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Intimate Expeditions - the Aurora heritage

Antarctic Peninsula | Antarctic Circle | Falklands~Malvinas | South Georgia | Weddell Sea | South Sandwich Islands | Patagonia

From the start, Aurora Expeditions was destined to be different. Co-founders Greg and Margaret Mortimer had a passion for adventure, exploring wild places and sharing the experience with friends.

More than three decades later, that pioneering spirit burns just as brightly, as does Aurora Expeditions' preference for small-group, personal expeditions. At sea, all Aurora Expeditions are on ships of 60-passengers or less. Aurora is one of the only companies operating trips of this size. Fewer people means more solitude and greater flexibility if tides, currents, ice or weather dictate a schedule change. And because Aurora Expeditions has fewer people to ferry ashore, it can often make more landings.

Aurora's Antarctica

From South America, it takes less than two days' sailing, or two hours' flying, to enter a world that fills the heart, overloads the senses and imprints your memory forever. The Antarctic Peninsula's west coast offers ice-clad peaks towering over a maze of protected channels; the east coast a vast icecap and strange, fossil-rich islands. From spring to fall, this stunning landscape becomes furious with life as penguins, seals, petrels, and whales arrive to feed and breed.

Follow in Shackleton's wake along the Scotia Arc, from Elephant Island to South Georgia, to discover a wildlife oasis like no other. Visit historic huts, whaling sites, scientific bases and set foot on the Antarctic continent. Enjoy magical Zodiac trips among sculpted icebergs, thrill to unexpected encounters with leopard seals and whales. Across Aurora's Antarctic program,you have the option to camp, kayak, climb, scuba dive, snorkel, improve your photography or simply enjoy being amongst the most accepting wildlife on Earth.

Aurora's first South Georgia voyage, Scotia Sea Springtime welcomes a special guest lecturer from BirdLife Australia, Aurora's partner in bird conservation. Not only will you learn of the fulmars, petrels, albatross and penguins you see along the way, you'll be helping our feathered friends and their habitats back home.

Whether you attempt to sail south of the Antarctic Circle, be awed by tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea or follow Shackleton's footsteps across the interior of South Georgia, Antarctica and South Georgia offer the best of adventures and wildlife encounters.

Why travel with Aurora Expeditions?

Small groups are best

At sea, Aurora Expeditions' high-latitude, expedition ship is small enough to go where others can't, often resulting in more landings. On land, Aurora's group size is limited to 16. Fewer people means a more personalised experience and a lasting camaraderie.

Consistently Aurora Expeditions.

Rather than book you onto another company's trip, Aurora Expeditions operate only its own expeditions, either on vessels that it charters, or working closely with local experts who share its ethos and style.

Aurora Expeditions' staff put you first

Your security, wellbeing and understanding of the places you visit are Aurora Expeditions' staff's priorities. Aurora's staff have a passion for sharing their knowledge and making everyone feel as if they are on the same team.

Enrichment through understanding

The more Aurora Expeditions' remote area specialists share their knowledge about the history and natural environments you encounter, the more rewarding the experience.

Environmental sensitivity

Aurora Expeditions' helped develop international environmental guidelines for the polar regions you visit, and consciously limits the number of people it takes to its destinations.

Flexibility and freedom

Aurora Expeditions stops for breaching whales! Enjoy your destinations in your own way, within the bounds of safety. Hike up a snow slope, take your time photographing wildlife, inspect historical huts or simply sit and admire the view.

Aurora Expeditions' spirit of adventure!

Photograph wind-plumes on Mt Everest, share the trail with gauchos, yak-herders or rarely-visited rainforest hunters. Scuba dive or snorkel with leopard seals, sea kayak with whales or enjoy a feast of tundra berries. Ponder ancient rock paintings or lift your spirits in a Buddhist monastery. No matter where in the world, Aurora Expeditions encourages a true sense of exploration.

Aurora Expeditions has fun

Aurora Expeditions loves what it does and believes that everyone involved, from expeditioners to staff, ship's crews to trekking teams, shares the same goal – the best expedition imaginable!

Many inclusions

Whether it's a stylish jacket and photo journal memento to keep, or gumboots to wear on our polar voyages; flights for our fly/sail Antarctic program; linking flights in Iceland, Alaska, Ecuador, Nepal and Africa or Everest heliflights, our inclusions are what most others would consider extras.

Environmental Stewardship

From Aurora's very first Antarctic voyage in 1992, it has been committed to environmentally responsible tourism practices. Founding Australian members of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), Aurora supports research, donates funds, and allocates resources to ensure it leaves places it visits as it found them – or better. As you travel with Aurora, it hopes you develop a deeper understanding of the natural forces shaping our world. By creating lifelong environmental ambassadors, Aurora aims to preserve the wild places for future generations.

If you're a solo traveller, welcome on board!

Aurora Expeditions welcomes many solo travellers on its trips, and their numbers are increasing each year. Maybe it's simply the nature of the expeditions, but Aurora understands what a big step it is for many to set off on their own. To address this, Aurora has developed its informal 'cabin-mate finding service' that matches solo travellers with a cabin mate of the same gender. And it has had great success so far! Aurora Expeditions' small groups and relaxed atmosphere make it easy to make new friends (and remember everyone's name!), and the inspiring destinations are a great conversation starter. Plus, by sharing a cabin you'll also avoid paying any extra 'single supplements'. You might arrive alone, but Aurora can guarantee that you'll go home with lifelong friends.