Antarctica - Emperors & Snow Hill Island - Helicopters - 11 days

See the Antarctic from the vantage point of a true expedition leader - from the air. Our helicopter capability on the Ortelius provides you the unique chance to view an emperor penguin rookery numbering upwards of 4,000 breeding pairs, located just south of Snow Hill Island. Heavy ice may prevent entrance from the Weddell Sea, and ice at the rookery itself might break up and start to melt earlier than expected. With this in mind, the aim is to stop the vessel between the Antarctic Sound and James Clark Ross Island, close to the ice edge, and find emperor penguins on their way to the open water. The helicopters make this search possible - and thrilling - as you embark on scenic flights, as well as landings in places otherwise inaccessible so early in the season.