Antarctica is a world of towering icebergs, rowdy penguins, breaching whales and dramatic Zodiac cruises. It is rugged, remote, and inhospitable. At first glance, opportunities for longer, more immersive landings here may appear limited. But through a combination of expertise, experience, and a desire to redefine what is possible, Oceanwide Expeditions has curated something truly remarkable in the wilds of the south.
Our long hikes offer something entirely different from anything else in the industry - the chance to leave the ship behind for hours at a time, fully immersed in Antarctica's landscapes. Twice a day, you'll step ashore and explore where few, if any, polar tourists have ever set foot before.
During our 2025-2026 Antarctic season, guests experienced a series of exceptional hikes across some of the Antarctic Peninsula's most remote regions, including James Ross Island, Snow Hill Island, Seymour Island, and the spectacular wilderness of Marguerite Bay. These were not standard shore excursions. They were genuine expeditions into landscapes that a standard, passive cruise to Antarctica can't reach.
That's why we aren't a cruise company - we're an expedition team, and you're a part of a grand, shared adventure.
Taking Polar Possibilities to the Next Level
Image by Marco Rosso
We are well-known for defining possibilities at the edge of the map and for chasing ultimate immersion with our guests. But this season's long hikes in Antarctica reached another level entirely, replicating the huge successes we have seen in recent years in Greenland's Scoresby Sund.
For Expedition Leader Chris Long, who recently returned to his native New Zealand after an Antarctic season during which he led a voyage that set a new farthest south record in the Weddell Sea, this exploratory mindset is key to making Oceanwide so unique. "You want to keep pushing - redefining what you can do and what's possible. If you want to offer something interesting to guests, it's about going somewhere new. And if it's new for you, as well as the guests, it's even more exciting."
This spirit of exploration has led us to explore areas where few, if any, expedition ships have operated before. In parts of the Weddell Sea and Marguerite Bay, our expedition team has proven itself industry-leading, pioneering new hiking routes across snow-free terrain that felt more reminiscent of Greenland or Svalbard than traditional Antarctica.
"They were equal to the greatest hikes we do anywhere - absolutely epic hikes in places where nobody had really been before," said Chris. "A huge part of this is being able to read the weather and conditions properly. Snow-free generally means better weather and good hiking conditions. At the same time, we have to be flexible - no landings are guaranteed, and everything depends on the ice and sea state. So, if one location isn't possible, we make sure we have several alternatives."
This season, on James Ross Island, this absence of snow, far from being a drawback, proved to be a huge advantage. These drier regions offered excellent hiking conditions, reliable weather, and access to vast stretches of rugged Antarctic wilderness that are normally inaccessible.
One negative aspect of a long hike in Antarctica is how addictive they are! After setting foot in somewhere so spectacular and so remote, it's hard to let it go. "I always get passengers coming up to me, asking, ' When can we walk further? Can we hike further? They love it, and it's great to see such engagement with these places."
Long Hikes in Marguerite Bay and the Weddell Sea
Image by Marco Rosso
In our 2025-2026 Antarctic season, some of the most memorable hikes took place in Marguerite Bay, in the far south of the Antarctic Peninsula. These exemplified our approach to offering hikes. We aim to make our experience as accessible as possible for guests of all ability levels. For fit and capable hikers, long hikes will take them far from the ship, over rough, often untested terrain. For guests who want to explore more sedately, shorter shore walks and medium hikes are possible, giving more time to bask in the details.
"We landed with guests in a secluded cove and split into two groups: a challenging, long hike and a more relaxed option. The long-hike team covered 7.5 kilometers over gravel, boulders, crystalline snow, and hidden icy runnels, while the relaxed hikers still enjoyed an impressive five-kilometer outing, keeping to flatter, more accessible ground." - Andy Perkins, Hiking Guide
For many, the highlight came not from the terrain but from the silence. We always encourage guests to experience a polar silence - taking a moment to stand silently, listening to the wind, the distant crack of a glacier, or the raucous cries of penguins. At other times, the polar silence becomes just that - a chance to experience an absence of all sound - difficult to manage in the busy modern world.
