Antarctica Small Ship Cruises and Luxury Expeditions. Discover the White Continent with Wild Earth Travel.
"Glittering white, shining blue, raven black, in the light of the sun the land looks like a fairy-tale." - Roald Amundsen
The most accessible part of the seventh continent is the dramatic Antarctic Peninsula. It extends a ‘welcoming arm’ north towards South America. Antarctic Peninsula is the warmest part of the continent known for its stunning landscapes, accessibility and mild climate. Travellers usually begin their journey there from Argentina or Chile.
Antarctica cruises and expeditions offer the essential experience of one of the wildest places on Earth. Usually, cruises begin in the city of Ushuaia – the southernmost city in the world. Next, you will experience the crossing the infamous Drake Passage, during which albatrosses and cape petrels will escort you, they are the sentinels of these rough waters.
It is worth mentioning that here, at Wild Earth Travel, we offer a variety of Fly/Sail voyages that not only feature the best of Antarctica but also allow for more exploration. These trips often cruise one way and fly the other. Fly in comfort over the stormy Drake Passage and board your ship directly in Antarctica. No seasickness!
Once you reach the White Continent, you will have an opportunity of exploring the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula, a narrow finger of land that juts into the ice-choked waters of the Weddell Sea. Witness a breathtaking panorama of icebergs, blue glaciers, and jagged, snow-capped mountains. Cruise aboard Zodiacs among ice floes and explore penguin rookeries. Learn from the scientists, visit research stations or even venture further south across the Antarctic Circle!
Antarctic Peninsula Highlights may include:
Danco Island. Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be found nearby.
Neko Harbour. Enjoy an epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow. Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruising and landings that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
Paradise Bay. Take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance to encounter humpback and minke whales.
Pléneau & Petermann Islands. If the ice allows it, sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There is also a possibility you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as leopard seals.
Wilhelmina Bay & Guvernøren. This is a great place to spot humpback whales. Embark on a Zodiac cruise ending at the ghostly wreck of the Guvernøren, a whaling vessel that caught fire here in 1915.
Port Lockroy. After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. Enjoy great opportunities for kayaking and camping, and if conditions are right, you can even snowshoe around the shore.
Cruising provides the perfect opportunity to visit the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands. Wild Earth Travel offers the most comprehensive range of Antarctic small ship cruises from luxury to expeditionary. Our General Manager Aaron Russ has visited Antarctica over 80 times and still leads voyages to the region regularly, so we are perfectly equipped to help you decide on the Antarctic cruise that is right for you.