Islands & Ice Travel

20/08/2024

If you have 15 minutes on your commute - tune into a conversation about the polar regions between David and ABC Nightlife with Philip Clark.

What to do if, instead of a cruise or a safari, you've got your heart set on seeing parts of the world other people rarely even touch?

19/08/2024

If you've got nothing better to do on a Friday night you could do a lot worse than fly to Australia's fantastic Antarctic gateway city of Hobart this Friday to hear from Tim Jarvis and soak up the atmosphere in and around Hobart's historic centre. We can attest to the fact Spring is on its way as the plum trees outside our office window are in full bloom.

We are privileged to host renowned Antarctic adventurer and environmental scientist Tim Jarvis as an additional guest speaker at our upcoming gala on Friday, August 23!

Tim has undertaken the incredible feat of reenacting two of the most harrowing Antarctic expeditions in history - those of Douglas Mawson and Ernest Shackleton.

In addition to recounting his captivating survival journeys, Tim will speak about the important work he is doing with Save Our Marine Life around protecting Australian subantarctic islands.

Book your gala tickets here and support the ongoing preservation of our fragile Antarctic heritage: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1210884

18/08/2024

Proud to be sponsoring the Australian Antarctic Festival in our hometown of Hobart alongside some great businesses, charities and scientific institutions. The festival runs 22-25 August 2024. A fantastic time to visit Australia’s beautiful Antarctic gateway city.

16/08/2024

We're heading back to experience the winter wonders of Iceland in February 2026. Here's a sample of a few highlights from a trip earlier this year. Let us know if you're interested to join. Dates and rates will be released early next year. This will be a trip for lovers of ice, volcanic landscapes, aurora, winter light, Icelandic horses, photography and more.

Highlights from Iceland's scenic south coast - February 2024

10/08/2024

Just a single place left on our Emperors and Mountains of Dronning Maud Land adventure this coming November.

Waitlists for November 2025 and November 2026 are filling fast.

Experience Antarctica like very few ever have or ever will.

Inquire through the website.

Pictured below, Emperor Penguins, Astrid Colony, the west face of Ulvetanna Mountain and the lounge at our wonderfully cosy and hospitable base camp in the Schirmacher Oasis.

07/08/2024

A little story by Ron Mizen about our Founder David Sinclair Images double life in this weeks Life & Leisure Section of Financial Review

We're really excited to have AFR join us in November in Antarctica.

After almost two decades of taking time out from his day job at some of Australia’s largest companies to lead adventure tours, David Sinclair is launching his own travel company.

29/07/2024

We're proud to be supporting the Australian Antarctic Festival running form 22-25 August 2024 in our hometown, the stunning Australian Antarctic gateway city of Hobart. Read more about the festival and consider a lovely winter long weekend in Australia's most scenic capital (with apologies to our cousins in Sydney, which makes for an excellent second most scenic city 😉 ). Click on the link to learn more.

Australian Antarctic Festival 2025 Australian Antarctic Festival 2025 Islands & Ice Travel is proud to be sponsoring the Australian Antarctic Festival, celebrating the role of Islands & Ice Travel's home town, Hobart, Tasmania as an Antarctic gateway city. From 22-25 August 2024, Hobart, will play h...

28/07/2024

We can’t wait to see the results of this on the streets of Hobart for the Australian Antarctic Festival. Colourful penguins everywhere from school kids from every Antarctic gateway city. Consider a long weekend in Hobart 22-25 August 2024 to celebrate all things Antarctic.

27/07/2024

Turn up the volume! Just 2 places remaining on our Emperors and Mountains of Dronning Maud Land adventure 12-20 November 2024.

We have an itinerary planned that has never been done before and will never be repeated. Email us to arrange a detailed briefing.

Join the waitlist for next years Emperors & Mountains adventure with just 7 guests.

Footage by David Sinclair Images from the first ever visit to the Astrid Emperor Penguin colony in November 2023.

25/07/2024

Svalbard in Spring and Scoresby Sund (remote east Greenland) in September.

