Antarctica - Emperor Penguin Quest - Expedition to Snow Hill 2025

15 Nov 2025 - 28 Nov 2025 (14 days)

USD28,495 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Expedition Leader

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Tour Leader: Dale Morris

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Tour Leader: Marius Coetzee

Pricing notes : Mandatory Transfer Package US$995

Tour price (Per person): GBP22,533 * EUR27,165 * USD28,495 * AUD44,064

In 2004, Quark Expeditions made polar history when they conducted the first-ever ground visit to the remote emperor penguin colony near Snow Hill Island, Antarctica. Driven by a true expeditionary spirit—and guided by years of polar expertise—our team sailed past masses of dense ice and thick, tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea to experience the legendary rookery, which now numbers 8,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins.
Today, it is one of the most exclusive wildlife viewing experiences on the planet. We invite you—almost two decades after our milestone visit of 2004— to embrace the thrill of the search as we once again set out to visit to the emperor penguins at Snow Hill Island.


Experience a true polar quest as we journey on our new ship, Ultramarine, which is equipped with two twin-engine helicopters that will fly guests to the vicinity of this rarely-visited rookery, whereupon they will walk across the thick sea ice to stand within meters of the most coveted penguin species on the planet. Anticipate scenes reminiscent of “March of the Penguins” and BBC’s “Frozen Planet.” Just imagine the penguins tobogganing across the ice towards the sea. Such wildlife moments are too precious for words!


This will be Marius Coetzee's and Dale Morris's combined 8th expedition to Antarctica and they simply cannot wait to guide you on this once-in-a-lifetime photo expedition. Join ORYX on a voyage where the extraordinary becomes the every day, and let the awe-inspiring beauty of Antarctica overwhelm your senses and provide your cameras with full memory cards!

Photographic Topics Covered

Equipment setup – camera body, lenses, tripods etc
Discussing envisaged photographic subjects and how to photograph them
Learning to use light
Composition – classic rule of thirds, and when to break the rules
Story telling with your images – what are you wanting to portray and what message does your photograph deliver
Processing of images
Wildlife subjects – discussing animal behaviour in order to anticipate ‘the shot
Bird photography and specifically birds in flight
Panning
Animal-in-environment and landscape shots
Photo critique, your ORYX Photo Leader provides insightful feedback for photography growth

Top Birds

Emperor Penguin; Chinstrap, Gentoo & Adelie Penguins; Wandering & Light-mantled Albatrosses; Snow & Antarctic Petrels; Snowy Sheathbill.

Top Mammals

South American & Antarctic Fur Seals; South American Sea Lion; Leopard, Weddell, Crabeater & Southern Elephant Seals; Burmeister's Porpoise; Southern Bottlenose, Long-finned Pilot, Killer, Antarctic Minke, Sei, Fin & Humpback Whales; Peale's, Hourglass & Commerson's Dolphins.

Habitats Covered

coastal and pelagic waters, sub-Antarctic islands & Antarctic Peninsula, pack ice

Expected Climate

temperate to subzero, sunny and calm to gale force conditions can be expected

Max Group Size

30 with 2 Oryx Photo Tour Leaders (this is an allotment group size, not a charter)

Tour Pace & Walking

easy pace, mostly undemanding walks

Accommodation

comfortable expedition cruise ship

Ease of Birding

easy

Other Attractions

spectacular sub-Antarctic scenery, the most remote continent, icebergs and pack ice, Emperor Penguins

Photographic Opportunities

phenomenal

What our clients say about us

Daniel Danckwerts
RC, Antarctica 2022

Adam and Daniel made this trip extra enjoyable. The quality and diligence of their attention to all of the Rockjumper clients was simply phenomenal. I cannot use enough superlatives to describe the entire Rockjumper Team. The Ocean Victory seemed to be a perfect fit, with excellent staff and a sometimes-wearying dedication to safety.

Harriet Faithfull
CE, Antarctica 2017

I had a wonderful time. Our Rockjumper guide, Holly Faithfull, was terrific. She made the cruise, which was already excellent, even better.

Glen Valentine
SP, Antarctica 2022

An expedition of a lifetime well worth every penny! As a member of the Survivors of 2019 Club it was a very special tour. From the outstanding service by the expedition staff and crew on the extremely comfortable Quark Ocean Diamond to the always fabulous Rockjumper guides including Glen and Keith Valentine and Mark Beevers, it was the trip of a lifetime. The totally unexpected closeup sightings of Emperor Penguins and the tens of thousands of the six other penguin species was so much fun. Fur Seals and Elephant Seals sunbathed on the beaches as the many species of seabirds flew overhead. The trip to the Black-browed Albatross nesting sight was like something you only expect to see on tv. I felt the Quark crew and the Rockjumper guides went out of their way to make sure everyone had the perfect and safe trip.

Adam Riley
JW, Antarctica 2022

This tour was extraordinary, very well organized despite vagaries of the weather at times. The ship crew were very well trained and experienced helping people get on and off the zodiacs. Very smooth operation. The guides Adam and Dan were phenomenal and very helpful in locating fast moving seabirds from a heaving deck! Niki was quietly working behind the scenes making sure everyone was enjoying the cruise.

Keith Valentine
CS, Antarctica 2022

Your team was exceptional! So friendly and accommodating! So open to answer questions and share their knowledge. ALWAYS so happy! It was joy being around your team.

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