The Weddell Sea has become synonymous with the torturous northerly drift of Shackleton’s Endurance expedition. Travel where few are able, on a truly exploratory voyage of sunsets and ice sculptures.

A spectacular way to spend Christmas or to see in the New Year!

We break new ground whenever we travel on this easterly route as the ice here is notoriously unpredictable. This trip is built for the adventure seeker who wants to explore.

From Ushuaia, the southernmost city in South America, we set sail for the volcanic South Shetland Islands, where we’ll make several landings each day – with location and frequency dependent upon weather and ice conditions. Our first landing may be on Deception Island, site of a large chinstrap penguin colony. Deception is a mountainous and volcanically active island where steam rises from the black sand beaches.

Weather permitting, our next stop will be Esperanza Base, Argentina’s scientific research station. There’s a large Adélie penguin colony in the area and, by this time of the year, many will be tending to newborn chicks. Next we’ll see how far the sea-ice will let us push through the bergs into the heavily-iced Weddell Sea.

James Ross Island boasts two volcanic mountains named Erebus and Terror, after the ships in Ross’ expeditions. From here we travel back to the north and visit Paulet Island, site of one of the largest Adélie penguin colonies. Then we’ll attempt a landing on Elephant Island, where the Endurance sailors took refuge while Shackleton went to seek rescue.