Zodiac Tours

Zodiacs are small, inflatable boats that are one of the true differentiators between expedition and small-ship adventure cruises and more traditional ones. 

Primarily used for shore landings and close-up explorations of remote areas, coastlines, and ice-formations, they are ideal in these regions owing to their stability and ability to navigate shallow waters. Zodiacs are suitable for accessing locations larger vessels can't reach, providing travellers with unique opportunities to explore natural environments, wildlife, and isolated communities up close. They're an essential part of expedition cruising, enhancing the adventure by bringing passengers into intimate contact with their surroundings.

Zodiacs tend to carry around 12 passengers at a time, with an experienced driver who will be part of the Expedition Team and provide safety instructions and prudent management of entry to the Zodiac. Accessing a Zodiac can be challenging in wet and icy conditions and choppy seas, so expect to board the ship wearing life jackets, muck boots, and waterproof clothing for safety and comfort. Tours will also feature knowledgeable guides, emphasising wildlife observation and environmental preservation through Citizen Science. Conditions can vary, so flexibility is vital. These excursions offer intimate encounters with nature; on a recent Zodiac Tour, one of our team members experienced a very intimate encounter with a Leopard Seal that had taken quite a liking to the Zodiac itself!

Zodiac tours are often the highlight of wildlife-focused expedition cruises, which include exploring colonies in destinations like Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galápagos Islands, and remote Atlantic islands.

This is how an Expedition Team on an expedition or small adventure ship will get passengers to board a Zodiac for a Zodiac tour on landing. Zodiacs are an integral part of an expedition cruise. 

Passengers usually depart from a muck room, where they put on life jackets and muck books (if required). 

They will then line up at the access point and be helped onto the Zodiac with a specific arm-hold by the Expedition team or driver. There will usually be between 8 and 10 passengers and two expedition team members on each Zodiac. 

Boarding Zodiacs can be dangerous, so good mobility and safety precautions are essential. 

Sound on! Cetaceans, such as the Common Dolphins seen here, often play with zodiacs due to their intelligence, curiosity, and playful nature. These interactions can allow them to explore, communicate, and enrich their environment. Observing such behaviour highlights the complex and intriguing nature of these marine mammals. It is a life-affirming experience on expedition cruises. This video was shot in Scotland by ExplorEarth writer and Zoologist Billy Heaney.