Aurora Expeditions was founded in 1991 by Greg and Margaret Mortimer and takes its name from the Aurora, the ship of Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson. It is still Australian-owned and is a certified B Corp. The fleet has three ships, Greg Mortimer of 2019, Sylvia Earle of 2022 and Douglas Mawson of 2025, each carrying 130 guests on polar voyages and each built with the Ulstein X-BOW; the first two are rated Ice Class 1A and Polar Class 6. With one expedition team member for every seven guests, Aurora is known for keeping people active: kayaking, alpine trekking and climbing, camping, snowshoeing and even scuba diving. Douglas Mawson, the newest, adds diesel-electric propulsion, waste-heat recovery and a Citizen Science Centre, and TIME named it among its World's Greatest Places for 2026. The 2026 to 2027 Antarctic season brings 27 voyages, including the Ross Sea and East Antarctica, with 18 scientists on board. The Arctic programme runs mainly from June to August, and Iceland from May to September. Aurora was an early member of IAATO and AECO, the bodies that set the rules for responsible polar travel.
- Nearest airport
- Ushuaia, Malvinas Argentinas International (USH), 2.5 Miles / 4 Kilometres, for Antarctica
- On board
- three ships, each 130 guests on polar voyages: Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson
Insider tip Solo travellers should look first at Douglas Mawson, which has more single cabins than any earlier Aurora ship.
Why I choose it The most active of the polar lines, on small ships and certified as a B Corp.
