Epic Antarctica: Across the 7th Continent

Epic Antarctica: Across the 7th Continent 34 Days

Prices From £31,416pp
January to March | 33 nights

Up To 10% Discount!

No Single Supplement!

Single Cabins Available

Epic Antarctica: Across the 7th Continent 34 Days

Aboard: Greg Mortimer Douglas Mawson

Join one of the planet’s most incredibly impressive exploratory expeditions as you set sail for an epic Antarctic adventure that will see you discover New Zealand’s enigmatic Subantarctic Islands, the indescribable Ross Sea region, and the spectacular Antarctic Peninsula. Perfect for thrill-seekers and history enthusiasts alike, this is your calling to become one of few people in the world to have ever completed this legendary journey, following in the wake of renowned explorers like Scott, Ross, Amundsen and Shackleton. As you sail aboard a luxury, pioneering expedition vessel from New Zealand to South America, across the Antarctic Circle, enjoy thrilling Zodiac cruises and shore excursions guided by a team of passionate experts who know these lands and the wonders they hold like no other. Discover incredible wildlife, breathtaking scenery and simply unforgettable experiences.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the beauty and majesty of this remote and pristine environment.

Various departures available. Please enquire for full dates and rates.

Highlights

  • Explore around some of New Zealand’s stunning Subantarctic Islands which play host to incredible biodiversity including a number of rarely-spotted species
  • Sail and adventure through the awe-inspiring Ross Sea region, where few have gone before
  • Immerse yourself in the unparallelled wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula
  • Encounter prolific wildlife including up to 8 different breeds of penguin, Weddell and leopard seals, whales and countless seabirds
  • Breathtaking scenery at every turn, from remote islands and beaches to dramatic mountain ranges, tabular icebergs and imposing ice shelves
  • Enjoy thrilling Zodiac cruises and shore excursions guided by a team of passionate Antarctica experts who will offer insights and knowledge along the way
  • Kayaking options available (select departures – fees apply)

What's Included

  • Full board accommodation on board ship with daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, afternoon tea and snacks
  • Wines, beers and soft drinks with dinner
  • 1 night accommodation in Dunedin pre-voyage, with breakfast included
  • Transfers from airport in Dunedin, luggage transfer to ship and transfer to airport in Ushuaia
  • Captain's Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages
  • All Zodiac landings and excursions
  • Programme of expert lectures
  • Loan of rubber boots
  • Complimentary 3-in-1 polar jacket
  • WiFi where available

Up To 10% Discount!

Book select departures now and receive up to 10% discount off select cabins! Price shown includes discount.

Offer applicable when booked before 4th June 2026

Applies to new bookings on select departures and is subject to availability. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Full terms and conditions apply. / Available on selected dates/vessels.

No Single Supplement!

Book select departures now and solo travellers will get a dedicated solo stateroom with no single supplement! (usual supplement is 50%!)

Offer applicable when booked before 1st October 2026

Applies to new bookings on select departure dates. Subject to availability and is not combinable with any other offer. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Full terms and conditions apply. / Available on selected dates/vessels.

Single Cabins Available

This vessel offers single occupancy cabins, which is a perfect option for solo travellers. Travelling alone is often the best way to see the world. No responsibilities, no difficult choices and no trying to please anyone else…just you, your itinerary and your adventurous spirit!

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Dunedin
1 - 2Days

Dunedin

Arrive independently to Dunedin on New Zealand’s South Island, where you will be met by your tour representative, and join your group transfer to your assigned hotel for an included overnight stay. Throughout the day, a hospitality desk will be available to you for you to ask any questions about the upcoming trip and meet some of your crew members. In the early evening, a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation Briefing will be held, with light refreshments provided, and the rest of the evening will be at your leisure. Your expedition team can provide suggestions for dining this evening and things to do and see in Dunedin.

On day 2, after breakfast and checking out of the hotel, the rest of the morning will be at your leisure, allowing you some more time to explore Dunedin or simply relax before the adventures ahead. In the afternoon you will transfer to the port to board your luxury expedition vessel. Settle into your beautiful cabin and explore your sumptuous surroundings as we set sail for your once-in-a-lifetime epic Antarctica expedition.

At Sea
3Day

At Sea

Relax at sea today as we make our way towards New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands. Spend time chilling out on deck by the heated pool and jacuzzi, looking out for marine mammals in the waters below and iconic seabirds flying overhead. Pamper yourself with a sauna, a visit to the Wellness Centre, or enjoy a workout at the onboard gym. Relax in the bar with your fellow expeditioners, or join one of the fascinating talks, lectures and presentations delivered by your team of enthusiastic onboard destination experts who will offer insights on the wildlife, history and nature of the areas you are about to visit, as well as offering tips on birdwatching and perfecting your photography skills.

