HEROIC SOUTH 

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ST HELENA

St Helena was built in the UK in 1989 and for many years served the very remote island of St Helena (mid-way between Africa and South America).  The St Helena was extensively refurbished in 2022 with a 8 million pound renovation. She is a classic and character-rich small expedition ship, truly one of a kind.   St Helena will carry a maximum of just 98 guests which means everyone can go ashore at the one time.  St Helena includes kayaking, snowshoeing as well as zodiac excursions and landings.

Day 1 Ushuaia

Board the expedition vessel in the afternoon, where you’ll meet your crew and fellow travellers. After settling into your cabin, the ship sets off along the picturesque Beagle Channel. Relish your first evening at sea as the southernmost tip of South America disappears from view.

Days 2 and 3 Crossing the Drake Passage

Start your Antarctic adventure with a crossing of the Drake Passage, a vast stretch of open ocean that marks the Antarctic Convergence. Attend expert- led talks on Antarctica’s history, wildlife and geology. The nutrient-rich waters often attracting seabirds and whales. By the end of day 3 the first sighting of icebergs and snow-capped peaks will signal your arrival at the South Shetland Islands.

Day 4 Antarctic Circle and Crystal Sound

Today, we set our sights on crossing 66°33′ South—the Antarctic Circle. As we navigate the icy expanse of Crystal Sound, we enter a world of drifting sea ice, ethereal light, and profound stillness—broken only by the call of Antarctic petrels or the breath of a surfacing seal. Our goal is to land at Detaille Island, home to the long-abandoned Base W—a British research station briefly occupied in the 1950s. Hastily evacuated due to encroaching sea ice, the station remains remarkably well preserved, offering a poignant glimpse into life during the heroic age of mid-century exploration. Nearby, Antarctic terns nest among the rocks, and you might spot a leopard seal cruising the ice edge.

Day 5 Marguerite Bay and Adelaide Island

Embracing the spirit of true expedition travel, we set our course for the remote and seldom-visited Marguerite Bay—a striking landscape of ice-choked waters, towering glaciers, and dramatic mountain backdrops. If conditions allow, we’ll aim to approach Rothera Research Station, operated by the British Antarctic Survey. While shore landings at Rothera depend on permission and sea ice, cruising in its vicinity offers a powerful sense of the station’s vital role in modern polar science. In these ice-filled waters, we may encounter Weddell seals resting on floes, Adélie penguins weaving through the ice, and perhaps a minke whale surfacing nearby.

Day 6 Pourquoi Pas Islands and Southern Channels

Today, we set out to traverse the breathtaking Gullet—a narrow, ice-filled channel that separates Adelaide Island from the mainland. This picturesque
and rarely visited passage was first charted by Jean-Baptiste Charcot and later explored by British expeditions. Towering cliffs and hanging glaciers rise
around us, while leopard seals patrol the ice floes in pursuit of penguins. If conditions allow, we may make a landing on Pourquoi Pas Island, once a refuge for early explorers during their extensive survey missions. Weather permitting, we’ll navigate this icy maze by Zodiac, following in the wake of the pioneering Antarctic cartographers.

Days 7 and 8 Penola Strait and Vernadsky Research Base and Lemaire Channel and Pleneau Island

As we journey northward along the coast, we pass through the magnificent Penola Strait, famed for its striking peaks and intricately shaped icebergs. Weather allowing, we’ll pause at Vernadsky Station, operated by Ukraine. Formerly the British Faraday Station, this site is renowned as the birthplace of groundbreaking ozone layer research in the 1980s. There may be an opportunity to explore the station’s facilities and visit the iconic southernmost bar on Earth – originally built by the British and still serving vodka to scientists and explorers who stop by.

Today, we set our sights on one of the most breathtaking waterways on the planet. The Lemaire Channel – known as the “Kodak Gap”—is bordered by towering cliffs and often packed with brash ice, mirrored by surreal reflections of majestic icebergs. At Pleneau Island, once a safe anchorage for Charcot’s expeditions, we’ll visit vibrant penguin colonies and navigate among grounded icebergs. Keep an eye out for leopard seals basking on the ice floes or humpback whales feeding just offshore.

Days 9 and 10 Antarctic Peninsula Highlights

Our final two days offer immersive exploration along the Danco Coast, with a possible landing at Neko Harbour – one of the best spots to set foot on the Antarctic continent. Surrounded by glaciers and gentoo penguins, we may hike for sweeping views or take a Zodiac cruise past calving ice cliffs. Whether it’s a remote research hut or one last landing on the mainland, your expedition team will make the most of every moment before we head north.

Days 11 and 12 Crossing the Drake Passage (Northbound)

Relive your adventures as you cross the Drake Passage, looking out for seabirds and whales along the way. Take part in final lectures or workshops and enjoy a celebratory dinner with your fellow travellers as you reflect on the unforgettable journey.

Day 13 Return to Ushuaia

Disembark your expedition ship in the the world’s southernmost city of Ushuaia.