World Photo Travels | Photography Tours and Expeditions

Antarctica Photography Sailing Expedition

«On the edge of our planet lies, like a sleeping princess, the earth clad in blue. Sinister and beautiful, she lies in her frosty slumber, in the folds of a mantle of snow, glowing with amethysts and emeralds of ice. She sleeps in the play of the icy halos of the Moon and the Sun, and her horizons are painted in pink, blue, gold, and green tones of pastel ... Such is Antarctica - a continent almost equal in area to South America, whose internal regions are actually less known to us than the illuminated side of the Moon».

These beautiful words written by US naval officer and polar explorer Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. in 1947 remain correct today.

From a visual point of view, little has changed here over the past 80 years, but the logistics have changed a lot. Since the early 2000s, many travel companies have been organizing trips to Antarctica. The most popular type of Antarctic tourism today is an expeditionary sea cruise. There is at least one drawback to this kind of Antarctic tourism for the photographer - the huge number of people on board and as a result - on shore. Modern technologies, navigation, and communication systems are allowing traveling to Antarctica in smaller vessels and we are happy to offer you a such unique opportunity.

If you’re looking to experience one of the most untouched regions of the world in an intimate, unhurried way away from the crowds — we are pleased to offer this private-charter photographic expedition aboard the polar class yacht SY Wind Dancer to you!

Exploring Antarctica on an expedition sailing yacht gives us an opportunity to choose the best spots and conditions for photography. Each day will be different! We can photograph icebergs and wildlife from the yacht and zodiac, land at penguin colonies, and explore historic scientific bases and whaling sites. The flexibility allows us to take full advantage of whatever Antarctica offers, from enjoying incredible southern sunset on the shore to following a pod of bubble-feeding whales with Wind Dancer. We can stop, enjoy and photograph every time we want. The crew and itinerary flexibility mean that when there is an opportunity – we go for it. We’ll also be able to push back the meal time if something interesting is going on onshore or in the water.

☛EXPEDITION FOCUS:

This expedition is dedicated to the specific needs and interests of photographers and is crafted to get the best experience possible photographing Antarctic wildlife and Landscapes. Vast Adélie, Chinstrap, and Gentoo penguin colonies will be at the top of our priority list. Other photogenic wildlife we expect to meet includes several species of seals such as Weddell, Crabeater, Fur, Elephant, and Leopard seals. There are also many interesting birds around including Giant Southern Petrels, South Polar Skuas, Antarctic Terns, Blue-eyed Shags, and others. Several species of whales frequent cold Antarctic waters and with some luck, we can witness the unique bubble-net feeding performance. Antarctica is one of the hot spots for photographing wildlife in a great landscape. The breathtaking snow-covered landscape combined with the abundance of wildlife will be among our main subjects. Our perfectly selected time frame will provide the best possible photo opportunities. The ground is mostly covered with snow, busy penguins are in process of building nests and mating (the most successful are already on the nests), and occasional snowfalls make perfect conditions for dramatic landscape and wildlife photography. Depending on the spring progress some Gentoo and Chinstraps in Shetland islands may already have chicks hatched by the end of our trip.

To get an idea of the sort of wildlife and landscape photographs you can take on this expedition please look through the Gallery. You can play the full-screen slideshow even on your phone (just flip it horizontally).

☛EXPEDITION HIGHLIGHTS:

• Vast Adelie, Chinstrap, and Gentoo penguin colonies. Giant petrels and albatroses. Seals and whales. Powerful glaciers, dramatic mountains, and giant icebergs.
• Towering peaks and glaciers, majestic straits, prolific wildlife, abstract icebergs, and amazing light.
• A very small group of just seven guests, on a comfortable vessel that can get into locations that bigger ships can’t reach.
• Beautiful extended hours of twilight for photography.
• Incredible freedom to experience Antarctica in an intimate way as the vessel’s size means we can maneuver into small coves and passages.
• The crew and itinerary flexibility mean that when there is an opportunity – we go for it.
• Luxury to spend as much time on land as you want, not rushed by any rigid schedules.
• Hand-on instructions and guidance by award-winning photographer and polar addict Mike Reyfman.
• Leading a small group Mike will be able to work with each client individually to make sure everyone brings home an exceptional Antarctic portfolio!
• Group critiques and presentations.

Expedition Itinerary

Day 0 | December 1, 2024

• We recommend traveling to Ushuaia at least one day in advance, to get some acclimatization and make sure your luggage has arrived with you.
• Arrive in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, and transfer to a domestic flight to the “End of the World.” "Fin del Mundo" (End of the World) is the semi-official name of Ushuaia, a resort town in Argentina located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the southernmost tip of South America. Despite its name, Ushuaia is a very colorful resort town with a lot of things to see and do. There are many good hotels in Ushuaia and we can recommend one to you.

