2024 Antarctica

Antarctica may be at the end of the Earth, but Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic have been bringing guests here for decades — safely sharing all the wonders of this vast land and sea. Join us to experience the thrill of crunching through the sea ice aboard the expedition ship Explorer. People often come for the wildlife but fall in love with the ice: an entire museum of colossal and magical ice forms defying description. And you’ll get a front seat to the dashing history of the Heroic Age of Exploration.

Better yet, we’ll have our very own ice experts along: Bob Jacobel, Professor Emeritus of Physics, a researcher so acclaimed he has a glacier named for him based on the recommendation of the United States Geological Survey, and his daughter Allison Jacobel, a paleoclimatologist and Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences at Middlebury College.

With a flexible itinerary that allows us to go where conditions are best and wildlife is most active, we’ll experience all the splendor of Antarctica. Venture into channels and coves framed by towering peaks. Watch whales play off the bow. Glide around enormous icebergs in Zodiacs. Photograph penguin colonies with a National Geographic photographer. Hike, kayak, and even possibly cross-country ski in complete tranquility.

To register, click on this Trip Summary and use the instructions on the form to mail or email the information to Lindblad Expeditions.

The destination invites hyperbole and yet no words quite capture the Antarctica experience. As the farthest reaches of our globe become more accessible, Antarctica remains unique. A visit to the frozen continent is more than a vacation, it’s, well, an expedition. You’ll be supplied with the most extreme winter gear you’ve likely ever had, so that you can explore the awe-inspiring ice. At the same time you’ll be warmed by sights of dancing, sliding, frolicking penguins.

This is your chance to see the ice while you learn about changing conditions from our faculty leaders, a dynamic father-daughter duo who can speak from personal research on the effects of climate change in the region and have been speaker on Lindblad-Nat Geo polar trips before.

To register, click on this Trip Summary and use the instructions on the form to mail or email the information to Lindblad Expeditions.

Bob Jacobel is a glaciologist and Professor Emeritus of Physics and Environmental Studies at St. Olaf and has been doing research on ice since 1987 when he first went to Greenland to help select the site for the US climate core drilled there. His principal interests are in the evolution and response of ice masses to climate change, and he uses the tools of ice penetrating radar and satellite remote sensing in this research on glaciers and ice sheets around the world. Bob studied physics at the University of California Berkeley and did his dissertation research in high energy particle physics, switching to geophysics and earth science when he came to St. Olaf because of his strong interest in the outdoors and desire to do field research.

In addition to projects in Greenland and Scandinavia, he has been a Principal Investigator in Antarctic field expeditions for more than 25 years and has published numerous papers on ice sheet and glacier dynamics. He has taught in both the physics and environmental science departments at St. Olaf, including courses on global climate change and the history/ literature of the poles. The Jacobel Glacier on the Sulzberger Coast of West Antarctica is named in honor of his accomplishments. Bob has been a speaker on several National Geographic trips to both poles, starting in 2013 when he first led a St. Olaf program to Antarctica, and looks forward to sharing his experience and expertise with members of another fantastic St. Olaf group.

Allison Jacobel is a paleoclimatologist and an Assistant Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences at Middlebury College. Allison’s research utilizes records of climate change preserved in marine sediments to reveal past ocean and climate system variability. In particular, she studies microfossils and sediment geochemistry to understand the active role of the deep ocean in carbon storage and its influence on climate over glacial cycles. She is also interested in records of more abrupt climate changes driven by the polar regions.

Allison earned her Ph.D. at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and has sailed on several oceanographic research expeditions, including a 2017 cruise to Greenland on the Royal Research Ship Discovery. This cruise focused on understanding accelerating modern ice loss and the influence of meltwater release on the ocean-climate system. Allison has been to Antarctica with her dad aboard the Explorer and is excited to return and share her perspective on the role of the oceans in climate change in the Antarctic.

Click on the image below to view the

• itinerary
• information about the National Geographic Explorer
• cabin categories and fees
• inclusions, exclusions, and cancellation policy
• and registration form

Read and agree to the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver. Your electronic signature is required on both of these forms immediately after your registration is received.

Check immunization recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Review the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.

Take time to prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more. You will also receive access to a personalized online portal through Lindblad Expeditions, who will provide a lot of information specific to this journey.