Our Team 
Our Tour Experts 
Heroes and Heroines Expeditionary Vessels
Sail on an ice-strengthened vessel, renowned for their superb guiding and expeditionary feel.
-
![Amy snow biking]()
Our Team Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
-
![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
-
![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Cross the Antarctic Circle
In what is one of the longer Antarctica sailing voyages, traverse the Drake Passage, cross the Antarctic Circle, embark on zodiac explorations and see lesser-visited sites such as a renowned abandoned research station.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
1
2Remote Base W
Visit an abandoned British station on Detaille Island, a time capsule from the 1950’s.
3Cross the Circle
Count yourself among the small handful of people who cross the Antarctic Circle each season.
4Navigate Pack Ice
Sail some of the most pristine waterways on Earth through impressive narrow passageways.
Why we like it
In joining a navigation set to cross the Antarctic Circle, adventurous voyagers sign up for a longer sea journey that brings with it more opportunities for memorable wildlife-spotting and unique disembarkations. Travelling further south down the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, where very few boats have the time to venture, this journey is ideally suited to those who are keen to really maximise their time on the White Continent and travel where few others go. At the height of the season, when ice conditions are such that the vessels can sail further south, the indescribable feeling of being utterly off the beaten track is quite overwhelming.
Day 1
Ushuaia
Day 2 - 3
At Sea
Day 4 - 6
South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
Days 7 - 8
Antarctic Circle
Day 9 - 10
Antarctic Peninsula
Day 11 - 12
Drake Passage
Day 13
Ushuaia
Day 1
Ushuaia
Situated on the southern shore of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia is the most southerly town in the world.
Day 2 - 3
At Sea
Count yourself among the small handful of people who cross the Antarctic Circle each season.
Day 4 - 6
South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
It is perhaps the first sight of land itself that is embraced as the true beginning of any Antarctic expedition.
Days 7 - 8
Antarctic Circle
Day 9 - 10
Antarctic Peninsula
Day 11 - 12
Drake Passage
As you recross the Drake, Antarctica fades away, leaving you with a collection of memories to last a lifetime.
Day 13
Ushuaia
Champagne Toast at the Circle
66° 33' 44" South
Arrive at 66.5 degrees south latitude, marking the start of the Antarctic, an impressive achievement that is reached by few vessels. After crossing the famed line, celebrate in style by sipping a bubbling glass of champagne. If crossing the Antarctic Circle was not quite enough, perhaps try snorkelling or diving in crystal clear waters to see the secret world of ice below the surface and an array of marine life.
Camp on the Continent
Spend a Night on the Ice
Weather permitting, spend a night in a bivvy bag or tent on the continent. Aside from the bragging rights of having camped on the 7th continent, this is a truly remarkable adventure to take your Antarctic voyage to the next level. Limited spots make this an exclusive and intimate experience, and presents incomparable opportunities for marvelling at the polar night sky.
Wildlife & Wilderness
Daily Life in Antarctica
Volcanic, mountainous and mostly glaciated, the South Shetland Islands are renowned for their dense wildlife population. With vast penguin rookeries, lounging Antarctic fur seals and wallowing southern elephant seals dotting the landscape, the islands are inhabited only by a skeleton crew of scientists and offer up awe-inspiring scenery. Land at Deception Island and consider hiking the steep peak on the eastern side to a magnificent viewpoint. Alternatively, explore ice floes and icebergs by zodiac or kayak the islands’s flooded caldera for a genuine feeling of solitude.
Abandoned Research Station
Visit Base W
Aside from the small rookery of Adelie penguins that inhabit Detaille Island, the real draw is Base W. Visit this abandoned British research station, which was occupied by a team of scientists in the 1950’s, was hurriedly evacuated when unstable ice around the island blocked the access of its supply ships. A curious time capsule of sorts, the scientific outpost was once the base of everything from meteorological studies to mapping projects.
Let’s chat
Speak to our experts
Our team is waiting to help you tailor a trip that will leave you with stories for a lifetime. Call us on
01285 601 784Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise sets us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary?
Featured in the press