Later that same day, hikers followed a raised beach nearly three kilometers into a glacier-lined fjord, accompanied by skuas, Weddell seals, and the grinding sound of grounded icebergs shifting on the seabed. These are the kinds of experiences that truly stay with people - this was an area entirely untouched by humanity. Opportunities to experience such a place are few and far between today.
Image by Marco Rosso
These experiences aren't restricted to a single day on a 9 or 11-night voyage. They're offered multiple times throughout, alongside other activities that occur daily in the morning and afternoon. For example, a few days later, guests ascended soft snow, safely crossed short sections of ice, and climbed to a magnificent summit 235 meters above sea level. On this day, the long-hiking team covered eight kilometers, while the relaxed team still enjoyed a substantial five-kilometer route. After descending, many celebrated with a polar plunge - the perfect antidote to a warmer-than-expected ascent or after indulging in one drink too many in the bar the night prior.
It wasn't just Marguerite Bay and the Antarctic Peninsula that offered fantastic long hikes last season. In the Weddell Sea, guests left with unforgettable memories. This region, around James Ross Island, offers snow-free areas for even longer routes. Broad gravel plains, sandy beaches, and sedimentary hills created superb hiking conditions and offer a much different landscape than guests expect from Antarctica. Climbing rounded hills through drifting fog, traversing moraine-covered ice, and visiting one of Antarctica's eeriest sights: hundreds of naturally mummified seals scattered across the landscape - all part of a day's adventure in Antarctica!
Exploring here gives you a real sense of your place in the natural world. This is a wild frontier, where survival is a struggle. With that comes uncertainty and the unexpected. Perhaps, as what happened as one of these long hikes drew to a close, you might find yourself stuck in deep mud! But, don't worry, our expedition team is always on hand, either scouting ahead to avoid what can be avoided, or to pull you free, boots and all - even if it takes an hour or more.
When the unexpected happens on an expedition, smile, look around you, and remember - that's Antarctica, and it's why you're here!
Why our Antarctic Long Hikes Are So Special
Image by Marco Rosso
Unlike standard Antarctic landings, long hikes take guests well beyond the immediate shoreline. They provide the rare chance to leave the ship behind, venture deeper into the landscape, and experience the profound solitude that defines the polar regions. Our expedition experience is small-scale, meaning guest sizes are limited to a maximum of 170 on our largest vessel, m/v Hondius. This makes landings more immersive and intimate, and allows our guides to interpret wildlife, geology, history, and landscapes more effectively for smaller groups.
The abilities and expertise of our vessel crews also empower us. They're second to none when it comes to Antarctic navigation, and combined with the rugged capabilities of our expedition vessels, they enable us to go further, see more, and experience what other operators can't.
Because Antarctic biosecurity rules prohibit taking food ashore, the format in Antarctica differs slightly from Arctic destinations like Scoresby Sund, where full-day hikes are common. Instead, in Antarctica, we offer two substantial half-day adventures that allow guests to explore multiple sites in a single day.
This variety has proved enormously popular. We see guests pushing to the edge of their comfort zones, especially on rougher terrain, and being rewarded with some of the most unique views in Antarctica. People catch the polar bug, and with that, the hiking bug. Once experienced, a long hike in Antarctica stays with you forever, and it's difficult to call it a day.
"There was one particular group, we couldn't wear them out. They still wanted to hike further!" Chris says. "These kinds of people make these trips extra special - those who are adventurous, want to be part of the whole journey, and are up for trying something new, with all the uncertainty that comes with it."
We have always excelled at active exploration, and our long hikes are a natural extension of our pioneering philosophy. They reveal an Antarctica that most visitors never see - vast, empty, silent, and deeply personal. You aren't just a passive observer - you're feeling the crunch of gravel beneath your feet, smelling a penguin colony as you approach, and feeling the bite of the wind as you gaze out onto an iceberg graveyard. These are the moments that define expedition cruising and are what will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Book your place today aboard a long hike voyage in Antarctica!
Main image by Allan White
