The Weddell Sea & Larsen Ice Shelf

Aboard Le Commandant Charcot, a true masterpiece of technology and comfort designed to sail through ice-covered waters, you will embark on an adventure taking you to the remote lands of the White Continent. Antarctica is a place of infinite mysteries and possibilities. It welcomes you for a timeless odyssey in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, where silence is inhabited by the muffled sounds, cracking noises, growls and whispers of another world.

Ice appears to you in all its forms: an iceberg drifting in the Southern Ocean; pack ice glittering in the distance; a glacier caught in...read more the relief of the frozen continent... Escorted by Cape petrels, you will begin your crossing of Drake Passage like so many legendary explorers before you, to reach the shores of the sixth continent.

The conditions become more and more extreme, the wind blows, the waves crash against the ship stem: this destination is not for the faint-hearted. As the first lands come into view, you will feel a deep sense of respect and humility before the wilderness unfolding ahead. In the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, discover Pourquoi Pas Island, named in honour of his eponymous ship, before sailing to Marguerite Bay, named after his wife. Here, the mountains surround the Southern Ocean and blues and whites mingle to compose incredibly poetic, stunning scenery.

At the exit of the Lemaire Channel, Petermann Island still holds memories of the wintering of this fabulous expedition. Throughout your journey, our team of passionate experts will go over all the details of these historic exploits with you while sharing their in-depth knowledge of the wildlife and landscapes. You will have the chance to observe Adelie, Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins. Leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals, humpback and Antarctic mink whales, and orcas also live in these southern waters that you will sail through like those men of legend did before you.

Find out more about the world of Le Commandant Charcot here! We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Our navigation will be determined by the type of ice we come across; as the fast ice must be preserved, we will take this factor into account from day to day in our itineraries.

The sailing schedule and any landings, activities and wildlife encounters are subject to weather and ice conditions. These experiences are unique and vary with each departure. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while respecting safety instructions and regulations imposed by the IAATO.