Antarctica by superyacht & submersible

Unique access for charterers & owners

We’ve organised arguably the most ambitious Antarctic yacht charters of recent times. Alongside the world’s first private submersible dive, our trips have made use of multiple helis, yachts, support vessels and up to 30 experts to facilitate our clients’ interests.

That’s meant bringing along a team of scientists to discover a new subspecies of killer whale, children’s guides to bring the history to life and mountaineers to facilitate fresh ski runs.

No-one is better placed to support your passions, wherever they lie.

All media taken on Cookson Adventures trips

A team of scientist’s ground-breaking research into a new type of killer whale has been made possible by Cookson Adventures… funding killer whale research as part of a trip to the Antarctic Peninsula.

August 2019

Epic helicopter flights

The only way to really experience Antarctica’s magnitude is from the air, passing over cathedral-like glaciers, extinct volcanic calderas and floating icebergs – playgrounds for pods of whales. There are also giant colonies of penguins to admire. We have extensive experience in multi-heli operations in the Antarctic.

Submersible

We pioneered private submersibles in the Antarctic. You’ll be able to go deeper than Scuba diving and in absolute comfort, perhaps being joined by a glaciologist to monitor ice retreats or a marine biologist as you look out for penguins and seals. And, in the deep, who knows what you might discover. We can also organise more traditional diving to wonder at the incredible ice formations.

Wildlife experiences

From watching whales breach gracefully from the bow of your yacht to going on land to admire the cacophony of penguin colonies, discover the unique wildlife that calls this remote frontier home.

On land

Channel your inner polar explorer, hiking untouched routes and trying your hand at ice climbing. This can be as adventurous or as gentle as you want. For the truly hardy, we can even organise for you to spend a night in an expedition camp on land.

Historic & scientific access

With our contacts, collaborate with scientists to join leading researchers in gathering data on wildlife or climate change. And, as you go, tread among shipwrecks, abandoned whaling stations and historic scientific outposts to understand the region’s intriguing human history.

Skiing on the last continent

Using your yacht to find the most pristine slopes, hike or skin up to make potentially first descents, exploring the peninsula’s uniquely wild topography on summit-to-sea routes. Skiing Antarctica is a privilege only a few have experienced and we’ve organised some truly epic heli-skiing operations.

On the water

Kayak, SUP or take the Zodiacs to admire giant icebergs and mighty ice floes alike, keeping your eyes out for everything from giant whales to diminutive penguins as you travel. The chance to explore in near-silence is an incredible experience.

Diving and polar plunge

When Scuba diving, the opportunity to admire the ethereal glows of the ice structures is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as you keep an eye out for wildlife. You might also want to brave the freezing Antarctic temperatures with a polar plunge, before warming back up in your ship’s hot tub or sauna.

Having brought maiden superyacht charters and owner vessels alike across the Antarctic Peninsula, we know that travelling by yacht offers the ultimate appreciation of this last frontier.

With our expertise, you’ll have the flexibility to adapt to the weather, wildlife and other marine traffic to explore in complete isolation, going where cruise ships can’t. That’s whether you want to watch humpbacks from your yacht’s Jacuzzi or tackle new routes with a world-champion skier.

As one of the original twin helicopter operators, we’ve also brought in support vessels and additional yachts so that, with two helis, our clients can fly further than line of sight, with their primary vessel. This means unique inland vantage points over iceberg formations and access to mountains for ski activities.

Our world-first private submersible trip in 2012

For those really in search of the unique, we can bring you down in submersibles to explore the icy depths. Far beyond the reach of traditional diving, it’s the chance to discover the weird and wonderful Antarctic marine life.

However, whatever you choose, you can be sure that your adventure will be designed around you. For some, that might mean kayaking with scientists studying whale migrations, while for others, that might be historian-led stories for the whole family, detailing the pioneering history of Antarctic explorers past. Throughout, we’ve got the contacts to make it happen.

There’s also plenty of fun either side of your flight in. That could mean heading on to South Georgia to discover its million-strong penguin populations or enjoying pre-trip adventures in Patagonia. We even pioneered Puerto Natales as a flight departure point, with its stunning Andean setting ripe for gaucho-style exploration while waiting for the weather window to fly.