Have questions? We're here.
Photographing a penguin up close

Photographer's Antarctica & South Georgia

Example 20 Day Cruise aboard Polar Pioneer
Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Antarctica trip. Call 1.406.541.2677
Start Planning My Trip
Join the former Australian Geographic's Adventurer of the Year, Chris Bray, in this 20-day photographer's expedition. Hone your photography skills in a series of masterclasses and workshops. Capture the best of Antarctica and South Georgia as you experience close encounters with curious elephant seal pups, mating penguins, and crabeater, Weddell, and leopard seals. Take advantage of extended kayak excursions for stunning photographs.
Be prepared for curious wildlife!  An inquisitive leopard seal inspects a Zodiac-load of expeditionersKayaking by the icebergA woman posing on the snow in front of penguins.A massive colony of King Penguins on South GeorgiaPhotographing a penguin up close
Highlights
  • Film the courting, mating, and stone-stealing of penguins
  • Photograph albatrosses, petrels, and prions alongside naturalist guides
  • Attend Chris Bray's photography masterclass and workshops
  • Explore South Georgia's northern network of harbors
  • Capture the early season Antarctic light over ice-clad mountains
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
0

Full Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams

Board your aircraft for the short, scenic flight to Puerto Williams. On arrival you can enjoy a town tour before boarding Polar Pioneer to begin your journey to Antarctica and South Georgia.

Day 2-3: Drake Passage

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Spend the next couple of days getting familiar with the ship, your home-away-from-home, and enjoying briefings from your expedition team and your naturalist and historian. Attend the photography masterclass, and prepare yourself with initial workshops.

Day 4-7: Antarctic Peninsula

  • Ship
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
Cruise from the South Shetland Islands and through spectacular Gerlache Strait, passing the western flank of the Antarctic Peninsula, where you can step foot on the continent. While cruising among the icebergs, attempt to enter Antarctic Sound and visit some of the magnificent penguin rookeries at the northern end of the Peninsula.

Day 8: Elephant Island (weather permitting)

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Attempt to land on wild and spectacular Elephant Island, where Shackleton’s men wintered below an upturned rowboat.

Day 9-10: Scotia Sea

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Farewell Antarctica and begin your crossing to South Georgia. Enjoy some time to unwind and reflect on Antarctica and prepare for the next leg of your adventure.

Day 11-14: South Georgia

  • Ship
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
Spend four days exploring South Georgia, investigating the network of harbors along the northern side of this wonderful island. Combine the fascination of local history with wildlife havens by visiting the old whaling station at Grytviken. Nearby are enormous penguin rookeries in St Andrews Bay, Royal Bay, Gold Harbour and Salisbury Plain, to name just a few.

Day 15-17: Scotia Sea

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
If time and weather permits, pass Shag Rocks - the six small islands in the westernmost extremity of South Georgia - before continuing your journey towards the Falkland Islands.

Day 18: Stanley, Falkland Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today enjoy a stop in Port Stanley, capital of the Falklands, before cruising west-bound towards Ushuaia.

Day 19: Scotia Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Back on the Scotia Sea, make your last sea crossing. As Tierra del Fuego approaches, the air becomes warmer and you can smell the scent of green, grass-covered land.

Day 20: Ushuaia, Argentina | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
During the morning travel up the Beagle Channel to dock in Ushuaia, then transfer to your hotel or onto homeward-bound flights.

Ship/Hotel

Polar Pioneer

Enjoy a drink at the bar.
Polar Pioneer's dining room.
Polar Pioneer's bar and lounge.

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$17,500
Polar Pioneer's Public Twin Cabin.
Select a Date
Twin Shared
Twin Shared Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins.

Notes

Please note that all of Polar Pioneer itineraries are at the mercy of weather conditions and not all landings are guaranteed. These itineraries are flexible and will change voyage to voyage, allowing the best chance to make the most of surprising wildlife displays and unexpected opportunities.

- Rates represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.

- Single costs are 1.7 times the twin rate
Included
  • 19 Breakfasts, 18 Lunches, 19 Dinners
  • 19 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information
  • Beer, House Wine, and Soft Drinks with Dinner 
  • Educational Lectures and Guiding Services from Expedition Team 
  • Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
  • Port Surcharges, Permits, and Landing Fees
  • Captain's Welcome and Farewell drinks including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
  • A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket
  • Complimentary use of Muck boots during the voyage
  • All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
  • All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
  • On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • Airport Departure Tax - Airport arrival or departure taxes
  • Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges
  • Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
  • Optional activity surcharges
  • Reciprocity and Vaccination Charges
  • Passengers traveling with Aurora Expeditions are required to be covered by a reputable travel insurance policy that includes baggage loss, cancellation & curtailment of the holiday, medical, accident, and repatriation/emergency evacuation coverage worth at least $250,000 USD.

Map

Popular Add-ons

Inquire

* By providing your phone number, you consent to receive direct phone calls or SMS messages from our Trip Planners to get the process started. We do not share your information with third-parties.
Travel Agents

We Love to Talk Travel

Call 1.800.344.6118
or
Chat Now
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin

Antarctica Travel Guide

Favorite Antarctica All Trips

More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By