Antarctic voyage for women only | Travel News

A women-only journey to Antarctica will take place aboard the 130-passenger Sylvia Earle expedition vessel.

Titled Antarctic Direct: Fly the Drake Fly/Fly Women’s Only Expedition, the voyage sets off from Punta Arenas, Chile, on February 23, 2027.

Participants will board a charter flight to King George Island, where they’ll embark on the Ulstein X-Bow ship Sylvia Earle, named after the renowned marine biologist.

On day nine, guests will fly back to Punta Arenas from King George Island, bypassing the Drake Passage entirely in both directions.

Voyage hosted by Hasselblad Heroine

 

The expedition will be hosted by award-winning travel photographer Lola Akinmade Åkerström, recognized as a Hasselblad Heroine. She will be joined by Sandra (Sandy) Magnus, a former NASA astronaut who spent 150 days in space.

Magnus is also scheduled to lecture aboard the Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle’s sister ship, during the Jewels of the Arctic — Greenland Solar Eclipse voyage set for August next year.

Honoring female trailblazers

 

Built in 2022, the Sylvia Earle features decks named after groundbreaking female conservationists, including one dedicated to Earle herself. This makes the vessel a fitting setting for this landmark expedition.

Expanding the fleet

 

A third purpose-built ship, Douglas Mawson, is expected to join the fleet this December.