Antarctica: An Audience with Emperors

• Expedition Type [ Arctic Expeditions ]
• Difficulty [ Mild ]
• Activities [ Winter Camping ]
• Duration [ 10 Days ]

Expedition Timeline

The black blur stands out starkly on the white-and-grey shadows of the coastal ice. We pull out binoculars for a closer look. The "blur" is alive. It is, in fact, some 15,000 emperor penguins, huddled together against the sub-zero winds coming off the sea. We've found the colony.

We settle in to camp, a warm and welcome refuge on the flat Antarctic plain. The Weddell Sea and the blue-white ice cliffs become our camp boundaries, and after a few days we feel a part of this polar community. With 24 hours of sunlight, the days merge with one another, and we come and go as we like, with no regard for the clock. There is so much to watch, with adult penguins sliding on their bellies and downy chicks sitting on their parents' feet to keep warm. We are asked to keep a respectful distance from the penguins, but the birds themselves are under no such restriction: they frequently waddle up to us as we observe them from our thermal mats, just as curious about us as we are about them. The constant trumpeting and mingled calls of the colony are indecipherable to us, and we are astonished every time parent and chick are able to locate each other amid thousands of other birds - just by these calls. To hear the penguin symphony is to understand how finely tuned nature truly is. We watch, take photographs and learn.

Day 1

Arrive Santiago/Punta Arenas

On arrival in Punta Arenas you are met and transferred to your hotel. This evening meet your fellow expedition members for a welcome dinner.

Hotel Cabo de Hornos [ D ]

Day 2

Punta Arenas

Prepare for your journey to the interior of Antarctica, one of the most difficult places in the world to reach by air. Days of delay are part of the experience and should be expected. Attend an expedition briefing regarding life at Patriot Hills and what you are likely to encounter while travelling to the final degree.

Hotel Cabo de Hornos [ B ]

Days 3-4

Punta Arenas/Patriot Hills, Antarctica

You are dependent on the weather for your flight to Antarctica, and once the weather is suitable, you fly five hours south to Patriot Hills. Nestled within the heartland of Antarctica, Patriot Hills is the only private camp in Antarctica. Settle in to your expedition-style camp and, after your first meal, attend an orientation briefing about daily life in Antarctica, followed by a brief tour of Patriot Hills. The next morning, you will have a final briefing before leaving Patriot Hills for the Penguin Rookery.

Base Camp [ B L D ]

Day 5

Patriot Hills/Penguin Rookery

Today — or on the first suitable day — pack up and fly east over the Ronne Ice Shelf to Berkner Island, where the aircraft re-fuels and then continues for a total of six hours to the emperor penguin colony. On arrival, your guides scout the area and set up the field base camp, close to a 1,000-penguin breeding colony on the remote Antarctic coastline.

Field Camp [ B L D ]

Days 6-7

Penguin Rookery

Over the next few days, you have many opportunities to observe and photograph this majestic bird, and to discuss penguin behavior with your ornithologist. The penguin are as curious about you as you are about them and frequently waddle up to you as you observe them from your thermal mat.

During your time here, you may observe penguin from as close as 50 feet. With a safe, well-marked route to the colony, you may come and go as you please around the clock, as the sun does not set. There is a great deal to observe, and the constant trumpeting and mingled calls of the colony are music to your ears; astonishingly, parents and chicks locate each other from among thousands of other birds just by these calls.

Your camp and tent are comfortable and warm, and between regular meals your cook keeps hot soup, warm beverages and snacks available. Dine in the common tent that features a kitchen, a small library and other basic amenities.

Field Camp [ B L D ]

Day 8

Penguin Rookery/Patriot Hills

If the weather cooperates the twin otter plane picks you up today and you return to Patriot Hills.

Base Camp [ B L D ]

Day 9

Patriot Hills/Punta Arenas

Today you’re scheduled to fly back to Punta Arenas. On arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel where the balance of your day is at leisure to relax and enjoy the hotel’s amenities.

Hotel Cabo de Hornos [ B ]

Day 10

Punta Arenas/Depart Santiago

Your adventure ends today when you fly to Santiago and connect to your international homebound flight.

[ B ]

My binoculars were trained on a father penguin and chick when suddenly the view went fuzzy. I looked up to see two adolescent penguins waddling straight toward me, curiously eyeing my camera bag.

Departure Dates & Pricing

Various Departure Dates can be arranged. Please tell us your preferred travel dates on the reservation form.