Begin your Antarctic adventure by setting sail from King George Island to the fascinating Deception Island. One of the only spots in the world where you can sail into the eye of an ancient submerged caldera, Deception Island may be volatile but it's very very cool. Still considered to be an active volcano in the South Shetlands, this isle is every inch impressive with its ashy glaciers, smoking beaches, and remote slopes. The colour schemes of white and black and palest blue are striking and hikers will be in their element to climb the trail that leads up from Whalers Bay to Neptunes Window where you can see moon-like craters and enjoy incredible viewpoints. Despite its simmering nature, Deception Island is also home to plenty of wildlife wonders including chinstrap penguins, snowy sheathbills, cape petrels, and more.
We will spend some time exploring the island which features a unique horseshoe-shaped crater surrounded by towering cliffs. Guests can experience the breathtaking beauty of the snowy landscapes, black sand beaches, and steaming geothermal waters. There are opportunities for hiking, wildlife spotting, and exploring abandoned whaling stations. The island's rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions provide a truly adventurous and unforgettable experience for those seeking a one-of-a-kind destination.
Charter guests should be sure to mark the Gerlache Strait on their map as a must-see body of water when sailing around the Antarctic peninsula. A dream of humpback whales, rising blue icebergs, snow-capped mountains, and so much more - the Gerlache Strait sets the scene for a sublime Antarctic adventure. One of the great things about the Gerlache Strait is its location - for those exploring the wealth of the peninsular you can pass through this strait en route to the picturesque Kodak Alley.
Home to the most southern place you can post a letter, Port Lockroy is a must for any charter guest exploring the breadth of the Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctica is wild and remote and known for being a spot considered highly inhospitable with its frozen landscapes, bitter winds, and lack of civilization. But science and exploration have made humans have to carve out spots that capture our modern life and Port Lockroy is one such place. The former base can be found surrounded by majestic scenery on Goudier Island. Found back in the early 1900s by a French explorer, Port Lockroy makes for a fascinating stop. Send a postcard from the edge of the world, duck into the small museum, peruse the gift shop, and share this slip of land with a wealth of noisy Gentoo Penguins who call this place home.
At the gateway to the Errera Channel, you will find Cuverville Island. Wedged in between glaciers and mountains of the mainland, the island is simply put a rising slab of rock that sits over 800 feet high and is home to a busy colony of Gentoo Penguins. In fact, Cuverville Island is one of the largest rookeries in the whole of Antarctica with a sizeable gang of 6500 breeding pairs on the shingle beach. Because of these impressive stats, the area has been declared an important bird and biodiversity area by BirdLife International. Along with more penguins than you can count, you can also see minke whales, icebergs, and all that bucket list good stuff that makes Antarctica so spectacular.
The Danco Coast offers charter guests the chance to glimpse the frozen fantasy lands of the Antarctic peninsula. Found on the western side between Cape Renard and Cape Sterneck, this is a premier locale for admiring the dramatic sweep of the Antarctic Andes which rises like a whale's backbone across the icy white region. The vistas of mountains upon mountains and the layers of white on blue mark the Danco Coast out as one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the whole of the Antarctic peninsula. There are endless islets, bays, coves, floating icebergs, and hidden delights to explore. While the geology is gorgeous, Danco Coast is also rich in history and marine life too. This area was part of the historic voyage undertaken by Adrien de Gerlache back in the 19th century and is named after the lieutenant Danco who perished in this area. Peppered with some scientific bases, the Danco Coast is a must for photographers and dreamers who want to see deeper into the heart of these wild frozen frontiers.
Chartering through the south Shetlands and a stop at Hannah Point is sure to introduce you to some of Antarctica's most famous wildlife. Sitting in the middle of Livingston, Hannah Point is a popular breeding ground for thousands of Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins and home to Southern elephant seals. Charter guests can also see a wealth of large wing spanned birds including Kelp Gulls, giant Petrels, and Snowy Sheathbills. While Hannah Point is a first-class spot for seeing wildlife, there are restrictions during the breeding season to prevent the animals from being disturbed. Sailing around this glorious rocky outcrop dusted in pure white makes you feel like you have been dropped into a whole new world.
We make our return to King George Island, the adventure-lovers paradise. Due to its location and its opportunities for exploration, it has been highly coveted by a sprawling range of countries. England first claimed the place back in the 19th century but since then it has had a Russian, Brazilian, Argentinian, South Korean, Chinese, and German presence (to name but a few). While in the midst of remote wilderness, the island is fascinating as it plays host to a number of scientists and their families, meaning that civilization flourishes against one of the wildest backdrops.
The island offers a unique experience to visitors with its stunning icy landscapes, dramatic mountain ranges, and abundant wildlife.