The Polar Travel Company

Antarctica - Emperors & Snow Hill Island - Helicopters

Join a true expedition to the Weddell Sea to search for the emperor penguin colony near Snow Hill Island. Using helicopters, you will access remote landscapes and observe the most iconic Arctic wildlife in the heart of Antarctica.

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Duration: 11 days / 10 nights
Starts: Ushuaia, Argentina
Ends: Ushuaia, Argentina
Language: English Speaking Voyage

The use of helicopters is strictly subject to ice, sea, and weather conditions.
The walk from the landing site to the penguin colony can take up to 45 minutes and can be challenging.
The itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather and ice conditions. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible experience.

Included

This Weddell Sea expedition is a unique opportunity to observe the famous emperor penguin colony south of Snow Hill Island, numbering around 4,000 breeding pairs. The ability to operate helicopters allows the vessel to position itself near the ice edge and transport passengers to locations otherwise inaccessible early in the season. The primary goal is to find these majestic penguins on their way to open water, offering an unparalleled aerial and ground perspective of the White Continent.

Throughout the journey, layered sandstone landscapes, lava flows, and immense glaciers will be explored. In addition to emperors, travelers may see Ad�lie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins, as well as various species of albatrosses and petrels. The itinerary is flexible and dynamic, prioritizing safety and respect for the environment, allowing landings at historic sites such as Seymour Island or picturesque Brown Bluff, always under the guidance of expert expedition leaders.

Highlights:
Helicopter flights to access the emperor penguin colony.
Sightings of diverse wildlife, including fin whales and multiple albatross species.
Visits to historic sites and research bases like Esperanza.
Exploration of volcanic landscapes and massive glaciers in the Weddell Sea.

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Day 1: End of the world, start of a journey
Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel
Your voyage begins in Ushuaia, Argentina. In the afternoon you embark from this resort town on Tierra del Fuego and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.

Day 2 - 3: Path of the polar explorers
Crossing the Drake Passage
Over the next two days you enjoy salt breezes and rolling seas. After passing the Antarctic Convergence, the avian life changes, allowing sightings of various albatross species, petrels, and possibly fin whales.

Day 4 - 7: Entering Antarctica
Emperor penguin search and scenic flights
We sail into the Weddell Sea via the Antarctic Sound. Using both the vessel and helicopters, we search for penguin colonies. Flights may include the west slopes of the Antarctic Sound, Duse Bay, or Seymour Island.

Day 8: Drake via Deception Island
Final landing
In the morning we sail to Deception Island for the last landing of the voyage, either at Pendulum Cove or Whalers Bay, before starting the return journey.

Day 9 - 10: Familiar seas, familiar friends
Return through the Drake Passage
During the return crossing you are again greeted by the vast array of seabirds that will now feel familiar to you.

Day 11: There and back again
Disembarkation in Ushuaia
It is time to disembark in Ushuaia, taking with you memorable memories of this grand Antarctic adventure.

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Dates & Rates

Ship: Ortelius | Date: 09 Nov 2027 - 19 Nov 2027 (4905)

Quad Porthole
$14,700

Triple Porthole
$15,400

Twin Porthole
$16,850

Twin Window
$17,400

Twin Deluxe
$19,200

Superior
$19,600

Ship: Ortelius | Date: 29 Nov 2027 - 09 Dec 2027 (4906)

Quad Porthole
$14,700

Triple Porthole
$15,400

Twin Porthole
$16,850

Twin Window
$17,400

Twin Deluxe
$19,200

Superior
$19,600

* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** Rates are correct at the time of publication. All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy�and excitement�of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you�ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.