From the South Pole to the top of the Antarctic world.
Mount Vinson is our destination - the highest mountain in Antarctica.
The South Pole is one of those legendary places - similar to the North Pole or Mount Everest - that captured the world's imagination for decades before it was ever reached.
Standing at the southernmost point of our planet, in the heart of a vast ice-covered continent, is an unparalleled experience - one that few others can match. On our tour we follow in the footsteps of the early explorers, but in a more modern way - we use kites. This allows us to cover distances of up to 200 kilometers per day. The use of kites is also the reason why our starting point is at the South Pole: the katabatic winds from the South Pole blow north and help us to reach Mount Vinson.
Highlights
Travel to Camp Union Glacier, the southernmost adventure camp in the world
We move in the heart of a huge continent, almost entirely covered in ice
We climb the highest mountain in Antarctica
We use kites to be agile and fast
Starting point is the South Pole
Expedition Essentials
Date: 29 November 2026 - 8 January 2027
Trip duration:
Getting there: Arrival via Punta Arenas (Chile), then Union Glacier (Antarctica), and finally the South Pole, where we begin our expedition toward Mount Vinson.
Requirements: This is a challenging and lengthy kite expedition with skis, complete with sledges and a tent. Physical health and fitness are required as well as team spirit and expedition experience.
Equipment: Ulrich Expeditions will provide you with most of the expedition equipment. Thomas Ulrich has perfected many parts of the equipment himself. As an expedition participant, you will be equipped by Ulrich Expeditions in the same way as the very top polar exploreres are today. You only need to bring a few items of equipment yourself. Ulrich Expeditions will provide you with a detailed equipment list.
Prices (target price per person 2026/2027)
1 participant: CHF 260’000
> more than 1 customer price on request
Included in the price: The above amount includes flights, hotel accommodation, permits and meals according to the itinerary you will receive.
Not included: Personal equipment (according to the equipment list). Snowkites, skis and boots for kiting. Personal health, accident and evacuation insurance for the polar region. Cancellation insurance. Additional costs due to postponements and/or delays caused by external circumstances (e.g. weather or flight delays). Additional voluntary activities.
Expedition Details
Starting Point. Our journey will take us via Punta Arenas in South America on a special plane to Camp Union Glacier on the Antarctic continent. A smaller plane will take us to the South Pole. This is where our expedition begins: we have about 1400 kilometers to cover across the largest expanse of ice in the world. From the South Pole at an altitude of about 2800 meters, we will reach the base camp of Mount Vinson at 2140 meters, about 78° latitude.
Flying with the wind. With our kites, we are powered by nature, sometimes soaring with the wind across the icy continent. When conditions aren’t ideal for kiting, we continue on skis. At the 85th parallel, we cross the Till Mountains and leave the polar plateau behind. From there, we head west toward Mount Vinson Base Camp. A few nunataks emerge from the seemingly endless expanse as we pass the Martin Hills and the Pirrit Hills. Soon, we catch sight of the Ellsworth Mountains - impressive peaks rising high out of the ice. It's an unforgettable sight. For the final hundred kilometers, we may not be able to use the kites as the terrain becomes more mountainous. After about 25 days, we will reach the base camp of Mount Vinson, though the duration of the trip may vary, depending on the conditions.
To the top of Mount Vinson. Now, the second part of our expedition begins: The ascent of Mount Vinson. Standing at 4892 meters, Mount Vinson is the highest peak in Antarctica and one of the Seven Summits. Reaching it this way, starting from the South Pole, presents a truly unique challenge. The ascent takes four to six days, depending on conditions. On the first day, we travel from base camp to low camp on skis and pulling sleds. On the second day, we use crampons and fixed ropes to reach high camp, and on the third day, we make the final push from high camp to the summit. Mount Vinson is not a particularly technical mountaineering challenge; the real difficulty lies in the extreme cold. If the wind at altitude is too strong, it can quickly make reaching the summit impossible.
Back to Puenta Arenas. After the ascent we return to base camp. From there, we will board a plane to Union Glacier and return to Punta Arenas.
Please note: For this trip, you should be able to snowkite or learn the skill from Thomas. The determination to complete such a challenging journey is essential. Participants must be able to handle the mental strain of being in the world's largest ice desert, often pushing their limits and enduring windless stretches when the daily distance covered may only be 20 kilometers. Temperatures as low as -40° Celsius are possible.
“Wind power and willpower will drive us forward.”
“You must be able to push yourself to the limit. That’s part of the journey.”
See our other guided expeditions:
Arctic
Antarctic