New dates and rates for 2025 Arctic Micro Expedition Cruises are up on the website.

Experience extraordinary beauty in the remote high arctic in the company of no more than 11 other guests. Inquire through the website.

With thanks to master photographers Virgil Reglioni for the beautiful aurora image from Scoresby Sund and Florian Ledoux for his aerial image of guests enjoying a sea ice landing in Svalbard.

23/07/2024

Nature is the Destination is Islands & Ice Travel's tagline.

Sign up to the newsletter if you're looking for some nature-based travel inspiration. https://lnkd.in/g6vy78Mx

Offering intimate small group adventures taking in some of the most awe-inspiring experiences on earth:

🐋 Swimming with Humpbacks in Tropical Vava'u (maximum 6 people)

🐧 Marvel at Emperor Penguins on the very edge of the Nivl Ice Shelf in Queen Maude Land (maximum 8 people)

⛰ Explore Scoresby Sund, the world's largest fjord system in east Greenland with majestic peaks and towering icebergs (12 people maximum)

📷 Chase the aurora and capture images of stunning winter landscapes in Iceland (4-10 people)

18/07/2024

Swimming with Gentle Giants - last minute options available!

16/07/2024

Just two places remaining on a once in a lifetime deep field adventure to Queen Maud Land this coming November. DM if interested.

26/06/2024

"It's not the destination, it's the journey" Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Emerson wasn't around to see our Antarctic expeditions to Queen Maud Land. Imagine what the destinations are like if these images from the journey are any indication.

Join us this November for a never before offered Antarctic itinerary including incredible destinations only a handful of humans have ever visited. Check out Emperors and Mountains of Dronning Maud Land on our website.

24/06/2024

Join us in Tonga for one of the most breathtaking experiences on earth? We have three sets of dates in August and September 2025 for groups of 6. If you book as a group you'll have the boat and waterfront accommodation all to yourself. These dates will not be available for group bookings for long so please do contact us if you think you might have a group that wishes to share this incredible experience together.

We also have two spots remaining for our 24 August - 4 September 2024 trip.

Inquire through the website: https://islandsandicetravel.com/

19/06/2024

If this experience is on your wishlist, get in touch for dates and rates for the 2025 season in Vava'u Tonga. Each trip has a maximum of 6 people. If you have a group of 6 both the boat and lovely waterfront accommodation will be available exclusively to your group.

Two places remaining for the 24 August - 4 September 2024 trip.

Sign up to our newsletter on our website to hear about new trips and past expeditions.

17/06/2024

Just 4 places remaining on what is a truly unique once in a lifetime Antarctic itinerary that has never been offered before and may never be offered again taking in spectacular Lake Untersee in the Gruber Mountains, Ulvetanna and Holtanna in the Drygalksi Mountains and the Astrid Emperor Penguin colony on the edge of the Nivl Ice Shelf. We will fly from beautiful Cape Town and be based at the very comfortable Oasis Camp, complete with fine wine, cuisine and Starlink internet to share images of the day. This trip has it all, history, science, wildlife, wilderness, incredible scenic flights, ice caves, ice shelves, the incredible Seventh Continent!

08/06/2024

We love the ocean. Let’s keep em clean and full of life. They cover over 70% of our planet and provide some incredible opportunities for recreation and exploration.

04/06/2024

The purpose of our business is to design and deliver exceptional and unique experiences in Antarctica and other remote regions.

Over 100,000 people visit the Antarctic Peninsula from South America each year experiencing the coastline of the very northern tip of the continent. Only a few hundred experience the extraordinary beauty of Dronning Maud Land and deep field Antarctica flying from beautiful Cape Town. Utilising an existing logistics network that supports national Antarctic programs we can minimise our footprint and provide opportunities for small groups looking for a very special Antarctic experience.

