McMurdo Sound, Antarctica: Remote Ross Sea Adventure (January 2026)
McMurdo Sound, the southernmost navigable waterway, connects to the vast Ross Ice Shelf—Earth’s most extreme, pristine region with fast ice, katabatic winds, and historic explorer bases.
Few reach here—rewarded with emperor/Adélie penguins, orcas, Mt. Erebus views, and science stations.
Highlights
Ross Island:
- McMurdo Station (USA) — Largest Antarctic base (~1,000 summer residents).
- Discovery Hut (1902) — Scott’s preserved prefab hut.
- Scott’s Hut, Cape Evans — 1911 Terra Nova base, frozen in time.
- Mount Erebus — Active volcano (3,794m) with lava lake.
Coastal Areas:
- McMurdo Dry Valleys — Mars-like, hyper-arid; famous Blood Falls (iron-rich waterfall).
- Franklin Island — Adélie penguin rookery.
Terra Nova Bay:
- Italian (Zucchelli), Korean (Jang Bogo), German (Gondwana) stations.
How to Visit (2026)
Only via Ross Sea expedition cruises (Jan-Feb summer; helicopters common for landings).
Options:
- Heritage Expeditions → NZ round-trips (e.g., Jan-Feb 2026; up to 20% off select suites by Jan 9, 2026).
- Oceanwide Expeditions → Helicopters to Dry Valleys/McMurdo.
- Aurora Expeditions, Scenic Eclipse → Luxury options.
Extreme & expensive—life-changing wildlife/history. Dreaming of Antarctica? Let’s plan! 🐧❄️