Quest for the Emperor Penguins of Snow Hill Island

Day 1: Embarkation in Ushuaia

Start your adventure in the world's southernmost city: Ushuaia, Argentina. You'll embark the ship in the afternoon, sailing into the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel.

Days 2 & 3: At Sea

During your first two days at sea you'll make your way through the Drake Passage, feeling the cool salt breeze as the rolling sea below hums, occasionally met with a spout of sea spray courtesy of a fin whale. You'll reach the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone after passing the Antarctic Convergence: Antarctica's natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer Sub-Antarctic seas.

Both the marine and avian life change; look out for wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson's storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels.

Days 4 to 7: Antarctica

Your journey to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula will navigate through the huge tabular icebergs that populate the Antarctic Sound. As you reach the Weddell Sea, the search for the emperor penguins begins. You will explore by both vessel and helicopter to maximise your chances of finding these elusive birds. You might also enjoy scenic flights, and if conditions allow, helicopter landings in otherwise inaccessible locations. Possible landings include: 

The west slopes of the Antarctic Sound: The western side of this area is only rarely seen from the air, though the landscape is truly worth the flight: layered sandstones, lava flows, glaciers, icebergs, and pack-ice extend as far as the eye can see. There are often individual emperor penguins and Adelie penguins on the ice floes, as well as kelp gulls, skuas, and various breeds of petrel. Jagged mountain peaks stab through the snow, and enormous walls of ice lie shattered on the slopes below.

Duse Bay: A soaring helicopter flight may deposit you on a rocky hillock close to an old refuge hut overlooking this bay. There's still a lot of snow and ice this time of year, but much of the walk in this location is over frost-shattered rock covered with lichen of all shapes and colours.

Seymour Island: This is where the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901 to 1904 wintered under harrowing polar conditions. Today, you'll see impressive sedimentary rock, fossils, and expansive views.

If conditions allow for deeper ventures into the Weddell Sea, zodiac trips may include:

Devil Island: Home to a large colony of Adelie penguins, this island offers a magnificent vantage point for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met.

Brown Bluff: Maybe the most scenic location in the entire northern tip of the Antarctic Continent: sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice. A large Adelie penguin rookery lives here, with gentoo penguins and nesting snow petrels also to be found.

Gourdin Island: Chinstrap, gentoo, and Adelie penguins love this island, which is yet another landing option for your continuing Antarctic adventure.

Esperanza Base: This Argentine research station, which operates year-round and is one of only two civilian settlements in Antarctica, could serve as an alternative landing site.

Alternative Days 5 & 6:

If the route to Snow Hill Island is free of multi-year pack ice the ship will attempt to visit the emperor penguin colonies there by helicopter. The flight to the landing point takes approximately 15 minutes, and from there it is a 45 minute walk to the penguin rookery.  The helicopter capacity is 4-6 passengers per flight. A short period of time at the rookery is required to allow for all passengers to share this unique experience. Please be aware that safe helicopter operations are extremely sensitive to changing weather conditions.  Based on data from the previous 8 voyages, there is around a 50% probability that the Snow Hill Island visit will be able to proceed. If it is not possible to visit, the ship will look for alternative opportunities, including positioning near the ice edge to look for emperors heading out to open water.  

Day 8: Deception Island

Upon reaching the submerged volcanic crater of Deception Island you'll make your final landing of the voyage, either at Pendulum Cove or Whalers Bay. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure back towards Argentina.

Days 9 & 10: At Sea

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you're again greeted by the vast array of seabirds that you first saw initially heading south, seeming all the more familiar now.

Day 11: Disembark in Ushuaia

Every adventure must eventually come to an end. It's now time to disembark in Ushuaia, with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

Please note: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.