01/11/2026
Come celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the founding of M&M Photo Tors, Inc., with me in January 2028 in Antarctica!!
Yes, M&M will turn 20 in 2028 and as such I am planning a Bucket List trip for folks who have never been to Antarctica.
Thought I'd share with you where I am in the planning stages at this point and what a trip like this looks like on a daily basis and what some of the current expectations/norms are:
Key details & tentative dates:
January 8-18, 2028 (could slide a few days out into January BUT no sooner than the 8th)
10 days / 9 nights total
5 full days dedicated to excursions in Antarctica
PRICING IS TBD but I will publish as soon as I know (not a cheap trip)
In Antarctica, most ships in the class I am looking at plan for at least one shore landing per day, and often a second activity when conditions allow — typically a zodiac cruise. Ice, weather, and landing-site availability ultimately dictate the final schedule.
Landings & what’s realistic today: Under IAATO regulations, only 100 passengers can be ashore at any one time, which is why ships under ~180 guests are such a sweet spot. I am only looking at ships this size.
In practice today:
1 shore landing per day is standard
1 zodiac cruise per day is very common
Some days can still include two landings, but no operator can guarantee this anymore due to the growing number of ships and the limited number of approved landing sites. The good news is that zodiac cruising is incredibly productive for photography — often just as rewarding as being on land, especially for wildlife and ice compositions.
Typical day-by-day flow - Here’s what a “classic” Antarctica voyage generally looks like:
Day 1: Fly into Buenos Aires, connect onward to Ushuaia
Day 2: Board the ship in Ushuaia and sail the Beagle Channel
Days 3–4: Drake Passage crossing (lectures, briefings, wildlife spotting)
Days 5–9: Antarctica - Daily zodiac operations - Combination of landings and zodiac cruises - Flexible scheduling based on weather, ice, and wildlife activity
Days 10–11: Drake Passage return
Day 12: Disembark Ushuaia and fly home
All four ships I am looking at follow the above structure, departing from Ushuaia, which remains the primary and most efficient gateway.
If you are interested and want me to hold a spot for you, please reach out and let me know.
Thanks,
Mike