Antarctica Fly/Sail Photography Expedition 20 February to 3 March 2025
Description
Summary
Description
Are you ready to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime photography journey to the beautiful and pristine landscapes of Antarctica? We are thrilled to announce that world-renowned landscape and nature photographer Daniel Kordan will be leading a photography workshop on the Sylvia Earle vessel, providing expert guidance and instruction on capturing the perfect shot. We have secured 24 spots on this boat for our photography workshop participants. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from the best and create stunning images in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth.
The Sylvia Earle ship provides a cozy and comfortable experience for an average of 130 expeditioners per voyage, offering 71 cabins with ocean views and private balconies. This modern vessel boasts a variety of amenities, including a lecture lounge, numerous observation areas, zodiac launching platforms, a restaurant serving delectable meals, a gym and wellness center, jacuzzis, a mudroom, and much more. Every detail is designed to enhance your Antarctic adventure, ensuring an unforgettable experience on board.
The first passenger ship to feature the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW®, this allows the ship to cross oceans more comfortably and efficiently, and with expansive observation decks to bring you closer to the environment, inviting communal areas and unsurpassed environmental credentials, the Sylvie Earle offers the perfect base camp for adventures at the outer limits of human exploration.
Together with Aurora Expeditions, we are offering a joint fly/sail photography expedition that will excite anyone looking for a truly mesmerising voyage of a lifetime.
This photography workshop to Antarctica is guided by 2 professional award-winning photographers, who will offer a scope of instruction, classes, critique sessions, workshops, and in-field guidance to enable you to expand upon your photography portfolio. Throughout this expedition to Antarctica, your dedicated photography guides will ensure that you are immersed in a wealth of knowledge that you'll always remember.
This photography workshop to Antarctica features a one-of-a-kind SAIL/FLY experience, which is designed to maximise your time photographing the wonderful surrounds of your destination. To reach Antarctica, you will board an aircraft from Ushuaia to King George Island. You will sail through the waters of the Drake section just once, to make the crossing from Antarctica over the course of two days.
For the duration of our tour, there will be a mindblowing zodiacs onboard for making shore landings, whereby you may explore Antarctica intimately by foot.
Included
Map
Attractions
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Day 1: Arrive in Ushuaia - 20 February 2025
Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our hotel: Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort. We ask that you arrive no later than 3.00 pm so that you may attend our important briefing this evening.
Please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby between 8 am and 12 pm, or 3 pm and 7 pm, to collect your luggage tags, and confirm if you wish to join our Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise (sea lion island) tomorrow. Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information about where to dine or purchase last-minute items.
At 7 pm this evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage briefing where we will reconfirm your transfer times for tomorrow, explain the procedures for your flight to King George Island and outline important IAATO regulations for visitors to Antarctica.
Accommodation: Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort
Day 2 - Day 2: Embarkation Day
Enjoy breakfast and check out this morning. Please label your cabin luggage with your name and cabin number, and leave it at hotel reception during or after checkout. Your luggage will be securely transferred to your cabin on the ship.
Spend your morning freely exploring Ushuaia or for an unforgettable experience, join the afternoon catamaran cruise from the Beagle Channel to the iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Those who will join this tour will meet at the hotel lobby at 12:45 PM for a 1:00 PM departure to the port. Witness colonies of sea lions, imperial cormorants, and a variety of seabirds in their natural habitat, while enjoying panoramic views of Ushuaia against a backdrop of mountains, complemented by engaging stories of the area.
If you prefer, take the day to relax and join us at 3:45 PM in the hotel lobby for a transfer to the pier for embarkation.
Once aboard, settle into your cabin and attend our mandatory briefings. As we set sail, join us on deck for a farewell to Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. The evening concludes with a welcome dinner, where you'll meet your fellow adventurers and our expedition team, marking the beginning of our exciting journey to Antarctica.
Day 3 - Day 3-4 Drake Passage Crossing
As we navigate the Drake Passage, we'll acclimate to the sea's rhythms. We will make use of the time for the expedition team to brief you on wildlife respect, biosecurity measures, and initiate a lecture series on Antarctica's history, ecology, and fauna. You will also have some master classes and photography lectures from your photography guides.
