antarctica. A travel folder made of recycled sailing materiel.
What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
- Everything that is not mentioned in “the price includes” rubric. All accompaniments, accommodation or meals mentioned “not included” in the program. Drinks and personal “extras”. The “single” supplement. Other supplements linked to a lower number of participants registered, your desire to “close / privatise” the group of participants, etc. The mandatory personal insurance.
Credit Dixie Dansercoer
Credit Dixie Dansercoer
Credit Dixie Dansercoer
Accommodation
Hotel in Cape Town is not included in this initial itinerary but can be arranged. We will be in heated containers at the campsite of Novo Airbase during Day 4 and in a guesthouse with showers for Days 13 and 14. We’ll be under tents during the rest of the expedition!!
This program is deemed “Moderate to Difficult” given the climatic and environmental conditions. Each participants pulls his/her sled, which can weigh nearly 30 kg at starting point of the expedition. Good physical and mental condition is necessary. It is not required to have any special technical skills, especially for handling sails, which will be tested prior to the start of the expedition. Some knowledge of the Great North and alpine hiking is naturally a plus. Each participant is responsible for enforcing safety rules, equipment and its maintenance, camp installation, meal preparation. Key to success and pleasure remains a collective and team spirit. Also, participating in the two- day preparation course is advisable, even more so for those who have no polar experience.
We fly with TAC (The Antarctic Company) from Cape Town, probably in a Ilyushin-76 or we could be flying in a chartered Gulfstream V, depending upon the number of participants and planes availability.
In Queen Maud Land, we shall fly in a Basler BT-67 plane from Novo airbase to Wolf’s Fang camp.
Hotel in Cape Town is not included in this initial itinerary but can be arranged. We will be in heated containers at the campsite of Novo Airbase during Day 4 and in a guesthouse with showers for Days 13 and 14. We’ll be under tents during the rest of the expedition.
We can arrange accommodation including meals for you in Cape Town.
All meals are included at the Novo Airbase campsite. During the expedition, the meals have been prepared in advance in dehydrated form. They give us all the calories required for the expedition all the while providing a balanced diet and taking into account the weight and simplicity of preparation. Any of your dietary needs will be respected.
You are accompanied by Dixie Dansercoer, one of the most experienced and highly regarded Polar guide and explorers in the world.
During the expedition, Dixie brings along his camera equipment resistant to the polar environment. He takes photographs and videos of the whole group and individually. Also, the participants will be able to go home with film reals and copyright-free pictures -subsequent to uses. This service is included in the price of the program. If the group exceeds 6 participants, Dixie will bring a co- guide with him to ensure safety.
The transfers (to or from) the airport are not included, but can be arranged.
The group is composed of 4 to 12 participants maximum. The number of participants is limited in order to optimize our chances of a nice and smooth expedition. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person who registers is travelling with another person who signed-up. The benefits will not be changed and the travel conditions will be identical.
Dixie has a satellite telephone, VHF radio, mountaineering safety equipment, a location beacon, GPS and other equipment necessary for a safe expedition. All collective logistical equipment is provided, including tents, mattresses, stoves, etc. Technical personal equipment can also be loaned to the participants (pulka sled, harness, sleeping bag, foldable chair, kitchen equipment, etc.). Other personal equipment (clothing, shoes) is not provided.
Visa’s are not required for citizens of the European Union and the Swiss. For other nationalities, check with your local consulate or embassy. Necessity of a passport valid 6 months after your return date.
We can assist you with any concerns that you may have and can organise anything that you may need.
Repatriation and health insurance is mandatory. Documentation must be presented upon registration for the program. Any health problems should be declared at the time of registration. Otherwise, any subsequent cancellation will not be refunded.
Allow yourself up to 15 kg, excluding your hand baggage, even if on most flights you will be entitled to 20 kg in the hold and 10kg in the cabin. There is no use for having too much clutter and too little available space to bring back memories. Warning, all extra bags and overweight will be charged directly by the airline company during the check-in. Finally, note that security checks have become very strict at the airport: put the knives, scissors, nail files in your checked bag, the same goes for bottles and tubes more than 100 ml.
