Think about gliding by means of a silent sea of icebergs, the one sounds the occasional calving of glaciers, the decision of seabirds and the excited murmur of your handful of shipmates. Nowhere else on Earth rewards avid adventurers like Antarctica, the globe’s most distant and sumptuous polar wilderness. It’s simple to see why it makes so many nature vacationers’ bucket lists!
However first issues first. Why would you select a Nat Hab Antarctica expedition over an ordinary cruise to the White Continent? Effectively, should you’re aching for genuine immersion within the land of penguins and icebergs, our journeys are your ticket there.
Why Select a Nat Hab Antarctica Expedition?
Large ships can’t entry the smaller channels we go to, plus, on a typical cruise, you’ll be within the crowded firm of many extra vacationers than you’ll aboard our extra intimate boats. With Nat Hab, you sail on a vessel that accommodates simply 7 or 12 passengers, guided by professional naturalists.
Add to this the truth that we really love what we do, and we specialise in nature journey. In case your predominant objective is to expertise Antarctica’s nature and wildlife, you’ll profit from our Expedition Leaders’ huge experience and data. In any case, we’re the world’s foremost nature journey consultants—these are the solely forms of journeys we run!
So, how have you learnt which of Nat Hab’s two Antarctica adventures is best for you? We’ll be trustworthy: Even we discover it troublesome to resolve. They’re each simply that good! Right here, we’ll get into the main points of each our Final Antarctica by Non-public Expedition Yacht journey and our Crusing Antarctica Polar Wildlife Expedition.
We hope this information gives perception into what you’ll be able to count on from the totally different types of boat, and what you’ll do at sea and on land on every voyage. This can be a heady selection and a unprecedented journey, so when you have additional questions after studying about these Antarctica journeys, please attain out to our Journey Specialists for extra data!
Crusing Antarctica: An Intimate Exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula
If you happen to’re aiming for unique and exhilarating, our Crusing Antarctica expedition is for you. You’ll sail with simply seven vacationers on an ice-strengthened motorsailer. The one different residing creatures in your organization are the seals, whales and penguins you’ll see on the ice and within the water. A world-class skipper and seasoned polar crew will be certain that intrepid explorers such as you get pleasure from a uncommon expertise of one of the vital distant and sumptuous locations on Earth.
© Catherine Lang
Aboard Ocean Tramp
Our S/V Ocean Tramp is a 66-foot expedition motor sailboat that may accommodate eight company (however we journey with solely seven, affording everybody a bit extra respiratory room). She’s optimally designed for small-scale polar exploration, with swift passage throughout open seas but with agility sufficient to allow intimate exploration of the rugged shoreline and secluded bays which can be inaccessible to bigger cruise ships).
© Kelly Daughtry
Take it from Sara Higgins, Senior Journey Director for Nat Hab: “You’re feeling just like the ship is your house and like you’re on a real expedition exploring Antarctica. You actually get to know fellow vacationers and crew.”
The Ocean Tramp’s expansive ahead and aft decks make for excellent whale- and leopard seal-watching. And there’s a roomy, well-lit eating house inside with padded banquette seating round a generously sized desk.
© Colby Brokvist
4 visitor cabins supply various configurations, with the most important cabin being the Shackleton Suite, with a personal en suite rest room. For solo vacationers, there’s room for a single visitor within the Beagle Cabin. What you sacrifice by way of room house by not selecting a mega-ship shall be made up for in spades if you understand how shut and private you’re with this beautiful land and seascape.
Aboard Australis
Our S/V Ocean Australis is a 75-foot ice-strengthened crusing vessel that could be a sturdy, seasoned veteran of polar waters. Company spend practically two weeks on the motorsailer, which incorporates two Zodiac tenders for entry to distant coastal areas. Just like the Ocean Tramp, she’s nicely fitted to small-scale polar exploration throughout open seas, alongside rugged shoreline and into quiet bays.
© Colby Brokvist
Compact, cozy and that includes modern-day comforts, the Australis inside presents 4 cabins for a max of seven company. There’s a saloon with a big eating desk and leisure choices, in addition to a well-equipped galley kitchen.
The spacious outside cockpit has a detachable sunshade and is a superb spot for a barbecue on the aft deck when the climate permits. Company could climb into the crow’s nest for 360-degree views and improbable wildlife viewing. 4 visitor cabins supply various configurations and ranges of privateness.
