In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and 27 others set out aboard the ship Endurance on what would become one of the greatest survival stories in history. His Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition aimed to cross the Antarctic continent from coast to coast via the South Pole. Nature, however, had other plans. Trapped by ice in the wild Weddell Sea, the Endurance was eventually crushed, stranding Shackleton and his crew and plunging them into an unforgiving world and a remarkable tale of heroism, resilience, and courage.
Today, aboard m/v Ortelius, and over a century later, modern adventurers have the rare chance to sail through the waters where the Endurance was lost - and rediscovered in 2022 - albeit in much safer and more comfortable conditions. The unique Remote Weddell Sea Explorer itinerary retraces much of Shackleton's route into the Weddell Sea and towards salvation on Elephant Island and South Georgia, making it a must-do for Shackleton enthusiasts and those who thirst for true polar adventure.
The most remarkable tale of polar survival in history
The Endurance entered the Weddell Sea in December 1914 and soon encountered pack ice, becoming beset by January 1915. From here, the ship and her crew were at the mercy of the ice, drifting with the pack to its furthest southerly point, 77 degrees south. By October 1915, the crew was forced to abandon Endurance, and she sank soon after, on November 21.
After months of drifting on the ice, huddled in makeshift camps, the men are forced into their open-top boats, making for Elephant Island, the first time they had stood on solid ground for 497 days. Here, Shackleton decided to sail over 800 miles of open, treacherous water to reach South Georgia - the closest inhabited land. Shackleton, along with Frank Worsley, Tom Crean, Chippy McNeish, Tim McCarthy, and John Vincent, reached South Georgia on May 10, 1916, after two weeks at sea in the open top James Caird.
Picture by Sara Jenner
Yet, unbelievably, their journey did not end there. The men had landed at the head of King Haakon Bay on the southern coast of South Georgia. Shackleton knew his men would not survive another voyage in the James Caird, so to reach the whaling outposts on the northern shore, Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean trekked across the glaciated, mountainous, and entirely unknown interior of South Georgia to reach Stromness on May 20, 1916.
After several failed attempts, the Chilean Naval ship Yelcho rescued the remaining 22 men of the Endurance expedition from Elephant Island on August 30, 1916, 24 months and 22 days after leaving England. Remarkably, not one man was lost from the expedition, and upon their rescue, almost all immediately signed up for service in the ongoing First World War.
Follow Shackleton's wake: the Remote Weddell Sea Explorer
Unlike Shackleton's route, which aimed for a transcontinental crossing from the Weddell to the Ross Sea via the South Pole, our modern-day explorers follow a more navigable route along the eastern Antarctic Peninsula. From Ushuaia , the first stop for our Remote Weddell Sea Explorer itinerary is South Georgia, where Endurance set out in 1914 and where her crew found their salvation years later.
Here, you can visit Sir Ernest Shackleton's grave and pay your respects to Frank Wild, who led the Elephant Island party after Shackleton departed for South Georgia aboard the James Caird and whose ashes are also interred here. South Georgia delights with fascinating historical sites, stunning natural wonders, and breathtaking arrays of wildlife unlike anything else in the far south.
Picture by Sara Jenner
From the shores of South Georgia, we chart a course via the South Sandwich Islands, a far-flung, seldom-visited chain of glaciated islands beyond the standard cruising routes of polar operators. Then, we plunge south, heading towards Neuschwabenland, the Riiser-Larsen, and Brunt Ice Shelves, which dominate the even more rarely-visited eastern shore of the Weddell Sea. As we head south, we will encounter pack ice and loose floes, as Endurance did over a century earlier, aiming to get as close as possible to the Luitpold Coast in a world dominated and formed by the gargantuan Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf.
Aiming to get as far south as possible - in February 2025, we achieved a record-breaking position of 78°03.471'S as a non-icebreaker vessel - Ortelius will navigate the pack ice, heading back across the Weddell Sea, aiming to follow a similar heading to that of the Endurance as she drifted with the ice. While not passing over the final resting place of the ship, Ortelius will sail in the general area where her pristine wreck was discovered in 2022, giving guests onboard a moment to reflect upon their voyage juxtaposed against the hardship faced by Shackleton and his men upon the ice.
As conditions allow, Ortelius will approach the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, aiming to visit iconic locations such as Devil Island, the Larsen Ice Shelf, Paulet Island, and James Ross Island.
Picture by Sara Jenner
While charting a course between the loose ice and bergs of the Antarctic Peninsula, the ship may get close to the point where the men of the Endurance took to their open boats and sailed for Elephant Island. Here, the Remote Weddell Sea Explorer trip ends its time in Antarctica, visiting Point Wild, where 22 men survived against the odds, counting on Shackleton and the crew of the James Caird to return, bringing salvation with them. At Point Wild, amid colonies of gentoo and chinstrap penguins, the opportunity to explore this desolate corner of the Antarctic may present itself.
This voyage does more than retrace an incredible journey - it brings Shackleton's story to life. Through the passion and expertise of our expedition staff, guests will find themselves a part of a tale of survival, from ice-bound months aboard the Endurance to the 800-mile open-boat journey to South Georgia and experience first-hand where it all occurred. For the truly adventurous, the enduring spirit of discovery and human resilience is waiting to be discovered at the edges of the world.
Enter a remote world of wonder
Though this journey is steeped in history, it is also a wildlife lover's dream, with opportunities to encounter many species of seal, including Weddell, crabeater, and the fearsome leopard seals that thrive in this icy world. South Georgia offers unparalleled encounters with king penguins and elephant seals, while colonies of the emperor, gentoo, chinstrap, and Adelie penguin are frequently found on the Antarctic Peninsula. In the water, various whale species may be encountered, including orcas and minke whales. In contrast, in the skies above, skuas, petrels, and albatrosses swoop and soar past the Ortelius, which, almost astoundingly so, is entirely dwarfed by the immense scale of the Antarctic world.
What makes wildlife encounters exceptional is the setting: encounters here are raw, unfiltered, and framed by some of Earth's most awe-inspiring and untouched landscapes that, once seen, can never be forgotten.
Become the polar adventurer of your dreams
This is no ordinary expedition cruise. This is a 27-night voyage for those who seek more than just comfort; instead, they seek authentic experience and wish to feel a tangible link to the power of nature. It's for adventurers and pioneers who want to stand where few have stood and are willing to face shifting ice and unpredictable conditions in pursuit of something extraordinary.
Whether you're a Shackleton enthusiast, a wildlife photographer, or simply someone drawn to the stories and opportunities found at the edges of the map, the Weddell Sea Explorer voyage is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with one of exploration's most iconic sagas—and to carve your path through the ice-choked waters of Antarctica.
Main image by Sara Jenner
