EXPEDITION MOUNT VINSON | DECEMBER 2027 TO JANUARY 2028
The roof of Antarctica
The story of
this expedition
At 4,892 metres, Mount Vinson is the highest mountain in Antarctica. It lies in the Ellsworth Mountains, some 1,200 kilometres from the South Pole. From Brussels you fly to Punta Arenas, at the southern tip of Chile, where the group waits at the hotel until the weather window over Union Glacier opens. Then a large cargo plane takes us into the interior of Antarctica and lands on a runway of blue ice, on the coldest, driest and most remote continent on earth.
A smaller plane then drops us at base camp at the foot of Mount Vinson. From there we move up the Branscomb Glacier in stages, roped together, with our gear on a sled and in our rucksacks. We build every camp ourselves: tents in the snow, snow melted for water, cooking in shifts. In December and January the sun does not set here; even at midnight it stays above the horizon.
The normal route is not a hard technical climb, but the cold, the altitude and the distance from any kind of help make it demanding. That is why we prepare you for months, including technical training in rope work and moving on snow and ice, so you know what you are doing once you are on the glacier.
By air
landing on blue iceDeparture from Punta Arenas depends on the weather at Union Glacier, so we wait until the window opens. A large cargo plane then flies us across the Southern Ocean into the interior of Antarctica and lands on a runway of blue ice. From there a smaller plane drops us at base camp at the foot of Mount Vinson. That flight also only leaves when the weather allows. Both flights are included in the price.
Across the glacier
in stages to the high campsFrom base camp we work our way up the Branscomb Glacier in stages. You pull a sled with gear and carry a rucksack, tied into your rope team, because crevasses can hide under the snow. We never climb faster than your body can adjust to the altitude. At every camp we pitch the tents together, melt snow for water and cook in shifts. In this cold every task takes longer than you are used to, from putting on your boots to pitching a tent.
To the summit
4,892 metres above the iceHigher up, a steep snow slope with fixed ropes leads to the top camp. This is where crampons, ice axe and rope work count. Summit day is long and cold: higher on the mountain the temperature can drop to minus 30 degrees or lower, especially in the wind. Because the sun never sets, we time our start on weather and wind. From the top you look out over the peaks of the Ellsworth Mountains and an ice sheet that runs to the horizon. Then we descend to base camp and wait for the flight back.
What makes this
expedition unique?
Landing on blue ice
A large cargo plane drops you on an ice runway in the interior of Antarctica.
The highest summit in Antarctica
Mount Vinson, 4,892 metres, the highest point of the continent.
Among the highest peaks
You climb in the Ellsworth Mountains, where people come only a few weeks a year.
The emptiest continent
No villages, no roads and no inhabitants: only ice, rock and your group.
On Vinson the cold is the real opponent, not the slope. Fiddle too long with a buckle bare handed or put on a layer too late, and you still feel it an hour later. That is why we practise the small tasks during the preparation until they become automatic, with gloves on. On the mountain your head needs to be free for the weather and for your rope team.Koen De LeeuwFounder and expedition leader, known from De Expeditie on PlayParacommando · Wilderness First Responder Meet Koen
De Expeditie
De Tijd
Humo
Play MediaHow we
work
Self-sufficient,
never alone
Above base camp we are self sufficient. You pull and carry your own gear, help pitch the tents in the snow, melt snow for water and cook in shifts on the stove.
You learn to work with crampons, ice axe and rope, to set up camp in extreme cold and to spread your energy over long days, guided by an experienced X Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
Safety and
guidance
You head for the most remote continent on earth, but never without experienced guidance and a plan for when the weather or your body will not cooperate.
Safety is our top priority. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold a Wilderness First Responder certificate and have years of experience in extreme conditions.
We carry satellite phones and GPS tracking, work with fixed safety procedures and an evacuation plan, and rely on the logistical support of the Antarctic operator that runs base camp and the flights.
Before departure we carry out a thorough risk analysis and go through it with the group.
