The Pole of Inaccessibility: 5th–15th Dec 2026

An accessible expedition with its record breaker

Beyond the South Pole lies somewhere far harder to reach: the furthest point in Antarctica from any ocean, one of the remotest and coldest points on our terrestrial planet, and one of the least-visited places on Earth. First reached in 1958, only a handful of people have made it there since.

In January 2007, Henry Cookson led one such expedition, breaking the world record for being the first to reach the point without mechanical assistance. This season, he returns as the explorer taking you back to the place that changed his life.

The distance and isolation are unchanged. What’s different is the comfort: proper camps, flight support, and polar 4x4s. It ends withthe world’s most remote dinner party, held at the foot of Lenin’s statue – the only marker for hundreds of miles in any direction.

Expedition: Cape Town to Cape Town 5^th – 15^th December 2026

Featuring media taken by Cookson Adventures

Henry Cookson has a background in polar expeditions—plus a Guinness World Record earned at the Antarctic Pole of Inaccessibility—so this sort of trip is Cookson Adventures’ bread and butter.

April 2025

A genuine expedition

This is not Antarctica observed from a distance, but deep Antarctic exploration experienced through shared participation, staying true to the spirit of adventure. You begin and end at the Scandi-chic Ultimate Oasis camp, then travel deep into the interior of the continent, well beyond any standard tourist route. A new camp goes up each night as you cross the polar plateau, until you reach the Pole of Inaccessibility itself, one of the hardest points on Earth to stand on. From there, a ski plane carries you back to Ultima, with a few days for activities like fat biking, ice cave hikes, and a visit to the emperor penguin colony, before you fly home.

In comfort

Outside of charter flights, you’ll cover the ground by vehicle in adapted 4x4s, each driven by a highly experienced guide, with a team travelling alongside you at every stage. Ski-equipped Twin Otter planes then carry you back, from the Pole of Inaccessibility to FD83 and on to Novo. Before and after the expedition, you return to Ultima Oasis, its warm cabins, chef-catered dining and sauna waiting at the end of each day.

Following in explorers' footsteps

Disillusioned with a career in finance, Henry Cookson entered a race to the Magnetic North Pole on a whim back in 2005. He went on to win, leading him to attempt something far harder: the exact centre of the Antarctic landmass, never before reached without mechanical assistance. In January 2007, he broke the world record, getting there in 48 days and 1,100 miles on foot and kite ski. The Soviet station built there in 1958 had vanished beneath the snow, only Lenin’s bust remained. On the twentieth anniversary, Henry returns, leading a small group of guests back to the place that shaped his career.

The camps

Ultima Oasis, your base before and after the expedition, overlooks an ice lake in the Schirmacher Oasis, bringing warmth to one of the coldest places on the continent. Three Scandi-style cabins hold luxe lounge areas, chef-catered dining, and rooms of varying sizes, with a full bar of beverages. Wide picture windows look out over the ice, where snow petrels, skuas, or the odd penguin might wander past.

Three further camps carry you through the interior. FD83 is a working depot: tents on the ice, fuel for the aircraft, and the last stop before the journey turns overland. The traverse camp moves with you, wherever the day’s driving ends, with tunnel tents for sleeping and a larger tent for dining. For one evening only, a dome tent is added at the Pole of Inaccessibility itself, for the ultimate dinner party.

Itinerary

Arrival and Preparation

On 5th December, you fly from Cape Town to the Novolazarevskaya ice runway, then transfer to Ultima Camp. Warm cabins, hot meals and wide views of the ice shelf make for a soft start to a hard journey. The next day is for preparation. Kit is checked and fitted, safety and biosecurity briefings run through, and you meet the guides who will lead you into the interior.

Into the interior

A ski-equipped DC3 carries you from Novo to FD83, a remote field depot where the overland vehicle team is waiting. You overnight here to acclimatise. It’s the moment the journey shifts from an Antarctic experience into true expedition mode. From here, you overland for two days by 4×4 across the high, cold eastern Antarctic plateau. A temporary camp goes up each night, wherever the day’s driving ends.

The Pole of Inaccessibility

You arrive in the morning, standing together at the most remote spot on the continent, where temperatures typically sit between minus 35C and minus 40C. All that remains of the original Russian base is Lenin’s statue, fixed to the rooftop, the only thing still visible above the snow. That evening, dinner is served with Lenin at the head of the table, in the most remote dining room on Earth.

Extraction

A ski-equipped Twin Otter carries you from the Pole of Inaccessibility back to FD83, then on to Novo, before you return to Ultima Camp. Three days follow with nothing fixed on the schedule, a buffer for Antarctica’s shifting weather, and time to take in what has just happened. These days at Ultima are yours to shape. Hike out to the ice caves, ride a fat bike into the white desert, spend time with the Emperor penguins, or warm up in the banya.

Activities at Ultima camp

Emperor penguins: Take a trip out to a remote skiway to reach a colony of Emperor penguins, the largest of all penguin species. Chicks hatched and reared through the winter are now larger and very fluffy, fed by parents who waddle to the sea ice edge, sometimes over 100km away. Both chicks and adults are unafraid of humans, so you can spend quality time in their presence before returning to camp.

Sauna & ice bath: Warm up in the traditional banya after a day in the cold, then finish with a plunge in the ice bath. The perfect way to end an Antarctic day.

Fat biking: As a fun extra to your adventure, ride specially designed mountain bikes with oversized studded tyres, heading into the white desert.

Ice & rock climbing: Scale sheer frozen walls with ice axes or clamber up ancient rock faces before zip-lining or abseiling back down. You can also shimmy along epic cliffs following a via ferrata route.

Scientific Research Station: Visit a nearby research base for a private audience with scientists carrying out vital work. They’ll gladly share a drink with you.

As with any Antarctic trip, weather may alter parts of this itinerary or, in rare cases, cancel it.