Grand Antarctic Sailing from Tasmania to Ushuaia with climbing to Mt Erebus and Mt Siple
EREBUS + ANTARCTICA

January 4, 2026 - February 28, 2026
Tour
Antarctica
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Join us on a two-month autonomous expedition to Antarctica, where the thrill of sailing meets the challenge of climbing some of the most remote and majestic peaks in the world.
We set sail on a breathtaking journey to the shores of Antarctica, feeling the power of the ocean and the beauty of untouched nature surrounding you. We tackle the slopes of this active volcano, standing as a testament to the raw power and beauty of Antarctica.
We reach the summit of this imposing peak, standing 3,110 meters tall and included in the list of the world’s eight unconquered peaks. Let’s strive to be the first to leave our mark!
A group of experienced explorers and adventurers, ready to share their knowledge and passion for the Antarctic will lead the expedition.
It is not just a journey—it’s an opportunity to push your limits, experience the thrill of exploration, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Are you ready to answer the call of the wild and embark on this unforgettable adventure?

A Russian expedition led by Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev on the sloops "Vostok" and "Mirny" discovered Antarctica on January 28, 1820.

We invite you to repeat the feat of the sailors and write your name in the history of exploration of the most mysterious sixth continent of the planet.

While Elon Musk swashbuckles the space, we washbuckle the ocean and explore the Earth space – Antarctica.
A trip to Antarctica is the choice of a Real Man. An event, the memories of which will stay with you for a lifetime!

SCHEDULE AND COST:
Dates: 04.01.2026 - 28.02.2026

Duration: 2 months

Number of participants: 6

Cost per person: 60,000 Euro

Early booking discount applies (when booking before August 4, 2025). Contact manager for further details

Route: 6,000 nautical miles


TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO ANTARCTICA


Day 1. January 4, 2026. HOBART (TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA) – GATEWAY TO ANTARCTICA

Nestled at the edge of the Southern Ocean, Hobart serves as the perfect launch point for your Antarctic expedition. As Tasmania's capital, this historic port city combines colonial charm with modern expedition infrastructure.
Here, you'll board your ice-strengthened vessel after exploring Hobart's maritime heritage at the renowned Australian Antarctic Division headquarters. The city's proximity to Antarctica (just 2,500 km south) makes it an ideal departure location, offering last-minute supplies and final briefings before venturing into the Southern Ocean's wild waters.
With Mount Wellington providing a dramatic backdrop, Hobart's blend of urban comforts and frontier spirit prepares you mentally and logistically for the adventure ahead.
Starting point of the expedition.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: in the cabin on the yacht


Day 2 - 56. January 5 - February 28, 2026. SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN - ROSS SEA - MOUNT EREBUS - MOUNT SIPLE - AMUNDSEN SEA - BELLINGSHAUSEN SEA - DRAKE PASSAGE - USHUAIA

South Pacific Ocean - crossing the Planet's Most Remote Waters

Leaving Hobart behind, your expedition enters the vast expanse of the South Pacific Ocean, where the true Antarctic adventure begins. Over the next 4-5 days at sea, you'll traverse some of Earth's most isolated waters, following in the wake of historic explorers like James Cook and Roald Amundsen.
This remote crossing offers unparalleled opportunities to witness the dramatic transition from temperate to polar climates, as seabirds like albatrosses and petrels begin to outnumber land-based species. These days at sea become a time of anticipation and education, with discussions covering Antarctic geology, wildlife, and the fascinating history of polar exploration that makes this journey so extraordinary.

