Polar Expeditions
by Atlas™

From the Arctic Circle to the southern glaciers of South America to the shores of Antarctica, explore far-flung regions only accessible to polar-class vessels equipped with Zodiac boats and staffed with expert leaders to inform and guide your adventures.

Polar Expeditions

Experiences on the Shore and Sea

The polar regions are as astonishing from the sea as on land, and expeditions here explore both perspectives for a thorough understanding of these unique environments.

Always Included

Zodiac Safaris

Our expedition team navigates custom-built Zodiac boats along icy waters just inches from floating icebergs, glacier-covered shores, and even breaching whales. Watch for porpoising penguins in Antarctic seas and polar bears on the prowl in the Arctic.

Always Included

Shore Landings

Our Zodiacs will take you ashore up to twice daily under suitable conditions. Amid the spectacular polar landscapes, our expedition team leads glacial hikes and guides you in safe observation of the local wildlife.

Optional

Sea Kayaking

On an optional kayaking excursion in Antarctica, the scale of the polar seascape seems even grander as you paddle past electric blue icebergs and soaring glacial cliffs while seabirds dive for food and marine mammals surface for air.

Optional

Antarctic Camping

If conditions are suitable, Polar Expeditions in Antarctica may offer the chance to camp overnight on the White Continent, a surreal experience of endless light and palpable silence.

Zodiac Safaris

Shore Landings

Sea Kayaking

Antarctic Camping

Included

Cultural Immersions

Every Polar Expedition includes a Cultural Immersion with our compliments to enhance your experience of the history, nature, art or cuisine of a destination through an exclusive excursion ashore or a unique event on board. Examples include:

Always Included

Exploring Tierra del Fuego National Park

From soaring mountain ranges and crystalline lakes to massive glaciers and exotic wildlife, Tierra del Fuego National Park is on magnificent display during a panoramic coach tour from Ushuaia at the End of World.

Always Included

A True Taste of Chile

Sip a pisco sour and savor lamb al asador during a local dining experience in Punta Arenas accompanied by a performance of traditional song and dance combining indigenous and European influences.

Always Included

Discover Longyearbyen

Reindeer canapés, coal mine beer and polar bear chocolates enhance the fascinating onboard presentation about life in Longyearbyen, a remote town on the edge of the Arctic wilderness.

Always Included

Tromsø Folkloric Event

Immerse yourself in Norwegian culture with a live performance by Maret, a duo that lends a contemporary flair to the musical traditions of Scandinavia’s native Sami people.

Always Included

Best of Paamiut

A stroll through the charming town of Paamiut finds you enjoying a Greenlandic choir performance at the church or a traditional mask dance at the local museum, followed by homemade cakes and coffee at a community gathering known as kaffemik.

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Polar Expedition

Experiences On Board

The expedition experience is defined not only by exploration on the shore and sea, but also by the opportunities offered, many with our compliments, aboard our polar-class yachts to further enhance your journey of discovery.

Always Included

Water's Edge

Just 30 feet above the sea’s surface, the open deck of Water’s Edge is the perfect place to watch for whales, dolphins and other marine life while enjoying the comfort of heated seating.

Always Included

Polar Plunge

Accept the challenge to plunge from the yacht into the icy waters of the Arctic or Antarctica as your fellow explorers cheer you on, a thrilling and invigorating experience unlike any other.

Always Included

Daily Briefings

Each day the expedition leaders and team share valuable information on everything from the weather patterns influencing your route to the wildlife you can expect to see on your next shore landing.

Always Included

Après Expedition

After your day of exploring, our inviting social spaces encourage you to come as you are, relax and reflect on your amazing adventures with fellow explorers over cocktails and canapés, a tradition we refer to as Après Expedition.

Optional

The Explorer’s Table

An exclusive omakase-style dining experience for up to 10 guests featuring global culinary highlights from Spain, Korea, France, Argentina, and North America. This multi-course tasting menu is elegantly paired with a selection of premium wines.

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Polar Expedition

Experts Enriching Exploration

Every Polar Expedition is led by a team of up to 17 wilderness guides, naturalists, mountaineers, biologists, conservationists and other professionals who have explored Antarctica, Patagonia, the Arctic and remote destinations the world over. Their expertise and leadership ensure that each expedition inspires and enlightens you while protecting pristine environments.