New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands
4 - 6Days

New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands

Over the next three days you will have the unique and privileged opportunity to explore around some of the remote and spectacular Subantarctic Islands which offer up an incredible example of natural biodiversity. Centuries ago, Māori navigators were the first to set foot on these islands, which hold immense cultural importance for Ngāi Tahu, the indigenous people of New Zealand’s South Island. Today, their stunning natural landscapes and remarkable biodiversity have gained worldwide recognition.

At Sea & Macquarie Island
7 - 9Days

At Sea & Macquarie Island

Day 7 will be spent at sea sailing towards beautiful Macquarie Island where we plan to spend two days exploring around this enchanting area. As you sail aboard the Douglas Mawson, you will learn more here about the great explorer and geologist that your ship was named after. As they sailed towards Antarctica, Mawson and his men encountered ‘an exquisite scene’. Macquarie Island (known affectionately as Macca) rises steeply from the Southern Ocean in a series of emerald summits: a beautifully fierce, elemental landscape teeming with life.

Home to one of the largest concentrations of life in the Southern Ocean, including 3.5 million breeding seabirds, with four species of penguin bustling for space alongside three types of fur seals and a large proportion of the world’s elephant seals, this is a wildlife wonderland that is simply a delight to explore. In addition to being a globally recognised and protected wildlife refuge, Macquarie Island played an important role in Antarctic history. It was here, in 1911, that five men disembarked Mawson’s Aurora and established a radio relay station which would transmit the first communication from Antarctica to the outside world.

At Sea
10 - 12Days

At Sea

Time for some well-earned relaxation at sea as we cross the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters, signalled by a noticeable shift in sea air temperatures. Keep an eye out on deck as we sail through these nutrient-rich waters for porpoising penguins, flocks of fluttering Antarctic petrels, or perhaps the more solitary snow petrel. As we near the Antarctic Circle, the sight of Antarctica’s huge icebergs appearing in the distance will bring with it a memorable sense of excitement as we get set to explore these remarkable lands.

Ross Sea
13 - 18Days

Ross Sea

It’s hard to describe the feeling of arriving in the awe-inspiring Ross Sea Region and just what makes it so incomparably memorable. Is it that first breath of the most fresh, crisp air on the planet. Is it the breathtaking icy landscapes. Or is it the astonishing array of uniquely adapted Antarctic wildlife species. The only way to really understand it, is to see it.

Embracing the true spirit of exploration, there will be no fixed itinerary as such here, with your experienced team designing your adventures day-by-day to make the most of every moment in this simply remarkable area, selecting the ideal landing sites based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. We will search for sightings of Ross Sea orcas, Antarctic petrels and South Pacific Weddell seals, and hope to visit Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin colony along with some of the world’s largest emperor penguin colonies. The unique biodiversity of the Ross Sea has been protected within the world’s largest marine protected area since 2016. And the human heritage of the Ross Sea coast is equally impressive. Since James Clark Ross discovered the region in 1841, countless expeditions have built base camps on scattered ice-free slivers of land, using them as staging posts for bold forays across the polar plateau. Many of them departed in a hurry, leaving artefacts, scientific equipment and sometimes entire huts behind. Today these sites are preserved as open-air museums and protected under the Antarctic Treaty System. Enjoy unforgettable Zodiac cruises and guided shore excursions as you immerse yourself in the heart of the epic Ross Sea.

Expedition Cruising
19 - 26Days

Expedition Cruising

For the next week, find your rhythm and settle into life at sea. Your expedition team will offer a daily program of educational activities, entertainment and citizen science programs, which you are welcome to attend. Join them for lectures and daily recaps of your progress, weather and trajectory. Take advantage of the many shared spaces on board: relax in the sauna, work out in the gym or grab a cuppa and peruse the library shelves as the ice shelves guarding the West Antarctic coast slide by.

There is plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home - especially as you gain a day by crossing the international date line! As always, the best place on the ship is out on deck, where Antarctic prions, snow petrels and great whales await - as long as the seas permit!

As you skirt the forbidding ice cliffs guarding the Antarctic ice sheet, spare a thought for British explorer James Cook, whose historic circumnavigation of Antarctica in the late 18th century encountered nothing but treacherous ‘ice islands’ and perilous winds that threatened to blow their wooden sailboat into the sea ice. Cook left the region firm in the belief that no Antarctic continent could exist, and if it did it “that the world will derive no benefit from it”. The search for Antarctica, which had been going for hundreds of years, ground to a halt, only resuming when a merchant sailor named William Smith chanced upon the South Shetland Islands in 1819. This discovery sparked visits from the sealers, whalers and scientists who would define the earliest eras of Antarctic exploration.