By the afternoon of day four, as we approach the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, anticipation builds. The decks become popular vantage points for spotting our first iceberg, marking an unforgettable moment as we enter a world of ice sculptures. Weather allowing, we might make our inaugural Antarctic landing by late afternoon, starting our exploration of this icy wilderness.
Day 4 - Day 5-10 Antarctica Peninsula
Arriving in Antarctica is an indescribable experience, marked by the sight of your first iceberg and the breath of the freshest air on Earth - memories that will last a lifetime.
Our adventure unfolds on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, with nearly endless daylight allowing for days filled with exploration. Our experienced expedition team tailors our journey daily, selecting the best sites based on weather, ice, and wildlife.
Every day presents opportunities for landings or Zodiac excursions, allowing us to capture stunning images of ice cliffs and icebergs, while keeping an eye out for whales, seals, and penguins. Ashore, we'll photograph vibrant penguin colonies, explore historic sites, and embark on hikes to secure panoramic shots of the stark yet breathtaking landscape.
Day 5 - Day 11 Fly King George Island to Punta Arenas
As we depart from Frei Base on King George Island, we bid farewell to the unforgettable Antarctic adventure before our flight to Punta Arenas, Chile, lasting around one hour and forty-five minutes. This moment is a chance for reflection and sharing the incredible experiences we've had, hoping you'll share your stories as ambassadors for Antarctica's conservation.
Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, a transfer will take you to our group hotel for an overnight stay.
Please note: King George Island, at the Antarctic Peninsula's northern tip, requires clear skies for safe flight operations. We appreciate your understanding in case of any delays.
Accommodation: Hotel Dreams del Estrecho or Hotel Cabo de Hornos
Day 6 - Day 6: Departure - 2 March 2025
Good to know
All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, additional medical expenses such as medication, gratuities, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges
Cancellation and Refund Policy
We strongly recommend you to get Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip.
If you cancel and your place is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $500 service charge.
If you cancel and your place on the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:
Greater than 180 days from the start date of the Expedition: Full refund minus $2500.
120 days or more: 50% refund
Less than 120 days: no refund
Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.
Disclaimer
We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.
The tour will always dependent on weather, as the weather can be highly unpredictable. Likewise, sightings of wildlife will be dependent on the movements of the animals themselves and cannot be guaranteed.
Features of the Sylvia Earle ship
This expedition is designed to maximize your time in Antarctica, utilizing a sail-and-fly experience between Punta Arenas and King George Island that results in less travel overall during the round-trip to and from our destination.
During this expedition, Sylvia Earle will be your home away from home. As such, it has been designed to meet your every need during your adventure to Antarctica!
In the event of an incident or accident, a trained medical team will be on-hand throughout your journey aboard, providing all necessary treatment from the ship’s fully-equipped medical centre, allowing you to concentrate on your adventure without worrying about your wellbeing.
Every participant will receive an expedition jacket from our partners, Aurora Expeditions, upon boarding the ship. This custom-designed 2-in-1 jacket offers sophisticated styling with a warm interior and is perfect for wearing over base layers during your Zodiac excursions.
SHIP AND CABIN INFORMATION
The Sylvia Earle is specially designed to offer you an incredibly relaxing experience after a long day of exploring the Antarctic. Each stateroom includes a private bathroom, personal storage, twin and double-bed configuration options, international power outlets, daily cabin service, as well as all of the basic amenities that you will expect to need onboard.
Four of the five stateroom categories offer views from spectacular floor to ceiling windows, allowing you prime position to observe marine wildlife with comfort and privacy. Most of the staterooms also feature a private balcony, for those wonderful moments spent taking in the fresh air of the salty ocean.
You are welcome to visit the wellness centre during your voyage where you can use the gym, visit our sauna (which we highly recommend after the polar plunge!) or book a massage (additional cost applies). There are also two jacuzzis on the top outside deck with amazing views of the world outside.
From the moment that you step aboard the Greg Mortimer, you’ll be treated to complimentary coffee, tea and snack facilities, in addition to the range of different menu options and courses that you’ll receive for each meal. All meals will be served in a large dining room, where you’ll be able to enjoy a large range of house wines, beers and soft drinks included with the dinner service.
