Board the life-changing expeditions in Antarctica

Jump on board and experience the unparalleled adventure in the Antarctic. Discover the rich human history and unique wildlife at the edge of the world.

Aurora Expeditions will take you to the magical subantarctic islands and have one-of-a-kind experiences like hiking the ice-covered landscapes, witnessing the lively penguin colonies, and watching the whales.

TD had a chat with snorkelling and diving guide Edwin Sargeant about Aurora Expeditions’ journey back to Antarctica.

Travel Daily (TD): Can you give us an overview of your Antarctic Expeditions? What is the highlight of each journey?

Edwin Sargeant (ES): This is a difficult question to answer as every expedition is different, even each day can differ vastly from the previous day. We factor in a great deal of flexibility with our expeditions to allow for unexpected animal or bird sightings, to be able to follow whales as they appear and even be mesmerized by icebergs. The other consideration each day is the weather.

I am constantly astounded each time I delve below the water line in the epic frozen realm of Antarctica. The colours of the coral, the water and the ice almost defy description. The excitement of swimming near penguins and seals or snorkelling among whales. These are my highlights.

Operating intimate ships mean we can explore wild and hidden locations that very few visit and we have expeditioners on shore multiple times a day – weather permitting, of course. Our expeditioners love the immersive experiences that Aurora Expeditions provides. The feeling of giving back to society such as our popular Citizen Science program is popular along with many activities and multiple Zodiac and shore excursions. This is what we find is critical to our passengers’ enjoyment of their holiday.

TD: What are the unique activities that travellers can choose and enjoy?

ES: Aurora’s main aim is to offer life-changing experiences and have its passengers become ambassadors for the protection of our fragile blue planet and share their knowledge and experience on their return home.

An expedition cruise is very different to a general cruise. It’s about getting out to the destination several times a day and spending time immersing yourself in the spectacular surroundings, involving yourself in the plethora of additional activities like kayaking*, polar diving* and snorkelling*.  We even have snowshoeing* and ice camping*.

Aurora Expeditions was the first operation to offer scuba diving in Antarctica to its passengers in 1998.  Naturally, this is my passion, along with snorkelling, and I love showing divers the colourful, dynamic wonderland below the icebergs. It is an amazing adventure available to experience divers. However, Snorkelling is open to everyone. You just need to know how to swim.

“Education and enrichment are at the heart of the way we explore”

Education and enrichment are at the heart of the way we explore, and in addition to our highly qualified Expedition Teams lecture series, we offer our Citizen Science and Special Guests programs.

Citizen Science is the collection and analysis of data provided by our expeditioners in collaboration with polar scientists. Our Special Guests program is on dedicated sailings featuring additional experts in their chosen field – photography, exploration, health, wildlife, etc. – who share lectures, fireside chats, and phenomenal insights, elevating your expedition experience.

TD: How is sustainability ensured in each journey?

ES: Our Green Program was developed with the aim to reduce the environmental impact of our expeditions. Implemented in 2020, a range of actions were taken to reduce single-use plastics, practice better waste management, adopt more environmentally friendly products in bathrooms and laundry, and build a more sustainable supply chain.

Aurora Expeditions offers the chance to enrich each passenger’s curiosity and expand their knowledge and understanding of the places visited.  For example, one of our Citizen Science programs is a microplastics survey. The collected and invaluable data make a major difference to the scientific community and the marine environment.

We also promote the Take 3 for the Sea organization’s ethos. Take 3 for the Sea has a simple, but effective, mission that we encourage all our staff, crew and passengers to adopt: “take 3 pieces of rubbish with you anytime you leave the beach, waterway or… anywhere, and you have made a difference.”

In a world first, our new purpose-built ship, Sylvia Earle, has each of the public decks named after pioneering female conservationists – Dr. Carden Wallace AM, Joanna Ruxton, Sharon Kwok and Bernadette Demientieff – along with a deck dedicated to Dr Earle herself.  The deck theming will educate our expeditioners on the impressive and important conservation work each is undertaking.

Another reason to recommend Aurora Expeditions climate ethos is our commitment to the preservation of the environment. Aurora Expeditions was one of the founders of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), which created the environmental protocols for all commercial visitors to Antarctica and is also a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO). In doing so, Aurora Expeditions encourages its passengers to respectfully visit the planet’s wilderness areas and return as ambassadors charged with protecting these important regions.

TD: Why should travellers choose Aurora Expeditions to see the Antarctic region?

ES: When you travel with Aurora Expeditions, your clients are not only receiving 30+ years of experience lead, ship-based adventures to remote destinations. You’re also choosing a small-ship, low-impact expedition cruise that affords a deeper connection to everything you can experience in the polar regions and other out-of-the-way destinations.

Aurora Expeditions offers the largest number of world-leading expedition leaders and the best crew in the business. You’ll also unlock key insights and nuances about each destination we visit.

Our mission is to have our expeditioners disembark from an Aurora Expeditions voyage knowing far more than when they embarked, returning home as true ambassadors of the regions we have taken them to and influencing and enriching the knowledge of their friends and family too. These expeditions are life-changing, but they are educational platforms too.

*The optional activities are at additional costs.