RED SAILS EXPEDITIONS
2024/2025
THE ANTARCTIC
Antarctica with crossing the Drake Passage by airplane in both directions
PRISTINE NATURE
UNIQUE WILDLIFE
OVERNIGHT STAYS
IN AMAZING LOCATIONS
IN AMAZING LOCATIONS
The Antarctic is one of the few places on Earth where one does not feel the presence of people. Apart from polar explorers from a few stations, no one has properly settled
on this far, inaccessible continent covered with permafrost, snow deserts and unparalleled landscapes.
on this far, inaccessible continent covered with permafrost, snow deserts and unparalleled landscapes.
Most likely the first wildlife representatives you'll see will be penguins, the funny birds that are so clumsy on shore and as quick as lightning in the water. The Antarctic peninsula
is inhabited with hordes of penguins, and also with whales, seals, southern elephant seals, blue-eyed shags, sea leopards… These are only some of the animals you'll be able to watch in their natural habitat.
is inhabited with hordes of penguins, and also with whales, seals, southern elephant seals, blue-eyed shags, sea leopards… These are only some of the animals you'll be able to watch in their natural habitat.
Apart from several stops at polar stations you are going
to wake up among wild nature, sometimes to penguins' chirping: in an extinct volcano crater, next to a sunken ship, in bays surrounded by cliffs and glaciers.
to wake up among wild nature, sometimes to penguins' chirping: in an extinct volcano crater, next to a sunken ship, in bays surrounded by cliffs and glaciers.
Program of the expedition
to the Antarctic
to the Antarctic
Bienvenido or welcome to Chile! We meet in the city of Punta Arenas. From this glorious city we take a direct flight to King George Island, where Bellingshausen station and our sailing yacht are waiting for us. Here we will look for sea lions and seals, and on the way we will surely see seals lazily lounging on the shores of the island. For avid birdwatchers, this is certainly a paradise! There are an incredible number of albatrosses and gulls, and in season there are petrels, terns, skuas and cormorants.
1-2 day
Arrival in Punta Arenas (Chile), departure to Bellingshausen polar station
We are going to the Yankee Harbour and the Halfmoon Island. The coastline of the Yankee Harbour is covered with pebbles. It is a protected area and the habitat of gentoo penguin colonies, elephant seals and fur seals. The Halfmxoon Island has a shape of a half moon as you might have guessed already, it is partly covered with Antarctic moss. Here we can also meet elephant seals, gentoo and chinstrap penguins and giant petrels.
3 day
Yankee Harbour Islands and Halfmoon Island
We'll spend the night in a flooded caldera of the active volcano at the Deception Island. The island structure resembles a horseshoe and it has the best natural harbor for waiting out any extreme weather. At the beginning of the 20th century it used to be a whaling station here; it’s remains can still be found on the island. The Bailey Head headland is located on the outer side of the island, it is inhabited by the largest colony of the Antarctic penguins. It is an amazingly beautiful place but extremely difficult to disembark at. We will need a total lack of wind and a calm ocean in order to get there.
4 day
Deception Island
As a rule we do not step ashore here, instead we sail on a motorboat among huge icebergs and cliff arches coming out of the water.
5 day
Trinity Island
We'll moor for a night to a sunken ship in the place called Enterprise. In the daytime we'll be looking
for whales here. If you are lucky, you'll see one of the most stunning wildlife activities — bubble net feeding, the process when whales blow bubbles from their noses to encircle their food like a net,
and then several whales come up to the surface at once and gulp up the krill caught into their bubble trap. From above these bubbles look like an even spiral. That is an unbelievable, breathtaking show!
for whales here. If you are lucky, you'll see one of the most stunning wildlife activities — bubble net feeding, the process when whales blow bubbles from their noses to encircle their food like a net,
and then several whales come up to the surface at once and gulp up the krill caught into their bubble trap. From above these bubbles look like an even spiral. That is an unbelievable, breathtaking show!
