The Heroic South

Arrive in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city and a vibrant port steeped in maritime heritage. After lunch, meet your expedition team and fellow travelers for a brief historical walking tour of the town before boarding the St. Helena.

Once aboard, settle in and enjoy a welcome briefing followed by dinner as you set sail down the scenic Beagle Channel. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with your expedition team, fellow guests, and the onboard historians who will illuminate Britain’s rich Antarctic legacy throughout the journey.

You begin  the voyage by crossing the legendary Drake Passage—a rite of passage for polar explorers. These two days at sea are a chance to unwind, get comfortable, and dive into engaging presentations led by the experts on early British exploration, glaciology, and Antarctic wildlife.

Out on deck, watch for seabirds like cape petrels, giant petrels, and albatrosses soaring effortlessly on the wind.

As you sail south, you’ll also hold essential safety briefings and complete biosecurity measures to help protect Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem. Keep an eye out—spotting icebergs means we’re drawing near.

Today, set your sights on crossing 66°33′ South—the Antarctic Circle.

As you navigate the icy expanse of Crystal Sound, enter a world of drifting sea ice, ethereal light, and profound stillness—broken only by the call of Antarctic petrels or the breath of a surfacing seal.

The goal is to land at Detaille Island, home to the long-abandoned Base W—a British research station briefly occupied in the 1950s. Hastily evacuated due to encroaching sea ice, the station remains remarkably well preserved, offering a poignant glimpse into life during the heroic age of mid-century exploration. Nearby, Antarctic terns nest among the rocks, and you might spot a leopard seal cruising the ice edge.

Embracing the spirit of true expedition travel, set your course for the remote and seldom-visited Marguerite Bay—a striking landscape of ice covered waters, towering glaciers, and dramatic mountain backdrops.

If conditions allow, we’ll aim to approach Rothera Research Station, operated by the British Antarctic Survey. While shore landings at Rothera depend on permission and sea ice, cruising in its vicinity offers a powerful sense of the station’s vital role in modern polar science.

In these waters, you may encounter Weddell seals resting on floes, Adélie penguins weaving through the ice, and perhaps a minke whale surfacing nearby. This part of your itinerary is very condition dependent with safety paramount when operating in this remote part of the world.

Today, set out to traverse the breathtaking Gullet—a narrow, ice-filled channel that separates Adelaide Island from the mainland. This picturesque and rarely visited passage was first charted by Jean-Baptiste Charcot and later explored by British expeditions. Towering cliffs and hanging glaciers rise around us, while leopard seals patrol the ice floes in pursuit of penguins.

If conditions allow, you may make a landing on Pourquoi Pas Island, once a refuge for early explorers during their extensive survey missions. Weather permitting, we’ll navigate this icy maze by Zodiac, following in the wake of the pioneering Antarctic cartographers.

As you journey northward along the coast, pass through the magnificent Penola Strait, famed for its striking peaks and intricately shaped icebergs. Weather allowing, we’ll pause at Vernadsky Station, operated by Ukraine. Formerly the British Faraday Station, this site is renowned as the birthplace of groundbreaking ozone layer research in the 1980s.

There may be an opportunity to explore the station’s facilities and visit the iconic southernmost bar on Earth—originally built by the British and still serving vodka to scientists and explorers who stop by.

Today, set your sights on one of the most breathtaking waterways on the planet. The Lemaire Channel—known as the "Kodak Gap"—is bordered by towering cliffs and often packed with brash ice, mirrored by surreal reflections of majestic icebergs.

At Pleneau Island, once a safe anchorage for Charcot’s expeditions, we’ll visit vibrant penguin colonies and navigate among grounded icebergs. Keep an eye out for leopard seals basking on the ice floes or humpback whales feeding just offshore.

A final two days of immersive exploration. Continue your exploration of the Danco Coast with a potential landing at Neko Harbour—an ideal location to set foot on the Antarctic continent itself. Nestled amidst a horseshoe of glaciers, Neko offers commanding views and close encounters with gentoo penguins. Conditions permitting, you may undertake a short hike for panoramic views or a Zodiac cruise along the ice cliffs, where calving glaciers send thunderous waves rolling through the bay.

Perhaps a remote scientific hut, a calving glacier, or one last landing on the Antarctic mainland—your expedition team will maximize your time on the Peninsula before turning north.

Relive your adventures as you cross the Drake Passage, keeping an eye out for seabirds and whales along the way. Take part in final lectures or workshops, and enjoy a celebratory dinner with your fellow travellers as you reflect on the unforgettable journey.

Arrive back in Ushuaia in the early morning. After breakfast, disembark with cherished memories of an epic Antarctic expedition and new stories to tell.

Please note: The above itinerary is a general guideline. The precise route and activities will be adjusted to optimize wildlife viewing and adapt to prevailing weather and ice conditions. The Captain and/or Expedition Leader will make necessary changes to ensure the best possible experience. A daily program will be provided on board. Flexibility is essential for a successful expedition. Whilst your focus is on early exploration, landing sites cannot be guaranteed.