Kaamya Karthikeyan Skis to South Pole

Eighteen-year-old Kaamya Karthikeyan has scripted history by becoming the youngest Indian and the second-youngest woman in the world to ski to the South Pole. Her feat marks another milestone in a remarkable mountaineering and polar exploration journey that has already placed her among India’s most accomplished young adventurers.

Historic South Pole Expedition

Kaamya reached the South Pole on December 27, 2025, after skiing and trekking nearly 115 kilometres across Antarctica. She endured extreme conditions, including temperatures dropping to minus 30 degrees Celsius, gale-force winds, and whiteout conditions. Pulling a sled carrying her full expedition load, she completed the journey entirely on foot, demonstrating exceptional physical endurance and mental resilience.

Early Life and Background

Kaamya is the daughter of Commander S Karthikeyan, an officer in the Indian Navy, and Lavanya Karthikeyan, an early childhood educator. An alumna of Navy Children School, she has been exposed to discipline and outdoor pursuits from an early age. The Indian Navy publicly congratulated her, highlighting the scale and toughness of her South Pole achievement.

Mountaineering Achievements at a Young Age

Before turning 18, Kaamya had already built an extraordinary climbing record. In 2024, at the age of 17, she completed the Seven Summits Challenge, scaling the highest peaks on all seven continents. These include Mount Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, and Kosciuszko. She became the youngest Indian and second-youngest woman globally to summit Mount Everest from the Nepal side. Earlier, she climbed Mount Aconcagua in 2020 as the youngest girl to reach its summit and summited Mount Elbrus in 2018 with a ski descent, a rare achievement at her age.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The South Pole is located on the Antarctic continent.
• The Seven Summits refer to the highest mountains on each continent.
• The Explorer’s Grand Slam includes the Seven Summits and skiing to both poles.
• Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is India’s highest civilian award for children.

Quest for the Explorer’s Grand Slam

Kaamya is now on the final leg of the Explorer’s Grand Slam, a coveted adventure milestone that combines the Seven Summits with skiing expeditions to both the South Pole and the North Pole. With the South Pole conquered, only the North Pole remains, placing her on the brink of another global first in the world of exploration.