Polar Regions Antarctica Cruise

Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition to Snow Hill

Visit the remote emperor penguin colony near Snow Hill Island, Antarctica. Sail past masses of dense ice and thick, tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea to experience the legendary rookery, which now numbers 4,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins. Today, it is one of the most exclusive wildlife viewing experiences on the planet. Embrace the thrill of the search as by setting out to visit the emperor penguins at Snow Hill Island. Walk across the thick sea ice to stand within meters of the most coveted penguin species on the planet. Anticipate scenes reminiscent of “March of the Penguins” and BBC’s “Frozen Planet.” Just imagine the penguins tobogganing across the ice towards the sea. Such wildlife moments are too precious for words!

The highlights are many on this emperor penguin expedition. Embrace the expeditionary spirit on a quest to reach the colony of thousands of pairs of emperor penguins and their chicks. Spend 5 days in the vicinity of Snow Hill, either on tour to the colony, or immersing in custom-designed Weddell Sea experiences. Enjoy helicopter sightseeing and Zodiac cruising for unique perspectives of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The alternative Snow Hill to the Peninsula itinerary follows a similar route, but after time at Snow Hill, travelers will explore the Antarctic Sound’s Paulet Island and Brown Bluff, then 4 days along the western Peninsula, adding components of a classic Antarctica expedition cruise.

Experience this true polar quest aboard Ultramarine, a ship equipped with two twin-engine helicopters to fly to the vicinity of the rarely-visited Snow Hill rookery. While she has capacity for 199 guests, on these departures Ultramarine only takes 150 guests, translating into one expedition team member for every four guests. This modern, purpose-built polar expedition vessel also features an innovative, internal hangar that launches Zodiacs in a modern way. And her specialized, cutting-edge safety features provide added security in remote environments like Antarctica. All of these features make her an ideal basecamp for luxury Antarctica cruises.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Antarctica cruises and trips to Antarctica.