AITO: The Association of Independent Tour Operators

Polar Expeditions & Cruising Holidays by KE Adventure Travel

Polar Cruises

• Travel through the Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands

• Wildlife viewing including penguins, whales and polar bears

• Zodiac excursions and Kayaking around Spitsbergen

• Cruise around the spectacular island of South Georgia

• Visit remote Inuit communities in Greenland

Discover the unique wildlife of the Arctic and Antarctica, perhaps the last pristine and true wilderness left on our planet. The polar regions, north and south, have long held an attraction for the world's explorers. Offering a variety of unique experiences, these remote and fascinating territories are now more accessible than ever before with the advent of Polar cruise ships such as the MS Expedition

• Travel through the Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands

• Wildlife viewing including penguins, whales and polar bears

• Zodiac excursions and Kayaking around Spitsbergen

• Cruise around the spectacular island of South Georgia

• Visit remote Inuit communities in Greenland

Discover the unique wildlife of the Arctic and Antarctica, perhaps the last pristine and true wilderness left on our planet. The polar regions, north and south, have long held an attraction for the world's explorers. Offering a variety of unique experiences, these remote and fascinating territories are now more accessible than ever before with the advent of Polar cruise ships such as the MS Expedition and MV Plancius. With KE you can sail to the Antarctic Peninsula and walk among the penguins, or follow in Shackleton's footsteps on South Georgia. At the other end of the earth you can sail among the Svalbard archipelago, home of the Polar bear or trek the remotest parts of Greenland. North or South, a once-in-a-lifetime trip now fits within a 2-week holiday!

In the Antarctic we have a variety of trips that take you to explore bays and islands of remote South Georgia as well as the Antarctic Peninsula. Sailing through Drake Passage, the so-called Antarctic Convergence, where colliding cold and warm waters force nutrients to the surface, attracts seabirds and whales, and gives us our first glimpses of Antarctic wildlife. Further south and over the Southern Ocean, we reach the South Shetland Islands and cross the Bransfield Strait to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Here we enter a world of immense scale and visual splendour, the last true wilderness on earth. Gigantic blue icebergs calmly float in the waters, massive penguin rookeries, seabirds diving and whales breaching. Expert expedition staff guide zodiac excursions and there are opportunities for kayaking and camping for a night on the Antarctic Peninsula. If you are particularly adventurous you can make an epic journey on ski's following in Shackleton's footsteps on our South Georgia Crossing itinerary. Whatever itinerary you decide on for your trip of a lifetime a magical world of ice and wildlife awaits.

The Arctic waters of the Svalbard archipelago are also a once in a lifetime opportunity. Here you will see polar bears and other arctic wildlife in their natural habitat while cruising along some of the most remote coastlines in the world. We start in the world's most northerly town of Longyearbyen on the island of Spitsbergen. From here a leisurely circumnavigation of the island investigates its many fjords and bays. From close-up encounters with icebergs and glaciers to the region's plentiful wildlife, these are voyages of nonstop highlights. Always on the lookout for wildlife we will explore Svalbard not only by ship but also up close from small Zodiac boats and on foot. Roaming polar bears, lounging seals, grazing reindeer and colonies of birds all co-exist in this harsh land that is only accessible for just a couple months of the year.

Greenland, with its vast central icecap and rugged, fjord-cut eastern coastline must be one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. Here we enjoy stunning day-hikes through flower-carpeted valleys and along the rugged coastline. We also visit the brightly-painted villages of the local Inuit people, home to hardy fishermen and hunters.

MS Expedition and MV Plancius, recently refitted and refurbished, are uniquely equipped to meet the demands of cruising in Polar Regions. Built for the Southern Ocean these sturdy ships have a passenger capacity of just over one hundred. With dining areas, presentation rooms, different cabin sizes, mud room and viewing decks you will have plenty of space and entertainment whilst onboard. Each day there are presentations and informative talks from the staff on the wildlife, history and environment of the area.