Antarctica Photo Tour

A Trip of a Lifetime

Antarctica is truly a trip of a lifetime—an unforgettable expedition to one of the most remote and pristine places on Earth. For travelers and photographers seeking a once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventure, this journey offers a rare opportunity to experience Antarctica’s raw beauty in a way few ever will.

During this Antarctic expedition, you’ll have the chance to get up close with iconic wildlife including penguins, seals, and potentially whales. Days in Antarctica are long, with no true sunsets or sunrises, creating extended golden and twilight lighting conditions that are ideal for landscape and wildlife photography. You should be prepared for constantly changing weather and light, as this journey is a true adventure in every sense of the word.

The cruise is operated by Polar Latitudes, a company internationally recognized for its commitment to responsible Antarctic tourism and environmental education. Their approach prioritizes maximizing time off the ship, typically 5–7 hours per day, allowing guests to be fully immersed in Antarctica’s landscapes and ecosystems.

One of the most unique experiences offered is an overnight campout on the Antarctic ice, where you’ll have the opportunity to capture stunning long-exposure photographs in continuous twilight conditions. While there is no true night sky during this journey, the surreal lighting provides exceptional creative possibilities. Guests will also have the opportunity to kayak through glacier-filled waters, offering a rare and intimate perspective of the Antarctic environment.

Between landings and while traveling to and from Antarctica, there will be ample opportunities for photography instruction, image reviews, camera settings guidance, and post-processing sessions. Guests are encouraged to bring laptops to fully benefit from these hands-on learning experiences. In addition, the views from the ship as it navigates between land excursions are nothing short of spectacular.

For non-photographers or those looking to deepen their involvement, Polar Latitudes also offers an optional Citizen Scientist Program. In partnership with researchers from around the world, guests can assist in collecting important scientific data. The journey also includes onboard science lectures designed to enhance your understanding of Antarctica’s unique environment, wildlife, and climate.

While the Polar Latitudes vessel is not a massive cruise ship, guests can expect four-star accommodations, fine dining, and exceptional service. With a maximum of just 138 passengers, the experience remains intimate and uncrowded. Additionally, Antarctic regulations limit landings to 100 people at a time, ensuring minimal impact on the environment and allowing you the space and time needed to fully enjoy and photograph this extraordinary destination.

Accommodations

This trip is priced per person. If you are traveling alone you will be paired with another passenger for accommodations. If you would like a room to yourself the price will be multiplied by x1.7 (there is limited availability for this). Those traveling in pairs will be roomed together, unless you request otherwise.

The price depends on the type of accommodation you request. Please see below.
Porthole = $TBA()
Window = $TBA
Veranda = $TBA
Owners = $TBA

Ship Specifications:
Maximum Passengers: 138
Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries > Year built: 1990 > Flag: Cyprus
Class: DNV-GL > Ice Rating: E4/ICE - 1A
Length (LOA): 111 m / 364 ft > Beam (width): 17 m / 56 ft
Preparation

Antarctica Packing List

Passenger Perspective - Packing List for Antarctica (Podcast)

Photographers' experiences and advice (Podcast)

What to Expect: 23-Day Antarctic Expedition (Passenger Perspective)
Read the full article & Podcast
Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina

Your journey begins in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and the gateway to Antarctica. After arriving at the airport, you will be transferred to the Arakur Resort & Spa. Spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the town before meeting fellow travelers at an evening briefing.

Photography focus: gear preparation, cold-weather shooting tips, battery management, and setting up your camera for fast-changing wildlife situations.

Day 2: Embarkation: Begin Your Antarctica Expedition Cruise

Enjoy a relaxed morning in Ushuaia before boarding the expedition ship in the afternoon. After safety and orientation briefings, the Captain will host a welcome dinner as we depart toward Antarctica.

Day 3: Southern Ocean: Photography Lectures & Seabird Shooting

As we sail south, the expedition team will present important briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety. Photography lectures will cover wildlife technique, exposure strategies for bright water, and anticipating animal behavior.

Photograph seabirds escorting the ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence.

Photography focus: birds-in-flight technique, autofocus settings, tracking, and composing wildlife against open ocean backgrounds.

Day 4: West Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

Today we explore remote outposts in the West Falkland Islands, known for rugged coastlines and abundant wildlife. Expect excellent opportunities to photograph penguin colonies including Rockhopper, King, and Magellanic penguins.

Photography focus: penguin behavior, colony composition, and wildlife portrait techniques.

Day 5: Stanley, East Falkland Islands

Visit Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. Highlights may include the Falkland Islands Museum and wildlife areas such as Gypsy Cove, where Magellanic penguins nest in underground burrows.

Photography focus: environmental wildlife portraits and habitat storytelling.

South Shetland Islands: First Antarctic Landings

The volcanic landscapes of the South Shetland Islands create dramatic scenery. We will explore by Zodiac and on foot among glaciers, mountains, and wildlife.

Expect encounters with Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, as well as Elephant and Fur seals. Whales are often seen along the coast.

Photography focus: wide-angle glacier landscapes and capturing wildlife along icy shorelines.

Days 6–7: Southern Ocean: Photography Workshops at Sea

As we travel across the Southern Ocean, the photography instructor will host photography lectures and workshops covering composition, wildlife technique, gear setup for extreme environments, and storytelling through images.

Wildlife sightings may include Wandering albatross, Southern Giant petrels, and Wilson’s Storm petrels.

Photography focus: advanced birds-in-flight technique and photographing the first Antarctic icebergs.

Days 8–11: South Georgia Island

Often called the “Serengeti of the Southern Ocean,” South Georgia is one of the most spectacular wildlife destinations on Earth. Massive colonies of penguins, seals, and seabirds line the coast against a backdrop of towering mountains and glaciers.

We will also visit Grytviken, the historic whaling station and the burial site of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Photography focus: large wildlife colonies, behavior sequences, and dramatic polar landscapes.

Days 12–13: Scotia Sea

As we move deeper into the Scotia Sea, icebergs become larger and more frequent. Presentations continue on Antarctic wildlife and exploration.

Photography focus: iceberg photography, abstract compositions, and exposure control in snow and ice.

Days 14–17: Antarctic Peninsula Expedition

The Antarctic Peninsula offers some of the most dramatic scenery on the planet. We explore iceberg-filled channels, scenic bays, and historic landing sites.

Days 18–19: Drake Passage: Final Wildlife + Expedition Slideshow

We begin the journey north across the legendary Drake Passage. Enjoy final wildlife sightings, wrap-up learning sessions, and a special expedition slideshow celebrating the trip. Share one last meal together as we close out an unforgettable Antarctic photography adventure.

Photography focus: editing workflow tips, selecting a cohesive set, and building a strong trip narrative.

Day 20: Ushuaia Disembarkation
Meals

Once aboard the SS Seaventure all of your meals will be included along with soft drinks, wine and beer. Top shelf alcohol will be made available but not included in the price.
Medical

Other than being in good health, there are no immunizations or other medical requirements for this journey. A medical doctor will be on board the SS Seaventure for the duration of the voyage. Please take note that medical care is limited on this journey. Antarctica is the definition of "the middle of no where".
Gallery