Cancellation Period

Cancellation of a booking or part thereof will incur the following fees based on the notice period prior to any tour. Once travel has commenced, no refunds will be made for any unused services and clients will be responsible for their travel arrangements and insurance.

A deposit for any tour is made upon booking to secure your place on the tour, this is non-refundable. By paying the invoice for deposit you accept these terms and conditions.

If a cancellation is made less than 1 month (30 Days) prior to the tour date, we will not reimburse the cost of the tour.

If a cancellation is made within 1-2 months (60 Days) prior to the tour date, we will reimburse the cost of the tour up to 10% minus the deposit which is non refundable upon booking the tour and any admin fees incurred.

If a cancellation is made within 3 months (90 Days) prior to the tour date we will reimburse the cost of the tour up to 15% minus the deposit which is non refundable upon booking the tour and any admin fees incurred.

If a cancellation is made within 3 – 6 months (180 Days) prior to the tour date we will reimburse the cost of the tour up to 20% minus the deposit which is non refundable upon booking the tour and any admin fees incurred.

Cancellations made by the organiser to a tour will be reimbursed in full (Not including the deposit which is Non-refundable).

Note: If the booking has been rescheduled and the cancellation is requested, this will be considered a new booking and subject to our standard terms and conditions.If for any reason weather or operational cancellation of a single day occurs during the tour, there is no refund provided if the circumstances are out of the control of the organiser.

Itinerary Disclaimer

The itineraries on our websites are correct at time of publishing and may differ slightly depending on changes to local operations, foreign policy and laws, availability of resources, flight schedules, and supplier cost. In the case of any changes, the organiser will endeavour to provide an alternative option to continue your itinerary.

Insurance Policy

Travel insurance is NOT included in the cost of your tour. We strongly recommend that passengers arrange their own travel insurance. Insurance is required before arriving at your destination to ensure you are covered for unforeseen situations that may arise to cause loss of luggage, cancellation of flights and tours or medical emergencies.

Scott Portelli and affiliates are not responsible for loss or damage of any equipment whilst participating in these activities. Appropriate travel insurance should be arranged prior to visiting your destination.

Release Forms/Waivers

While the organiser makes every effort to safeguard our clients, we cannot be held responsible for personal injury or loss due to events beyond our control.  Wildlife tourism carries inherent risk as you are interacting with wild animals and a signed release form is required from all participants before tour departure. This is signed on the first day of departure or prior to arriving at your destination on each separate tour. Guests are encourage to download this liability waiver and return back to us prior to your tour.

Foreign Currency

As of October 2023, all general tour costs are quoted in $USD as suppliers and operations in the region move to a more stable currency for services rendered. Current exemptions are Norway (quoted in Euros), Falkland Islands (quoted in GBP Pounds), and Australia (Australian Dollars).

For local currency, please notice that Tongan Pa’anga is still the currency used while visiting the Tongan islands and will be the only accepted form of currency for tourist in Tonga.  For other destinations, please check which local currency will be required. NOTE: Tour prices are subject to change year on year and will be reflected in the tour itinerary prior to each season.

Visas for Tonga

Please review the visa requirements for your country here

Visas for Norway

Norway’s visa requirements vary according to the traveller’s country of origin, the purpose of traveling and the period of stay. Please review the visa requirements for your country here

Visas for Australia

Please review the visa requirements for your country here

Antarctica is one of the most remote and weather-dependent destinations on Earth. Flight schedules and itineraries are subject to change based on weather, visibility and runway conditions, and flexibility is an essential part of any Antarctic expedition.

Our experienced expedition team will make every effort to operate according to the planned itinerary and will provide regular updates should delays occur. Flights will depart as soon as conditions are safe to do so.

To allow for potential weather-related delays, we strongly recommend allowing at least three buffer days before and after your expedition and avoiding important meetings, onward travel or other commitments immediately following your scheduled return.

We also recommend purchasing flexible airfares to and from Punta Arenas, along with comprehensive travel insurance that covers expedition travel and weather-related delays.

Expect true Antarctic conditions, with temperatures as low as -32°C (-25°F), strong winds and the possibility of severe storms. Weather can change rapidly, and flexibility is an essential part of any Antarctic expedition.

This expedition is rated moderate. Participants should be comfortable walking 6 to 8 kilometres per day across uneven snow and sea ice while pulling a small sled with camera equipment and personal items. A good level of fitness and the ability to spend extended periods in cold conditions are essential.

The highlight of the expedition is spending several days with one of the world's largest Emperor Penguin colonies. You may also encounter:

• Adélie penguins

• Weddell seals

• South polar skuas

• Snow petrels

• Antarctic petrels

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but this region offers some of the best opportunities on Earth to observe and photograph these iconic Antarctic species.