BAGS AND STORAGE
- A large solid travel bag or backpack of 60 to 70 liters. This luggage must be waterproof (possibly use a slipcover).
- A small backpack of about 35 liters for your personal belongings. It will also serve you as hand luggage and cabin during flight.CLOTHESTechnical equipment is immutable! You must plan on several layers to add or remove depending on the temperature and your activity.A waterproof jacket like Gore-Tex
- A pair of waterproof over-trousers like Gore-Tex
A thick fleece jacket
A Sweatshirt or thinner micro-fleece jacket
̈ A pair of fleece pants
̈ Four long sleeve thermal t-shirts
̈ Two pairs of thermal tights
̈ Two pairs of thin thermal socks
̈ Three pairs of warm socks
̈ A thermal balaclava
̈ A fleece balaclava
̈ A fleece neck scarf
̈ Three pairs of thermal gloves
̈ Three pairs of fleece gloves
̈ A pair of thick wool mittens
̈ A pair of fur-lined mittens
̈ A pair of over-glovesPERSONAL EQUIPMENT & SHOES
̈ A pair of “Baffin” Polar Boots – Shackleton (possible to borrow for 250 euros)
̈ A pair of polarized sunglasses for the glacier
̈ A pair of waterproof tent booties for inside the tent
̈ A pair of waterproof shoes for outside the tenẗ A pair of regular walking shoes for priori and after the expedition
SMALL AND MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT
- ̈ Isothermal water bottle of 1,5 L (provided by Dixie)
- ̈ A pocket knife
- ̈ Three lighters
- ̈ Headlamp like Petzl® + spare batteries
- ̈ A pair of polarized sunglasses for the glacier
- ̈ Sunscreen (high index) + lip balm
- ̈ Four to five waterproof bags of different sizes to compartmentalize your belongings in your bag, which is handyWASHING̈ Travel case for personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
- ̈ A small bath towel which dries quickly
̈ Two toilet paper rolls
̈ Biodegradable wipes and paper handkerchiefs like Kleenex - ̈ A sewing kit with needles, son, buttons, safety pins, etc.
Be absolutely sure to take the prescriptions that you should always keep with you.
- ̈ Pain, fever: Ibuprofen
- ̈ Antibiotics: Pristinamycin (Pyostacine® 500 mg) (2 boxes per 1 treatment 8d), Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid(Augmentin®) 1g
- ̈ Analgesics: Paracetamol 500mg
- ̈ Corticosteroids: Solupred 20mg
- ̈ Antidiarrhoeals: Smecta (prepare a dozen bags), Intetrix (treatment of amoebiasis), Imodium
- ̈ Antiemetic, gastric dressings: Volagène, Phosphalugel®/Ulcar®, Domperidone, prinperan
- ̈ Antihistamines (for bites, skin rashes…): Zyrtec, Clarytine, Phenergan, Polaramine
- ̈ Antiseptics: Betadine, Biseptine
- ̈ Ointments: Niflugel, Voltarene (Anti-inflammatory), Arnigel (bruises)
- ̈ Sunscreen
- ̈ Biafine
- ̈ Powder Antimycotics (feet): Econazole, powder and ointment
- ̈ Eye Drops: Antibiotics, Anti-Irritation
- ̈ Set of adhesive bandages and some sterile gauze pads
- ̈ “Double skin” dressings for bulbs
- ̈ Elastic adhesive tape (like Elastoplast)
Permits
Before travelling to the British Antarctic Territory, and the wider continent of Antarctica, you may need a valid permit which your travel company may obtain from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London.
Passport validity
There are no specific passport validity requirements for the British Antarctic Territory, although to fly to the continent or to depart for the Antarctic from another country (e.g. Chile, Argentina) British nationals will need a valid passport.
Contact details
Government of the British Antarctic Territory Polar Regions Department, Overseas Territories Directorate, Foreign & Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH. Tel: 020 7008 1639 Email: polarregions@fco.gov.uk Office Hours (GMT): Mon-Fri: 9am – 5pm.
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