© Ben Wallis
Final Antarctica: A Luxe Crusing Expedition Like No Different
Prepare for an journey of epic proportions aboard a ship you won’t first count on when crusing to Antarctica. With unparalleled grace and vigor, the Hanse Explorer, a 156-foot luxurious expedition yacht, carries simply 12 company in consolation and elegance right into a land of icy wonders. It’s a vessel you’ll usually need to utterly constitution, however we’ve taken that chore out of the equation and executed it for you.
© Martin Enckell
Our Final Antarctica voyage aboard the Hanse is for these whose expeditionary spirit is particularly robust and who’re drawn to discover in a context of remarkable consolation. Aboard this particular ship, you’ll discover all of the facilities of house (after which some), whereas on the similar time having intimate entry to the icebound ends of the Earth.
Aboard Hanse Explorer
What some could describe as a “superyacht,” we have a tendency to think about as an elevated expeditionary expertise—all of the attributes of a giant expedition vessel, however with simply 12 lucky company onboard.
“Even by Nat Hab requirements—the place the smallest teams enterprise to the planet’s wildlife locations to view wildlife in essentially the most intimate of contexts—this expedition is actually particular,” says Ben Bressler, Nat Hab’s founder and president.
© Justin Hofman
No must e book the complete vessel—we’ve acquired it taken care of. You’ll get the liberty and suppleness of a personal constitution, security, consolation, understated class, and a light-flooded inside that makes you’re feeling one with the wild world past. Inbuilt Germany in 2006, she was utterly retrofitted in a multi-million-dollar redesign in 2020, together with new state-of-the-art stabilizers that make for a extra nice trip. This ship can also be designed to maneuver at a quicker tempo than the motorsailers we use, so you’ll be able to count on to cowl extra distance (weather-depending).
Anticipate all of the luxuries of a world-class yacht however with an expedition-oriented model and extra move-about house than on the motorsailers. From the bar and lounge within the coronary heart of the visitor space, you’ll be able to sip your favourite drink whereas gazing out at panoramic views. Head out by means of glass-paned sliding doorways to the surface decks. Eating selections crafted by an acclaimed worldwide culinary workforce, an inviting statement lounge, the deluxe Finnish sauna and the highest deck sizzling tub are simply icing on the cake.
When it’s time for some shut-eye, retreat to 6 elegant and sensible visitor cabins on the principle deck, all an identical with personal en suite loos, a lot of pure gentle, a TV, desk, and ample closet and bureau house. There’s an Proprietor’s Suite for an additional indulgence, located on the Higher Deck, with a king mattress, en suite rest room and enormous, related open personal sitting space and workplace.
General, the Hanse Explorer continues to be an expedition ship, however the house you come to after your each day adventures is a extra well-appointed one. By creating a peaceful inside with understated class, there is no such thing as a effort to compete with the grandeur of the passing scene. In each side, she is without doubt one of the hardest, most secure, most nimble and cozy ships of her measurement.
Antarctica Encounters
Whichever ship or itinerary you select, you’re assured experiences like none different. On a smaller vessel like Ocean Tramp or Australis, we is usually a bit extra versatile with our itinerary, and also you’ll really feel a part of the workforce making choices about the place to go and what to do. Regardless, listed below are just some of the extraordinary moments you might need:
© Kelly Martin
- A post-dinner Zodiac cruise the place you occur upon whales feeding or a leopard seal on the hunt for penguins.
- Looking for one of the best lighting circumstances for pictures, notably aboard the nimbler motorsailers.
- Kayaking amidst icebergs and alongside rugged shorelines to see Antarctic wildlife at eye stage.
- The place touchdown permits, mountaineering ashore on pristine polar seashores that we share solely with penguin rookeries, Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals.
- Glimpsing your first icebergs and the snow-clad mountains that point out the South Shetland Islands.
- Recognizing enormous populations of albatross, petrel, skua, gull, tern and cormorant.
- Tenting ashore in essentially the most distant and ethereal surroundings you’ve ever skilled (out there on the motorsailer itineraries solely).
© Catherine Lang
Questioning what different wildlife you’ll see in Antarctica? Get all of the deets on Adelie, chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, whales, seals of all ilk, dolphins and seabirds in our Antarctica Wildlife Information.
© Conor Frantzen
Antarctica: By no means the Similar Journey Twice!
Do remember the fact that climate dictates our Antarctica itineraries, actions and routes. The truth is, it’s that wild, unpredictable nature of the journey that makes it so magical and memorable. No two journeys are precisely the identical, and we all know whichever Nat Hab Antarctica journey you select, it will likely be completely life-changing.
© Catherine Lang
Able to discover the White Continent? Study extra about our Crusing Antarctica and Final Antarctica journeys!
