Emperor Penguins, Pack Ice, and Helicopter Expeditions
One of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences in Antarctica. An expedition through the thick pack ice of the Weddell Sea. Helicopter flights over icy deserts and vast glacial landscapes. Encounters with one of Antarctica’s least-visited emperor penguin colonies on Snow Hill Island. Huge tabular icebergs and dense ice fields far from the classic routes. Weddell seals, leopard seals, and Adélie penguins in the icy Southern Ocean. Small expedition ships. Challenging routes.
Our Trips to Snow Hill Island
17.480 €
Antarctica Intensive | MS Scenic Eclipse | MS Scenic Ikon
27.255 €
Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands | MS Scenic Eclipse | MS Scenic…
25.838 €
Spectacular: Snow Hill Island with emperor penguins | MS Ultramarine
20.900 €
Exceptional itinerary: Remote Weddell Sea Explorer Intensive, including South Georgia – South Sandwich Islands –...
11.450 €
Weddell Sea – In search of the emperor penguin
Deep in the Weddell Sea, sheltered by pack ice and unpredictable weather windows, lies one of Antarctica’s most remote destinations: Snow Hill Island. The island is home to Antarctica’s northernmost emperor penguin colony—and thus offers one of the rarest wildlife experiences in Antarctica. Only a relatively small number of travelers visit here each season. When you visit Snow Hill Island, you enter a region where nature sets the pace—and encounter animals that are simply unfazed by human presence. The highlight is the encounter with emperor penguins.
Why Choose Snow Hill Island as a Travel Destination?
- Encountering Emperor Penguins in the Wild
- A Journey Through the Pack Ice of the Weddell Sea
- Icebergs and vast ice landscapes
- Weddell seals, orcas, and other polar wildlife
- Small expedition groups off the beaten path of traditional Antarctic routes
The Emperor Penguin Colony on Snow Hill Island
More than 4,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins have settled on the sea ice of the Weddell Sea, south of Snow Hill Island. It is the northernmost emperor penguin colony in all of Antarctica. Emperor penguins do not breed on land, but rather on the pack ice: They lay their eggs during the Antarctic winter, balance them on their feet to protect them from the ice, and take turns with their partners incubating the eggs for months on end—in temperatures that can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius.
Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species in the world—up to 1.20 meters tall and weighing up to 40 kilograms. In the colony on Snow Hill Island, they move with such composure that their presence seems perfectly natural. These animals have never been hunted, nor have they experienced a permanent human presence. What sets Snow Hill Island apart from many other penguin colonies is that there is no permanent human infrastructure and hardly any visitors.
Why so few expeditions reach this region
Not every Antarctic expedition heads to Snow Hill Island—and for good reason. The island lies deep in the Weddell Sea, a region that poses a serious challenge even for experienced expedition ships. The window for the season is narrow: only between October and December are ice conditions favorable enough to allow the ship to approach. Pack ice, weather, and wind ultimately determine the situation on the ground.
Worldwide, there are only a handful of ships suitable for this region: those with a high ice class, on-board helicopters, and an expedition team familiar with the unique characteristics of the Weddell Sea. Consequently, the number of visitors each year remains low. Snow Hill Island isn’t a destination you book on a whim. It’s a destination you commit to.
How do you get to Snow Hill Island?
On Inventia’s Snow Hill expeditions, you’ll reach the emperor penguin colony by helicopter. The pack ice south of Snow Hill Island is too dense and too unpredictable for Zodiac trips—even if the ship has already reached the region. The ship’s helicopters will fly you over the ice, land near the colony, and from there you’ll continue on foot—about one to two kilometers across the sea ice, depending on the season and ice conditions.
Not every ship that includes Snow Hill Island in its itinerary has helicopters on board. And even with a helicopter, landing is still weather-dependent. You’re not booking a guarantee—you’re booking a true expedition.
The Weddell Sea—one of the most ice-covered regions in Antarctica
The Weddell Sea is one of the most spectacular ice regions in Antarctica. Table icebergs larger than city blocks drift through pack ice that is denser than on the Antarctic Peninsula. Between the ice fields, you often won’t encounter any other ships for hours. Weddell seals doze on ice floes, leopard seals hunt in the coastal waters, and orcas and humpback whales surface among the ice fields. The wildlife of the Weddell Sea isn’t just a bonus—it’s a reason in itself to visit this region.