Your voyage continues west past the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas, towards the southern extremity of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Antarctic Peninsula
27 - 31Days

Antarctic Peninsula

For the next five days we will conclude our epic adventure with an exploration of the enchanting Antarctic Peninsula, enjoying thrilling Zodiac cruises, shore excursions and exciting ship navigation through narrow, picturesque straits and scenic bays surrounded by sculpted icebergs and dramatic mountain ranges at every turn. With the Peninsula’s spectacular scenery providing the ultimate backdrop, we will visit penguin rookeries, discover historic sites and explore some of the best landing sites along the peninsula. Walk along pebbly beaches, hike across snow-covered ridgelines rewarding in panoramic views, take an unforgettable polar plunge or join additional activities that may be available including kayaking as you immerse yourself in the wonders of Antarctica.

At Sea - Drake Passage
32 - 33Days

At Sea - Drake Passage

As your epic Antarctica cruise nears its conclusion, we will now sail towards South America as we traverse the legendary Drake Passage with our hearts and our cameras full of exceptional experiences that will live long in our memories.

Ushuaia - Disembark
34Day

Ushuaia - Disembark

As we gently sail up the scenic Beagle Channel early in the morning, we will dock in Ushuaia port where disembarkation will begin around 8am. A transfer to the airport will be provided.

A view from Above

All Aboard

Greg Mortimer
Luxury vessel

Greg Mortimer

The brand new (2018-19) “Greg Mortimer” is a purpose-built expedition vessel capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, and has been built to world-class polar standards. The Greg Mortimer redefines expedition cruising for the future, utilising the ULSTEIN X-BOW, a cutting edge nautical technology which allows for gentle travel and motion at sea, reduced vibrations, improved comfort and safety on board, virtual anchoring, lower fuel consumption and lower air emissions.

Robust, powerful, and built with passengers’ comfort and safety at the forefront of design, the Greg Mortimer features a modern ice-strengthened hull at ice class 1A, four sea-level launching platforms for fast and efficient access to Zodiacs, a custom-built activity platform, the most up-to-date and concise safety features including the latest ‘return to port’ technology, and has been built to meet and exceed the strict environment standards of the Polar Code, for non-intrusive and low-impact voyages.

For exceptional at sea wildlife and scenery viewing opportunities the ship has custom-built hydraulic platforms offering unobstructed views, an indoor observation lounge, side viewing platforms and an outdoor top deck which allows for 360-degree views.

With space for 132 passengers the ship has 80 well designed staterooms with en-suite bathrooms, ranging from porthole to balcony categories, a large dining room/restaurant with family style dining, a spacious lecture room, a well stocked library, Wellness Centre complete with gym equipment, sauna and spa, a multimedia room and a fully-stocked medical centre.

Douglas Mawson
First class vessel

Douglas Mawson

The newest addition to Aurora’s fantastic fleet of state-of-the-art small expedition ships, the Douglas Mawson is named after the legendary Australian geologist and explorer and features the same revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW® seen on the Sylivia Earle and Greg Mortimer. With industry-leading nautical technology and enhanced sustainability features making it one of the greenest expedition ships in the market, the Douglas Mawson carries a maximum of 154 passengers in an extensive range of cabin types.

A fabulous upper deck with heated outdoor swimming pool, sunbeds, and two Jacuzzis sets the scene for a luxurious adventure. Onboard you will find a gym, a sauna, a Citizen Science Centre and various relaxing lounges and observation spaces, along with two first-class restaurants.

we work hard to earn passionate reviews from our clients.

4.9
44 Google reviews

Now that I am back from my odyssey voyage, I thought I would let you know that after all that planning it really did exceed my expectations – we managed landings everywhere even on Tristan da Cuhna and had great bird sightings. The guides all knew what they were talking about too and made sure I got some great photos – still sorting them all out! Thanks for everything and see you at Birdfair!

Dave Martin

I want to thank you for all you did to make my recent Falklands trip run so smoothly and comfortably. Thank you for all your help over the diet too.

Dr Lorna Mairs

Just a quick note to express my sincere thanks to you and all your staff for making this an epic adventure of immense proportions. Everything went smoothly, pickups, hotels and most of all the expedition itself. Truly a mind blowing experience unlike any I have ever taken.

Mr J Borg, Malta

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Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Antarctica adventure for you.

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Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

With countless travel experiences and an enduring hunger for adventure, Sheena knows exactly what’s needed to craft a holiday of a lifetime. Her experience and generosity of spirit are legendary and she’ll help you build an itinerary that will make all your dreams come true.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

Simon’s deep passion for and first-hand knowledge of a vast range of destinations all over the world gives him the ideal skills to help you create a truly unforgettable wildlife inspired adventure to the most exciting places on the planet.

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Outside the uk
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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

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Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

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