Vinson Peak (4,892 m) is the highest peak of the massif and the whole of Antarctica, located in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountain System. Climbing Vinson Peak is a must for the Seven Summits program. Despite its relatively low technical difficulty, Vinson is one of the most difficult peaks in the program, alongside Everest. The reason is the extreme remoteness of the mountain and, as a consequence, the high cost of the expedition. The climbing conditions are anything but comfortable, with temperatures dropping as low as -40 degrees or lower, even in warm summer months.
Climbing Vinson is not the only thing worth participating in a tour to Antarctica for. There are many adventures for participants: exploring Chile, climbing in polar day conditions when the sun does not go below the horizon even at midnight, and, of course, the incredible landscapes of Antarctica, the likes of which you will not see anywhere else in the world.
The expedition starts in Punta Arenas, Chile, one of the southernmost cities on Earth. From there we fly the IL-76 to the Antarctic transfer point of Union Glacier, where the plane lands on a unique natural landing strip of blue ice. From there we will take small planes to Vinson Base Camp (2,150 m), where we will ascend to the summit through high altitude camps 1 and 2 in 5-6 days.
Attention! The flight to Antarctica from Punta Arenas is not always possible in time because of unstable weather. Therefore, we advise you сonsider extra days when planning your trip to Antarctica.
Our route assumes a clear schedule and quality acclimatization of participants, which increases the chances of a successful ascent.
We cooperate only with the best professionals.
The program includes several reserve days in case of bad weather.
We do not cancel or shift groups. If the manager approved the purchase of a ticket, you can surely buy it. The hike will not be canceled due to our fault.
The manager has personally been to Mont Blanc and will advise you knowledgeably.
Experienced Kuluar teamleaders will accompany participants throughout the program.
More than 15,000 participants have already been with Kuluar and 97.8% have been satisfied. We're sure you will, too!
Participants of the Vinson climb meet in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, which is located on the coast of the Strait of Magellan and is considered the southernmost city on earth with a population of over 100,000 people. The best way to get there is from the capital, Santiago. On the first day we check into a hotel and rest from a long flight.
Our task for these 2 days is to buy food for the expedition, check the equipment and solve all organizational issues. Participants will have free time for excursions in the surrounding area. There is a lot to see in Punta Arenas! You can go to the national park of Magallanes, located west of the city, or you can take a ferry to Isla Magdalena - the island of penguins. There are also several interesting museums in the city, including the museum of the ship Victoria, on which Magellan first circumnavigated the globe.
All preparations are complete and today we are finally leaving for Antarctica. We will fly on the famous IL-76 jet plane, which is used for transportation to the polar regions. The destination is Union Glacier, a transshipment camp located on the glacier of the same name. We are expected to land on a natural landing strip "made" of blue ice. It looks incredible! Union Glacier is a tent camp with separate comfortable tents for kitchens, dining and restrooms.
Today in a small polar plane we will fly to the foot of the Vinson Massif, where the base camp of the summit is located. The flight will take less than an hour. After setting up camp we will go for a walk to acclimatize ourselves better.
In good weather the ascent to Vinson Peak takes 5 days, including acclimatization on the mountain. The route passes through high altitude camps 1 and 2. Our program includes reserve days in case of bad weather and other force majeure.
After a successful ascent, we start the journey back. First we have to fly to Union Glacier, and from there to Punta Arenas. There may be some delay due to weather conditions, which are not always favorable in this region.
That's the end of our journey to Antarctica! See you next time in the mountains, friends!
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the teamleader has the right to make changes to the route.
Ukrainian citizens do not need a visa to Chile. If you are a citizen of another country, you can consult our manager about the need for a visa.
You must have no illnesses from this list in order to participate in the hike.
Climbing peak Vinson opens up to you many peaks. After peak Vinson we recommend:
We have prepared for you a commemorative "Vinson Peak" medal, which you will receive after the ascent.
The group meets in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, to which it is most convenient to fly from Santiago, the capital of Chile.
The flight to Santiago de Chile from Kiev is possible only with connections in European countries, most often in Paris or Amsterdam. The cost of such an international flight starts at $1,300, but it may vary a little bit depending on the time of purchase and departure dates. When choosing a flight keep in mind that with short connections of less than 2 hours there is a high probability of delay of your luggage, which can be delivered only in a couple of days. So try to choose longer connections or prepare in advance all the things you need for the first days in your hand luggage that you take with you on the plane.
Buy your tickets in advance, as soon as we confirm your participation in the trek.
Our recommendations for flight selection services can be found in this article.
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not neglect this item. For some participants, it saved thousands of dollars. You can find our recommendations for taking out insurance here: "Insurance for Kuluar hikers"
Climbing Vinson Peak, like other tourist tours to Antarctica, is only possible in the summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it comes during "our" winter months. Optimal times for climbing are from November to January inclusive. During this time, Antarctica has a polar day, and weather conditions are more stable and predictable.
In Punta Arenas, participants stay in hotels (not included in the program price). In Antarctica we live in comfortable tents with double and triple accommodation.
In summer in Antarctica under polar day conditions the temperature is kept at -10...-15 degrees. But at high altitudes it may be about 15 degrees lower. And it may feel even colder in the strongest winds, so it is extremely important to choose your clothing and equipment carefully.
To participate in our tour to Antarctica you need experience in previous climbs and trekking at altitudes of 5,000 meters and higher.
*Please note: It is not the manager's task to choose a separate flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations from his experience and shares flights of other participants, so you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase his own convenient airfare. If you want the manager to buy you a ticket, book a hotel or an additional excursion, read the terms and conditions on the page: additional services.
Full payment for the program is made on the first day of the hike to teamleader in dollars.
To book a place in the group you need to make an advance payment of 10000$. You can do this by contacting us or through the payment form on the website>>.
Friends! We ask very much that you pick up dollar bills from 2003 and newer. Dollars from the 90's are not accepted in many countries and we sometimes have problems when paying with local partners. Thank you for your understanding and new dollars to all:)
Important! The conditions of refund of prepayment, if you refuse to participate in the program:
In the case of get out from the route the money is not refundable.
