SAVE UP TO 25% ON SELECT ANTARCTIC & ARCTIC VOYAGES

Antarctica is a very special place. It is somewhere I have wanted to visit since I saw David Attenborough there on the BBC about leopard seals when I was 8. For me it is the pinnacle of photographic and nature adventures. My dream came true in February of this year and it far exceeded my expectations.

As a photographer, I don’t have to tell you that Antarctica is the holy grail. You really can’t find a better place on earth to take the strange and exquisite landscapes that we’ll find there. Not to mention an abundance of deep blue, glassy ice in every shape.

Once again I will be joined by a host of amazing landscape photographers that you will probably also know from YouTube and Instagram. Including James Popsys and Mads Peter Iversen. Mads didn’t quite make 2022 and ended up stuck in Santiago so this time we will be ensuring he is at the front of the queue.

We will be on a small ship of just 120 people and depending on the take up of the group we will form a medium or large part of that. Obviously we will ensure that there is a good ratio of pro photographers to expedition members.

We will be travelling around Antarctica on the Greg Mortimer which is an incredible ship as you will see from the images. Everything about the ship and the team at Aurora is focused on getting the most out of the days we have there exploring the Antarctic Peninsula.

Also we will be flying there and back to ensure we get the most out of the 12 day trip actually in Antarctica. A lot of voyages go both ways on the ship but then miss out on the time photographing the amazing landscape and wildlife.

There will be opportunities to spend time with myself and all the amazing professional photographers throughout the voyage, whilst making landings, Zodiac cruising and open theatre presentations whilst onboard the ship. We will have a full schedule of tutorials, inspirational talks and editing sessions for the full voyage.

As we offer a free seating dining policy, there’ll also be time during meals to address specific questions.

Whilst cruising around on the ship and zodiacs we will experience the chance to photograph many different types of Penguin, Seals, Whales, Orcas and sea birds as well as the incredible scenery found around these amazing passages through the peninsula.

We will get chance to land everyday and photograph the landscape and wildlife close up as well.

Take your best shots every time – learn from the world’s best

We are offering an incredible opportunity for photographers and videographers of any skill level to gain pick up life-long technical and creative photographic tips from world-class photographers.

Leave with more than just memories and save up to 10%* off the Antarctic Explorer expedition in 2024.

Learn how to set up your camera, improve your composition, hone your craft no matter what camera gear you have with informal tuition onboard or during landings and excursions

Journey on the Sylvia Earle, which features the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW®, this allows the ship to cross oceans more comfortably and efficiently, and with expansive observation decks to bring you closer to the environment offers the perfect base camp for adventurers.

Plus, we’re offering an extra $100 onboard credit for photographers who book before 31 March 2022.

Balcony Stateroom Category C from $14,299 pp (USD) twin share*!

Nigel Danson

Nigel Danson is a YouTube creator and landscape photographer. Being dyslexic, photography had a profound impact on Nigel’s early life, when he uncovered the joys of developing images in a makeshift darkroom. He discovered his love of light and how it could create infinite possibilities of what was otherwise a static landscape. Nigel’s philosophy is to seize the moment, to capture the essence of his experiences. He runs workshops all over the world to share his knowledge and passion for landscape photography.

James Popsys

James Popsys is a British Outdoor Photographer and Youtuber who lives in Snowdonia, Wales. Before YouTube he worked as a commercial conceptual photographer, but is a firm believer that all the best stuff in life happens outdoors. he’s drawn to documenting nature and the human impact on it, for better and for worse. It’s a passion James’ loves to share on his YouTube channel, as well as in person running workshops around the world. James’ clients include Lumix, Samsung, Adobe, Covent Garden, Paypal & Chipotle.

Mads Peter Iversen

Mads Peter Iversen, a photographer living in Aarhus and Silkeborg. An educated schoolteacher with a master degree in educational philosophy. After trying out other photography genres, such as headshot photography and commercial videography with great success, I’ve settled on fine art landscape pictures. I started out as a photographer in 2011 and my experience with video editing goes back to 2002. Mads finds inspiration all over the world but he’s especially drawn to the nordic, cold and harsh yet stunningly beautiful nature.

Gallery

Antarctic Explorer

Departing 16 February 2024 | 12 Days

Early Antarctic explorers returned from their voyages to the deep south with tales of a magnificent, ice-covered land teeming with life. Experience the awe-inspiring immensity of Antarctica yourself, reducing your time on the high seas by flying across the Drake in both directions. Immerse yourself in the unimaginable beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula, where vast glaciers tumble into the sea, penguins are dwarfed by soaring peaks and humpback and minke whales feast on abundant krill.  

Highlights

  • Witness extraordinary wildlife including fledging penguin chicks 
  • On Zodiac cruises, photograph playful fur seal pups or whales feeding on plentiful krill 

Itinerary

Arrive in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, kindly remind hotel check-in staff to provide you with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags. Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number.  

Overlooking the Straits of Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world’s most historic trade routes. Today, Punta Arenas reflects a great mix of cultures, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors, and it remains an utterly fascinating testament to Chile’s rich history. 

At approximately 6.00 pm this evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage briefing. Afterwards, there’s free time to enjoy the local cuisine at one of Punta Arenas’s many restaurants. (Dinner not included).  

Accommodation: Hotel Cabo de Hornos (or similar) 

This morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The flight will take approximately one-and-a-half hours. 

On arrival into King George Island our expedition team is on hand to greet you for your Zodiac transfer to board the vessel. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important briefings.  

Note:  King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. We apologise in advance for any delays.  

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.  

The western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.  

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. 

We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You’ll want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.  

While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you’ll have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting! 

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea, and take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent. 

As we approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to farewell Antarctica and our amazing adventure before boarding our return flight to Punta Arenas, Chile. On arrival at the Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to our group hotel.  

After breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow travellers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature (breakfast included). A transfer to the airport is included in the voyage fare 

Note: In the spirit of expedition travel, we encourage exploration and adventure offering flexibility in challenging environments. This itinerary is only a guide and is subject to change due to weather, sea, pack-ice and other conditions beyond our control.  

Inclusions

  • All airport transfers
  • Two night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast in Punta Arenas (days 1 & 11)
  • Return flight Punta Arenas to King George Island (days 2 & 11)
  • On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
  • All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage
  • Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner
  • Captain’s Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages 
  • All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
  • Educational lectures and guiding services from expedition team
  • Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
  • A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket
  • Complimentary use of muck boots during the voyage 
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information
  • Port surcharges, permits and landing fees 

Exclusions

  • International or domestic flights to or within South America, unless specified
  • Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Airport arrival or departure taxes
  • Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination charges
  • Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
  • Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
  • Optional excursions not included in the itinerary
  • Optional activity surcharges
  • All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges
  • Gratuities for ship crew
Note: Gratuities are on a discretionary basis – they will be added to your account at the end of each voyage at a rate of US $15 per person per day, however you will have the ability to ‘opt out’ should you choose to.

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