Oceanwide Expeditions honoured in Active Travel Awards

Oceanwide Expedition´s South Georgia Ski Crossing in the historic footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton named in the ´hall of fame´ as part of Outside´s inaugural Active Travel Awards

Oceanwide Expeditions, South Georgia Ski Crossing has been selected by Outside, America’s leading multimedia active-lifestyle brand, as a recipient of its first ever Active Travel Awards. The South Georgia ski crossing was honored in the ´hall of fame´. The full list of award winners will be published in the April issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands across the United States March 13, 2012 and online at Outside Online , click here .

To select this year’s awards, Outside tapped their global network of correspondents to showcase a definitive roundup of the best new adventures, exotic retreats, beaches, local food, bars with a view, on-time airlines, screaming deals, gorgeous islands, and more. The awards reflect more than just a collection of unforgettable trips—it’s a road map to life-changing experiences. The issue also highlights a list of the best online travel tools as well a roundup of Outside’s all-time favorite destinations.

Apply now for the exclusive South Georgia voyage, 17 October – 03 November 2012. This is an expedition for real explorers !

"Outside magazine has long been one of the world's most trusted advisors for active and adventurous travelers," says Outside editor Christopher Keyes. "This year we've bottled up 35 years of collective wisdom to select our first Outside Travel Awards, an annual edit franchise that honors the best trips, hotels, lodges, luggage, islands, and new destinations that will be an invaluable travel resource for years to come

Discover the pristine and mysterious polar planet with Oceanwide Expeditions

We are pioneers of ship-based exploratory tourism in the Arctic and Antarctica and awarded as ‘World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator’ by the World Travel Awards. We are organising unique expedition cruise programs to the polar regions for guests who want to actively enjoy the spectacular scenery, explore nature and wildlife of some of the world’s most stunning and pristine shorelines, above and below the oceans, at sea and on land.

We own and operate a modern fleet of small ice-strengthened expedition vessels which comply with highest international safety standards and allow our professional crew to navigate safely through pack ice and remote narrow waterways. The size, capacity and capability of our small ships have proven to be a successful formula for exploring the remote regions for many years. Our expedition vessels offer a comfortable, friendly, intimate and informal atmosphere. Oceanwide is known for exceptional standard of service offered to all passengers on board the ships. Our ships provide cosy and comfortable accommodation and on-board life. Our chefs prepare excellent international and well balanced international cuisine. Our friendly international crew, expedition and hotel staff, most of whom have been with the company for many years, will be anxious to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with their guests. Qualified and experienced expedition guides share their knowledge in lectures on board during sea days and during field excursions; our guides come from all over the world and speak several languages.

The regions we visit during our wildlife expeditions contain hardly any infrastructure and most are only reachable by boat. Oceanwide Expeditions operates, so to speak, on the borderline between land and water, where daily guided excursions guarantee intensive and individual nature and wildlife experience in small groups . Our carefully prepared and unique voyages are primarily defined by an exploratory and environmentally friendly travel program, which is flexible and guarantees much time for adventure packed activities, combined with educational lectures on board. For special activities we provide industry leading equipment: tents, sleeping bags, snowshoes, kayaks, diving compressors, scuba tanks and weights, rubber boots with grip sole, polar jackets , sledges (pulkas) , mountaineering hard ware. Keeping days at sea short and implementing fast gangway operations allow our guests maximum time ashore to explore. We offer two landings per day, morning and afternoon (weather permitting). Sailing schedules and land programs are flexible , and will always be adapted to local sea ice and weather conditions and wildlife opportunities. Our fleet of inflatable zodiacs are ready in no time for taxi shuttles to shore , and cruises among ice floes and the local wildlife. While cruising and actively exploring the polar regions, we are sure that you will become increasingly fascinated by these unique wildernesses, places of drama, wildlife, history and true emotion.

In celebration of the Outside Active Travel Awards, Outside will launch the “What Trip Are You?” Facebook promotion, which will allow members of the Outside community to take an adventure travel quiz to determine what type of vacation best suits their adventure style from five categories.