Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea

The world’s largest penguins, emperors are also the hardiest of this much-loved group of seabirds. We hope to see them at close quarters on this unique voyage.

Like other trips to Antarctica, our visit to the emperor penguins of Snow Hill Island begins with a 2-day crossing of the Drake Passage, providing opportunities for encountering a variety of cetaceans and pelagic bird species.

But while most Antarctic voyages cruise down the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, this voyage heads to the east and the icecovered expanse of the Weddell Sea.

From Brown Bluff at the very tip of the peninsula, you'll be helicoptered to within walking distance of the penguin rookery on Snow Hill Island – as long as weather conditions allow. Some 4,000 pairs, and at the height of the breeding season, an estimated 10,000 emperors in total, live here. It's one of the greatest natural wonders of the whole of Antarctica.

By the time of your arrival in mid-November, the chicks will be about three months old, and males and females will be taking it in turns to feed them. Of all penguins, the story of the male emperors’ stoic incubation of the eggs at the height of the Antarctic winter is the one that most astonishes, a tale that seems to defy not just the elements but all common sense.

During this period, males go hungry for up to 134 days, often enduring temperatures as low as -40˚C and losing half their body weight, until they’re relieved by the returning females soon after the chicks hatch.

And there’s plenty more to stimulate your amazement in this region of extremes. The panoramic ice-capped landscapes with hints of mint blue breaking through as the sunlight hits. The deafening silence of your surroundings as you sail along its waters. Predatory leopard seals hunting among the brash ice, and humpback whales fattening up for the year in the Weddell Sea’s krill-rich waters are just two other likely wildlife encounters. We also tick another penguin species off our list with a visit to the chinstrap colony of

Any trip to Antarctica, is an adventure – but with emperor penguins on the agenda, this one has an extra dash of wild charisma.

Itinerary

Day 1: Leave Ushuaia & pass through the Beagle Channel. Days 2-3: Drake Passage crossing.

Day 4: Arrive in the Weddell Sea.

Days 5-7: Window of opportunity to visit Snow Hill Island if conditions allow.

Day 8: Sail to Deception Island for the last landing of the voyage.

Days 9-10: Return journey across the Drake Passage. Day 11: Arrive in Ushuaia.

11 days, from £10,820 (voyage only)

Departure dates: 10 & 20 Nov 2023; 10 & 20 Nov 2024

Embark/Disembark: Ushuaia/ Ushuaia

Vessel: Ortelius

Why book Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea?

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the breeding grounds of the world’s largest penguin species.

ཀྵ Ultimate wildlife experience

ཀྵ Seldom-visited location

ཀྵ Zodiac trips

ཀྵ Island excursions

Wildlife Highlights

ཀྵ Emperor penguins

ཀྵ Wandering albatrosses

ཀྵ Humpback whales

ཀྵ Weddell & other seals

Activities

Zodiac and shore-based excursions, helicopter ride, whale watching

Take the most magical adventure to remote Antarctica. As you first glimpse the emperor penguin colony, nothing prepares you for this unique and precious moment as they endlessly entertain you. This moment will stay with me forever.

Paula Mason, Wildlife Travel Consultant