Exploring Antarctica's Spring

Onboard Photography Coach – Fee and available to all on every voyage: Our photography coaches are always on hand to give advice on Zodiac cruises, on-shore landings, or on deck. In addition, they will share ongoing presentations to help you best address the challenges of shooting in the unique and unpredictable polar regions. Your onboard coach will also be documenting your expedition, which will be presented to you in a USB flash drive keepsake to share with friends and family back home.

Immersive Photography Program – $495 for Peninsula voyages / $995 for Falklands, South Georgia voyages: 
For experienced photographers, our immersive program will pair you with a small group and an award-winning photography instructor. Daily outings under the watchful eye of your instructor will ensure that you make the most of every photographic outing, while honing your skills, guided by a seasoned professional. Onboard workshops and reviews will cover every aspect of shot selection, artistic refinement, and processing your images.

Maximum 18 participants, pre-booking recommended. Available on select voyages starting in November 2026.

Why on Earth Would Anyone Go Swimming in Antarctica or the Arctic?!

It sounds like a crazy thing to do, but there are actually a number of reasons why hurling oneself into freezing cold water is one of our top activities.

Did you know that cold dipping is a long-standing Scandinavian tradition that has numerous health benefits? Taking a plunge in the coldest of waters provides plenty of perks for your well-being, including reducing stress, boosting energy, improving your immune system, and relieving pain. Doing a polar plunge on New Year’s Day is a way to celebrate a new beginning. “Polar Bear Plunges” are held in many parts of the world as a way to raise money for charities. And did you know that every December, the polar plunge is held as part of the “midsummer” celebration in Antarctica? It’s a rite of passage for scientists and visitors at several of the research bases.

But the biggest reason to take the plunge? Because sometimes, you just want to do something completely crazy! And we must have a lot of crazy passengers, because our polar plunge never fails to draw a huge crowd.

Snowshoeing allows you to hike across soft, powdery snow up gentle slopes to reach unique vantage points, rewarding you with spectacular views and photo opportunities. Snowshoeing is as basic as hiking, and you don’t need previous experience to take part. Our highly experienced mountain guides will introduce you to the program, get you properly equipped and, weather permitting, will have you on your way in conjunction with our zodiac  landings. This program is offered on early season departures (November to December) aboard Ocean Albatros and Ocean Victory and, as you might imagine, is dependent on good snow conditions.

Snowshoeing can be booked on board during your voyage.

Activity Highlights

• Explore areas unreachable on foot without snowshoes

• Enjoy panoramic Antarctic views from natural high points

• Learn from expert alpine guides with IFMGA qualifications

• Small groups for a more personal and safe experience

• A unique and active way to connect with the polar environment

Before heading out, all interested guests are invited to an onboard snowshoeing workshop. Our Snowshoe Master introduces the gear, techniques, and safety guidelines, so everyone feels confident before stepping onto the snow.

Once ashore, groups follow their guides across gently rolling terrain, stopping often to enjoy the scenery and photograph the incredible landscapes. Outings typically last 2–3 hours and are run separately from regular Zodiac cruises and landing activities, giving you a more intimate experience.

Getting Up Close and Personal With Your Polar Experience

To experience the polar regions in a truly intimate way, there’s really no better seat than the one in your kayak, just inches above the water, navigating among icebergs and glacial ice dating back 30,000 years. Gliding through an otherworldly landscape with a small team, led by our expert guides and occasionally joined by playful wildlife, this is about as magical as it gets.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 season, we will be offering two distinct kayaking programs. Details below.

Immersive Kayaking
$895 (25-26 season) / $1195 (26-27 season)
Limit 10 participants*

This program is designed for those more experienced guests who want to kayak as much as possible during their voyage. Immersive Kayaking is limited to 10 participants, with a dedicated kayak guide and safety Zodiac. Immersive paddlers will have the opportunity to kayak during most excursions and landings, weather and conditions permitting.

* Advanced booking is highly recommended. Only available on Antarctic voyages.

