The World’s First Antarctic Science Camp at Russia’s Bellingshausen Station
Antarctic Science Camp
About the camp
Antarctic Science Camp is a rare chance to experience Antarctica not as a tourist, but as a part of a real research team. For 10 days participants live at an active polar station and take part in scientific work: monitoring pinnipeds, analyzing data from camera traps, and observing changes in the Bellingshausen Glacier on King George Island.
The program includes documenting elephant seal behavior, collecting marine debris from the coast, and joining Zodiac trips to penguin and marine mammal colonies. It’s a unique opportunity to contribute to real science while discovering the wildlife, landscapes, and daily life of Antarctica from the inside.
camp program
Flights may be delayed due to unpredictable Antarctic weather. Participants should allow flexibility in return travel plans.
camp leader
Alexey Timshin
Camp Leader
Graduated from the Leningrad Regional Marine College
Worked in St. Petersburg, Utrish Marine Station, and internationally: Egypt, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait, and others
Current Positions:
Worked in St. Petersburg, Utrish Marine Station, and internationally: Egypt, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait, and others
Current Positions:
- Director – Belomorsky Ecological Center LLC
- Lead Engineer – Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IPEE RAS)
- Arctic & Antarctic
- Kamchatka, Chukotka
- Seas: Okhotsk, White, Black, Baltic, Caspian
- Ladoga Lake, Baikal Lake
Accommodation & Meals
- Gender-separated lodging is preferred but not guaranteed.
- Expedition house (300 m from the main station) with two dormitory rooms (6 people each) and a small kitchen.
- Participants stay and eat under the same conditions as researchers (no vegetarian menu).
$ 7 900
Price: $ 6 900*
You can combine the Antarctic Science Camp with a sailing expedition and get a 20% discount on the sailing part.
Cancellation & Changes
– 100% refund if canceled ≥120 days before expedition start
– 70% refund if canceled ≥90 days before expedition start
– No refund if canceled <90 days before expedition start
– 70% refund if canceled ≥90 days before expedition start
– No refund if canceled <90 days before expedition start
– 50% due at the time of booking
– 50% due 3 months before expedition start
– 50% due 3 months before expedition start
Flexible Payment Terms
*Offer valid until 31 August 2025
There are only two travel windows available for this combined program:
– 5–19 December 2025
– 17–29 December 2025
– 17–29 December 2025
Prices
more about
What is included
- Hotel in Punta Arenas (twin-share with breakfast).
- Round-trip flight (Punta Arenas – King George Island).
- Accommodation & meals at Bellingshausen Station (researcher standards).
- Science camp program.
- Medical insurance (including evacuation).
- Antarctic conditions may cause flight delays. Flexible return tickets are recommended.
- Flights to/from Punta Arenas.
- Visa fees (if applicable).
Weather Advisory:
What is not included
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testimonials
I'd like to share my impressions from an Antarctic sailing expedition in 2022. As I told my friends that I'd like to SAIL to Antarctica (and I don't have any licenses and only a very little sailing experience), there were 2 opinions, either "Oh, cool!!", or " You're crazy!!". Now I can say that both were right. It was a really cool, but a little bit crazy expedition. To sail through the Drake's passage – it's a unique experience! As a reward after 4 days you see the shore...
We could visit a several research stations, islands with penguin colonies, sea leopards and, of course, the whales. We were lucky to sail with a very professional crew - they made it possible to sail through the iceberg field. That made us feel to visit an other world in all shades of blue.
We could visit a several research stations, islands with penguin colonies, sea leopards and, of course, the whales. We were lucky to sail with a very professional crew - they made it possible to sail through the iceberg field. That made us feel to visit an other world in all shades of blue.
— Anna Bassin, Germany
Sailing expedition to Antarctica
testimonials
The night watch, the Southern Cross overhead, the rumble of glaciers crumbling in the dark and the whales puffing their fountains around you... It's an experience you probably won't get anywhere else.
It was a unique experience: I don't think there are too many people in the world who have ever travelled to Antarctica on a sailing ship. I think it is probably the most vivid and memorable experience of my life.
It was a unique experience: I don't think there are too many people in the world who have ever travelled to Antarctica on a sailing ship. I think it is probably the most vivid and memorable experience of my life.
— Max Savostyanov, Russia
Sailing expedition to Antarctica
testimonials
I’m travelling a lot since my childhood. I saw the geysers of Iceland, deserts of Mongolia, landscapes of “Lord of the Ring” in New Zealand, waterfalls of La Reunion, Bahá’í Gardens in Israel, lakes of Canada, bears of the Arctic, old timers on the roads of Cuba, volcanos of Kamchatka and many other fascinating places of the world. But the trip to Antarctic in February 2022 is difficult to exceed, actually impossible. Extraordinary experience with fantastic people on the sail boat. It is like a trip to another planet full of pinguins, seals, whales, dolphins and seabirds. As the backstage for them are the breathtaking landscapes of ice mountains and meditation peace. And as a company – small family of sailors, who shared with me the night shifts, ice swimming and pancakes (mmm, our cook – it is a separate topic:)) middle of the nowhere. And the worst thing about it – I wish to do it again even more, than I wished before (it was my dream since 20 years).
— Tatiana Majerus, Luxembourg
Sailing expedition to Antarctica