Antarctica Birding Tours

Summary of tours

Our Antarctic birding and wildlife tour takes us from the southernmost town in the world, Ushuaia, across the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, to the Antarctic Peninsula. On the way, we visit the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Orkney Islands, home to vast breeding colonies of pelagic birds and seals, set in the most dramatic scenery. We run our Antarctic cruises in January (the austral summer), giving us the best chance of connecting with Antarctic wildlife before the harsh winter weather arrives. This 19-day Antarctic birding cruise targets seven penguin species, large numbers of seabirds, especially albatrosses and petrels (including the iconic Snow Petrel and Antarctic Petrel), and an array of whales, dolphins, and seals.

Introduction to Antarctica

It is in the surrounding ice pack waters, welling up with life from the bottom of the ocean, where the profusion of Antarctic wildlife occurs and which we enjoy on our Antarctic birding cruises. These rich, coastal, southern waters hold penguins and large quantities of seabirds like skuas, albatrosses, shearwaters, cormorants, and petrels. Huge marine mammals like whales, dolphins and seals lurk here, searching for krill and fish – and sometimes the penguins that call this place home. Both savage and majestic, the continent of Antarctica has drawn many an intrepid explorer to this amazing wildlife spectacle of huge penguin colonies, cetacean highlights and rutting fur seals.