Ross Sea – Gateway to Antarctica's majestic landscapes

As our vessel enters the legendary Ross Sea, we cross the threshold into Antarctica's most spectacular wilderness. This vast, ice-choked sea serves as the continent's natural doorway, where towering glaciers meet the Southern Ocean in a breathtaking collision of blue and white. Named after Sir James Clark Ross who first charted these waters in 1841, the Ross Sea remains one of Earth's last truly unspoiled marine ecosystems. Here, the air grows crisper, the light takes on an ethereal quality, and the silence is broken only by the crack of calving icebergs or the call of Adélie penguins.
Massive tabular icebergs - some larger than cities - drift slowly through these waters, while the 50-meter-high ice cliffs of the Ross Ice Shelf dominate the southern horizon. This is where heroic explorers like Shackleton and Scott launched their historic journeys, and where today's visitors first experience Antarctica's overwhelming grandeur. Scientists consider these waters crucial for studying climate change, as the Ross Sea's phytoplankton blooms produce more oxygen than the Amazon rainforest.
As our ship navigates through this frozen paradise, every glance reveals new wonders - from orcas patrolling the ice edge to emperor penguins porpoising through the glassy waters, offering your first authentic encounters with Antarctica's extraordinary wildlife.

Mount Erebus - Climbing the Southernmost Active Volcano on Earth

At 3,794 meters (12,448 feet), Mount Erebus isn't just a climb—it's a full-on battle against the elements where fire and ice collide. This isn't your typical volcano; it's Antarctica's second-highest peak and the only active volcano on the continent with a permanent lava lake—one of just four in the world. Imagine climbing through glaciers and seracs while the earth rumbles beneath your feet, steam hissing from ice towers, and the glow of molten lava reflecting off the snow.
Discovered in 1841 and named after HMS Erebus, this mountain is a paradox—its icy slopes hide a raging volcanic heart. The ascent demands technical mixed climbing, glacier navigation, and extreme cold-weather endurance. The Fang Glacier route throws everything at you: hidden crevasses, knife-edged ridges, and winds that can freeze exposed skin in minutes. And when you finally reach the summit crater, you're greeted by the surreal sight of a churning lava lake, a reminder that this mountain is very much alive.
For climbers, Erebus is the ultimate test—a rare combination of polar expedition and high-altitude mountaineering, with the added thrill of volcanic hazards. Few mountains on Earth offer this kind of raw, elemental challenge.

Mount Siple: The Last Great Unclimbed Summit

At 3,110 meters, Mount Siple isn’t just another peak—it’s one of the last true mountaineering frontiers. This silent, ice-clad giant on Antarctica’s remote Siple Island remains unconquered, its summit untouched by human boots. No ropes have been fixed here, no crampons have bitten into its final slopes. For elite alpinists, Siple represents the rarest of prizes: a first ascent in the 21st century.
What makes Siple legendary?
  • No documented ascents—despite multiple attempts
  • A true wilderness climb—no infrastructure, no support
This is climbing in its purest, most brutal form. No glory, no crowds—just us, our team, and a mountain that has turned back every previous expedition. The question isn’t whether we’re strong enough. It’s whetherwe’re ready to risk everything for a place in mountaineering history.

Bellingshausen Sea – Rich in icebergs and marine life

Navigating into the Bellingshausen Sea transports us into an Antarctic dreamscape. This remote marine realm, named after the Russian explorer who first sighted the Antarctic mainland in 1820, serves as a dynamic ice factory where glaciers from the Antarctic Peninsula calve off massive bergs that begin their slow drift northward. The sea's nutrient-rich waters explode with life during the austral summer, attracting feeding frenzies of krill that in turn support vast populations of whales, seals, and seabirds.
Humpback whales frequently breach between floating ice platforms, while crabeater seals lounge on passing floes and gentoo penguins porpoise through the chilly waters. Climate scientists closely monitor this region as a bellwether for polar changes, where warming waters meet the continent's frozen edge. The Bellingshausen's ever-shifting mosaic of sea ice and bergs creates a photographer's paradise, with sunlight refracting through ice crystals to paint the landscape in surreal blues and whites.