Many Snow Hill expeditions also visit Paulet Island—a small volcanic island home to about 100,000 breeding pairs of Adélie penguins, designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. There, you’ll see hundreds of thousands of penguins packed into a very small space—a stark, fascinating contrast to the silence of the pack ice all around.
The Weddell Sea is also steeped in history. It was here that Shackleton’s *Endurance* sank in the ice in 1915. The icy landscapes you navigate today are the same ones that once put ships and crews through one of the toughest trials in polar history.
Which Snow Hill expedition is right for you?
There are many different ways to explore Snow Hill Island. Some expeditions focus specifically on the emperor penguin colony, while others combine a visit to Snow Hill Island with a high level of comfort on board or an in-depth exploration of the Weddell Sea. Which trip is best for you depends on what you hope to experience in Antarctica.
Are you most interested in seeing emperor penguins?
The specialized expeditions aboard the MS Ultramarine and MS Ortelius are specifically designed for Snow Hill Island and spend several days in the destination area. With on-board helicopters, you’ll have the best chance of visiting the emperor penguin colony here. The difference lies in their character: The Ultramarine combines an expedition focus with a comfortable shipboard environment; the Ortelius is designed for uncompromising expedition travelers—fewer amenities, more adventure.
Are you looking for a Snow Hill trip with a high level of comfort?
The Scenic Eclipse and the Scenic Eclipse II combine Antarctic expeditions with spacious suites, butler service, and additional opportunities to explore the polar region by helicopter and submarine. Emperor penguins may be part of the program on select voyages and dates, but they are not as consistently the focus as they are on the specialized Snow Hill expeditions aboard the MS Ultramarine or MS Ortelius.
Are you primarily interested in the Weddell Sea?
If the Weddell Sea itself is your main focus, Ortelius Expeditions offers the most in-depth itineraries in this region. The “In Search of the Emperor Penguin” voyage focuses specifically on emperor penguins, pack ice, and helicopter excursions in the Weddell Sea. The longer Weddell Sea Discovery Intensive voyage expands the itinerary to include additional regions such as South Georgia and, if ice conditions permit, may also include Snow Hill Island.
Following in the Footsteps of Early Antarctic Expeditions
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Trips to Snow Hill Island
Is it guaranteed that you'll see emperor penguins on Snow Hill Island?
No—and that’s part of what makes these expeditions special. Whether we can land at the emperor penguin colony depends on the ice, the weather, and flight conditions. Having ships with on-board helicopters, spending several days in the destination area, and having an experienced expedition team all increase the likelihood of a successful landing.
Where can you see emperor penguins in Antarctica?
Snow Hill Island is home to the best-known and most frequently visited emperor penguin colony in the wider region of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. Other colonies exist in more remote regions of Antarctica—such as the Ross Sea—but are significantly more difficult for tourist expeditions to reach.
When is the best time to visit Snow Hill Island?
The best time to visit Snow Hill Island is generally between late October and early December. In November, chicks can often be seen in the colony, while the family groups still stay close together. However, actual conditions on site always depend on the weather and ice conditions.
How do you get to the emperor penguin colony?
By helicopter from the ship. You'll fly over the pack ice and land near the colony. From there, you'll continue on foot across the sea ice before reaching the emperor penguins.
Do you need a helicopter to get to Snow Hill Island?
On the tours offered by Inventia that focus on the emperor penguin colony, helicopters usually play a central role. The extensive pack ice often makes direct landings at the colony impossible. Therefore, access is typically via helicopter from the expedition ship.
How many emperor penguins live on Snow Hill Island?
The colony consists of about 4,000 breeding pairs. During the season, the number of birds there—including chicks and juveniles—is significantly higher.
Which expedition is best for photographers?
All of the featured voyages offer excellent opportunities for nature and wildlife photography. If the emperor penguin colony is your main focus, the specialized Snow Hill expeditions aboard the MS Ultramarine and MS Ortelius are particularly well-suited. The voyages aboard the Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II combine wildlife viewing with a high level of comfort, as well as additional perspectives via helicopter and submarine. The Weddell Sea Discovery Voyage, on the other hand, is designed for travelers who, in addition to emperor penguins, would like to photograph South Georgia, Adélie penguin colonies, table icebergs, and other regions of the Weddell Sea.
How much does a trip to Snow Hill Island cost?
Prices vary depending on the ship, cabin category, and travel dates. You can find an overview of all offers and prices on the respective trip pages. We’d be happy to advise you personally on the right expedition—please contact us today.
Do you have any questions about our SNOW HILL ISLAND trips?
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