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Ski touring in Antarctica — Ski-sailing expedition aboard an exceptional sailboat

15 days of travel / 10 days of skiing

Ski touring in Antarctica : two words that together sound like a promise of the absolute. Here, there are no ski lifts, no marked trails, no crowds.

Just you, your skis, an expedition sailboat anchored opposite a millennia-old glacier, and an Antarctic peninsula that awaits only the rare chosen ones capable of deserving it.

PowderWeGo offers you one of the rarest mountain adventures in the world — fifteen days of adventure at the end of the globe, where snow has been falling for millions of years and where no one has yet set foot.

Ski sailing in Antarctica

March - April

Antarctic Peninsula

18 pax

Ski level 3/5

Physical 3/5

Ascent +900m

mountains + sea

Wildlife at the ends of the earth

Personalize this trip

Or contact us at +33 6 51 66 58 53

SKIING IN ANTARCTICA: The Antarctic Peninsula, the Last Great Virgin Ground in the World

At the edge of the world, where maps end and the sea takes on a different name, the Antarctic Peninsula stretches 1,300 kilometers north from the white continent. Peaks rise between 500 and 1,500 meters above glacial fjords. Millennia-old glaciers calve directly into the sea. December snow— the austral summer —is dense, crystalline, and firm, born of an austral winter undisturbed for centuries. No ski resort in the world is like this. Because it isn't a ski resort. It's a continent.

The unique aspect of ski touring in Antarctica is the complete absence of reference points. No guidebooks, no ski maps, no previous tracks. The guides identify the routes from the deck of the ship each morning—couloirs, gullies, northeast faces exposed to the midnight sun—and choose the day's terrain in real time, depending on the snow, the wind, and the stability of the snowpack.

The terrain changes at every stop. The Antarctic Peninsula is like a skiing book that no one has read yet.

In December, the continent lives at a pace that nothing else in the world replicates. Daylight lasts at least twenty hours. Antarctic wildlife is in full awakening — tens of thousands of penguins nest on the slopes you ski, humpback whales return to feed in the krill-rich waters of the fjords, and orcas hunt in groups in the bays between the icebergs.

Skiing in Antarctica is also about this: witnessing an ecosystem of which you are only a temporary guest, and whose intensity leaves indelible marks.

The principle behind this ski-sailing expedition to Antarctica is simple and radical: it all begins in Punta Arenas , at the tip of Chile, with boarding the JRR Tolkien . This 1964 Dutch sailboat—robust, reliable, and built for polar conditions—becomes your home for fifteen days. Heading due south, Cape Horn appears on the horizon, that mythical rock that sailors worldwide have feared for centuries. You round it by sailboat, beneath albatrosses gliding silently just a few meters from the deck. An experience that very few adventurers can boast of having had.

Then the Drake Passage opens up: 800 kilometers of pristine Southern Ocean, the most powerful sea on the planet, between South America and Antarctica. Two to three days of sailing prepare you physically and mentally for what's to come. Avalanche briefings on deck, observation of giant petrels, preparation of ski touring equipment. The sea forges you. Upon arrival at King George Island , the first Antarctic land, the light changes—colder, whiter, sharper than anything you've ever seen. The peninsula lies before you.

For ten days, the JRR Tolkien cruised along the Antarctic Peninsula . Each morning, they disembarked by Zodiac onto the ice beaches, skis on their feet. The guides had scouted the lines from the deck at dawn. They climbed on skins across terrain no one had mapped for skiing, with ascents of 600 to 1,000 meters depending on the conditions, then descended on dense, crystalline Antarctic snow between icebergs beached in the bays and bluish glaciers. Back on board, they enjoyed dinner cooked by the crew, a debriefing with the guides, and that suspended moment when the December sun still grazed the peaks at 8:00 p.m. The next day, the ship had repositioned itself. A new spot awaited.
On the last day, a flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas—the first commercial flights of the season. No return by sea. As the saying goes, which you will now have earned: *Rounding Cape Horn once is good. Twice is too much.* This trip is also available as a private group package—contact us for a personalized quote.

After your day of off-piste skiing , you can relax in the warmth of the boat before having dinner on board.

You will thus end your evenings in style in the most charming floating lodge at the end of the world.

If you need more details, we will answer any questions about this Antarctic ski trip within 24 hours. Depending on your off-piste skiing level and expectations, we will provide you with a quote for a personalized trip.

Our strengths:

An expedition tailored for experienced ski tourers — not a polar tourism trip, a true ski adventure
The JRR Tolkien as a floating base: nighttime repositioning to maximize each day of skiing, without ever skiing the same spot twice
An exceptional guide-to-staff ratio: 1 guide for every 4 to 5 people, with up to 4 guides for the entire stay.
A daily assessment of conditions and the snowpack — safety is non-negotiable on terrain no one knows
18 years of experience in expedition skiing , off-piste skiing and skiing in extreme adventure terrain

ANTARCTIC SKI-SAILING PROGRAM — 15 Days at the End of the World

Day 1 — Punta Arenas, Chile: Embarkation

Meet in Punta Arenas , a city at the end of the world, perched on the edge of the Strait of Magellan, with a rugged, Patagonian atmosphere. Board the JRR Tolkien at the city's port. Welcome briefing by the crew and guides, dinner on board, overnight anchorage. The next morning, set sail due south. The journey begins.