Peter I Island – Antarctica's Untouched Volcanic Fortress

Rising from the Southern Ocean, this remote Norwegian territory remains one of Earth's least-visited places. Its 1,640-meter ice-capped volcano looms over cliffs battered by relentless seas, accessible only during rare calm windows. Fewer than 200 people have ever walked its black volcanic shores, where steaming fumaroles pierce glacial fields and leopard seals patrol iceberg-choked waters. The island's sheer isolation preserves a pristine ecosystem, with snow petrels nesting on its cliffs and orcas hunting in the surrounding depths. A true last frontier, Peter I Island offers adventurers a rare glimpse of Antarctica in its purest, most untamed state.

Deception Island (Antarctic Peninsula) – a volcanic caldera with geothermal activity

This active volcanic caldera mesmerizes with its steaming black beaches and geothermal waters. Sail through Neptune's Bellows into its sheltered harbor, where abandoned whaling stations stand frozen in time. Brave souls can soak in naturally heated tidal pools surrounded by glaciers, while chinstrap penguins nest among volcanic slopes. A rare place where fire meets ice, Deception Island's recent eruptions (1970) remind visitors of Earth's raw power beneath their feet.

South Shetland Islands (Antarctic Peninsula) – Wildlife-rich archipelago

This rugged archipelago bursts with life each summer, hosting teeming penguin colonies, bellowing elephant seals, and patrolling leopard seals. Sheltered bays attract feeding humpback whales, while historic research stations dot the windswept landscape. With their accessible location and incredible biodiversity, these islands offer the perfect first encounter with Antarctica's wild wonders – where glaciers meet volcanic shores alive with squawking chinstrap and gentoo penguins.

Trinity Island – A Scenic and Historic Gem of the Antarctic Peninsula

With its dramatic icy landscapes, rugged coastlines, and abundant wildlife, this remote island offers an unforgettable experience for adventurers and history enthusiasts alike.
Steeped in exploration heritage, Trinity Island has witnessed some of the earliest voyages into Antarctica, serving as a landmark for legendary expeditions. Today, it remains a pristine wilderness where towering glaciers meet the sea, and penguins, seals, and seabirds thrive in their natural habitat.

Drake Passage – legendary crossing with powerful waves.

Brace yourself for the world’s most iconic sea crossing. The Drake Passage roars with untamed power, where towering waves and relentless winds test even seasoned adventurers. This legendary stretch—dubbed the "Gateway to Antarctica"—separates continents with unfiltered force.
Yet beyond the thrill lies unmatched beauty: albatross soaring over endless swells, breaching whales in the mist, and the electric anticipation of the White Continent ahead.

Ushuaia – The End of the World

Stand where civilization ends and pure wilderness begins. Ushuaia, Argentina—officially the southernmost city on Earth—is your gateway to Antarctica and the ultimate spirit of exploration. Framed by the jagged Martial Mountains and the Beagle Channel’s icy waters, this rugged port town thrums with frontier energy.
Once a penal colony, now a launchpad for polar expeditions, Ushuaia wears its history in colorful clapboard houses and seafaring lore. Here, you’ll share docks with expedition ships, sip king crab stew in waterfront taverns, and feel the crackle of anticipation in the crisp Patagonian air.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: in the cabin on the yacht


Difficulty Level
  • This is a real two-month autonomous expedition of high level of complexity
  • Good physical condition is require
  • No special skills are required for climbing
  • Mount Erebus: safety precautions are covered by an experienced guide


** Please do not purchase tickets without our confirmation. We recommend to take refundable ticket in case of possible delays.

*** The program may be adjusted for weather conditions.

EXPEDITION TEAM
  • Daniil Gavrilov
    RUSARC CAPTAIN
    «We were the first in the world to sail around the North Pole in a single navigation — in 2010. I am one of the best yacht captains in the world, and if you need a complex polar project, I will most likely make it happen.

