Brandon Dax
Get close to the wildlife, kayak and heli-ski when you travel to Antarctica with Pelorus.
What was once deemed as the most inaccessible place on Earth now can be accessed in luxury. Make memorable and utterly life-changing experiences with your family or private group of choice through travel to Antarctica with Pelorus.
Pelorus specializes in expeditions to the most remote and exciting locations on the planet. By working with a global network of experts, together with their expertise in challenging environments, they are able to create and deliver unrivaled polar yacht expeditions, all within the boundaries of IAATO.
It all started when two families from Northern Europe came to Pelorus, travel and yacht expedition specialist and co-founder Geordie Mackay-Lewis seeking a “truly memorable trip while getting in some sport or experience” somewhere with wildlife. Mackay-Lewis knew traveling to Antarctica checked all the boxes for their client, but there were a few obstacles, from making the trip child-friendly to logistics of actually getting there due to pandemic shutdowns at the time.
Brandon Dax
“Despite it being two years of planning, we brought it together. One of our strengths is that we have our resources and can make something that’s a really unique experience,” Mackay-Lewis said. “Now it’s a blueprint for the yacht industry… it’s become a luxurious, safe, comfortable adventure whereas before it was pure adventure or pure cruise.”
The families booked a private, 10-day expedition where they visited rarely-seen places on the continent, kayaking, exploring and working with scientists to meet several penguins.
“We try not to talk about world-first experiences, but we genuinely achieved it for this one,” Mackay-Lewis said. “Probably the youngest person to ever ski in Antarctica and generally we achieved this by allowing people to experience both heli skiing using two helicopters so we could explore further and encounter incredible wildlife in a very intimate way.”
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Now available to the public, this yacht expedition combines not only luxury and adventure, but also philanthropy, as it is the mission of Pelorus to include scientists in their travels and provide them with resources not often available to conduct vital research via investment from their clients to give back to the environment while traveling.
“We try not to talk about world-first experiences, but we genuinely achieved it for this one,” Mackay-Lewis said. “Probably the youngest person to ever ski in Antarctica and generally we achieved this by allowing people to experience both heli skiing using two helicopters so we could explore further and encounter incredible wildlife in a very intimate way.”
“I think it’s a really unique proposition and philanthropic as well because we paid the scientists to go down to Antarctica, gathering microplastics and SD cards,” Mackay-Lewis said. “That dimension of taking part and giving back to those who need it and providing the platform for free I think is the way travel should go. Everything we do has a scientific or conservation angle.”
A SAMPLE 5-DAY ITINERARY WITH PELORUS
Here is what your private, luxury adventure travel to Antarctica could look like, as put together by Pelorus. Antarctic charters must take place during the Antarctic summer, which is December—February and need to be planned 9-12 months in advance to allow for permitting. As there are a very limited number of vessels equipped to make this journey, interested parties are advised to get in touch as early as possible to begin planning and preparations.
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DAY ONE | KING GEORGE ISLAND
Head ashore to explore your surroundings and meet your crew, expert guides and naturalists.
DAY TWO | ANTARCTIC SOUND & SNOW HILL ISLAND
Cruise through ‘Iceberg Alley’ and visit the northernmost emperor penguin colony by helicopter.
DAY THREE | TRINITY & SPERT ISLANDS
Adventure through Trinity Island with opportunity to spot chinstrap and gentoo penguins. Discover amazing rock formations at Spert Island and cruise towards Enterprise Island in search of humpback whales and orcas.
DAY FOUR | ENTERPRISE ISLAND & GERLACHE STRAIT
Explore the wreck of Norwegian whaler ship, Governoren, and cruise the Gerlache Strait to Cuverville Island. Anchor to sea kayak and paddleboard among huge populations of penguins and seals.
DAY FIVE | NEUMAYER CHANNEL & PORT LOCKROY
Navigate with the captain through the iceberg-filled Neumayer Channel. Hike around Port Lockroy, an old British base turned designated historic site and visit Palmer Station, the US Antarctic program’s base, while keeping an eye out for leopard seals and adélie penguin
Brandon Dax
“Everything is relative, if I was to sum up Antarctica in one word, it would be humble. It’s very humbling to be in that environment because it’s so inhospitable,” Mackay-Lewis said. “It almost doesn’t make sense, it’s walls of ice and makes you wonder how did anyone ever explore this? But then you have wildlife that is so hospitable the penguins come and greet you. It’s truly like no other place in the world.”
It’s recommended you book at least six months in advance. Being south of the equator, the summer season starts December 21, making the holidays a great time to book your expedition. Whether Antarctica or another continent, Pelorus can create a tailor-made luxury adventure for impactful, immersive and authentic experiences with a promise of protecting our planet.
To learn more, head here.
“Everything is relative, if I was to sum up Antarctica in one word, it would be humble. It’s very humbling to be in that environment because it’s so inhospitable,” Mackay-Lewis said. “It almost doesn’t make sense, it’s walls of ice and makes you wonder how did anyone ever explore this? But then you have wildlife that is so hospitable the penguins come and greet you. It’s truly like no other place in the world.”
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