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Terra Nova Expeditions is excited to offer a unique journey for those drawn to the golden age of polar exploration.
Created with members of the James Caird Society and inspired by Britain’s Antarctic legacy, The Heroic South voyage aims to go deeper into the Peninsula than most—aiming for remote sites like Stonington Island, Detaille Island, Horseshoe Island, and if conditions are in our favour, Marguerite Bay.
It’s not just about visiting Antarctica—it’s about connecting with the places where explorers mapped the unknown and helped shape modern science.
Who is this voyage ideal for?
Members of the James Caird Society
Historians, researchers, writers, and polar enthusiasts passionate about Britain’s Antarctic story
Travellers seeking a deeper, more meaningful experience—following in the spirit of Shackleton, Scott, Rymill, Wordie, and Fuchs
Highlights
• Historical Focus: Expert-led storytelling, onboard lectures, and landings at key sites from Britain’s Antarctic heritage
• We aim for landings at Historic British Bases: Including Base E (Stonington Island), Base Y (Horseshoe Island), and Base W (Detaille Island) — weather and ice conditions permitting
• Very much dependent on a suitable weather window we will attempt to Reach Rothera: To visit the modern-day hub of the British Antarctic Survey, Rothera Research Station (permit permitting)
• Small Ship, Big Experience: Travel with just 98 guests aboard St Helena. Her open decks, generous observation lounges, and expedition-ready features provide an ideal platform for wildlife encounters, landings, and immersive exploration.
• Exclusive Onboard Events: Special gatherings and programming for James Caird Society members
• Optional Pre-Departure Event: A London-based gathering before the voyage
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Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Arrive in Ushuaia—the world’s southernmost city and a lively port rich in maritime history. After lunch, join your expedition team and fellow travellers for a short historical walking tour of the town before boarding your expedition vessel.
Once on board St Helena, enjoy a welcome briefing and dinner as we begin our journey down the Beagle Channel. This is your chance to get to know your expedition team, fellow guests, and the historians who will bring Britain’s Antarctic legacy to life throughout the voyage.
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Days 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage
Our journey begins with the crossing of the legendary Drake Passage—one of the great milestones in polar travel. These two days at sea offer time to relax, settle in, and get inspired. Join expert-led presentations covering early British expeditions, glaciology, and Antarctic wildlife.
Outside on deck, keep watch for cape petrels, giant petrels, and the graceful flight of albatrosses riding the winds.
During the crossing, we’ll also conduct important safety briefings and biosecurity procedures as we prepare to enter Antarctica’s pristine environment. Keep an eye on the horizon—icebergs on the water mean we’re getting close.
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Day 4: Antarctic Circle & Crystal Sound
Today, we set our sights on crossing 66°33′ South—the Antarctic Circle.
As we navigate the icy expanse of Crystal Sound, we enter a world of drifting sea ice, ethereal light, and profound stillness—broken only by the call of Antarctic petrels or the breath of a surfacing seal.
Our goal is to land at Detaille Island, home to the long-abandoned Base W—a British research station briefly occupied in the 1950s. Hastily evacuated due to encroaching sea ice, the station remains remarkably well preserved, offering a poignant glimpse into life during the heroic age of mid-century exploration. Nearby, Antarctic terns nest among the rocks, and you might spot a leopard seal cruising the ice edge.
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Day 5: Marguerite Bay & Adelaide Island (Rothera Region)
Embracing the spirit of true expedition travel, we set our course for the remote and seldom-visited Marguerite Bay—a striking landscape of ice covered waters, towering glaciers, and dramatic mountain backdrops.
If conditions allow, we’ll aim to approach Rothera Research Station, operated by the British Antarctic Survey. While shore landings at Rothera depend on permission and sea ice, cruising in its vicinity offers a powerful sense of the station’s vital role in modern polar science.
In these waters, we may encounter Weddell seals resting on floes, Adélie penguins weaving through the ice, and perhaps a minke whale surfacing nearby. This part of our itinerary is very condition dependent with safety paramount when operating in this remote part of the world.
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Day 6: Pourquoi Pas Island & Southern Channels
Today, we set out to traverse the breathtaking Gullet—a narrow, ice-filled channel that separates Adelaide Island from the mainland. This picturesque and rarely visited passage was first charted by Jean-Baptiste Charcot and later explored by British expeditions. Towering cliffs and hanging glaciers rise around us, while leopard seals patrol the ice floes in pursuit of penguins.
If conditions allow, we may make a landing on Pourquoi Pas Island, once a refuge for early explorers during their extensive survey missions. Weather permitting, we’ll navigate this icy maze by Zodiac, following in the wake of the pioneering Antarctic cartographers.
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Day 7: Penola Strait & Vernadsky Research Base
As we journey northward along the coast, we pass through the magnificent Penola Strait, famed for its striking peaks and intricately shaped icebergs. Weather allowing, we’ll pause at Vernadsky Station, operated by Ukraine. Formerly the British Faraday Station, this site is renowned as the birthplace of groundbreaking ozone layer research in the 1980s.
There may be an opportunity to explore the station’s facilities and visit the iconic southernmost bar on Earth—originally built by the British and still serving vodka to scientists and explorers who stop by.
