See Emperor Penguins
Still to do
Walk across sea ice to a colony of emperor penguins, the tallest penguins on Earth, with their fluffy grey chicks.
The adventure
The ship pushes deep into the Weddell Sea, where the ice is thick and the helicopters take over. They fly you across the frozen sea and land a few kilometres from the colony, and the last stretch is on foot, the snow squeaking under your boots.
Then you see them: thousands of emperor penguins, standing over a metre tall, their gold-and-white chests catching the low sun. Their chicks, grey and fluffy, huddle in crèches or stand on their parents' feet. Emperors breed through the Antarctic winter, the males balancing an egg on their feet for months in the dark and cold. It's the one penguin you haven't seen yet, and it's the hardest to reach.
Why it’s epic
- One of the few emperor penguin colonies tourists can reach.
- Helicopter flights from an icebreaker over the Weddell Sea.
- Emperor chicks in October and November.
What it is
The largest of all penguins, standing over a metre tall, breed on sea ice through the Antarctic winter. Snow Hill Island has one of the few colonies tourists can reach.
How to do it
Book a specialist expedition on an icebreaker with helicopters, sailing from Ushuaia in spring.
Top tip
Book early: only a handful of departures a year reach the colony, and they sell out.
Need to know
- Whether you reach the colony depends on sea ice and weather.
- Trips are expensive and very limited.
- Expedition insurance with medical evacuation is essential.
Make it happen
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about this.
Why it’s on my list
Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.
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