Terra Nova Expeditions (TNE) has launched the 20-day Ultimate Antarctic Adventure, a hybrid journey combining expedition cruising aboard the St Helena with polar yacht sailing on the Icebird yacht.

According to a statement by the company, this fully immersive expedition format to Antarctica has never been available in this way before.

“As visitor numbers to the Antarctic Peninsula continue to rise and competition for landing sites intensifies, we’re leveraging our deep regional knowledge and independent operating model to venture beyond the crowds,” said Greg Carter, CEO and founder of Terra Nova Expeditions.

“By combining expedition cruising with intimate yacht sailing, we can offer flexible routing, quieter anchorages and access to rarely visited bays, delivering a more authentic, truly exploratory experience.”

Carter added that his company was proud to create this “world-first experience.”

Bookings for the 2026/2027 Ultimate Antarctic Adventure are open for departures on December 28, 2026, January 6, 2027, January 16, 2027, and January 25, 2027.

Ultimate Antarctic Adventure Itinerary

The expedition starts with a Drake Passage crossing aboard the St Helena, where guests attend expert-led presentations, spot seabirds and whales from the deck and prepare for exploration with kayaking and snowshoeing briefings.

By Day 3, the first icebergs signal arrival in the South Shetland Islands, followed by immersive exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula featuring daily shore landings, Zodiac cruises, kayaking among icebergs, snowshoeing to panoramic viewpoints and wildlife encounters with penguins, seals and whales.

With more than 500 potential landing sites, each itinerary is shaped by conditions on the ground.

On Day 8, the participants transfer to the Icebird for a six-day sailing micro-expedition into remote bays and narrow channels that larger vessels can’t reach.

Days are spent sailing, hiking, kayaking and exploring by Zodiac, with flexible itineraries that adapt to weather and wildlife opportunities, and there is an option for a polar plunge.

Guests then return to the St Helena to continue exploring the Peninsula and then go north through the Drake Passage, completing the cruise–sailing hybrid journey.

Private Day Sailing Experience

Guests traveling on other voyages throughout the season can also get a private day sailing experience, the company said.

A six-hour Day Sailing Experience aboard the Icebird can be added to select St Helena sailings.

Limited to eight guests and three crew, this private adventure offers an opportunity to sail among icebergs and glacial landscapes in near silence.