Antarctic Expedition

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Antarctica is the planet’s ultimate adventure playground - the coldest, windiest, driest continent on Earth, wrapped in ice that holds most of the world’s fresh water. It has no cities, no crowds, and no roads - just scientists, penguins, seals, whales, and jaw-dropping ice landscapes. Wild, remote, and untouched, it’s one of the last places where nature still runs the show.

My Trip

2025 November 28 to December 19 (22 Days): I travelled from Doha, Qatar with friends to Buenos Aires, Argentina via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and spent few days exploring Argentina before joining a tour group from Kerala organized by Benny's Royal Tours. After, we flew to Ushuaia, the southern most city in Argentina - where the world ends and the adventure begins.

2025 December 05 to 16 (12 days): The adventure started from Ushuaia on board an expedition ship and we landed in few islands and different places in mainland Antarctica after crossing the dreaded Drake Passage. Saw hundreds of wildlife including different species of penguins, whales, seals and sea birds. Crossed the Antarctic circle, watched the midnight sun, plunged in the ice cold Antarctic waters, did Snowshoeing through snow hills and did Kayaking between the floating icebergs.

Day Plans

• Day 01: December 05, 2025 - Start from Ushuaia, Argentina
• Day 02: December 06, 2025 - Drake passage
• Day 03: December 07, 2025 - Landing: Aitcho Island
• Day 04: December 08, 2025 - Zodiac tour: Chiriguano Bay, Landing: Neko Harbor, Activity: Snowshoeing
• Day 05: December 09, 2025 - Zodiac tour: Flanders Bay, Activity: Polar Plunge
• Day 06: December 10, 2025 - Activity: Antarctic Circle Crossing, Bridge Tour
• Day 07: December 11, 2025 - Landing: Vernadsky Station, Activity: Open Deck BBQ, Landing: Yalour Islands
• Day 08: December 12, 2025 - Activity: Kayaking, Landing: Palmer Station
• Day 09: December 13, 2025 - Zodiac Tour: Spert Islands, Landing: Mikkelsen Island, Zodiac Tour: Mikkelsen Harbour
• Day 10: December 14, 2025: Return through Drake Passage
• Day 11: December 15, 2025 - Drake Passage Crossed
• Day 12: December 16, 2025 - Back in Ushuaia, Argentina

Season

It was summer in Antacrtica: the sun never sets and the minimum temperature was around -4°C. It is the best season to visit when the continent is bursting with wildlife activity. Most Penguin species (Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adélie) are nesting and incubating eggs, with constant movement between colonies and the sea. The noise and chaos are incredible. Weddell, crabeater, and leopard seals are commonly seen resting on ice floes or swimming near shore. Whale sightings increase rapidly - humpbacks, minkes, and orcas arrive to feed on abundant krill. Skua, petrels, and other seabirds are nesting, flying constantly, and feeding near colonies.

Photo Credits

Most photos were taken by me or my friends using my mobile (Samsung S25 Ultra). Photos marked witth * are taken by our on board photographer Tammy MacKenzie using Canon EOS R5.

The Ship

We undertook the expedition aboard M/V Ocean Victory by Albatros Expeditions, a compact, modern X-bow vessel designed for safe and sustainable polar travel. The ship carried 175 passengers from 24 nationalities and 102 crew members representing 18 nationalities. We stayed in comfortable double cabins with all amenities, with all meals and rest onboard the ship. For landings, we traveled in 10-person inflatable boats called Zodiacs, which took us from the ship to various landing sites across Antarctica and back after each excursion.

Short Travelogue with Photos

Day 01: December 05, 2025 - Start from Ushuaia
We boarded the Ocean Victory for our Antarctica expedition and it left Ushuaia just before 6 PM. Soon after settling in, our passports were collected, expedition parkas (big, windproof jackets with hoods) were handed out, and we were treated to welcome drinks and snacks, followed by a safety drill. We watched albatrosses alongside the ship from our private balcony, with Chile visible on one side and Argentina on the other as we cruised through the Beagle Channel¹. It’ll take about eight hours before we reach the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 02: December 06, 2025 - Drake passage
Our ship cruised through the Drake passage² and it was continously rocking. We were fine but some people in our group got sea sickness even though we all had taken tablets for it. Some were vomiting all day and few had to spend whole day on bed. There were some lectures, presentations and documentary shows and lavish food on board to keep us engaged.

