Landing sites in Antarctica

Our modern expedition ships strike the perfect balance between adventure, comfort and sustainability, and you’ll enjoy a varied schedule of landings, all designed to create unforgettable memories. . The exact landing sites we visit will depend on the weather conditions we encounter – such is the nature of an expedition cruise.

How we conduct landings

Completing successful landings requires experience - in HX we have almost 130 years of it. We take pride in offering seamless landings to all our guests. From our tender pit - a small pier folded out on the side of the ship - you board small expedition boats that seat approximately 10 people. Then we take you ashore. But before this happens, we make sure to follow a few simple principles to make every landing run smoothly:

Once ashore, you will be greeted by the experienced Expedition Team at the landing site, offering you steps and helping hands to make the landing easier. Information about the landing site is provided, with tips on where to go and where to see animals. All guests are free to walk around the landing sites on their own, with the Expedition Team members nearby to answer questions or provide information. Special hikes are always guided by experienced Expedition Team members.

Potential landing sites in the Antarctic region

Weather, wind, ice and local conditions will determine the exact route and schedule. Safety is paramount and the ship’s captain will decide the final sailing itinerary during the voyage. Therefore, every voyage is unique and all advertised routes, by the very nature of the region, can only be indicative.

Below you will find a selection of some of the possible landing sites in Antarctica, depending on your voyage’s planned itinerary. Please note: The exact landing sites we visit will depend on the weather conditions we encounter – such is the nature of an expedition cruise

Deception Island, South Shetland Islands

One of the highlights of the South Shetlands, Deception Island is a distinctive ring-shaped volcanic caldera, a portion of which has collapsed and created a navigable opening into the flooded interior. The natural harbour within includes Whalers Bay, home to an abandoned whaling station known as Hektor, as well as a derelict British base

Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands

Staggeringly photogenic and blessed with some of the most spectacular Antarctic scenery imaginable, Half Moon Island is a glittering gem amongst these island treasures. Its serrated and creviced cliffs are home to a large colony of chinstrap penguins, as well as Antarctic terns, kelp gulls, snowy sheathbills, Wilson’s storm petrels and several species of seals who are regular visitors to the island.

Early sealers in the area used Yankee Harbour on Greenwich Island as a frequent base of operations, its remarkable setting providing a natural safe haven for the sailors. Remnants of those early days can still be seen littering the shoreline. The big draw for visitors here is the large colony of Gentoo penguins, whose numbers are estimated to be around 4,000 breeding pairs.

Cuverville Island

Situated in the scenic Errera Channel, Cuverville Island boasts the largest known colony of Gentoo penguins. The narrow Errera Channel offers a spectacular passage to and from Cuverville as icebergs become trapped and grounded in the nearby shallows. Watching from the observation decks as our navigators weave the ship carefully between the icebergs is as exciting as being surrounded by the throngs of nesting penguins onshore.

Neko Harbour

Neko Harbour, with its Gentoo penguin colony, lies nestled in Andvord Bay, surrounded by the mountains and high glacier walls of the peninsula. Named after a factory whaling ship from the early 1900s, Neko is one of the rare places in this area where you may land on the Antarctic mainland.

Lemaire Channel

This 11-kilometre long and 1.6-kilometre wide channel is one of the most beautiful passages in Antarctica. It bestows upon the traveller a glimpse into what fascinates us most about this incredibly contrasting environment; it is sublime yet imposing, delicate yet daunting, alluring yet inhospitable.

See more videos from our possible landing sites on our Youtube channel.

Onboard Science Programme

Our Science Programme has one goal: to increase your curiosity, knowledge and interest of the areas you are sailing to.

Our expedition ships serve as the perfect platform for scientific research; with access to remote regions of the world and onboard experts, we can provide invaluable data to the scientific community - with help from our guests!

We invite our guests to participate in science activities, developing a greater understanding of the region in which they travel, becoming true ambassadors, and returning home to champion the protection of our planet's most fragile ecosystems.

The core of the Citizen Science programmes

Examples of Scientific Research Onboard

Science Center

Join the Expedition Team here for a range of lectures, photography workshops, and Citizen Science Projects. The area also features scientific and educational equipment, such as microscopes and interactive maps.

Lecture Hall

In-depth talks on history, climate change, sustainability, wildlife, Earth science, culture, and other topics specific to the destination you are visiting are held here. Learning more about each subject is certain to enhance your expedition experience.

Webinar: Science Programme

Our Science Programme has one goal: To increase your curiosity, knowledge and interest of the areas you are sailing to. 

In this webinar you can learn more about:

Speaker: Verena Meraldi