Elephant Island cruises & tours
Retrace the footsteps of early explorer, Ernest Shackleton on his Trans-Antarctic Expedition – one of the greatest survival stories of all time
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Elephant Island highlights
Visit Point Wild
Named after Frank Wild, the second in command of Shackleton's shipwrecked expedition, Point Wild marks where Shackleton's crew survived four gruelling months (during Antarctic winter!) before being rescued by a Chilean naval ship. If the weather is on your side, you'll be able to make a landing, but simply learning about this legendary polar tale is enough to give you goosebumps. From building a hut with upside-down life rafts to making oil lamps with seal blubber, this survival story is one of the greatest of all time.
See southern elephant seals
If you hadn't already guessed, Elephant Island was named after the elephant seals early explorers spotted on its shores. Weighing up to a mighty 4,000 kilograms and reaching lengths of 6 metres, southern elephant seals are the world's largest seal species. They've also got a distinct trunk-like nose which is hard to miss. Large groups arrive on the shores every summer to mate, and it's hard not to be mesmerised as you watch them soaking up the sun’s rays or listen to males growling to compete for female attention.
Spot whales from the ship
There might not be much life on Elephant Island, but the water surrounding the island is different. From humpback, minke and killer whales to leopard, Weddell and crabeater seals, crossing the Southern Ocean offers fantastic opportunities to spot the many sea creatures that call these waters home. Look out for whales breaching or slapping their tales on the water's surface or a family of seals hanging out on an ice floe.
Marvel at Endurance Glacier
Named after Shackleton’s ill-fated ship, HMS Endurance, Endurance Glacier is the main discharge glacier that runs onto Elephant Island. At a mighty 7 kilometres wide, this bright white glacier will catch your eye long before you drop anchor. If the conditions are calm enough, you can jump into a Zodiac and explore a little closer. Admire the blue-hued layers of ancient ice and keep your eyes peeled for any chunks that crack and plummet into the icy waters.
Visit a penguin colony
Thousands of gentoo, chinstrap and macaroni penguins migrate to Elephant Island every spring to breed and nest on its rocky terrain. You could spend all day watching these curious critters as they waddle out to sea, show off their rowdy courting rituals, or guard their precious eggs. If you’re here from mid-December to mid-February, you might see a creche of fluffy (and undeniably adorable) chicks huddling together while their parents go fishing or proud parents keeping their chicks warm.
Admire albatross
As tempting as it may be to keep your eyes glued to the water for whale and seal sightings, ensure you don't forget to look up at the sky. Albatross might seem small from the ship’s deck, but if you grab a pair of binoculars, you’ll see their incredible wingspan – the largest of any other living bird in the world. When you watch these seabirds gliding effortlessly through the windy Antarctic skies, it’s not hard to see how their epic wings allow them to fly for hours at a time without a single flap.
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We're here to do good by creating positive change through the joy of travel.
We're here to do good by creating positive change through the joy of travel.