The Weddell Sea is a remote and wild region, lying to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula. Together, the Antarctic Peninsula & Weddell Sea make up the most diverse and productive Antarctic marine ecosystem. It was here that Shackleton’s ship Endurance was trapped and crushed by the ice in 1915. Further back in Geological time, it is believed that this is the place where Gondwanaland began to break up to form the continents of the Earth we know today.

This stunningly beautiful area remains locked in ice throughout the cold Antarctic Winter. The sea ice retreats in summer leaving behind magnificent tabular icebergs, many stretching for several miles. The Weddell Sea abounds with plentiful wildlife: most significantly it is the realm of the emperor penguin, who early in the Antarctic Summer, makes their way from the edge of the ice into open water.  It supports a rich marine ecosystem, where vast quantities of krill provide food for abundant and diverse populations of fish and marine mammals. It is the presence of the krill in the Sea that supports the thriving colonies of penguins who lay their eggs and raise their young on the Antarctic Peninsula. Such species as: adelie, gentoo, emperor and chinstrap penguins, Weddell seal, crabeater seal, humpback whale, southern right whale, minke whale, and hourglass dolphin.
 

This voyage also explores the north west of the Antarctic Peninsula, where we have the opportunity to observe the largest colony of gentoo penguins on the Peninsula. The frequent opportunities to see chinstrap and macaroni penguins as well as elephant seals, Weddell Seals and Antarctic fur seals make this experience a very inspiring and memorable one.

For a detailed draft itinerary, please click HERE

2009 Dates: 10 nights / 11 days  Departures (52 passenger vessel) Nov 23 - Dec 03 Prices:  £3450  p/p triple sharing non private facilities £4065  p/p twin sharing non private cabins £4675  p/p twin sharing with facilities 2009 Dates: 12 nights / 13 days   Departures (52 passenger vessel) Dec 03 - Dec 15 (longer walks on this voyage) Prices:  £3995 p/p triple sharing non private facilities £4775 p/p twin sharing non private cabins £5460 p/p twin sharing with facilities £6250 p/p superior cabins All prices are due to exchange rate fluctuations - There is no fuel surcharge at this time but the right to adda fuel surcharge based on incresed oil prices is reserved. Single supplement: Single occupancy price is 1.8 times the per person cabin price.However this does not apply if you are prepared to share a cabin with another passenger of the same gender. Included: Voyage as indicated in draft itinerary All meals, snacks, coffee and tea All shore excursions and zodiac activities Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff All miscellaneous services taxes and port charges throughout the programme Comprehensive pre-departure material Excluded: Airfares. Pre and post land arrangements. Transfers to and from the vessel. Cancellation and personal insurance. Passports and visas. Arrival and departure tax. Meals ashore. Baggage. Items of a personal nature (alcohol, laundry etc). Tips. Activity Level: Low

Photos kindly provided by: Charlotte Caffrey, Keith Hiscock & Chloe Burnett

Antarctica -  Antarctic -   Peninsular  - Emperor -   Ice-stengtherned -  Polar  -  Wilderness & Wildlife - Carbon Climate Neutral - Responsible Travel  - Penguin - Leopard-  Seal - Albatross -  Nordenskiold