Antarctic Shore Excurions

Antarctic Shore Excurions – meeting the locals

That’s why you’re on this site and considering an expedition cruise to Antarctica right – to go ashore and explore to see penguins, whales, seals, icebergs, glaciers and to experience the White Continent.

There are over a hundred sites you can visit on an Antarctic cruise.  Shore excursions vary greatly dependent upon the site, the weather and the timing of your visit.  Early in the season (November) there is a far greater chance you will encounter snow, sometimes a lot of it.  That’s where snowshoers can be very helpful, i.e. they make tracks that the other people going ashore can use to walk around.    Humans are not the only creatures that make use of a well-worn trail – see Video.

The Antarctic Peninsula has many islands to which you’ll be delivered by zodiac.  Every cruise itinerary will also ensure you get to set foot upon the Continent of Antarctica.

Antarctic Shore Excursion Experience

Each itinerary offered by any given ship will have a number of sites that it has pre-selected to visit.  Most of the time the ship will stick to those sites as it’s through this mechanism that IAATO controls the number and timing of ship visits.  This ensures that multiple ships don’t try to offload clients at the same site at the same time; which would be damaging for the site and far less enjoyable for any visitors.  Occasionally weather or ice conditions may mean that access to a specific site is prevented, which is when it is possible that the ship visits another nearby site that is available.  Some changes end up creating even more memorable experiences.

On a recent cruise the Expedition leader said there were three key things; 1.  Flexibility, 2, Flexibility and 3….  And I think he’s right.  The one thing you can be assured of is your expedition team want you to see, do and experience as much as is safe and possible.

Some sites lend themselves to having a reasonable hike; that again depends upon the season and conditions at the time of your visit.  Places like Deception Island offer a range of hiking options as well as differing interests; stunning views, history and of course wildlife.

Emperor Penguin Rookery at Snow Hill Island – only possible early season on a ship with helicopters

Bull elephant seal – November South Georgia

Antarctic Site Specific Guidelines

Each site has a set of specific guidelines.  They have been drawn up to ensure guests can visit safely and without negatively impacting the site.

Most sites have a limit of 100 guests (+ expedition staff) ashore at one time.  There are a very small number of sites where the limit is lower; Prion Island in South Georgia is one such site (Prion Island is closed to visitors 20 Nov – 7 Jan each year).  Here a maximum of just 50 (including Expedition staff) can be ashore at one time.  It’s here that you can visit breeding Wandering Albatross.  Boardwalks and steps have been built to enable good access to the Island and to get you reasonably close to Albatross. As there’s not that much room, and Antarctic Fur seals seem to enjoy lying out here too, it’s necessary to keep numbers lower.

Hikes and Walks

Most ships will offer a number of on-shore hike options; short/easy, medium (still most guests can do) and some longer hikes– requiring a decent level of fitness. Your expedition leader will give you a briefing each evening prior to any visit – they will make it very clear if any of the activities require any specific level of fitness. Clients usually pre-select their level of hike so the ship operator can organise guides and equipment, they may also ferry (zodiac) those doing the longer hikes ashore first.

All groups will be escorted by experienced guides.

Longer hikes are sometime offered on South Georgia, the Falklands Islands and particularly the New Zealand sub-Antarctica Islands.

Hiking on New Zealand sub-Antarctic Auckland Island

Hiking on boardwalk to Royal penguin colony – Macquarie Island

Walking on Cuverville Island – Antarctica

Hike to black-browed albatross colony – Falkland Islands

Wildlife Watching

Some sites have significant wildlife to view.  On the Antarctic Peninsula there are numerous smaller colonies of gentoo and Adelie penguins, with Chinstraps often found in quite large colonies.  You may also see seals and other birdlife.

On South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and some Sub-Antarctic Islands (like Macquarie) there is a greater variety of wildlife to see.  King penguin colonies with perhaps 50,000 pairs of penguins.  Early season you see Antarctic Fur seals and elephant seals.

Some like Antarctic fur seals need to be approached with care and very occasionally may even prevent a landing at a specific site.  Your expedition leader will often go ashore first, scout out the site and then if everything is in order confirm that guests can go ashore.  Safety of clients is paramount – they also want to ensure that visiting does not negatively impact wildlife.

Approach Distances to Wildlife

Over the last three decades a significant amount of research has been conducted to identify safe approach distances to different species of wildlife.  For most penguins that’s five metres (and some obviously don’t know that rule as they will come right up to your feet (which kind of says they are not frightened – and still move carefully away).  Other species like Giant Petrels need more space particularly when breeding (25 metres).

Antarctic Fur seals set their own rules.  Young males seem to enjoy playing with us – older males can be quite aggressive and your guides will ensure a safe distance is kept.  Please never run away as that’s an invitation to chase you.