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5 epic adventures to Antarctica & the Southern Oceans
All the cruises we are about to present take place on fully licenced 108-passenger ships staffed by specialist guides and include onboard lectures, shore landings and zodiac rides. We hope they inspire!
1. Basecamp Antarctica Cruise: Why just look at Antarctica and admire it from a distance on a classic cruise when you can hike in snowshoes, paddle in the bays and spend a night under the Austral stars?
On this 12-night cruise, the ship anchors up at key points and becomes a floating activity centre. You then enjoy all the active experiences along with the regular shore excursions and zodiac rides.
You can also book yourself onto a special photography workshop on this cruise. Mind you, with all that beauty all around, Antarctica can make a landscape photographer out of any of us!
Camping out on the snow is a true highlight. We say camping, there aren't actually any tents involved - it's more of a case of digging a burrow, hunkering down and watching the incredible skies come alive.
On a Basecamp cruise you still get just as close to the wildlife. Our co-founder Diego came away with incredible images of seals, whales and penguins of which we were all rather jealous.
How to do it: Take a look at our Active Antarctica Adventure Cruise and do make an enquiry if you are interested. Cruises depart throughout the season, with availability for this coming January.
2. Patagonia to Antarctica: As with all of these cruises, why not combine Antarctica with hiking in the beautiful wilds of Patagonia for the ultimate outdoor wilderness adventure?
One option is to go walking in Chile's famed Torres del Paine National Park. The freedom of your own vehicle lets you combine headline hikes with quieter and wilder corners that few can reach.
Crossing into Argentina, you travel down the iconic Ruta 40 to reach the world class hiking trails around the fabled Mount Fitz Roy and enjoy a private audience with the Perito Moreno Glacier.
From the port of Ushuaia, you then set sail on the Antarctica cruise of your choice. The Basecamp option described previously is our most popular companion to a hiking journey through Patagonia.
How to do it: Please take a look at our Patagonia to Antarctica Holiday for inspiration and send us an enquiry if you'd like us to send full details, or to discuss your trip with our team.
3. In Search of Emperor Penguins: This is an Antarctica adventure like no other. Travel deep into the pack ice of the Weddell Sea before being lifted over the ice to a very special penguin rookery.
To reach the Emperors, a short and scenic helicopter ride carries you over the mountains and across miles and miles of unbroken ice, followed by a 45-minute walk to the rookery.
The entire experience is strictly regulated by IAATO, ensuring the penguins are undisturbed and no impact is made on the landscapes. As with everything down here, it's also weather dependent.
Sharing her memories, our client Sandra Thomas wrote: "Back at the ship no one was talking. We were all reliving the magical sight that very few people have had the privilege of seeing"
As well as Emperor, Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, on this special cruise you might encounter orcas, humpback whales, leopard seals and countless sea birds.
How to do it: This 10-night cruise next departs in November 2022 and has limited availability, so do act fast. Please fill in our Holiday Enquiry Form asking for details of the Emperor Penguin trip.
4. South Georgia Grand Tour: Land of penguins, South Georgia is one of the world's great wildlife destinations, most commonly visited on a Southern Oceans cruise with Antarctica and the Falklands.
If you're lucky enough to have already visited Antarctica, a 19-night 'Grand Tour' focuses on South Georgia in more depth, spending nearly a week navigating the island.
South Georgia is one of the most remote islands on earth, with a vast concentration of seabirds, including King, Macaroni, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins, as well as the mighty albatross.
Beyond the birds, it's also home to a great array of wildlife and has an incredible depth of human history, not least stories of Shackleton's heroism in the Golden Age of Exploration.
How to do it: To visit South Georgia with Antarctica, please take a look at our Southern Oceans Cruise. Or if you've already been to Antarctica, please ask for more details of the South Georgia tour.
5. Atlantic Odyssey Cruise: This remarkable 31-night cruise visits Antarctica and South Georgia before turning north to some of most remote islands in the world, crossing the Atlantic and the Equator.
After two weeks exploring Antarctica and South Georgia, the ship pushes deep into the Atlantic to territories seldom seen by travellers, with colourful stories to tell and bountiful birdlife to admire.
This might also just be the ultimate astronomical adventure, with guided astrophotography, sextant navigation and stargazing under the constellations of both northern and southern hemisphere skies.
The tropical volcanic island of Saint Helena is the last stop. This British overseas territory has a vivid and controversial history, having been an outpost of the East India Company.
700 miles from the nearest landfall, Saint Helena is most famous for being the place where Napolean was exiled to in 1815 after defeat in the Battle of Waterloo. He would end his days on the island.
How to do it: This trip departs in March 2023, flying to Ushuaia in Argentina and back from St Helena or Cape Verde. Please fill in a Holiday Enquiry Form asking for details of the Atlantic Odyssey.
