Inside Antarctica’s Rarest Wildlife Encounter: Reaching Snow Hill’s Emperor Penguins

In the world of expedition travel, there are remote places, and then there is Snow Hill Island. Hidden deep within the ice-choked waters of Antarctica’s Weddell Sea, the island is so difficult to reach that even veteran explorers consider it a rare triumph. For travelers, landing here is almost mythic—an experience whispered about in polar circles, attempted by many, achieved by few.

This week, ExplorEarth partner operator Quark Expeditions did it again. Using twin-engine helicopters launched from their groundbreaking expedition vessel Ultramarine, the company successfully brought guests to the famed Emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill Island. It’s one of the most exclusive wildlife experiences anywhere on Earth, and one that Quark Expeditions first pioneered in 2004. More than two decades later, they remain one of the only operators capable of delivering it.

For many, Snow Hill is the holy grail of Antarctic wildlife encounters. The colony that thrives here is one of the world’s few Emperor penguin populations accessible to humans, and only when conditions align with near-perfection. Sea ice, weather, visibility, and helicopter safety must all play along.

This year’s success unfolded during the voyage Snow Hill to the Peninsula: Shackleton’s Emperors, a journey designed to capture the essence of classic polar exploration. With the launch of Quark Expeditions’ 2025/2026 season, anticipation was already high, but Snow Hill elevated the experience to something special.

The voyage began in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and a familiar stepping-off point for Antarctic adventurers. While guests settled into the comfort of Ultramarine’s spacious cabins and lounges, a different kind of preparation was happening behind the scenes. Weather patterns were shifting unpredictably, and the Weddell Sea is notorious for locking in even the strongest ships with dense pack ice.

Yet this is where Quark Expeditions excels. The company’s 30 years of polar-only experience informs every decision, every navigation choice, every safety call.

Guiding this expedition was a world-class team: Expedition Leader Ryan McDevitt, Captain Roy Laud, Lead Pilot Jonny Mutch and a talented roster of polar specialists, helicopter pilots, naturalists, and logistics experts.

As the ship sailed into Antarctic waters, guests experienced a dramatic transition from open ocean to icy labyrinth. Sculpted icebergs drifted silently past. Weddell seals lounged on floes. Giant petrels soared overhead, riding katabatic winds. The sense of anticipation, mixed with reverence, grew with every passing hour.

Approaching Snow Hill is never straightforward. The colony sits deep inside the Weddell Sea, where shifting pack ice can open, or close off, entire regions within hours.

But as weather forecasts stabilized, Captain Laud and the bridge team seized their moment. With calculated precision, they navigated Ultramarine through the Antarctic Sound and into the Erebus and Terror Gulf. The ship pushed gently through fields of sea ice, creating a narrow channel toward open leads. Eventually, they secured a position less than ten nautical miles from the colony, a remarkable achievement given the conditions.

For many guests, watching the ship maneuver through such challenging terrain was an expedition highlight in itself.

Stepping onto the sea ice near Snow Hill’s Emperor colony is an unforgettable moment. Emperor Penguins are the tallest and often considered to be the most charismatic of all 18 penguin species. Birds that endure Antarctic winters in near darkness, huddling against temperatures that plunge below -40°C.

Guests observed from a respectful distance, in strict accordance with IAATO environmental guidelines. The sounds of the colony carried across the ice-soft trumpeting calls, the rhythmic shuffle of adults, and the unmistakable chirps of chicks. It was a scene that few people on Earth have the privilege to witness.

To ensure guests could preserve their memories, award-winning wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein joined the voyage. From onboard workshops to on-ice coaching, he guided travelers in capturing the emotion, scale, and elegance of the Snow Hill colony.

For many, these images will become once-in-a-lifetime keepsakes, visual reminders of a place that feels almost out of time.

Snow Hill is just one chapter in Quark Expeditions’ long story of polar firsts. As a company devoted solely to the Arctic and Antarctica, they have built their reputation on bold exploration, advanced technology, and deep respect for the environment.

Ultramarine, with its two helicopters, exceptional ice capabilities, and guest comfort, pushes that mission further. Beyond helicopter-supported adventures, the ship offers Zodiac cruising, kayaking, paddle boarding, and other intimate ways to experience the polar environment.

Snow Hill voyages are now open for the November 2026 season, a rare opportunity to join one of the world’s most exclusive wildlife encounters. For travelers seeking true exploration, this is Antarctica at its boldest, wildest, and most awe-inspiring.