Explore Antarctica with a Burgess yacht charter

If taking a trip to Antarctica is on your wish list, then talk to Burgess Charter and start planning. Together with our in-house exploration specialists, we will combine cultural encounters and scientific expeditions to make this the trip of your lifetime.

Best months to go whale spotting 

Whales can be found throughout the Antarctica cruise season from October to April, however February and March are the best months to see whales in Antarctica when these apex predators are at their peak and most curious due to seasonal feeding patterns. Blue, southern right, sperm and minke can all be spotted. Baleen whales migrate to Antarctica to feed, while orcas stay year-round. 

Watching from the yacht gives a better viewing angle, but small guided Zodiacs bring guests closer to the action. Whales can be found all around Antarctica, starting with the Drake Passage crossing, though one of the best places to see whales is Wilhelmina Bay – known as 'Whale-mina Bay' — due to the availability of krill in the area. 

Photographic exploration of unmissable Polar landscapes  

On Earth’s southernmost, driest, coldest and windiest continent, the Polar landscapes are extreme in beauty. Crystal Sound, named after the number of scientists using the area to research ice crystals, forms part of the Antarctic Peninsula, and is guaranteed to step the drama up a notch. 

It remains one of the most accessible parts of Antarctica to visit by boat when approaching from Patagonia, and lays claim to snow-covered mountains, floating icebergs and crystal-clear water for spectacular photographic opportunities. During summer in Antarctica, the sky is never dark, which is why photographers use a polarizing filter to help reduce glare and saturate colours. 

East Base Research Station

East Base on Stonington Island is the oldest American research station in  Antarctica. It was commissioned by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, and in 2004 was made an Antarctic Historic Site. Guests can explore the remaining buildings, including a small museum documenting the site’s history. No research is carried out here today, but it serves as a popular stop off on a yachting itinerary. 

Crary Lab Research Station

The Crary Science and Engineering Center, also known as the Crary Lab, is named after geophysicist and glaciologist, Albert P. Crary – the first person to have set foot on both the North and South Poles. Located on Ross Island — a volcanic formation in the western Ross Sea — it comprises five working pods including a biology pod, atmospheric sciences pods and an aquarium. Still in operation today, it supports special activities, including environmental monitoring, snow and ice mechanics and meteorology.