In search of the Emperor penguin
Take a daring expedition cruise to Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, the territory of the emperor penguin. Cruise among the most spectacular landscapes with large numbers of icebergs and Antarctica's most diverse wildlife, with albatrosses, seals and, most importantly, whales. During this trip, you have a great chance of seeing many special penguin species, such as the gentoo penguin and the adélie penguin. But to see the extraordinary emperor penguin, not only will the ship be used, but also the two helicopters aboard the expedition ship m/v Ortelius. When conditions are favorable enough to get near the emperor penguin colony with about 4,000 breeding pairs, the plan is to spend two days there.
Experience Antarctica in a bird's eye view
The use of helicopters makes this trip completely different from a usual expedition cruise to Antarctica. The helicopter capacity not only gives you the rare opportunity to see the famous emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island, but also the western shores of the Antarctic Sound. Rarely seen and visited from the air, the landscape of this coast is breathtaking: steep, jagged rock peaks rising above the ice caps and huge ice walls covering the slopes. Glaciers, giant icebergs and pack ice as far as the eye can see. After a breathtaking helicopter flight, you may also land on Dune Bay for a scenic walk on the lichen-covered rocks.
Tips & Tops expedition cruise Weddel Sea, including helicopters
- In Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, you will board the ship and sail through the scenic Beagle Channel lined by rugged mountains toward Antarctica
- Cruise through the iceberg-strewn Antarctic Sound into the Weddell Sea
- On the western shores of the Antarctic Sound, individual Emperor penguins are regularly found, as well as adélie penguins on ice floes and kelp gulls, great skuas and several species of petrels
- The helicopter flight to Snow Hill takes about 15 minutes and the landing site on the thick pack ice is carefully chosen so that that the emperor penguins are not disturbed. After this, all passengers must walk for about 45 minutes across the pack ice to the colony
- When conditions permit to sail further into the Weddell Sea, Zodiac cruises may be made to Devil Island, Brown Bluff and Gourdin Island, among others.
- Devil Island is home to a large Adélie penguin colony but the island also offers a stunning viewpoint for hikers who manage to negotiate the island's summit
- Brown Bluff is possibly the most beautiful spot in all of northern Antarctica because of its steep, ice-covered volcanic cliffs with rugged glaciers on either side
- Brown Bluff is home to a large adélie penguin colony, a colony of gentoo penguins and snow petrels nesting in the rock face
- Chinstrap, donkeys and adélie penguins populate Gourdin Island -.
- Esperanza Base is the Argentine research station and is manned year-round
- Visit to the volcanic Deception Island, for a final landing at Pendulum Cove or Whalers Bay
- There is an alternative program if the route to Snow Hill Island is not free of thick multi-year pack ice - a chance of less than 50%
- On board, lectures and presentations will be given by the experienced expedition team
