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

What’s included?

Hiking on King George Island
Communication with like-minded people and educational program designed by polar researchers
Pinnipeds and penguins sensus
Setting and monitoring wildlife camera traps
Marine debris monitoring
Helping in station’s operationing
Trip to Bellingshausen Glacier
(if weather allows)
Zodiac-trip along the South coast of the island

Hiking on King George Island
Communication with like-minded people and educational program designed by polar researchers
Pinnipeds and penguins sensus
Setting and monitoring wildlife camera traps
Marine debris monitoring
Helping in station’s operationing
Trip to Bellingshausen Glacier
(if weather allows)
Zodiac-trip along the South coast of the island

Also, by agreement with the expedition leaders, we’ll go on excursions to the Chilean and Uruguayan Antarctic stations.

In our spare time we stay at the Bellingshausen Main Station to watch films and documentaries about Antarctica and marine animals, and play chess, backgammon, or board games.

The Camp program is designed for 7 days of intense activities, with several days set aside in case of inclement weather. Those days are spent at the station, where participants are engaged by attending lectures, processing camera trap data, watching films, socializing, and relaxing.

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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:

Director – Belomorsky Ecological Center LLC
Lead Engineer – Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IPEE RAS)

Regular participant in scientific expeditions to:

Arctic & Antarctic
Kamchatka, Chukotka
Seas: Okhotsk, White, Black, Baltic, Caspian
Ladoga Lake, Baikal Lake

Routine, accommodation & food

7:00 AM / Wake up
8:00 AM / Breakfast
2:00 PM / Lunch
7:00 PM / Dinner

You'll feel like a true polar explorer — we'll live in the same conditions as the scientists at the station and follow their daily routine:

Three meals a day are included into the price of the program. Meals are prepared according to research staff food standards; there is no separate vegetarian menu.
On longer hiking, packed rations are provided for each participant.

The house of Camp’s residence is the most scenic building at Bellingshausen Station. All the necessary amenities are provided: electricity, internet, hot water, a toilet, and an electric stove.

dates&Prices

27.12.2026 - 08.01.2027
06.01.2027 - 18.01.2027
16.01.2027 - 28.01.2027
26.01.2027 - 07.02.2027
05.02.2027 - 17.02.2027
15.02.2027 - 27.02.2027
25.02.2027 - 09.03.2027

16.01.2026 - 28.01.2026
26.01.2026 - 07.02.2026
05.02.2026 - 17.02.2026
15.02.2026 - 27.02.2026
25.02.2026 - 09.03.2026
27.11.2026 - 09.12.2026
07.12.2026 - 19.12.2026
17.12.2026 - 29.12.2026

New Year’s Camp — €8 400

For those who want to combine the camp program with a sailing trip, a special offer is available — our managers will advise on availability and pricing.

There is an option to extend your stay at the station for a second “season” at a discounted price of €6 200.

Program fee: €7 900

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.

Antarctic conditions may cause flight delays. Flexible return tickets are recommended.

Flights to/from Punta Arenas.
Visa fees (if applicable).
Medical insurance (including evacuation).

Weather Advisory:

What is not included

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Our friends share

About experience

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.

— Anna Bassin, Germany

more about expedition

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

more about expedition

Sailing expedition to Antarctica