    But what inspires me the most is the opportunity to show the most unexplored corners of our Planet and its amazing natural world to as many people as possible!»
  • Vladimir Kotlyar
    PROFESSIONAL ALPINIST
    A renowned professional mountaineer and traveler
    Hundreds of climbs all over the planet
    Winner of numerous awards and prizes in the world of climbing, mountaineering and extreme travel.
    Climbed the summit of Everest 4 times.

    “ I'm not chasing fame, I'm not satisfying ambition, I just feel high and
    good in the mountains, and I want you to feel the same.”
Aurora expedition motor sailing yacht
Steel Bermuda sloop of the Devonport Challenge 67 project, built in 1992
  • In 2017, the yacht was reconstructed. Aurora is a reliable expedition yacht, equipped with everything you need for long-distance voyages in harsh conditions.

  • The yacht "RUSARC AURORA" has a steel hull (steel thickness is 4 mm.), Three watertight bulkheads located in the bow of the yacht, two heating systems for the cabin: water and air.

  • The yacht has six comfortable double and triple cabins, a galley, a spacious common room. In the bow there is a sauna and two separate latrines. There is also hot water, refrigerator, washing machine.

  • The yacht is equipped with modern radio navigation equipment, radar, Simrad autopilot, all necessary rescue equipment (individual and general).

  • Each cabin has a separate bed, storage space, 220 V socket.
THE TEAM
  • 15 years of experience and more than 150 expeditions in high latitudes of the Arctic and Antarctica

  • World record on Peter I: the first circumnavigation in a single summer without icebreaker assistance

  • Organizer of the northernmost regatta 80 Parallel (sailing to Franz Josef Land)

  • Two Yachtsman of the Year awards in the Best Long-Distance Expedition nomination

  • Expeditions to Franz Josef Land, to the Spitsbergen Archipelago, Island, Greenland, the Antarctic Peninsula, the Kerguelen Archipelago, the Heard and McDonald Islands, etc
Cost includes:
  • all transportation along the route
  • accommodation
  • 3 meals per day
  • professional guide service
  • fuel surcharge



Cost excludes (additionally paid):

  • international flight tickets from your city to Hobart and back from Ushuaia to your city
  • personal medical insurance
  • satellite connection
  • other personal expenses



Take with you:

ATTENTION! The air temperature here ranges from 0 to +5 C. On the water and with the wind, the air temperature is felt much lower than it actually is. The weather will be very changeable. Strong winds, high waves and rain and snow precipitation are expected.

  • Warm fleece and thermal underwear.
  • Thermosocks (several pairs).
  • Rubber high boots with a warm inner insert for walking on the shore.
  • Shoes for walking inside the yacht (sneakers).
  • Parka, raincoat, pants and things made of waterproof materials.
  • Gloves (preferably 2 pairs).
  • Hat (preferably 2).
  • Sunglasses (with a rope so as not to lose it in the sea).
  • Personal hygiene items, towel.
  • Hand cream, face cream and sunscreen.
  • Waterproof cases for photographic equipment.
  • Personal first aid kit with individual medicines.

(!) Things must be packed in soft bags and backpacks

The authors of the photos used:
Dmitry Kokh, Vadim Balakin, Deepak Kamath, Alex Kuzmitsky, Stas Zakharov, Max Pankov

Why with MZUNGU EXPEDITIONS?
  • UNIQUENESS
    We find the most astonishing places on Earth and speed up to reach them. Our motto is to go ahead of road roller, touch the unique and unknown, before it disappears.
  • ADVENTURISM
    Wherever we go, we look for challenging activities and adventures, filling the journey with absolutely different spirit and emotions. That is why people join us over and over again.
  • SAFETY
    In our trips we pay special attention to safety. All our travels are based on personal experience, equipped with the best gear, involving proved providers and experienced local guides who perfectly know local features.
  • EXPERIENCE
    We have a unique experience of the most offbeat expeditions and ascents, deep knowledge of countries and peoples, and are ready to share it with you.
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