Day 1 | December 2, 2024

• A member of the crew of the yacht will pick you up at the hotel (or meet at the airport if you arrive today) and accompany you to the ship where you will meet the captain and other members of the expedition team. We will stay the first night in the cabins aboard the ship.
• Introduction to the ship. Safety briefing from the captain.
• All meals are included, but you can purchase some snacks or a bottle of your favorite liquor in town.
• Crew making the final preparations before departing.

Day 2 | December 2, 2024

• Departure!  Sailing out the Beagle channel and into the DrakePassage!

Days 3-5 | December 3-5, 2024

• At sea. We cross the Drake Passage toward Antarctica.
• Huge albatrosses and giant petrels accompany our yacht and in the case of good weather ready to pose for the portraits.
• Crossing Drake on the sail-motor yacht takes from 4 to 5 days depending on the roughness of the seas and prevailing winds. Whilst the Drake can be a roller coaster ride with huge seas (Drake Shake), it can also be equally calm with only very minor swells (Drake Lake). In truth, we have experienced as much ‘Drake Lake’ as ‘Drake Shake’ on our previous trips and the seas have been relatively moderate most of the time. We don't want to lead you astray with our experiences as Drake's fearsome reputation is well earned and the Drake is to be respected above all. However, you shouldn’t fear a Drake crossing even if you are prone to seasickness. The key is to medicate before you start to feel sick. With proper medication before the onset of seasickness, even a rough Drake crossing can be enjoyable. The good news is, once you arrive in Antarctica the seas are significantly calmer and you can expect any sea sickness you might have experienced to subside and disappear quickly.
  
  And imagine what a real sea wolf flavor surrounds you after crossing The Drake by yacht! Envy and awe of all your "terrestrial" friends are guaranteed!
• If the weather is calm we will have a lecture or two during the voyage in order to help you prepare for our first photography session in Antarctica.
  

Days 6-16 | December 6-16, 2024

• The Drake is behind and our Antarctica journey is in the full swing!
• We will visit the South Shetland Islands including Half Moon, Livingston, Deception islands, and possibly some others.
• At Antarctic Peninsula, we land on Enterprise, Cuverville, and Melchior Islands - just to name a few. We look for whales and seals, visit penguin colonies, and nesting sites of Blue-eyed shags, and take zodiac rides to photograph icebergs.
• Ice permitting, we will sail through the incredible Lemaire Channel surrounded by towering granite peaks, and spend a night near Booth Island with one of the best sunset views in Antarctica.
• We can even try to reach Vernadsky Antarctic Research Base. If we do so - this will be the southernmost point of our expedition. Run by Ukraine, «Akademik Vernadsky» is the friendliest station in Antarctica and scientists always make everyone feel welcome. Here you can drop into «Faraday» - the southernmost bar on the entire planet, have a beer, and spend the evening with polar explorers listening to their stories of life in Antarctica. Due to our long ties with this base, we are also allowed to visit the steam bath. To show our thanks we always bring gifts - some fresh fruits, and vegetables.
• On our way back we'll visit one of the most sought-after destinations in Antarctica - Port Lockroy. The bay was discovered in 1904, was used by whaling vessels between 1911 and 1931, became a military base during World War II, and then a scientific research station until 1962. In the 1990s as Antarctic tourism grew the former base was rebuilt. Now Port Lockroy is Antarctica’s most-visited tourist spot. With penguins, ice caps, snowy mountain ranges, a cool museum, a gift shop, and even a charming little post office, this place is full of fun surprises! Make sure you have the addresses of friends you want to send a postcard to, take your passport with you to get it stamped, and have some cash to buy souvenirs.
• On the last day before crossing back, we rest and enjoy the natural beauty of Antarctica. Daredevils can take a polar plunge in crystal clear water. We then get ready to make the Drake Passage the next day.

Days 17-19 | December 17-19, 2024

• At sea heading toward Ushuaia, Argentina.  
• We should see the passage with different eyes now. It’s all that much more familiar, and sea birds accompany us again. We go around Cape Horn, which we can get closer to in case of good weather. How beautiful to see this cliff face, feel the scent of bushes, and flowers in the air, and watch impressive swells breaking on the rocks. No wonder this Cape has so many mysteries written about it.

Day 20 | December 20, 2024

• Arrival at the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.  We anchor in Martial Cove or Lennox Cove.

Day 21 | December 21, 2024

• This is a spare day we have in case The Drake Passage takes longer than intended.  If we make it across sooner we take this time to rest and reflect on our trip.

Day 22 | December 22, 2024

• We arrive in Ushuaia. We think about what an amazing journey of discovery we have just completed and say goodbye to the expedition yacht, captain, and crew.
• You can plan your return flights for the afternoon.

Suggested Expedition Route

Expedition yacht SY Wind Dancer

SY Wind Dancer, a 21-meter steel sail-motor Bermuda sloop was designed by Sciomachen - Naval Architects and Yacht Designers and built by Viking Marine-Rahmi H.Koc in 1996. The metal hull with a long keel line has excellent seaworthiness.

On board is a professional crew with extensive experience in sailing icy waters: Captain, First Mate, sailor, and talented cook.

