Secret Atlas

📖 Read the full guide to learn more about the birds of Antarctica and how they thrive in this extraordinary environment: zurl.co/37qVL

From penguins and petrels to skuas, terns, and wandering albatrosses, Antarctic birds rely on the productivity of the Southern Ocean for survival. Many species breed on remote ice-free ground during the austral summer, forming vast colonies that are critical to their life cycle.

Macaroni penguins are one of the largest crested penguin species, instantly recognisable by their striking yellow plumes. 📖 Read the full guide to deepen your understanding of macaroni penguins and Antarctic wildlife: zurl.co/Cn8eV #wildlife #photography #travel

South Georgia’s dramatic coastline was once the heart of the Antarctic whaling industry, where seven shore-based stations processed tens of thousands of whales between 1904 and 1965 🐋📜 🔗 Read more here: zurl.co/m6Uwt #southgeorgia #travel #history

Magdalenefjorden is one of Svalbard’s most ecologically significant fjords. Sheltered by steep mountains and tidewater glaciers, it has long served as a natural harbour for seabirds, seals, and carefully managed expedition travel. #svalbard #photography #travel

Standing on the deck of a small expedition vessel and watching Kongsfjorden open around you feels like stepping into a quieter corner of the Arctic. The fjord stretches roughly 26 km long and sits on the northwest coast of Spitsbergen 🗻❄️ #photography #travel #wildlife

You're exploring Greenland's tundra when a flash of white catches your eye. Before you can raise your camera, it's bounding away at 60 kilometres per hour. Welcome to the Arctic hare, one of the polar region's most underrated residents 🐇 #photography #travel #wildlife #hare

Happy World Whale Day! 🐋❄️ In the cold waters of the Arctic, whales arrive not for spectacle but for survival. Humpbacks, fin and blue whales, belugas, and narwhals all pass through Arctic waters at different times of year, each on their own terms. #photography #travel

MS Freya is our flagship expedition vessel, built to move confidently to the far edges of the map. With an ice-strengthened 1A hull, she’s designed for serious polar exploration, yet welcomes just 12 guests ❄️ 🎬 Watch 'I Am Freya' zurl.co/ON3dj #travel #photography

In the high Arctic, February is a season of birth. For harp seals, pupping begins in late February, with mothers giving birth directly on the pack ice. Thick snow and stable floes offer vital shelter as newborn pups nurse on rich milk. #svalbard #travel #wildlife #photography

Did you know that Austfonna contains enough ice to cover the entire country of Cyprus in a layer roughly 200 meters thick. If it all melted tomorrow, global sea levels would rise by approximately five millimetres ❄️ #Svalbard #Polar #Arctic #Travel #Expedition #Photography

Late winter marks the start of the breeding season, when foxes pair up and begin preparing long-used dens scattered across the tundra. These burrows, some centuries old, are carefully maintained, expanded, and defended, ready for the months ahead. #svalbard #photography #travel

You’re standing on deck. The air is still. Then, the first ribbon of green light unfurls above the ice. Moments like this are why we travel north 🌌 #secretatlas #travel #photography #northernlights #polartravel

Moments like this are why we travel north. From choosing the perfect exposure to layering for sub-zero nights and reading aurora forecasts, Virgil Reglioni shares his expertise on capturing nature’s most mesmerising light show 🌌 #secretatlas #photography #travel #greenland

Happy New Year from all of us at Secret Atlas. As we welcome 2026, we can’t help but reflect on an incredible year of exploration from Arctic wildlife encounters to voyages deep into Antarctica’s untouched bays. #Antarctica #Arctic #Travel #Photography #Views #Svalbard

With decades of experience working across remote polar regions, Randy has built a reputation for reading light, ice, weather, and wildlife with quiet precision. 🗓 Join Randy in Svalbard, 2026: • 31 May – 09 June • 09 – 18 June 🔗 Learn more here zurl.co/1NmPV

As the polar night begins, pregnant polar bears retreat to their snowy dens across Svalbard ❄️🐻 Through months of darkness, new life grows beneath the ice. Come spring, tiny cubs emerge—the next generation of Arctic survivors. 🌌 *Photos taken within AECO guidelines*

Name your favourite Antarctic animal. We’ll go first: What’s yours? 👇 #Antarctica #PolarWildlife #SecretAtlas #LeopardSeal

Each day was a new discovery. I never felt so connected with nature and wildlife. Rethinking all these unforgettable memories makes me want to book another trip. – TripAdvisor Review, about Vikingfjord on our 2023 Svalbard Circumnavigation Cruise

24 Nov marks World Walrus Day, highlighting the importance of sea ice for walrus survival 🦭❄️ Projects like Walrus from Space (WWF + BAS) use satellite images and citizen scientists to track how these animals are adapting. 🔗 More via BBC’s World Walrus Day.