Our Story

More than 30 years in the making, Aurora Expeditions has a track record for pioneering discovery and adventure – and respectful travel is at the heart of our ethos.

Whether you are a new expeditioner or someone who has travelled with us before; we say, ‘Welcome to the Aurora family.’

Started in 1991 by Greg and Margaret Mortimer on their early expeditions with friends and family, Aurora has always been about relationships. Joining the Aurora family means forming lifelong relationships with Aurora and your fellow expeditioners on each voyage.

In 1994, Aurora was the first company to introduce camping and kayaking into our Antarctic itineraries; 2001 brought an expedition created to retrace Sir Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps, and in late 2019 we launched the Greg Mortimer, the world’s first passenger ship to feature the Ulstein X-bow®.

And now with our two new ships, both certified 100% Climate Neutral, our spirit of discovery and adventure remains as strong as ever, as we continue to keep exploring the most awe-inspiring destinations on our planet. We have an informal style and experiential approach to expedition travel, which is delivered by our exceptional Expedition Leaders and their skilled teams.

You might have noticed we do not call it a cruise, but experiential travel. We invite you to ignite your curiosity, passion and care for the natural world and join us on board the Greg Mortimer or the Sylvia Earle for a true Aurora experience of a lifetime and to travel for good.