Polar Expedition Leaders

Jonathan Zaccaria
Aboard World Navigator®

Jonathan Zaccaria grew up in France and graduated as an engineer in spectrometry. His work brought him to Antarctica to the French Dumont d’Urville Station, best known for its role in the documentary March of the Penguins. He made another overwinter in the only international station in the Antarctic. Later, he began working as a guide on board expedition ships in Antarctica and the Arctic. He has worked for 10 years in the polar regions, leading trips on small, expedition vessels.

Aaron Strahlke
Aboard World Voyager®

Aaron was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, where he studied Geological sciences as an undergraduate. In Edinburgh, Scotland, he achieved his M.Sc. in Petroleum Geoscience before heading to the polar regions for the first time in 2017. Since then, he has been traveling to the Arctic and to Antarctica regularly. His main passion is the geology of these places, but next of being a guide and lecturer. He frequently has been in the role of Assistant Expedition Leader and Expedition Leader. Due to his love for the wildlife in these regions, he started to program educational applications under the developer name Polar Guide App to spread knowledge about the animals to a broader audience. Over all these years in the industry, he has been mentoring a lot of guides and has been a polar bear safety trainer for guides in the Arctic in Norway. He welcomes you on board and hopes that you will leave with precious memories and with a better understanding and appreciation for the polar regions.

Ekaterina Uryupova
Aboard World Traveller™

Ekaterina Uryupova grew up in Siberia. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Lomonosov Moscow State University and a master’s in international journalism from the University of Salford. Her disciplines include marine biology, oceanography, climate impact on ecosystems and interdisciplinary research efforts in environmental protection. Her experience in the Antarctic includes an internship at the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty in Argentina and at the Smithsonian Institution in the US. She is currently a member of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) and Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN). She has worked in both Antarctica and the Arctic for over 10 years.

Polar Expedition Teams

Zodiac Operators

Antarctica

Arctic

Zodiac Operators

Having explored Antarctica, Patagonia, the Arctic and beyond, Zodiac operators lead the way during sea safaris and shore landings, providing close encounters with epic scenery and local wildlife.

Kayak Guides

Antarctica

Kayak Guides

With many years of experience in kayaking and other maritime pursuits, kayak guides lead excursions amid the ice floes and point out wildlife such as seals and whales that you may encounter along the way.

Mountaineers

Antarctica

Arctic

Mountaineers

Experts in mountaineering and hiking in the polar regions lead you to the most spectacular vantage points in these remote landscapes while taking care to protect delicate flora.

Biologists

Antarctica

Arctic

Biologists

Zoologists and marine biologists share fascinating insights on the majestic wildlife you encounter, from the many species of seals and whales that inhabit Antarctica to the polar bears, reindeer, walrus and foxes of the Arctic.

Ornithologists

Antarctica

Arctic

Ornithologists

While Antarctica and the Falklands may be best known for their many species of penguin, ornithologists will also enlighten you about other polar seabirds, including albatross and petrels of the Antarctic as well as gyrfalcons and puffins of the Arctic.

Photographers

Antarctica

Arctic

Photographers

Professional photographers and videographers teach techniques for capturing the perfect shots of your amazing expedition, while taking their own footage to share with you as well.

Historians

Antarctica

Arctic

Historians

The fascinating history of indigenous communities and polar exploration comes alive when exploring with professional historians who possess a wealth of knowledge.

Conservationists

Antarctica

Arctic

Conservationists

Researchers, professors and ecologists share passionate lectures on the importance of the ecosystems you explore and methods to preserve and protect them.

Climatologists

Antarctica

Arctic

Climatologists

Experts who study polar weather and atmospheric changes help you understand the meteorological importance of these regions and how they affect the world.

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Polar Expedition Partnerships in Antarctica

ORCA

An ocean conservationist from ORCA, a whale and dolphin conservancy, joins select expeditions in Antarctica to give you and your fellow explorers the opportunity to become Citizen Scientists by learning to gather data, record sightings and take photos through interactive, hands-on workshops.

Global Penguin Society

On select expeditions in Antarctica, join conservationists from the Global Penguin Society as they track and record vital information for protecting the future of the world’s penguin populations.