Ross Sea Antarctica: In Collaboration with Heritage Expeditions

In the Wake of Scott & Shackleton: Ross Sea Antarctica

A 28-day wildlife photography expedition with Rachel Bigsby, in collaboration with Heritage Expeditions

Vast. Historic. Utterly uncompromising.

The Ross Sea is Antarctica at its most powerful; a place of towering volcanoes, endless ice, and stories of human endurance that still echo across the frozen landscape. This once-in-a-lifetime wildlife photography expedition retraces the routes of the great polar explorers while immersing you in one of the most wildlife-rich regions of the Antarctic continent.

Led by multi-award-winning wildlife photographer and Nikon creator Rachel Bigsby, this small-group workshop is designed to push your wildlife photography further than ever before. With just eight photographers in the group, you’ll receive highly personalised guidance in the field and through onboard sessions, focusing on composition, storytelling, photographing wildlife in extreme environments, and refining your creative voice. Whether you’re an experienced photographer or stepping into polar photography for the first time, this expedition offers unmatched access, mentorship, and adventure.

The Ross Sea is one of Antarctica’s great wildlife strongholds. Travelling with Heritage Expeditions, the original and most experienced Ross Sea operators with more than 35 years of exploration in the region, you’ll journey deep into the Southern Ocean aboard their expedition vessel Heritage Adventurer. With up to 10–12 extraordinary days exploring remote Antarctica, this is true expedition travel, shaped by ice, weather, and opportunity.

Expedition Highlights:

• Photograph vast colonies of Adélie Penguins, including raucous adults tending chicks on the brink of fledging, and marvel at the presence of Emperor Penguins, icons of the frozen south. Encounters with seals and whales are frequent, and with luck, you may witness Orca hunting along the ice edge, particularly in the wildlife-rich waters of McMurdo Sound.

  
  

• Photograph the stark beauty of Antarctica’s most iconic landscapes: the smouldering volcanic peak of Mount Erebus, the world’s southernmost active volcano; the seemingly infinite expanse of the Ross Ice Shelf; and the shifting maze of pack ice that guards the entrance to the Ross Sea. Under the magic of 24-hour daylight, this is a land of scale, texture, and light unlike anywhere else on Earth.

  
  

• Step directly into the heroic age of exploration as you visit some of the most significant historic sites on the continent. Explore Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s remarkably preserved huts at Hut Point and Cape Evans, walk in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps at his hut on Cape Royds, and venture even further back in time at Borchgrevink’s Hut at Cape Adare; the first human dwelling on the Antarctic continent.

  
  

• Before reaching Antarctica, the expedition also visits the legendary Subantarctic Islands — The Snares, Auckland Islands, Campbell Island, and Macquarie Island — destinations featured on Condé Nast Traveler’s “25 Best Places to Go in 2025” list. Hike amongst flowering megaherbs on Enderby and Campbell Islands, photograph Southern Sea Lions during peak breeding season as beachmaster bulls defend their harems, and witness the exuberant spectacle of Royal Penguins on Macquarie Island at the height of their season.

  
  

• Long days at sea are a defining feature of this expedition and a gift for wildlife photographers. Photograph some of the planet’s greatest seabirds: Wandering and Royal Albatross, shearwaters, petrels, prions, skua, and more, gliding effortlessly alongside the ship in the fierce winds of the Southern Ocean. These pelagic encounters provide exceptional opportunities to master birds-in-flight photography, dynamic light, and storytelling at sea, with Rachel offering continuous guidance from deck to dinner.

Expedition Details:

• 28-day expedition with 10–12 days exploring Antarctica

• Limited to 8 photographers

• Authentic expedition cruising with daily Zodiac landings (conditions permitting)

• Access to a private Zodiac for added space and creative control

• Onboard interactive photography sessions and 1:1 / 1:2 tuition

• Pre- and post-departure photography support

• Daily group recaps and shared dinners

• Expert expedition team aboard a luxury expedition vessel

For more information, follow the link here.

To discover more about Rachel's 2025 workshop with Heritage Expeditions, visit here.