White Desert (company)

White Desert Ltd. is a British tour operator conducting expeditions to Antarctica. As of 2021, it is the only company to offer a commercial private jet service to the continent.[2][3] Its Whichaway Camp is described by multiple publications as Antarctica's first and only hotel.[4][5][6]

White Desert Ltd.
TypePrivate
Industry
Founded15 December 2005 (2005-12-15)
Founder
  • Robyn Woodhead
  • Patrick Woodhead
HeadquartersLondon, England, United Kingdom[1]
Number of employees
80 (2021)[2]
Websitewww.white-desert.com

History

British couple and polar explorers Robyn and Patrick Woodhead founded White Desert in London, England, in December 2005,[7] setting out to "make [Antarctica] accessible to everyone, not just explorers."[8]

A maximum of 12 guests per group are flown from Cape Town, South Africa, to Whichaway Camp, the primary base camp located in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica,[9] via various private aircraft.[10][4][11] Flights operate into and out of Wolfs Fang Runway, Queen Maud Land.[6]

Built in 2012 on the Schirmacher Oasis,[7][12] Whichaway Camp consists of several guest "pods" that respectively contain bedrooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, and a library, heated by solar power.[13][14][15] The camp underwent extensive renovations in 2016.[8][16][5] It is intended to be removed entirely from the site at the end of its natural lifespan.[13]

In 2017, British explorer Hamish Harding worked with White Desert to introduce the first regular business jet service to the Antarctic.[17]

Apart from amenities, the company offers trips to nearby structures, a guided wildlife tour, and a trip to the Geographic South Pole.[18][19] The company operates only from November to January due to Antarctica's harsh climate during the rest of the year.[7]

Several publications have noted the company's luxury status and exclusivity; as of 2017, prices ranged from roughly US$30,000 to almost US$200,000 per customer.[4][15][20] The founders have justified the high prices, citing extraordinarily high logistical expenses associated with transportation and accommodation of guests on Antarctica.[16][19]

White Desert is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.[2]

On 2 November 2021, a HiFly Airbus A340-300 (9H-SOL) landed on Wolfs Fang Runway on a flight from Cape Town, becoming the largest aircraft to ever land there and the first Airbus A340 to land in Antarctica.[21][22]

Awards and recognition

White Desert has received the World Travel Award for Leading Polar Expedition Operator five times, first in 2012 and consecutively from 2014 to 2017.[23][24] Elite Traveler included the company in its list of the top 50 adventures of 2017.[7] In 2023, White Desert were nominated for the Conde Nast 2023 Hot List.[25]

References
  1. "White Desert Ltd". Companies House. 15 December 2005. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. Coles, Samantha (4 May 2021). "Exploring Antarctica With White Desert's Robyn Woodhead". Elite Traveler. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. Hickman, Arvind (13 January 2021). "Antarctica eco-tourism operator appoints UK PR agency". PRWeek. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  4. Cam, Lisa (22 March 2021). "Would you pay US$100,000 for a taste of true Antarctic wilderness?". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. Stone, Madeline (23 August 2016). "Go inside Antarctica's only luxury camp, where tours to the South Pole will set you back $72,000". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. Neuman, Phoebe (5 August 2017). "Exploring Antarctica Is About to Get Much More Luxurious". Robb Report. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  7. Begley Bloom, Laura (18 October 2017). "For $80,000 a week, you can stay at the most exclusive hotel on Earth — in Antarctica". CNBC. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  8. Avakian, Talia (24 August 2016). "The World's Most Remote Hotel Gets a Luxury Makeover". Travel + Leisure. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. Stewart, Stanley; Parker, Tom (12 October 2020). "On a Trip to Antarctica, Leaving as Light a Footprint as Possible". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. Shaw-Smith, Peter (8 August 2018). "Bestfly Antarctica Excursions To Continue This Season". Aviation International News. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  11. Magyarics, Kelly (22 December 2019). "Here's how to experience Antarctica in a single day". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  12. "How you can book a luxury trip to Antarctica". Esquire Middle East. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  13. Stewart, Stanley (25 March 2021). "Why you must add this place to your bucket list". The Australian. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  14. Miner Murray, Meghan (10 December 2018). "9 cozy ice hotels and igloos around the globe". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  15. Romano, Andrea (12 July 2017). "This Luxury, One-day Trip to Antarctica Will Cost You a Mere $195,000". Travel + Leisure. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  16. Ekstein, Nikki (17 August 2016). "Antarctica Now Has a Jaw-Dropping Luxury Hotel". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  17. Ambrose, Tom (19 June 2023). "Hamish Harding: the British explorer missing at sea near the Titanic". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  18. Shurvell, Joanne (18 May 2020). "Antarctica, The Safest Place To Visit In 2020 And Beyond". Forbes. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  19. Usborne, Simon (3 April 2019). "Luxury travel: Wealth of experiences". National Geographic Traveler. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  20. Olmsted, Larry (11 September 2017). "If Antarctica Is On Your Bucket List, Here's How You Can Visit In Luxury Style". Forbes. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  21. Lim, Jean (25 November 2021). "Airbus A340 lands in Antarctica for the first time". AeroTime Hub. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  22. Villamizar, Helwing (22 November 2021). "Hi Fly Lands First Ever A340 in Antarctica (+Video)". Airways Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  23. Baird, Katee (23 April 2021). "Glamping with Penguins at White Desert in Antarctica!". TravelPirates. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  24. "White Desert nominee profile". World Travel Awards. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  25. "The 2023 Hot List: The Best New Hotels in Central America, South America, and Antarctica". Condé Nast Traveler. 27 April 2023.
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