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September 16, 2025 — 2:53pm
More than 64 per cent of travellers are women, according to British travel company Skift, and many of them have taken, will take, or intend to take a solo trip. And with safety a paramount concern, the notion of travelling with like-minded women in a way that’s tooled for comfort and security starts to look an excellent option.
In the spirit of celebrating pioneering women, Australia’s Aurora Expeditions has a women-only expedition to Antarctica included in its 2026-27 season – it’s first female-only expedition.
The “Antarctic Direct: Fly the Drake Fly/Fly Women’s Only Expedition” will begin in Punta Arenas, Chile, on February 23, 2027, flying its participants over the often treacherous Drake Passage, with an Antarctic cruise onboard the Sylvia Earle to follow before returning by air to Punta Arenas on March 4, 2027.
And for the lone travellers, Aurora’s coming Arctic and Antarctic seasons overall have no single supplement pricing and offer specially designed solo cabins on each of its three expedition vessels.
Hosting “Antarctica Direct” is Nigerian-born, Stockholm-based bestselling author and award-winning photographer Lola Akinmade Akerstrom. Also onboard will be former NASA astronaut Sandra Hall Magnus. Both will contribute to the theme of celebrating the power of women in exploration, storytelling and environmental conservation.
“This is more than a trip; it’s a community of women coming together to explore one of the most pristine places on the planet,” Akerstrom says. “I’m honoured to host this transformational journey and help foster new stories, friendships and memories in the awe-inspiring landscapes of Antarctica.”
The departure, on February 23, 2027, is late in the Antarctic summer, which Aurora says is a prime time for wildlife activity.
While sailing the notorious Drake Passage is regarded as a badge of honour for many travellers, Aurora says flying over it both ways is designed to maximise participants’ time on the Antarctic continent.
The Sylvia Earle, a small, purpose-built ship, features the Ulstein X-BOW design, which maximises smoothness in swells while minimising environmental impact.
Named after the marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle, the 130-passenger ship’s public decks honour six noted women in conservation: Carden Wallace, Joanna Ruxton, Sharon Kwok, Bernadette Demientieff, Asha de Vos and Hanli Prinsloo. The 2022-launched ship also features a Citizen Science Centre hosting expert lecturers and an enrichment program.
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