Antarctica

Sail to the southernmost continent and discover glaciers, volcanic craters, historic bases and one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on earth.

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Explore the Antarctic Peninsula by Sea

Antarctica is not a place you visit so much as one you reach. A yacht opens up a coastline of colossal glaciers, floating brash ice and anchorages no other form of travel can access. Here, every itinerary is written by the weather and by the movement of wildlife — and that is the point of it.

When to go : The best time to go is from November to March

Charter Highlights in Antarctica

From live volcanoes and historic bases to whale-filled channels and vast penguin colonies, an Antarctic charter is a journey of genuine discovery. Here are three highlights to inspire your expedition:

01 Wildlife at Close Quarters

The Peninsula is alive in a way few expect. Watch minke, humpback and blue whales feed in the Gerlache Strait, spot leopard seals hunting off Pleneau Island, and see Weddell seals asleep on the floes. Ashore, Adélie, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins gather in colonies a hundred thousand strong.
02 Ice, Glaciers and Volcanic Craters

Sail the eleven-kilometre Lemaire Channel between mountain walls that reflect perfectly in still water, then anchor at Paradise Harbour beneath a calving glacier. At Deception Island, a yacht can sail directly into the crater of a live volcano, where hot springs warm the black sand beneath.
03 History and Human Presence

Port Lockroy, a former British base on Goudier Island, is now a protected historic site and home to the world's most southerly post office. At Paulet Island lie the remains of the Nordenskjöld expedition, while research stations along the Peninsula offer a glimpse of life in extreme isolation.

Suggested Yacht Charter Itinerary in Antarctica

At BGYB we offer bespoke itineraries for your charter. In Antarctica the precise route always depends on weather and wildlife. Please contact us for your personalised charter itinerary.

Day 1 Deception Island

One of the few places in the world where you can sail directly into the crater of a live volcano, and a rare respite from Antarctic storms. Explore the ruins of the whaling factory and scientific station at Whalers Bay, hike up Ronald Hill, or walk to Neptune's Window overlooking the Bransfield Strait. Braver guests can swim in water warmed by hot springs beneath the beach. On nearby Bailey Head, 100,000 pairs of Chinstrap penguins line the seashore.
Day 2 Paulet Island

A small island in the Weddell Sea just 2km around, dominated by a cone rising over 353 metres. Paulet is home to 100,000 pairs of Adélie penguins alongside striking bird species. The wreck of Nordenskjöld's ship, the Antarctic, sank 40km away, and the ruins of the expedition's stone hut remain here to be discovered — one of the greatest survival stories in the history of exploration.
Day 3 Cierva Cove

A bay of floating crushed and brash ice, and the gateway to the West Antarctic Peninsula. Visit the Argentine Base Primavera research centre, where the staff live in extreme isolation and welcome a gift of wine or coffee. Watch Weddell and crabeater seals resting on the ice, spot leopard seals and whales, and see glaciers calving into a bay filled with ice in every form: arches, bergs and floes.
Day 4 Gerlache Strait

A breathtaking passage off the western Antarctic Peninsula, framed by colossal glaciers and towering icebergs. This icy corridor serves as the gateway to the deeper Antarctic and is one of the finest places on the Peninsula for whale watching, with thriving penguin colonies along its shores.
Day 5 Cuverville Island

A remote sanctuary at the heart of the Antarctic Peninsula, surrounded by majestic peaks and glacier-carved valleys. The island is best known for its vibrant colonies of Gentoo penguins, set against a backdrop of endless ice — a favourite among wildlife photographers.
Day 6 Paradise Harbour

A 360° amphitheatre of ice that has welcomed mariners after many a stormy Southern Ocean crossing. Sheltered by mountains, it is ideal for kayaking and cruising among ice floes. Step ashore on the continent at the Argentine Almirante Brown Base, where Wilson's storm petrels and blue-eyed shags nest on copper-stained cliffs.
Day 7 Port Lockroy

Set on the football-pitch-sized Goudier Island in a sheltered natural harbour, this former British scientific base is now a protected historic site. Its museum sits at the centre of a long-term environmental study and offers a fascinating tour of extreme working life. Outside, a friendly local Gentoo penguin population goes about its business. This is also the site of the world's most southerly British post office.
Day 8 Lemaire Channel

An 11km gorge-like channel between the mainland and Booth Island, and one of the great Antarctic highlights. It is guarded by twin peaks known as Una's Peaks, and its still waters are a favourite with photographers and climbers. Look out for migrating minke, humpback and orca whales. On Booth Island, a cairn marks the winter anchorage of the French Charcot expedition of 1903–05, whose penguin records are still valued today.
Day 9 Pleneau Island

If your captain doesn't mind a challenge, anchor among the constantly moving icebergs in the bay of Pleneau Island, propelled by the current. A large colony of Gentoo penguins plays on the ice, pursued by leopard seals. Nearby, the Vernadsky Research Station keeps its own pub, where the fiery homemade vodka is the traditional way to warm up.