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Thank you for joining Aurora Expeditions on our In Shackleton’s Footsteps expedition 

Follow in the footsteps of ‘the Boss’ on this quintessential polar voyage, from the serene ice of the deep south to the subantarctic wildlife paradise of South Georgia. Experience the Antarctic Peninsula and set foot on the continent before making your way north to the spectacular Antarctic Sound, gateway to the Weddell Sea. Embrace the adventure as you voyage further east, navigating as far as possible into the Weddell Sea, where Shackleton’s Endurance met its fate. From here set a course to Elephant Island, the desolate outpost where Shackleton and his men finally made landfall after 497 days at sea. On the final leg of your voyage, follow the course of the James Caird across the Scotia Sea to South Georgia, where Shackleton’s voyage reached its remarkable conclusion. As you retrace the steps of this historic voyage, your expert expedition team will be by your side to enrich your journey with insights, wildlife-spotting tips and stories of Shackleton’s epic adventure. 

Highlights

Marvel at the enormous tabular icebergs that escape the Weddell Sea into the Antarctic Sound, also known as ‘Iceberg Alley.’
Learn about the fascinating history of Shackleton’s Endurance expedition, including the 2022 discovery of the shipwreck.
Experience South Georgia, an incredible wildlife sanctuary where fur seals, elephant seals and four species of penguin coexist in harmony.
Hike from Fortuna Bay to the abandoned Stromness whaling station, repeating the final leg of Shackleton’s remarkable traverse of South Georgia from east to west.

Itinerary

Staterooms and Prices

Choose your departure

Meet our Expert Team

Each voyage is accompanied by our highly acclaimed expedition team who we believe are the best in the business. Many are recognised leaders in their fields, keen to share their daily insights on shore and onboard. While your actual team may vary between voyages, every member of our Expedition Team is among the world's best remote area specialists.

Included Activities

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Bird Watching
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Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations
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Marine Mammal Spotting
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Photography
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Polar Plunge
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Scenic Cruising
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Trips Ashore
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Walking
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Wildlife Watching
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Zodiac Cruising

Add-on Activities

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Moderate
Difficult
Advanced

Our Ships

The Sylvia Earle

Capacity
130 Passengers Maximum
Year built
2022
Cabins
71
Length
104 m
Decks
8
Speed
10-12 knots

The Douglas Mawson

Our new purpose-built small ship, the Douglas Mawson.
Capacity
154 Passengers Maximum (130 on Expedition)
Year built
2025
Cabins
86
Length
104.4 m
Decks
8
Speed
10-12 Knots

Extension Tours

Loyal Travelers

We love celebrating our loyal expeditioners who return to explore with us. After your first Aurora Expeditions voyage, you’ll automatically achieve Bronze Adventurer status. The more voyages you embark on, the higher you climb—progressing to Silver and eventually Gold!

Solo Travelers

Voyages with Aurora Expeditions are such a fantastic choice for solo travelers, giving you the chance to experience the world’s most remote and incredible destinations with like-minded travelers and our expert guides, while on board our small, social and welcoming ships.