• Yacht length: 21.64 meters (71 feet)
• Width: 5.48m
• Draft: 3.2
• The design of the yacht has a spacious pilothouse to shelter the crew on the upper deck in bad weather.
• The yacht is equipped with a 265-horsepower Perkins diesel engine with a power of 225 (kW).
• Fuel supply 2100 liters in two tanks.
• Freshwater supply 1000 liters + distiller producing 140 liters per hour.

In 2015 and 2018, a major reconstruction of the yacht was carried out for its operation in the high latitudes of the Arctic and Antarctica. Wind Dancer is an ice-class vessel, and its equipment allows sailing of any complexity, including high latitudes with challenging ice conditions.

For a comfortable stay of guests and crew on board, there are:

• 4 toilets with showers;
• autonomous heating system for all residential interior spaces;
• independent air conditioning system for each room;
• television;
• modern audio system;
• washing machine with dryer;
• satellite connection;
• fully equipped kitchen with fridge and freezer;
• library;

Two diesel generators, service batteries, and a powerful inverter provide all the premises of the yacht with a voltage of 220 volts during long passages. An inflatable boat with an outboard motor ensures the landing of the crew on the shore.

The yacht can comfortably accommodate 12 people: 8 passengers and 4 crew members. The accommodation is provided in comfortable cozy cabins with separate beds for 2 people. Each member of the expedition will be provided with a duvet, pillow, bed linen, and towel.

CABINS 1 & 2 | $11900 $11,400 (before November 30, 2023)
Two lower berths, wardrobe, and drawers. Shared Bathroom.

CABIN 3 | $11900 $11,400 (before November 30, 2023)
One bunk (one upper and one lower berth), wardrobe, and drawers. Bathroom shared between two cabins.

CABIN 4 | $12900 $12,400 (before November 30, 2023)
Two lower berths, wardrobe, and drawers. Private bathroom.

Prices quoted per person in US$, are based on twin-share. If you wish to have your own private cabin, the single occupancy supplement is 90% of the twin share price. No single supplement applies if you are willing to share your cabin.

Is this trip for you?

Participating in this voyage does not require a high level of physical fitness but the length, commitment, and remoteness of this expedition require participants to be in overall good physical and mental health.

We will be on one of the biggest and most comfortable sailing boats operating in the Antarctic, with private double cabins, a water maker, 4 bathrooms, hot showers, and a 24/7 running heater keeping the inside dry, warm, and cozy. Anyway, sailing on an Expedition Yacht means that the cabins and common places are rather small and all the crew and passengers share pretty much everything. It can be considered an Adventure in its true meaning!

Registering for this trip please be sure that you can:

• Stay without medical assistance for the duration of the trip;
• Share small spaces with others, while demonstrating a strong team spirit, and a good sense of humor;
• Be sufficiently stable on your feet that you can, for example, stand on a bus/train with little to minimum holding in normal conditions.
• Get in and out of a Zodiac (small rubber motor-boat) on a beach with a little swell;
• Walk a mile on an uneven surface with a little elevation gain without getting exhausted;
• Climb a 6ft vertical ladder;

No sailing experience is necessary but the crew can offer the rare opportunity to learn many things about the ship and life aboard it with hands-on experiences (only if you are interested). In this case, you aren’t a mere spectator – you are an active, participating crewmate! Some of your duties may include ice watch, participation in sailing maneuvers, work in the galley, etc.

This voyage is tailored for amateur as well as professional photographers, but you don’t need to be a photographer to join us on this expedition.

Seasickness

Everyone is different, but we recommend bringing seasickness pills/patches with you (we will recommend proven brands and combinations).

The Drake Passage is renowned for its storms and wild seas, as waves build high and power across the Southern Ocean unchecked by any land mass. But it’s also entirely possible to make the three-day crossing in completely calm seas. If this happens to you, count yourself lucky and enjoy your sweet, blessed Dramamine-free days aboard the yacht. More often than not though, you will experience some rough seas along the way (and maybe miss a couple of meals), but this a remarkably small price to pay for what waits on the other side of the Drake Passage. Incredible wildlife, powerful landscape, and overall experience are well worth the temporary discomfort, so don't let a fear of seasickness scare you away!

Even if you are prone to seasickness, there is a good chance that won't need your medication after crossing the Drake, as seas are generally calm around the Antarctic Peninsula with a lot of sheltered places to explore. Also, after the crossing, you most likely will gain your “sea legs.”

Payment Terms

• A deposit of $3,000 USD must be paid at the time of booking to secure your place.
• The second payment of $4,000 USD is due November 26, 2023.
• The balance is due August 26, 2024, 120 days before the start of the expedition.

Payments are non-refundable. Please visit the "Terms & Conditions" page for our full Refunds and Cancellations Policy.

What is Included

If you are excited by the idea of photographing the dramatic landscape and wildlife of Antarctica with a very small group of just seven dedicated photographers - now is the time to book your spot! Please fill out the registration form and we will send you payment instructions if the desired spot is available. Places are very limited and once they are spoken for that's it!