Antarctica: Experience of a Lifetime on Snow Hill Island
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Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker, was able to give her guests one of the most exclusive wildlife viewing experiences on the planet by reaching the emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill Island, in the Weddell Sea. PONANT’s guests have experienced a true spectacle of nature, with the opportunity to see emperor penguin chicks born the previous July.
An unprecedented navigation
Le Commandant Charcot visited Snow Hill on November 21st and December 3rd 2022 with Captains Stanislas Devorsine and Etienne Garcia at the helm, respectively. Located east of the Antarctic Peninsula in the Weddell Sea, Snow Hill Island is not only known for its emperor penguin rookery, but also for its challenging access conditions. The coastal ice and drifting sea ice surrounding the island usually make it accessible only by helicopter, and in a limited way. Thanks to its technical features, unique ice navigation systems, and the expertise of the two captains and the expedition team on board, Le Commandant Charcot was able to find a route through the drifting ice to reach the shores of the ice shelf, where the guests disembarked.
Ryo Ijichi
"PONANT is able, thanks to Le Commandant Charcot, to create the conditions for guests to approach the colony on foot, without a helicopter, in compliance with the current rules for protecting the area... This is a 'game changer' in terms of exploration, experience, and more responsible tourism."
Hiking towards an emperor penguin colony: the experience of a lifetime
Under a slightly veiled sky, surrounded by ice and small icebergs floating on a calm sea, the expedition team, led by expedition leader Ryo Ijichi, guided the guests on the ice floe to the Snow Hill emperor penguin colony. An adventure in the journey for this two nautical mile hike – one way – (approximately 5 km) from the ship to the colony, following the IAATO visitor guidelines. The encounter with the emperor penguins was unforgettable: before the amazed eyes of the guests, more than 10,000 pairs and their chicks were gathered on the ice floe. This exceptional experience was, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime..
Cindy Miller Hopkins
"WOW! That's the only way I can describe what we just experienced. For me, this moment ranks among the top 3 most beautiful encounters I have had with wildlife.
"We went to Snow Hill Island where we were able to observe a colony of emperor penguins with many chicks! We had to hike for almost two hours (one way!) in several centimeters of snow, but it was completely worth it. My legs suffered... but my heart is filled with joy. We enjoyed perfect weather with a clear blue sky."
IAATO and the Antarctic Treaty
The visit to Snow Hill could not have been carried out without strict adherence to the guidelines of the IAATO and the Antarctic Treaty, which ensure the protection of the environment and wildlife. For all those who experienced it, this journey will remain etched in their memory. This encounter, which was a real challenge in terms of safety, navigation, and logistics, is also an exceptional story of a unique connection with nature, as PONANT and Le Commandant Charcot know how to write them.