Preparation
of 3 to 6 months
The programme starts after you sign up with a kick off. Monthly group training sessions and a technical training follow, with a final check two weeks before departure.
Everything
at a glance
All prices are per person and exclude flights. We book flights together with you during the preparation programme.
- Departure
- December 2027 to January 2028
- Duration
- ± 20 days
- Level
- Xtreme5/5
- Group
- Max. 6 participants
- Price
- from €57,500 ppIncl. preparation programme
Included
- Preparation programme of 3 to 6 months
- Professional X Guides
- Flight from Punta Arenas to Union Glacier and back
- Flight from Union Glacier to base camp and back
- All permits for Antarctica
- Technical climbing equipment (crampons, ice axe, harness, rope, helmet)
- Polar setup and sleeping setup for extreme cold
- All overnight stays, including the hotel in Punta Arenas
- All meals during the expedition
- All local transport and tips
Not included
- Flights to and from Punta Arenas
- Transport to and from the airport
- Personal clothing (top, bottom, footwear)
- Insurance (cancellation and search and rescue with cover for Antarctica)
Frequently asked questions
See all questionsWhere is Mount Vinson and how high is it?
Mount Vinson lies in the Ellsworth Mountains in West Antarctica, some 1,200 kilometres from the South Pole. At 4,892 metres it is the highest mountain on the continent and one of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent.
How do you get to Mount Vinson?
You fly to Punta Arenas in southern Chile. From there a large cargo plane takes the group to Union Glacier, landing on a blue ice runway, and a smaller plane flies us on to base camp at the foot of the mountain. Both Antarctic flights are included and only leave when the weather allows. We book the flights between Belgium and Punta Arenas together with you during the preparation programme; they are invoiced separately.
How long does the expedition take?
Allow ± 20 days in total. That includes waiting in Punta Arenas for the weather window, the flights to Union Glacier and base camp, the climb via the high camps, where we sleep in tents, and the return. The weather decides how many days each part takes, so we keep a margin in the programme.
How cold is it on Mount Vinson in December and January?
It is the Antarctic summer, but on the mountain it stays well below freezing. At base camp it freezes day and night, and higher up the temperature can drop to minus 30 degrees or lower, especially in the wind. The sun does not set in this period. You receive a packing list for extreme cold, which we go through together at the kick off.
How hard is the climb and what experience do I need?
This is an Xtreme expedition (5/5). The normal route is not a hard technical climb, but for days you move roped up across a glacier with a sled and a rucksack, in extreme cold and at altitude. You need previous experience with altitude and with cold. Crampons, ice axe and rope work are covered in the technical training of the preparation programme. During the intake we look together at whether your experience is sufficient.
Will I get altitude sickness on Mount Vinson?
It is possible. 4,892 metres is high enough for headaches, poor sleep and breathlessness, and near the poles the air feels thinner than at the same height elsewhere because the air pressure is lower. That is why we climb in stages via the high camps, giving your body time to adjust. Your expedition leader checks every day how you are feeling.
How safe is an expedition to Mount Vinson?
Safety is our top priority. Our X Guides hold a Wilderness First Responder certificate, we carry satellite phones and GPS tracking, and we work with fixed safety procedures and an evacuation plan. The Antarctic operator that runs the flights and base camp supports us on site. The weather helps decide when we fly and when we go for the summit.
What does a Mount Vinson expedition cost and what is included?
The price is €57,500 per person, excluding flights to Punta Arenas. Included: the preparation programme of 3 to 6 months, professional X Guides, the flight to Union Glacier and the flight to base camp, permits, technical climbing equipment, polar and sleeping setup, the hotel in Punta Arenas, all meals during the expedition, local transport and tips. Not included: flights to and from Punta Arenas, transport to and from the airport, personal clothing and insurance with cover for Antarctica.
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Your expedition to Mount Vinson
starts with a conversation
Your preparation is included and starts 3 to 6 months before departure.