The first passenger ship to feature the revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW®, this allows the ship to cross oceans more comfortably and efficiently, and with expansive observation decks to bring you closer to the environment, inviting communal areas and unsurpassed environmental credentials, the Greg Mortimer offers the perfect base camp for adventures at the outer limits of human exploration.
The Greg Mortimer features industry-leading safety technology that exceeds the requirements for a ship of this size with a world class return-to-port equipment, which duplicates the propulsion system, enabling the ship to maintain operating systems and comfort in the event of engine failure. The Greg Mortimer Ice Class 1A and Polar Code 6 compliant, hold BV* class and are fully compliant with the latest SOLAS requirements. The ship also features a fully-stocked medical clinic designed for use in remote areas. *Bureau Veritas
We offer a range of add-on adventure activities from kayaking and diving to climbing and ski touring, and the Greg Mortimer is designed to support these activities, making the transition from ship to sea or shore as smooth as possible. We built the spacious activity preparation areas and loading platforms in consultation with our expert activity guides. You will also have access to lockers and rapid drying areas for dry suits and wet suits, to give your gear the best chance to dry between excursions.
Our ships carry 15 Zodiacs, which you can board via four dedicated, sea-level launching platforms. These platforms make boarding the Zodiacs as quick, efficient and safe as possible, minimising wait times and getting you closer to the action for longer. Whether you’re Zodiac cruising through awe-inspiring fjords in search of wildlife or making a quick transit from ship to a shore landing site, these sturdy crafts will play an integral role in your expedition experience.
We believe that preserving and protecting the environment is of the utmost importance and this is reflected in several features of the Greg Mortimer. The Greg Mortimer boasts one of the lowest polluting marine engines in the world due to low energy consumption, high fuel-efficiency and a streamlined design to deliver an 80% reduction in emissions.* The ship can also utilise virtual anchoring to hold its position using a combination of GPS, steering technology, propellers and thrusters. This protects the sea floor and minimises the damage caused by conventional anchors. *Compared to Tier 1 engines.
Communal meeting areas have always played a major role in fostering the warm camaraderie on board our ships. They are the heart of the expedition, where people meet to share tales from the day, swap photos, keep an eye out for wildlife and watch the sun go down. The bars and lounges on board are refined yet inviting places to gather, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views, and of course friendly bartenders to shoot the breeze with.
In addition to onboard observation areas, the Greg Mortimer features unique hydraulic viewing platforms, which fold out for unobstructed views of passing marine life and seabirds. These platforms were designed in conjunction with Greg Mortimer himself, and can be used during gentle ship cruises or when the ship is stationery when weather conditions allow.
Departure Schedule
20 February to 3 March 2025 Guided by Albert Dros
Payment Terms
To arrange installment payments, please email us for a deposit link. A $5,000 deposit is required at registration to secure your spot on the photography expedition. The second installment of $5,000 is due by June 1, 2024, with the final balance payable by September 1, 2024.
Guides
Albert is a Dutch photographer with an extreme passion for landscape photography. He aims to capture places and certain moments in the best way possible by using his own vision and unique style. His style consists of strong vibrant, sometimes fairytale like images in which he expresses himself. Albert has a background in Design, Video and Animation. He has worked for himself his whole life and has as a Master Degree in Multimedia & Entertainment Technology.
Albert loves to travel. Next to photo tours and workshops he likes to explore the world on his own or with friends. He has a passion for visiting the most beautiful spots in the world, whether known or unknown. Challenging himself is what keeps him motivated. Albert loves planning his shots carefully.
He does this with great detail to make sure his efforts have the highest chances of success. He sometimes plans days, weeks, months or even years to get that particular shot he wants. Challenging himself combined with planning and writing a story of the whole process is Albert’s specialty. He is always looking for new challenges and adventures. He is able to find beauty anywhere in the world: from misty mornings in the forests minutes away from his home to rooftops of the highest buildings in Dubai to remote locations in Iceland or the US. Next to taking photos, Albert also likes to teach and write about photography.
He occasionally writes for the most well known Photography magazines both on - and offline. Along that he has worked with many brands in the photography industry and is an official Sony Ambassador of Imaging.
His work has been featured in some of the biggest news outlets & magazines worldwide, like TIME, National Geographic and Adobe.
