Take a luxury expedition vacation to Antarctica

by Kraig Becker on

For many adventure travelers (myself included!), Antarctica is the ultimate destination. it is one of the most remote, and untouched, places on the planet, and about as far as you can get from a well trammeled tourist path. Most journeys to the frozen continent come via a cruise ship that skirts the Antarctic coastline, allowing visitors to go ashore in just a few, very select, places. But for those of us who dream of walking in the footsteps of Robert Falcon Scott or his rival Roald Amundsen, there are few opportunities available to visit the actual frozen interior of the continent. A place that is as wild, and remote, as any on Earth.

That will change later this year when Kensington Tours, one of the best adventure travel companies on the planet, launches several amazing new luxury options that will take travelers to the very heart of Antarctica. These tours are only made possible thanks to Kensington’s own private camp, which sits perched atop a 200 foot icefall. This one-of-a-kind place will allow travelers to experience the Antarctic like never before, serving as a base of operations that features six sleeping tents, as well two large dome tents that play home to the kitchen, dining facilities, a library, and more. The heated sleeping tents are shared by just two occupants, ensuring that this is an intimate and unique experience for everyone who makes the journey.

The camp, which is only accessible via a private jet from Cape Town, South Africa, offers up some amazing adventure opportunities for travelers. While staying there, visitors will have the chance to kite ski, go rock and ice climbing, as well as abseil into a crevasse. They’ll also be able to hop into a 4×4 and drive to the coastal ice barrier or visit a nearby research station. Other highlights include a flight to the South Pole and a visit to a colony of Emperor Penguins that number 12,000 strong.

Kengsington has several pre-arranged tours available ranging from a one day trip that departs on November 29, and runs $9635, to a full 11-day expedition with departures on the 19th and 29th of November, that will set you back $48,075. The expert adventure travel consultants at Kensington can also arrange custom made Antarctic itineraries for you as well, merging in the best elements of this remote frontier and giving you an unbelievable trip of a lifetime.

For more details on these itineraries, and more, click here.

[Photo credit: Kensington Tours]

Daily Pampering: “Rough it” in a luxury tent with Thomas Keneally

by Annie Scott on


Renowned Australian author Thomas Keneally (best known for Schindler’s Ark, which served as the basis for a little movie called Schindler’s List) is heading to Longitude 131, a luxury tented camp near Uluru July 9-11, and you can be among the lucky few who get to meet him and share stories around the (luxury) campfire.

Frontiers Elegant Journeys has put this unique experience together, to be enjoyed as a simple two-night all-inclusive holiday ($4,920 per person, based on double occupancy), or as the climax of a larger “Elegant Journey,” like a trek through the Outback or Tasmania, or the Daintree Rainforest or Great Barrier Reef. During your stay at Longitude 131, you’ll have the opportunity to get tips on storytelling and writing from Keneally himself, discover the history and traditions of the local indigenous people, and enjoy the spectacular scenery from the air by either a scenic helicopter or fixed-wing flight

How often do you get to rough it in the outback with the guy who wrote Schindler’s Ark? I mean, come on. This exclusive package is one-time-only, and limited 28 guests (14 tents). Click here for more info on Frontiers Elegent Journeys and to request the Writing Under the Stars package.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.