Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Oceanwide Expeditions returns to emperor colony on Snow Hill Island

PHOTO: SARA JENNER Oceanwide Expeditions visits Snow Hill Island.jpg
Expedition leader Sara Jenner snaps rare emperor penguins on Snow Hill Island
Oceanwide Expeditions has made its first Snow Hill Island landing of the 2023/24 Antarctic season, which is home to one of the world's largest emperor penguin colonies.

Prior to this, Oceanwide Expeditions’ last landing on Snow Hill was in November 2023 where passengers had the rare opportunity to observe the animals and their young in their natural habitat. 

Earlier landings were made by the operator in 2018 and 2017. 

The remote site was reached via helicopter from Ortelius, landing a safe distance from the colony from where passengers could hike in for views of the penguins, chicks, and wild landscapes.

Snow Hill Island

Snow Hill Island, located off the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, is 33 km wide and 12 km long with icy peaks reaching 984 ft. Today, it is home to approximately 10,000 penguins. 

It is typically surrounded by impassable pack ice and notoriously difficult to reach.