Day 03: December 07, 2025 - Landing: Aitcho Island
By around 2 PM, we had crossed the Drake Passage and began spotting the small islands around Antarctica. After officially entering Antarctic waters, we went through biosecurity checks: cleaning our gear to ensure no seeds or organisms are present. Dressed up in heavy parkas, inner thermals, extra layers, and large rubber boots, we boarded the Zodiacs after sanitizing our boots to avoid contaminating the environment. Within minutes, we landed on Aitcho Island in the South Shetland Islands, our very first Antarctic landing.

The temperature was around 2°C, and we were greeted by hundreds of Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins wandering freely, many sitting on their eggs and completely unafraid of our presence. We spent a long time watching their charm, curiosity, and comical antics while following strict protocols and keeping a safe distance from the wildlife. Above the penguin rookeries, large predatory seabirds circled patiently, hoping for a chance to snatch an egg or chick.

We then returned to the ship and continued cruising through the Bransfield Strait toward the Antarctic mainland. The day ended with sightings of humpback whales feeding nearby and a lively musical gathering on board - an unforgettable first day in Antarctica.

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Day 04: December 08, 2025 - Zodiac tour: Chiriguano Bay, Landing: Neko Harbor, Activity: Snowshoeing
Our ship entered the Gerlache Strait today and we woke up to the stunning views of Chiriguano Bay with high mountains and huge glaciers all around. We did a Zodiac boat tour in the bay and saw seals and penguins swimming in icy water and resting on floating ice. After lunch, ship sailed further into the strait and reached Andvord Bay. Afternoon, we landed at Neko Harbor, our first landing on the Antarctic mainland.

We chose snowshoeing and walked across snowy hills, crossing "penguin highways" with penguins moving to their nests, monitored by guides with "Stop" and "Go" signs, so we wouldn’t block their paths. Surroundings had steep mountains, calving glaciers and very calm water. By evening, ship cruised through icebergs and we spotted humpback whales, including one bubble-net feeding.

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Day 05: December 09, 2025 - Zodiac tour: Flanders Bay, Activity: Polar Plunge
Visited Flanders Bay on Zodiac cruise and saw many humpback whales jumping out of the water and flapping their fins and tails sending up huge splashes (breaching).

Afternoon, we all did polar plunge by jumping from the boat to the freezing Antarctic water. We were tied to the ship by a rope and spent only few minutes dipping and swimming. After, we spent time in the open deck hot water pools to recover.

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Day 06: December 10, 2025 - Activity: Antarctic Circle Crossing, Bridge Tour
We crossed the Antarctic circle (66°33′S latitude) at 08:30 AM today and there was a big ceremony³ and celebration on the open deck with the expedition leaders dressed up in costumes. It was snowing most of the time and weather was bit bad and we didn’t have any outings. Captain announced we were one of the only 3 ships below the antarctic circle at the moment. After cruising further down south for few hours, our ship started the return voyage from 66°47'10.8"S 67°08'02.8"W. Afternoon, we had a tour inside the navigation bridge, the control center of a ship, where it is steered, navigated, and monitored.

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Day 07: December 11, 2025 - Landing: Vernadsky Station, Activity: Open Deck BBQ, Landing: Yalour Islands
We reached Argentine Islands, which is one of the many island groups in Antarctica. Visited the Ukrainian Research station named 'Vernadsky Station'. The researchers there gave us a tour of the station and we also saw many penguins around it. After a special BBQ lunch on the open deck of the ship later, went to Yalour Islands. We saw many Adelies penguins there and trekked through the snows. Waited until midnight to see the sun still hovering around horizon.

Day 08: December 12, 2025 - Activity: Kayaking, Landing: Palmer Station
We did Kayaking at Dorian bay near Damoy Point through the Antarctic waters between floating icebergs and scenic snow mountains. Saw lots of penguins up close. Afternoon, we landed in Anvers Island and visited USA's Palmer Station doing research in many Antarctic topics.

Day 09: December 13, 2025 - Zodiac Tour: Spert Islands, Landing: Mikkelsen Island, Zodiac Tour: Mikkelsen Harbour
Last day of our Antarctic expedition. At morning, we did a Zodiac boat tour around Spert Islands watching interesting rock formations and massive icebergs. Afternoon, we landed in Mikkelsen island and did a Zodiac tour in Mikkelsen Harbour and saw whales, seals, sea birds and many penguins. Ship started the return voyage by evening and we will cross the Drake passage in two days to reach back Ushuaia in Argentina.

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Day 10: December 14, 2025: Return through Drake Passage
Crossing the drake passage back. Weather was calm and the waves were around 4 meters high which the crew considered very calm. But the ship was rocking all the time. Spent time onboard listening to various scientifc lectures and watching the scenery and sea birds inlcuding albatros.