We’re immensely proud of the itinerary we’ve put together for just seven people this coming November and other unique itineraries we’re putting together for private groups. The itinerary in November has never been offered before and may never be repeated. https://islandsandicetravel.com/tours/emperors-mountains-of-dronning-maud-land

We’re also putting together bespoke programs for small groups with scientific and other objectives (always subject to obtaining mandatory permits from a competent national authority and strictly abiding by all IAATO environmental and operational guidelines).

Join us in November or contact us for a confidential discussion about your own objectives. We’re in the business of making dreams happen!

Images of logistics assets at our disposal to deliver extraordinary access and unparalleled adventures. All images taken on an extensive scouting trip to Dronning Maud Land with the highly experienced and professional pilots, meteorologists and ice runway maintenance crew from Ultima Antarctic Logistics and Kenn Borek Air. Our lodgings in Antarctica are very comfortable complete with Starlink internet, a sauna, fine wines, cuisine and exquisite chocolates.

The ultimate luxury is to have the time and space to experience a place like no other.

29/05/2024

Ever fancied setting foot at the South Pole. Join us on our South pole & Emperor Penguin odyssey November 20-28, 2024.

13/05/2024

We hope some of you got an opportunity to see or capture the aurora over the weekend. Here are a few pics from David Sinclair Images from the appropriately named Mars Bluff at Bruny Island, Tasmania.

Connect with nature.

05/05/2024

Our next newsletter is about to drop so if you want some ideas or inspiration for your next small group adventure, sign up on the website (scroll to the end of the homepage). https://islandsandicetravel.com

Images: Polar expedition in Spitsbergen (March 2025), Swimming with Humpbacks in Tonga (Aug/Sep 2024), Emperor Penguins & South Pole (Nov 2024)

03/05/2024

Australia's highest mountain and only active volcano Big Ben sits atop Heard Island some 4000km SW of Perth. The Marine Park around Heard and nearby McDonald Islands is up for review. Last year Australia extended the fully protected marine sanctuary around Macquarie Island. This year an extension is being sought to the protected area around Heard and McDonald Islands. Many of you may not know much about this relatively unknown part of Australia. If you feel inclined to support this initiative please share and write to the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek. The incredible wildlife of the region depend on a healthy marine ecosystem.

Add your name and call for increased marine sanctuary protection around Australia's Heard and McDonald Islands!

25/04/2024

A few penguins from around the world on world penguin day.

11/04/2024

Just when you think you’ve seen it all. We love Emperor Penguins and can’t wait to return to the Astrid Colony in November.

09/04/2024

At Islands & Ice Travel we're not a big fan of the term "bucket list". Bucket list travel has become synonymous with ticking boxes. We know the journey is as important as the final destination. It's not about ticking boxes. On all of our specially curated trips, the journey will be as memorable as the destination. Join us in the beautiful Antarctic gateway city of Cape Town next southern summer for a journey like no other.

Sign up to our newsletter or visit our website.

08/04/2024

Who's interested in exploring the world's largest fjord system? Scoresby Sound in east Greenland is one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth. Towering mountains, impressive icebergs and the elusive Musk Ox await. We'll be heading to east Greenland with a maximum of 12 guests in August/September 2025 with details to be released soon.

04/04/2024

The days are getting shorter in the south which can only mean one thing... summer in Svalbard is on the way. We can't wait!

Our 2024 departures are sold out. 2025 dates and rates coming soon. Leave a comment if you're interested in an intimate small group expedition to Svalbard or Greenland in 2025.

02/04/2024

Simply mesmerising. A photographers Dream. We plan to visit two Emperor Penguin colonies this coming November, and other remote and remarkable polar landscapes. All our interior flights will be in the workhorse of the polar regions, the Twin Otter so superbly suited to the conditions. This trip is an incredible experience even for the most seasoned traveller. Limited to 7 people. Message or check the website for more details.

All images by our Founder David Sinclair Images taken on a scouting trip in November 2023.

28/03/2024

Swimming with gentle giants in the crystal clear warm waters of Vava'u Tonga. 3 spots remaining for our 24 August - 4 September departure.