6 day
Enterprise
We are heading for Orne Harbour - an island with a colony of Gentoo penguins and blue-eyed cormorants. If the water is clear, you can climb a higher hill and watch whales and seals. Those who decide to climb to the very top will have a panorama of the neighboring group of islands and a bay
with icebergs.
with icebergs.
7 day
Orne Harbour Island
We will stop at the Cuverville Island Bay and Neko Harbour, which are close to each other. Cuverville Island is a dark, cliffy island with a bay filled with icebergs. A colony of papua penguins lives here,
and in the coastal waters you'll easily see seals enjoying themselves on the ice floes. Another penguin colony inhabits the Neko Harbour, however we make a stop here for a different reason — to have a look at a gigantic glacier with ice chunks calving off it and falling into the water with a roaring
sound and a huge wave.
and in the coastal waters you'll easily see seals enjoying themselves on the ice floes. Another penguin colony inhabits the Neko Harbour, however we make a stop here for a different reason — to have a look at a gigantic glacier with ice chunks calving off it and falling into the water with a roaring
sound and a huge wave.
7 day
Cuverville Island
Lemair Channel separates Booth Island from the Antarctic Peninsula. The most narrow part of the Channel is only 300 meters wide: one can see sheer cliffs up to 400 meters high rising from both sides of the vessel. Sailing through this channel is one of the most memorable moments of the Antarctic cruise. Orcas and humpback whales visit these waters quite often.
Yalour Islands is a group of low rocky islands not far from the Academic Vernadsky station. This is one of a few places on the Antarctic peninsula inhabited by a colony of Adélie penguins. The island itself is surrounded by icebergs and ice floes with seals resting on them.
Yalour Islands is a group of low rocky islands not far from the Academic Vernadsky station. This is one of a few places on the Antarctic peninsula inhabited by a colony of Adélie penguins. The island itself is surrounded by icebergs and ice floes with seals resting on them.
8 day
Lemair Channel. Yalour Islands
It's time to send postcards from Port Lockroy station. It used to be a whale factory at the beginning
of the 20th century, then it was turned into a British Antarctic Exploration Centre, and in 1996
they transformed the station into a museum and the southernmost post office in the world.
The museum is open only during the tourist season, from November till March. You can send
a postcard or a letter from here, and buy some souvenirs. They do accept card payments.
of the 20th century, then it was turned into a British Antarctic Exploration Centre, and in 1996
they transformed the station into a museum and the southernmost post office in the world.
The museum is open only during the tourist season, from November till March. You can send
a postcard or a letter from here, and buy some souvenirs. They do accept card payments.
9 day
Port Lockroy
Our expedition has come to the finale. We return to the Bellingshausen polar station, say goodbye to the crew and the yacht and fly to the continent, to the Chilean city of Punta Arenas! In the pre-Columbian era, the territory of modern Punta Arenas was inhabited by the Tehuelche Indian tribes, who were engaged in hunting, fishing and gathering. The first whites to visit these lands were the Spaniards from Fernan Magellan's circumnavigation expedition in 1520.
Bellingshausen station. Departure to Punta Arenas
10-11 day
OUR PRICES
Please, take into account that the start date, the described route and the duration of stops during the expedition to the Antarctic might vary upon the captain's understanding depending on weather conditions and other circumstances.
Expedition dates:
05.12.25 - 18.12.25;Last available spots
18.12.25 - 28.12.26;Last available spots
18.12.25 - 07.01.26;SOLD OUT
07.01.26 - 17.01.26;SOLD OUT
17.01.26 - 27.01.26;SOLD OUT
27.01.26 - 06.02.26;SOLD OUT
18.12.25 - 28.12.26;Last available spots
18.12.25 - 07.01.26;SOLD OUT
07.01.26 - 17.01.26;SOLD OUT
17.01.26 - 27.01.26;SOLD OUT
27.01.26 - 06.02.26;SOLD OUT
PRICE INCLUDES:
- accommodation in cabins;
- bed linen and towel;
- berthing expenses (water/electricity);
- fuel duty;
- three meals per day on board;
- professional sailing team service;
- cook's service
€10,900
Take your first step
to an expedition with us
to an expedition with us
Take your first step
to an expedition with us
