Aurora Expeditions

Aurora Expeditions was founded in the early 1990s by the Australian mountaineer Greg Mortimer and his wife Margaret, and it still has the feel of a company run by people who would rather be outdoors. The voyages are active. Alongside the usual Zodiac landings, guests can sign up for sea kayaking, snowshoeing, ski touring, polar snorkelling and, on some departures, diving and climbing.

The ships are small and purpose-built, with a distinctive inverted bow designed to cut through heavy seas more smoothly. Antarctica is the centre of the programme, including South Georgia and the Falklands, followed by the Arctic in the northern summer and a scattering of other wild coasts in between. The mood on board is informal and sociable, with lectures, a well-used observation deck and little interest in dressing for dinner.