Highlights

The main reason to visit the Antarctic is its wilderness, the wildlife, and the general beauty. The cruises all have different itineraries emphasizing on wildlife viewing, breathtaking sceneries, glaciers, icebergs, rugged mountains and narrow waterways as well as visits to scientific bases.

There are so many things and places to see, that it is not possible to discover them all during just one voyage to the Antarctic, so its important to chose the cruise that covers the highlights that you want to see.

Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula has thousands of offshore islands and is one of Antarctica’s most populated breeding grounds for seabirds, seals, and penguins. The area was explored in the 19th century by scientific explorations as well as by sealers.

Astrolabe Island: This island was named after the ship of the expedition that discovered that island in the 19th century. The island is home to several thousands of chinstrap penguins, which are easily recognizable by the black strap under their face.

Esperanza Bay: Esperanza or Hope Bay is located at the northern end of the peninsula and is home to one of the largest Adelie rookeries and many Gentoo Penguins. It might also be possible to spot seals and Grizzly and Polar Skuas. It inhabits also historic sites of a stone hut where members of the Nordenskjold’s expedition spent the winter in 1903, and a small museum of historic relicts.

Curverville Island: This island is a popular stop not only because of its scenery; Curverville Island is home to the largest colony of Gentoo Penguins in the Antarctic. On the way to the island an incredible coastline of glacier formations and cliffs will be passed.

Lemaire Channel: The Lemaire Channel is an 11km long, narrow passage with reflected mountains steep rising out of the sea, a great possibility to take spectacular pictures.

Neko Bay: This is often the first passengers’ contact to the Antarctic Peninsula. When the weather allows a short walk leads to a scenic point overlooking the bay and glaciers.

Paulet Island: This volcanic island is home to a colony of Adelie Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags and Southern Giant Petrels. It also inhabits the remains of a winter shelter used by the crew of the “Antarctic” which sank east of the island in 1903.

Paradise Bay: This is a harbor with majestic icebergs and reflections of the surrounding mountains on the water when the weather allows. Whalers gave the name to the bay in the 20th century. It is popular to do a zodiac cruising around the ice, possibly seeing Blue-eyed Shags nesting on the cliffs.

Petermann Island: Another popular islands amongst Antarctic cruises and for many the southernmost landing, is home to the world’s southernmost Gentoo colony, Adelies and Blue-eyed Shags.

Port Lockroy: Located on Wiencke Island, this 800 meter long harbor is the second most visited tourist attraction in Antarctica. It contains a small museum of a former British station and a colony of Gentoo Penguins.

South Shetland Islands
This group of islands lies at the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula and is frequently visited because of its scenery and wildlife and the location closest to Tierra del Fuego. The islands stretch over 540km and consist of four main island groups.

King George Island: On King George Island flights to and from Chile arrive. Mostly approached from Fildes Bay, there is the possibility to enjoy Antarctic scenery and often the Chilean Base Frei and the Russian Base Bellingshausen are visited.

Deception Island: Very frequently visited island, located between the southeastern side of the Shetlands and the Antarctic Peninsula, has a broken-ring shape formed from its collapsed volcanic cone and is known as the safest natural harbor of the world. When entering the harbor the rock formation on the sides and its colors are to be noted. The Whalers Bay where the ships lands features a black sand beach in clouds of sulfur scented steam, perfect for warming up the feet.

Aitcho Island: This island is part of the South Shetland Islands, located between Greenwich and Robert Islands. It is covered with moss and lichens and is home to Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins.

Falkland Islands
Although not sub-Antarctic, the Falklands are still very popular to visit in combination with an Antarctic itinerary. They lie 490 km east of Patagonia and consist of two main islands, East and West Falkland as well as around 700 small islands. The islands are hilly or mountainous and feature several unusual species of plants, five types of penguin and many other uncommon birds.

Stanley: The small capital of the Falkland Islands on the eastern island has its own very special charm thanks to its houses built from stone, timber from shipwrecks and brightly painted roofs, which contrast with the landscape.

Saunders Island: On Saunders Island on the northwest side of West Falkland, it is possible to observe four species of breeding penguins such as Gentoo, King, Magellanic and Rockhopper, as well as Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.

Carcass Island: Carcass Island is a small island west of Saunders with a variety of wildlife such as Magellanic and Gentoo Penguins, Water Fowl, Night Herons, Passarines.

South Georgia
This island used to be the center of the Southern Ocean whaling industry. The island, 170km long and 40km wide, has a mountainous appearance with glaciated peaks and has an incredible amount of wildlife including over 3 millions of seals and more than 5 million pairs of Macaroni Penguins. Popular to visit are the Bay of Elsehul, with seals breeding on the beach, Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Godthul, Saint Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour, cooper Bay and Drygalski Fjord where many different landscapes and a lot of wildlife can be seen such as Reindeer, Elephant Seals, Fur Seals, King and Macaroni Penguins. On Prion Island, the Wandering Albatross can be spotted. At Stømness Bay and Grytviken historic whaling villages are often visited.