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Day 8: Lemaire Channel & Pleneau Island
Today, we set our sights on one of the most breathtaking waterways on the planet. The Lemaire Channel—known as the "Kodak Gap"—is bordered by towering cliffs and often packed with brash ice, mirrored by surreal reflections of majestic icebergs.
At Pleneau Island, once a safe anchorage for Charcot’s expeditions, we’ll visit vibrant penguin colonies and navigate among grounded icebergs. Keep an eye out for leopard seals basking on the ice floes or humpback whales feeding just offshore.
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Days 9-10: Antarctic Peninsula Highlights
A final two days of immersive exploration. We continue our exploration of the Danco Coast with a potential landing at Neko Harbour—an ideal location to set foot on the Antarctic continent itself. Nestled amidst a horseshoe of glaciers, Neko offers commanding views and close encounters with gentoo penguins. Conditions permitting, we may undertake a short hike for panoramic views or a Zodiac cruise along the ice cliffs, where calving glaciers send thunderous waves rolling through the bay.
Perhaps a remote scientific hut, a calving glacier, or one last landing on the Antarctic mainland—your expedition team will maximize your time on the Peninsula before turning north.
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Daya 11-12: Crossing the Drake Passage (Northbound)
Relive your adventures as you cross the Drake Passage, keeping an eye out for seabirds and whales along the way. Take part in final lectures or workshops, and enjoy a celebratory dinner with your fellow travellers as you reflect on the unforgettable journey.
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Day 13: Return to Ushuaia
Arrive back in Ushuaia in the early morning. After breakfast, disembark with cherished memories of an epic Antarctic expedition and new stories to tell.
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Please note:
The above itinerary is a general guideline. Our precise route and activities will be adjusted to optimize wildlife viewing and adapt to prevailing weather and ice conditions. The Captain and/or Expedition Leader will make necessary changes to ensure the best possible experience. A daily program will be provided onboard. Flexibility is essential for a successful expedition. Whilst our focus is on early exploration landing sites cannot be guaranteed.
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07 March, 2027 to 19 March, 2027
The Quad Cabins located on the Promenade and Deck “A” measure approximately 14 square metres (150 sqft)* and feature a desk, a window, two bunk beds (pullman style) and en-suite bathroom.
The Triple Cabins located on Deck “A” measure approximately 14 square metres (150 sqft)* and feature a desk, a window, a bunk (pullman style) and one single bed and en-suite bathroom.
The Odyssey Single Cabins located on the Boat, Promenade and on Deck “A” measure approximately 8 square metres (85 sqft)* and feature a desk, a window, an en-suite bathroom and one single bed.
The Odyssey Twin Cabins located on Decks “A” and “B” measure approximately 10 square metres (107 sqft)* and feature a desk, a window, one bunk bed (pullman style) and an en-suite bathroom.
The Superior Cabins located on Deck “A” measure approximately 14 square metres (150 sqft)* and feature a desk, a window, two single beds and an en-suite bathroom.
The Deluxe Cabins located on the Promenade Deck and Deck “B” measure approximately 15 square metres (162 sqft)* and feature a desk, a window, an en-suite bathroom and one double (King-sized) or two single beds.
The Deluxe Cabins located on Deck “B” feature a porthole, two single beds and a seating area.
Bedding Configurations:
P1 - Double/Two Single
P2 - Double/Two Single
P3 - Double/Two Single
P8 - Double/Two Single
P9 - Double/Two Single
P10 - Double/Two Single
B36 - B39 - Two Single Beds
The Premium Cabins located on the Promenade Deck measure approximately 18 square metres (194 sqft)* and feature a desk, a window, an en-suite bathroom and one double (King-sized) or two single beds.
Bedding Configurations:
P4 - Double
P7 - Double
The spacious Owner’s Suites located on the Boat Deck measure approximately 40 square metres (430 sqft)* and feature a seating area, a meeting area, en-suite bathroom, walk in closet and one double (King-sized) bed.
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St. Helena
St. Helena
Vessel Type: Polar Code Category C Passenger Vessel
Length: 105 metres / 344 ft
Passenger Capacity: 98
Built / Refurbished: 1989 / 2022
St Helena is a character-rich expedition vessel with a unique maritime legacy, originally built to serve one of the world’s most remote communities and extensively refurbished in 2022. Now part of the Terra Nova Expeditions fleet, she combines heritage with modern comfort, accommodating just 98 guests for an intimate onboard experience supported by 81 crew members. Spacious, ocean-view cabins all feature ensuite bathrooms, with a variety of configurations including singles, twins, and shared options ideal for solo travellers, families, or groups. With inviting social spaces, panoramic observation lounges, and a relaxed atmosphere, the ship offers a welcoming environment designed for both comfort and connection.
Built for true expedition travel, St Helena is equipped with an ice-strengthened hull, powerful engines, and 12 Zodiacs, making her well suited for navigating the remote regions of Antarctica and beyond. Guests can take part in expert-led excursions such as zodiac cruises, guided landings, kayaking, and even camping, while onboard facilities include open decks for wildlife viewing, a gym, spa, two Jacuzzis, and a fully equipped science lab supporting active research programmes. Combining adventure, education, and strong value, St Helena delivers an immersive polar experience with a focus on exploration and meaningful discovery.