Day 11: December 15, 2025 - Drake Passage Crossed
Drake passage crossing completed, and the ship entered Beagle Channel. Spent time on board attending lectures, crew shows and captain's farewell party.

Day 12: December 16, 2025 - Back in Ushuaia
Our expedition completed and we disembarked at Ushuaia port at morning.

Foot Notes

(1) Beagle Channel
The Beagle Channel is a narrow strait at the southern tip of South America, separating Argentina and Chile, and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It runs past the city of Ushuaia, often called the world’s southernmost city, and is named after HMS Beagle, the ship that carried Charles Darwin on his famous voyage. Surrounded by rugged mountains, glaciers, and rich wildlife, the channel is an important navigation route and a scenic gateway for ships heading to Antarctica.

(2) Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is the stretch of ocean between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Named after the English explorer Sir Francis Drake, it has long been feared by sailors for its powerful winds, towering waves, and unpredictable weather. Before modern navigation, many ships attempting this crossing were damaged or lost, especially during the age of exploration and early Antarctic expeditions, giving the passage a reputation as one of the roughest seas on Earth. Despite its dangers, it remains the primary sea route to Antarctica today.

(3) Antarctic Circle Crossing Ceremony
This refers to a long-standing maritime tradition called the “Crossing the Line” ceremony. In sailors’ lore, Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, rules over the oceans and must grant permission to anyone crossing an important latitude, and in this case, the Polar Circle. First-time crossers, jokingly called “pollywogs,” are theatrically “judged” by Neptune and his court (crew members in costume) for imaginary sea crimes, then symbolically cleansed and welcomed as true seafarers. This celebratory ritual is meant to mark a rare geographic milestone and build camaraderie.

During our celebration, Neptune appeared with Amphitrite, Triton, penguins, mermaids, and even a few friendly pirates. They boarded the ship to judge the worthiness of us humans. According to them, we were all guilty of terrible ocean crimes, like asking for Dramamine or eating sea creatures with our meals. The “pollywogs” were called forward to be cleansed, and many of us kissed the fish as a sign of respect.

Snowflakes drifted around us while enormous icebergs and wide sheets of sea ice surrounded the ship, making the scene feel almost unreal. After Neptune decided we were acceptable travelers, he handed the Captain the keys to the Polar Circle, and the celebration began. We cheered and laughed under the snowfall, right in the middle of drifting sea ice and big icebergs.

Wildlife

Here is a full list of wildlife we saw during our expedition:

| Birds
| Penguins
| Adelie Penguin | Pygoscelis adeliae
| Chinstrap Penguin | Pygoscelis antarctica
| Gentoo Penguin | Pygoscelis papua
| Albatrosses
| Wandering Albatross | Diomedea exulans
| Southern Royal Albatross | Diomedea epomophora
| Black-Browed Albatross | Thalassarche melanophris
| Light Mantled Albatross | Phoebetria palpebrata
| Petrels, Prions and Shearwaters
| Southern Giant Petrel | Macronectes giganteus
| Southern (Antarctic) Fulmar | Fulmarus glacialoides
| Cape Petrel (Pintado) | Daption capense
| Antarctic Petrel | Thalassoica antarctica
| Snow Petrel | Pagodroma nivea
| Blue Petrel | Halobaena caerulea
| White-Chinned Petrel | Procellaria aequinoctialis
| Antarctic Prion | Pachyptila desolata
| Wilson’s Storm-Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus
| Shags and Cormorants
| Imperial Cormorant (Shag) | Phalacrocorax atriceps
| Antarctic Cormorant (Shag) | Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis
| Sheathbills
| Palefaced (Snowy) Sheathbill | Chionis alba
| Skuas, Gulls and Terns
| Chilean Skua | Catharacta chilensis
| South Polar Skua | Stercorarius maccormicki
| Dolphin Gull | Larus scoresbii
| Kelp Gull | Larus dominicanus
| Arctic Tern | Sterna paradisea
| Antarctic Tern | Sterna vittata
| Whales
| Baleen Whales
| Humpback Whale | Megaptera novaeangliae
| Fin Whale | Balaenoptera physalus
| Antarctic Minke Whale | Balaenoptera bonaerensis
| Toothed Whales
| Killer Whale / Orca | Orcinus orca
| Dusky Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus obscurus
| Seals
| Crabeater Seal | Lobodon carcinophagus
| Weddell Seal | Leptonychotes weddelli
| Leopard Seal | Hydrurga leptonyx
| Southern Elephant Seal | Mirounga leonina

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