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Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition To Snow Hill

A Weddell Sea pilgrimage in search of the remote Snow Hill Island colony of Antarctica's most iconic penguin species.

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Length

14 Days

Embark

Buenos Aires

Disembark

Buenos Aires

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Highlights

Embrace the expeditionary spirit on a quest to reach the colony of thousands of pairs of emperor penguins and their chicks.
Spend five days in the vicinity of Snow Hill, either on tour to the colony, or immersing yourself in our custom-designed Weddell Sea experiences.
Travel aboard the luxurious Ultramarine, enjoying the sauna or one of the ship’s many other onboard amenities.

In 2004, polar history was made when the cruise conducted the first-ever ground visit to the remote emperor penguin colony near Snow Hill Island, Antarctica. Driven by a true expeditionary spirit—and guided by years of polar expertise—the team sailed past masses of dense ice and thick, tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea to experience the legendary rookery, which now numbers almost 4,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins. Today, it is one of the most exclusive wildlife viewing experiences on the planet. We invite you—almost two decades after the first milestone visit—to embrace the thrill of the search as we once again set out to visit to the emperor penguins at Snow Hill Island.

Experience a true polar quest aboard the ultra-chic Ultramarine ship, equipped with its two twin-engine helicopters that will fly you to the vicinity of this rarely-visited rookery, whereupon you’ll walk across the thick sea ice to stand within metres of the most coveted penguin species on the planet. Anticipate scenes reminiscent of “March of the Penguins” and BBC’s “Frozen Planet.” Celebrate Snow Hill’s majestic moments, revel in the once-in-a-lifetime wonders of the Weddell Sea, set foot on the seventh continent’s eastern Peninsula, and be part of a legendary story of your very own.

Ships

Standard Activities

Lectures

Hiking

Helicopter Flight

Polar Plunge

Zodiac Cruises

Itinerary Day to Day

Day 1

Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Upon arriving in this fascinating city, known for its architecture and rich European heritage, you will independently transfer to your group hotel.

Buenos Aires

Embarkation Point

Day 2

Fly to Ushuaia and Embark

Days 3-4

Crossing the Drake Passage

Day 5

Navigating into the Weddell Sea

Days 6-10

Weddell Sea and the Quest to Land at Snow Hill

The journey toward Snow Hill Island will put you in explorer mode as the captain and Expedition Leader keep you updated through weather briefings, meteorological and sea ice condition reports. The thickness of ice will determine how close Ultramarine can get to Snow Hill Island, then our twin-engine helicopters will take over.

Like summitting a mountain from base camp, parties will set out from Ultramarine towards the emperor penguin colony. Their adventure begins with an extended helicopter transfer that will reveal a landscape of snow-capped peaks and apartment-building-sized tabular icebergs. The rookery itself is located on the sea ice off the south coast of Snow Hill Island and the landing will be as close to the penguins as possible, yet at a safe distance to avoid disturbing the birds. Upon landing, your party will walk across the ice to the fabled emperor penguin colony. The wind. The ice beneath your feet. Walking next to paths in the snow carved by penguins that came before. And then there are the incredible sounds of the penguins in the distance as you march toward one of the rarest wildlife opportunities on the planet: the colony of thousands and thousands of rarely-seen emperor penguins.

The goal of the expedition is to get every guest to the remote rookery once. The Expedition Team and special experts will be close by to answer your questions and ensure you take in everything there is to see. You’ll observe close up how the emperor penguins behave as a tight-knit community, how they care for their young, and how they body surf across the ice in a way that can only be described as quirky yet efficient. The helicopter expedition in search of the emperor colony might just be the adventure of a lifetime

And while at base on Ultramarine with your attentive Expedition Team, you’ll be immersed each day in the polar experience of the Weddell Sea. Daily activities will include Zodiac cruising among the icebergs, adventuring and learning while atop the ice, paddle-on-top kayaking, or working with our team to observe the weather forecasting and ship operations up close.

A particularly enriching component of your voyage will be the bespoke educational programs tailored specifically for this expedition that offer both traditional (lecture format) and hands-on opportunities for learning about this fascinating region. Each day our polar experts, who include penguin scientists, biologists and polar historians, will present on various aspects of emperor penguins and their behaviors, ice formations such as the tabular icebergs which you’ll see from the deck of your ship, and the experiences of polar explorers who braved the Weddell Sea over a century ago. Or you might, on one of these days, decide to take the polar plunge, or test your balance on a stand-up paddleboard. Then again, maybe you’ll enjoy a little pampering. If so, you can choose from Ultramarine’s excellent onboard amenities, including the spa, sauna and fitness room.

The emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill is the goal of this expedition. However, if weather or ice conditions prevent us from visiting the colony or shorten the duration of our visit, we may explore some of these other sites. Your possible landings in Antarctica will take place on the eastern side of the Peninsula, which is an extension of the Transantarctic Mountains and is the most northern stretch of Antarctic land.

Brown Bluff

An immense cliff of volcanic rock, towers 2,225 feet (678 meters) over rookeries of Adélie and gentoo penguins, some of which will be incubating their eggs.

Devil Island

The Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901-04 discovered the narrow island, which is 1 mile (1.6 km) long and has a low summit at each end.

Hope Bay

Three members of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition (1901-04) spent the winter in a hut on the shores of Hope Bay. The hut is located close to the jetty of Esperanza Station, an Argentine research station.

Paulet Island

Located in the northwestern Weddell Sea, Paulet Island is home to a large Adélie penguin rookery. With a volcanic cone that rises 1,158 feet (353 meters), the island reminds you that this was once a very active landscape. In addition to penguins, you may be interested in visiting a historic hut built by members of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901-04. A cross marks the gravesite of crew member Ole Wennersgaard.

Seymour Island

Northeast of Snow Hill Island is a smaller island that was originally mistaken for a cape. Seymour Island is significant for fossil finds and for the remains of the KT Boundary, which marks the transition between the Cretaceous Period (dinosaurs and reptiles) and the Tertiary Period (mammals) of geological times. This era is known for the mass extinction of many forms of life, including dinosaurs.

Snow Hill Island

Brown Bluff

Devil Island

Hope Bay

Paulet Island

Seymour Island

Days 11-13

Cruising

Day 14

Disembark in Ushuaia and Fly to Buenos Aires

You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. Experience a tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park for a taste of Patagonia, after which you’ll transfer to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.

Ushuaia

Tierra del Fuego

Buenos Aires

Disembarkation Point

Route Map

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Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition To Snow Hill

Highlights

Ships

Standard Activities

About the Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition To Snow Hill

Itinerary Day to Day

Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fly to Ushuaia and Embark

Crossing the Drake Passage

Navigating into the Weddell Sea

Weddell Sea and the Quest to Land at Snow Hill

Brown Bluff

Devil Island

Hope Bay

Paulet Island

Seymour Island

Cruising

Disembark in Ushuaia and Fly to Buenos Aires

Route Map

Departure Dates