An exclusive Antarctica expedition designed for women will set sail aboard the 130-guest vessel Sylvia Earle.
Named Antarctic Direct: Fly the Drake Fly/Fly Women’s Only Expedition, the journey begins on February 23, 2027, departing from Punta Arenas, Chile.
Travelers will take a charter flight to King George Island, where they will board the Sylvia Earle, a purpose-built Ulstein X-Bow ship named in honor of the renowned marine biologist. The return trip on day nine includes a flight back to Punta Arenas, allowing guests to completely avoid sailing through the Drake Passage.
Hosted by a celebrated photographer
Leading the expedition is acclaimed travel photographer Lola Akinmade Åkerström, known as a Hasselblad Heroine. She’ll be joined by former NASA astronaut Sandra (Sandy) Magnus, who has logged 150 days in space.
Magnus is also slated to deliver lectures aboard the Greg Mortimer — Sylvia Earle’s sister ship — during the Jewels of the Arctic – Greenland Solar Eclipse voyage scheduled for August of the following year.
Celebrating women in conservation
Launched in 2022, the Sylvia Earle pays tribute to pioneering women in environmental science with decks named after influential female conservationists — including one honoring Earle herself. This makes the ship an especially meaningful setting for a voyage focused on female empowerment.
New addition on the horizon
A third specially designed vessel, the Douglas Mawson, is expected to be added to the fleet by December.
