A snowy campsite in Antarctica with colorful tents scattered across a white landscape, set against snow-covered mountains. Supported by Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, the scene glows under a bright, partly cloudy sky with the sun shining.

UNION GLACIER CAMP

A brightly colored yellow and black tent labeled Shackleton sits on snowy ground in Antarctica, with snow-covered mountains and more tents—part of Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions—visible in the background under a clear sky.

Accommodations

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°-70°F (15°-21°C) but 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.

WEATHER

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.

Two people ride fat-tire bikes across a vast, snowy landscape in Antarctica, with distant snow-covered mountains under a clear blue sky.

Three people in matching blue aprons stand behind a buffet table with trays of food and sliced bread inside a tent marked “Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions,” set up at the South Pole, with a clock on the wall.

MEALS

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.

SHOWERS & TOILETS

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 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 your 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.

A row of blue and white portable toilets stands on a snowy landscape at the South Pole under a blue sky, with international flags hanging above and snow-covered Antarctic mountains in the background.

Bundled in winter gear, a group plays volleyball on a snow-covered field at the South Pole with tents and snow-capped mountains in the background under a blue sky.

ACTIVITIES

You can be as active or relaxed as you like while at Union Glacier. Each morning after breakfast we will meet with you to discuss the options and organize activities tailored to the weather and your interests. We offer a variety of group excursions, described in our detailed itineraries, 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’re looking for something more low-key, check out a book, movie, or game in our polar library.

In the evenings, our guest lecturers will host engaging talks on a variety of topics from polar history to glaciology. Many will share photos and stories of their own expeditions to remote parts of Antarctica and beyond. Please respect camp quiet hours between 10pm and 7am.

COMMUNICATION

Satellite phone cards are available for purchase with US cash or credit card ($40 USD for 30 minutes). Please note that you are charged per attempted transmission, not per connection. You can ask for a satellite phone in our Communications Office during specified hours and can make calls from our phone booths or your own tent. Please do not use satellite phones in communal areas like the dining tent.

There is no mobile coverage in Antarctica. Satellite internet access is for ALE operations only. Please enjoy this digital detox!

In an emergency, your family may contact our offices in Salt Lake City 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.

A person in an orange jacket and black beanie talks on a satellite phone while standing on a snowy, sunlit Antarctic landscape with mountains in the background, capturing the spirit of exploration in Antarctica.

A white cubby shelf with six compartments, each containing electrical outlets, various charging cables, laptops, tablets, and a book titled World Atlas on top—perfect for planning journeys to Antarctica or South Pole expeditions.

POWER

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). 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.

TRANSPORTATION

We maintain a fleet of specially adapted vehicles for ground transportation, snow clearing, and runway maintenance. These include two 4×4 and three 6×6 passenger vans, several tractors, Tucker Sno-Cats, industrial snow-blowers, skiway groomer, and a number of snowmobiles and sleds.

Three people in winter gear help each other get in and out of a bright orange Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions van parked on snowy ground, with portable toilets and snowy mountains in Antarctica visible in the background.

A white signpost at Union Glacier, Antarctica, managed by Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions, shows distances to cities like Hong Kong, London, and Toronto, with snowy mountains and blue sky near the South Pole in the background.

TIME

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.