We can house up to 70 guests in our dual occupancy Clam Tents. These double-walled sleeping tents are designed to withstand Antarctic conditions with a high-tech nylon covering and durable aluminum frame that opens up like a clam shell. They are also incredibly comfortable to live in with large doors and a tall interior that allows you to stand upright and move around easily (16 ft x 8 ft or 5 m x 2.4 m). Tents are naturally heated by the 24-hour sunlight up to 60°F (16°C) and also have a wooden floor underneath to provide insulation from the snow and solid footing. Each guest is provided with a cot, mattress, pillow, linens, towels, and wash basin.

Please tell us if you have a preferred tent-mate. Otherwise we will pair you with a compatible roommate of the same gender.

The Antarctic climate is generally cold, dry, and windy. Even though it is summer, the temperatures remain below freezing at all times. Camp is typically less windy than other areas, such as the blue-ice runway, and temperatures range between -12° to 30°F (-24° to -1°C). Please keep in mind conditions can change rapidly and wind chill can make temperatures feel colder. You must bring everything on our required clothing & equipment lists so you are prepared for all conditions.

The dining tent is the heart of our camp and serves as a gathering place for all of our guests. You’ll have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world embarking on everything from a Mount Vinson summit attempt to a Ski South Pole expedition. You’ll get to mingle with our staff, who speak 15 different languages, and may have the chance to talk to scientists working on a variety of research projects.

Our talented chefs utilize a fully equipped kitchen to create fresh-cooked meals, baked goods, and fantastic desserts. You’ll be surprised at the range of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses we’re able to fly in regularly from Chile. We offer a variety of hot beverages, soft drinks, juices, and water. Chilean beer and wine are served in limited quantities with dinner.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at set times. In between meals, self-serve snacks and beverages are always available. All meals are served buffet style and vegetarian options are available upon request. If you have made special dietary requests, please introduce yourself to the kitchen staff when you arrive in camp. Due to the remote location of our camp and distance from advanced medical care, we are unable to cater to those with severe food allergies.

While at Union Glacier Camp, you’ll have access to communal showers and toilet facilities. In keeping with our mission to set the highest possible environmental standards, we try to minimize the amount of residue (grey) water we generate as well as the fuel we use to melt snow in Antarctica. We provide disinfectant hand gel in the dining tent and in all toilets and ask that guests limit shower use to every 2-3 days to conserve water. We also provide wash basins if you don’t want to take a full shower. Many guests bring pre-moistened towelettes such as Wet Wipes to use in between showers. Towels are provided in your tent and body wash is available in all shower stalls but you should bring any other toiletries with you. We do not offer laundry service in Antarctica.

All human waste is removed from Union Glacier Camp, which requires us to keep liquid and solid human waste separate for ease of transport. For men, a stand-up urinal is provided in addition to a sit down toilet. For women, two sit-down toilets are provided, one for liquid waste and another one for solid waste and toilet paper. During the night, some guests prefer to use a “pee bottle” in their tent. Our staff will show you the container where you empty pee bottles next to the toilet facility. Don’t forget to bring your pee bottle with you when you leave camp. On vehicle excursions, our guides will also have a portable toilet you can use in emergencies.

You can be as active or relaxed as you like while at Union Glacier. Each morning we will meet with you to discuss options for the day and organize activities tailored to the weather and your interests. We offer a variety of group excursions (described in your detailed itinerary) and there are plenty of activities you can do on your own around camp. Take a walk, cross-country ski, or try out one of our fat tire bikes on the groomed 6 mi (10 km) loop. If you arrived to Union Glacier as part of a tour group, then your tour leader is responsible for your excursions. If you’re looking for something more low-key, check out a book, movie, or game in our polar library.

Guest lecturers will host engaging talks on a variety of topics from polar history to glaciology throughout the day and one after dinner. Many will share photos and stories of their own expeditions to remote parts of Antarctica and beyond. Please respect camp quiet hours between 11pm and 7am.

Guests will have access to the internet in communal areas at all ALE camps (except the South Pole because of interference with scientific work) via Starlink. However, we do encourage you to enjoy as much of a digital detox as possible. We also ask that you do not disturb other guests around you, who may not wish to overhear your connection.

Please note that the remoteness of our camps and the often extreme weather can lead to either slow or intermittent service. Please be mindful that the internet is a shared resource across all guests, so please avoid uploading/downloading large amounts of data in Antarctica. For your safety, operational needs will take priority over guest usage. In an emergency, your family may contact our offices in Salt Lake City or Punta Arenas and we can forward a message to you while you are on the ice. However, we will only give out information about you to those individuals listed on your Personal Information Form (PIF).

Limited charging facilities are available in the dining tent and feature two types of outlets: USB and 120V A/C (North American Type A or B plugs). If you’re device isn’t compatible we recommend bringing an outlet adapter. Please be courteous of your fellow guests and do not leave electronics plugged in overnight. Please also ensure your batteries are fully charged prior to leaving Punta Arenas, you have back-up batteries on hand, and you leave any unnecessary electronics behind. It is a good idea to label your cables and devices so as not to lose them.

ALE uses standard commercial jets such as the Boeing 757-200 for our scheduled, intercontinental passenger flights. The B757 offers passengers a fast flight time, a comfortable flight, and plenty of windows to enjoy the spectacular Antarctic views and thrilling blue-ice landing.

Each season we charter three to four ski aircraft to transport guests and cargo within the continent. We utilize De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otters and a Basler BT-67. The Twin Otter is the workhorse of many National Antarctic Programs and is used by the British Antarctic Survey, the United States Antarctic Program, as well as the Argentine and Chilean air force. The Basler is our larger ski aircraft and is a turboprop conversion of the Douglas DC-3. We use it to transport larger groups of passengers and cargo into the field.

We maintain a fleet of specially adapted vehicles for ground transportation, snow clearing, and runway maintenance. These include 4×4 and 6×6 passenger vehicles, several specialized large tracked vehicles, Tucker Sno-Cats, and a number of snowmobiles and sleds.

Even though we operate in 24-hour daylight, Union Glacier Camp time is the same as Punta Arenas, Chile, where our flights originate. Our other camps at Mount Vinson, South Pole, and the Emperor Penguin Colony also operate on this same time.

Union Glacier Time

= GMT (UK time) -3 hours

= Eastern Standard Time (NYC time) +2 hours

= Pacific Standard Time (LA time) +5 hours.

Amundsen-Scott Station, located at the South Pole uses New Zealand Daylight Time (GMT +13 hours).