Secret Atlas, the innovators behind Expedition Micro Cruises, are once again changing the way travellers encounter the polar regions. This September, the company introduced its most intimate group sizes yet for journeys to Antarctica and South Georgia, with sailings beginning in October 2026.
Carrying no more than 42 guests, these new voyages are setting a new benchmark for polar exploration. Unlike traditional expedition cruises which can accommodate hundreds of passengers, micro cruises place emphasis on authentic, small-group adventure. Travellers benefit from itineraries that can be flexibly adapted to wildlife encounters, visits to hidden, off-the-beaten-track locations, and access to areas unreachable by larger vessels.
A highlight of the new programme is an exclusive Fly-Cruise from Puerto Natales, which includes a two-and-a-half-hour charter flight across the Drake Passage to King George Island. Secret Atlas is the only operator offering Expedition Micro Cruises from this remote Patagonian port. Nestled amid the dramatic landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the town itself becomes part of the experience, setting the tone for an immersive polar safari across Antarctica and South Georgia.
Travellers will sail aboard MV Polar Athena, a robust, ice-strengthened expedition ship designed to handle heavy pack ice while offering contemporary comforts such as ensuite cabins, a stylish lounge, a restaurant, sauna, and hot tub.
Secret Atlas’ Expedition Micro Cruises are more than just another way to reach Antarctica and South Georgia—they represent a new category of polar travel. With only 42 participants per voyage, guests have the best possible chance of encountering wildlife such as Gentoo penguins, elephant seals, orcas, and humpback whales in their natural environment. There are no queues, no delays, and no crowds—just the freedom to step off the vessel and start exploring within minutes.
Key itineraries include the 10-day Antarctic Spring Micro Fly Cruise, with four departures scheduled for December 2026 priced from £14,995 per person, and the 9-day Antarctic Spring Micro Fly Cruise – Sail One Way, with five departures in November and December from £11,995 per person. Additionally, Secret Atlas will offer a 16-day South Georgia & Antarctica Spring Micro Fly Cruise, with two departures in November 2026 starting from £19,495 per person.
Reservations for both the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons are now open, available to individual travellers, private groups, and full-ship charters. With only 42 spaces available per voyage, early booking is highly recommended.
Michele D’Agostino, Co-Founder of Secret Atlas, commented: “At Secret Atlas we’ve built our entire philosophy around Expedition Micro Cruises—because we believe the polar regions deserve to be explored slowly, respectfully, and in the smallest groups possible. By limiting our voyages to just 42 guests, we’re offering something that larger ships simply cannot: more time ashore, more space in zodiacs, and genuine freedom to follow wildlife and weather conditions as they unfold. It’s an experience that is highly personal, unhurried, and deeply immersive.
“This is the future of polar exploration – impactful experiences shared with a small community of like-minded explorers, led by experts and carried out while leaving the smallest footprint possible. The raw beauty of Antarctica and South Georgia experienced the way it should be.”