Days 2 to 4 — Cape Horn & Drake Passage

Cape Horn looms, that mythical rock that sailors worldwide have feared for centuries. You round it in an expedition sailboat, beneath wandering albatrosses with wingspans of three meters. A sensation few adventurers can boast of having experienced. Then the Drake Passage opens up: 800 km of pristine Southern Ocean. The sea is what it is—sometimes rough, always awe-inspiring. Avalanche briefings on deck, preparation of ski equipment, observation of giant petrels. The crossing prepares you. Arrival at King George Island , the first Antarctic land.

Days 5 to 14 — Antarctic Peninsula: Skiing & Coastal Sailing

Ten days of absolute freedom along the Antarctic Peninsula. Each morning, the guides assess the conditions from the deck at dawn, scouting for untouched couloirs and selecting the day's spot. Disembarkation by Zodiac onto the ice beaches, then on touring skis , climbing 600 to 1,000 meters to peaks uncharted by any traveler. At the top, the slope opens up. The southern snow of December is dense, crystalline, and supportive—polar powder of rare quality. Descents between icebergs beached in bays, Adélie penguins watching from the shore, and bluish glaciers calving into the sea.

Humpback whales spout just meters from the anchored boat. Orcas hunt in groups in the fjords. Leopard seals watch from the floating ice floes. In the evening, return on board for dinner prepared by the crew, a debriefing with the guides, and the endless December light that transforms each evening into a permanent golden hour. The JRR Tolkien sails through the night to reposition itself for the next spots—and each morning offers a new landscape.

Day 15 — King George Island: Departure by Air

The expedition ends at King George Island , from where you'll board the first commercial flights of the season to Punta Arenas . The JRR Tolkien remains to the south, and you'll return with your head full of white, your legs laden with elevation gain, and images you've never seen anywhere else. *Rounding Cape Horn once is good. Twice is too much.* This itinerary for your ski trip is indicative and may be modified depending on sea conditions, weather, and snowpack stability. The guide has the final say in these matters.

The choice of the JRR Tolkien boat is also indicative and not contractual; it may, if necessary or in case of impediment, be replaced by an equivalent boat in terms of comfort and capacity, at the agency's discretion.

Number of travel days: 15

Number of skiing days: 10

Technical level: 3/5 experience in ski touring and off-piste skiing in deep snow.

Physical level: 3/5 capable of moderate effort for several hours.

Number of participants: maximum 4 groups of 4 to 5 people + 4 guides.

Price: Please contact us* / per person excluding airfare

Terms and conditions

Payment terms: 50% deposit upon booking, balance due no later than 3 months before departure.

Part of the boat is non-refundable.

Payments by bank transfer or credit card.

Our package includes:

For 4 groups of 4 to 5 people + 4 guides (maximum 4 groups)

15 days / 14 nights aboard the JRR Tolkien in double cabins
Full board on board: varied breakfasts each morning, packed lunches for excursions, 3-course dinners
The trip will be supervised by 4 to 5 professional PowderWeGo mountain and expedition guides for the entire duration of the stay.
Avalanche safety equipment: ABS® airbag backpack, avalanche transceiver (DVA), probe and shovel
Zodiac landings from the boat to the ski spots
JRR Tolkien's navigation and nighttime repositioning towards the best spots
Daily weather and avalanche briefings
Crossing Cape Horn and the Drake Passage by expedition sailboat
The return flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas (Day 15, included in the program)

Our package does not include:

The round trip to Punta Arenas (connections from Paris via Santiago, Chile — we recommend an overnight stay in Punta Arenas the day before departure; we can arrange your transfer upon request)
Mountain rescue, travel, repatriation and cancellation insurance (mandatory for a polar expedition — to be provided before departure)
Polar skiing and mountaineering equipment: technical clothing for extreme cold (0°C to -15°C), touring skis (100 mm width recommended), boots, bindings, helmet
Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks are available on board (self-service bar available).
Tips
Single cabin supplement: available subject to availability, upon request

Options and extras:

Private group: the entire expedition privatized for your group — dedicated rates, total program customization, flexible dates
Punta Arenas Extension: Hotel nights before boarding or after your flight return, to take your time exploring this unique city at the end of the world — we organize everything upon request
Extension to Santiago, Chile or Buenos Aires: to complement your adventure with a cultural stay — upon request
Round-trip flights from Paris: can be arranged via PowderWeGo, with optimized connections — upon request
Single cabin: available subject to availability, supplement to be confirmed at the time of booking

Essential cold-weather gear: temperatures in Antarctica in December range from 0°C to -15°C depending on conditions. Pack expedition-grade thermal base layers, appropriate gloves and a balaclava, and warm ski boots. We provide a detailed equipment list upon booking.

18 places per departure. A two-week window in December

This expedition can't be planned at the last minute—polar logistics require confirmation well in advance, and places fill up quickly among skiers who have been waiting for this moment for years. If you're reading this and thinking it's for you, then it's for you. All that's left is to take the plunge.

Option to include the flight to Punta Arenas in your package.

Contact the PowderWeGo team for more information.

Required level for this stay:

Technical level: 3/5 in skiing and off-piste skiing
Physical level: 3/5, capable of moderate effort for several hours

Is your level not exactly 3/5? Contact us before registering — we'll tell you if this expedition is right for you, or if another PowderWeGo option would be a better fit.

Pricing informations Japan