Discover Kayaking
$250 (25-26 season) / $350 (26-27 season)
Prices are per outing. Participation Varies by Voyage*

This program is designed for those guests who just want a taste of the Polar kayaking experience. Each participant kayaks once per voyage in a group of 14 with a dedicated guide team and safety Zodiac. Total number of available kayaking spots on each departure will vary by itinerary length and weather, but we aim to get groups on the water at every opportunity.

*Advanced booking is recommended. Additional outings can be purchased on board, space permitting.

Advanced Booking Requires 20% Deposit: Because the number of kayaking opportunities will vary by voyage and ship, we are setting the pre-booking availability for Discover Kayaking very conservatively. Another reason to book early! Additional spots may become available on board, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Details:

Anyone 14 or older, in reasonably good health and with even a small amount of paddling experience is welcome to join. Our kayaks have a per person weight limit of 260 lbs.

Prior to your first kayaking adventure, our guides will do a thorough job of handing out and explaining all your gear, as well as the basic rules of operating an ocean kayak.

Typical excursions last anywhere from 1-3 hours.

We Provide:

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) tandem (two-man) kayaks with paddles, dry suits, personal floatation devices (PFDs), and pogies (neoprene gloves.)

You Provide:

Guests pre-booked on both of our kayak programs should read and follow the detailed preparation notes sent prior to departure. Make sure to bring warm layers and a keen sense of adventure!

Citizen Science on Every Voyage

Having a Citizen Science program on every voyage is an effort we pioneered, as the very first Antarctic operator to officially collaborate with The Polar Citizen Science Collective. We continue to team up with them on several projects, giving our passengers the chance to play a meaningful role in recording and better understanding the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems and the impact of climate change. This is particularly helpful in the polar regions, where we support long-term academic observation teams that would find it nearly impossible to be as ever-present on their own.

The projects offered may vary slightly by voyage and scientific need. Everyone is welcome to participate. If interested, please see the onboard daily bulletin and join the scheduled Citizen Science Introduction Meeting at the start of your voyage. There is no additional cost.

Citizen Science Projects:

Cloud Observations for NASA GLOBE Observer

By observing and recording cloud cover & type timed to NASA satellite fly-overs, we help scientists understand how surface and air temperature are affected by cloud cover, and how clouds respond to a changing climate.

Seabird Surveys Using the eBird App

The project is building a long-term ecological monitoring program of seabirds in the Southern Ocean and along the Antarctic Peninsula. These recordings help researchers understand how birds use oceanic habitat, to discover new details about the lives of these remote species, and ultimately how their behavior and populations might be changing as a result of climate change.

Phytoplankton Data for Scripps Institution of Oceanography

By collecting phytoplankton samples in fjord systems along the Antarctic Peninsula, we help scientists obtain a seasonal picture of phytoplankton abundance, composition, and distribution, as well as how phytoplankton are influenced by (increasing) melt-water inflow from glaciers.

Secchi Disk Study for the Secchi Disk Foundation

Measuring Secchi depth, a measure of the depth at which you lose water clarity, is another important indicator of the relative abundance of phytoplankton, critical to Antarctica’s food chain. Using a Secchi Disk, our Citizen Scientists record and report findings to The Secchi Disk Foundation in the UK.

Identifying Whales for Happywhale

We photograph unique identifiable markings on a whale’s fluke (tail) and dorsal fin, so Happywhale can non-invasively track their movements over time. By focusing on whales, we bring attention to the marine ecosystem as a whole and the challenges we face as a global community.

Collecting Data for the South Georgia Big Seaweed Search

The aim of this project, led by scientists from London’s Natural History Museum, is to study the seaweed diversity and distribution in South Georgia, assessing threats from climate change and invasive species.

Antarctic Snow Algae Study

Snow algae are tiny single-celled plants that live in the snow and play a significant role in the environment by increasing the absorption of sunlight, leading to increased melting of Antarctic snow. Our study is helping scientists understand the effect that warming Antarctic temperatures may be having by intensifying their growth.