LimitLes Explore brings like-minded women together to explore our most loved corners of the world! The intention of LimitLes Explore is to continue to facilitate group travel ~the LimitLes way~ and on a bigger scale than our OG LimitLes retreats. These trips foster connection, exploration, perspective, and something much bigger than us. It’s the ultimate girls trip!

In my humble opinion, if you travel south and step outside of your comfort zone, you might stumble into the best version of yourself.

LimitLes Antarctica November 2025

It’s no secret that my favorite places on earth are oftentimes the hardest to get to. So it makes sense that some of the most transformative journeys begin in Earth’s most remote corners. We had the pleasure of living this dream come true back in March, and this November, we’re inviting curious, courageous explorers to experience the magic of the White Continent. This will be an extraordinary adventure to Antarctica that promises awe-inspiring beauty, raw wilderness, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Antarctica is a destination that words can barely begin to explain with icebergs carved like sculptures, penguins in the hundreds waddling across snowy terrain, and curious whales breaching just feet from your zodiac. It’s truly one of Earth’s last wild frontiers. This is not a typical LimitLes trip, and it’s not your typical cruise either. While Lesley and the LimitLes team will not be on board this journey, the spirit of LimitLes is deeply woven into every detail: a thoughtfully curated group, a stunning expedition ship, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience led by the best of the best polar experts at Quark Expeditions.

This is travel the LimitLes way: adventurous, luxurious, and life-changing.

Quark Expeditions has been a leader in polar travel for over 30 years, and their team is unmatched. The cutting edge Quark difference is their team-to-guest ratio and true commitment to polar exploration. From marine biologists to glaciologists, medics to historians, the expert guides on board will turn the icy landscape into a classroom, sharing knowledge, protecting the environment, and making the unknown feel inspiringly accessible. Quark had been a dream partner of mine for years, so my expectations were high when stepping aboard in March 2025. The expedition team, luxury touches, and attention to detail still exceeded my high expectations.

Expect flexible daily itineraries thoughtfully crafted to maximize weather and ice conditions, wildlife patterns, and guest experience. One thing is guaranteed: no two days are ever the same. You’ll feel the thrill of true exploration while enjoying world-class cuisine, cozy accommodations, and quiet moments with stunning views to reflect on the magnitude of where you are.

This 11-day itinerary aboard the dream boat, the newly acquired Ocean Explorer, will immerse you into the otherworldly land of Antarctica. Throughout the trip, travelers will experience the thrill of exploring the raw majesty of this destination while landing on remote shores by zodiac, walking among penguin colonies, listening to whales, witnessing glaciers calving into the sea, and so much more.

The Road Les Traveled is not for the faint of heart, especially when venturing to far away, extraordinary lands. This itinerary is balanced beautifully with comfortable accommodations to rest your head, delicious cuisine to spark your taste buds, and quiet moments in awe-inspiring nature that will invite you to dive deeply into yourself and others. This is an expedition-style cruise, meaning you can expect the unexpected. Your expert expedition leader, captain, and crew will thoughtfully create your daily itinerary based on weather, safety, wildlife habits and so much more. So, you can expect the unexpected!

Photo Credit: David Merron & Acacia Johnson

What’s the Explore difference?

Every aspect of this trip, from the pre-trip introductions to your cabin-mate, is crafted with care. Our role is to ensure you feel supported, seen, and connected before you step foot on the ship. You won’t just be checking off a continent. You’ll be joining a community of female explorers who value shared stories, spontaneous laughter, jaw-dropping landscapes, and awe inspiring experiences. It’s an intimate experience that’s equal parts luxury and grit, grandeur and groundedness. Like every LimitLes experience, this trip inspired connection, community, and the courage to say yes to the extraordinary.

Who is the LimitLes Explorer?

The LimitLes community is a safe space where women come together to explore new parts of the world and in turn, themselves. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, cancer survivors, caretakers, travel junkies, adventure seekers, criers, and deep-belly laughers. If you are an open-hearted human seeking The Road Les Traveled with women who are craving the same movement, adventure, and community, you’re in the right place.

All about the Drake Passage:

“The Drake Shake” or “The Drake Lake”… you won’t know until you go.

Crossing the infamous 800-mile wide Drake Passage is a right of passage for anyone heading to Antarctica. The waters here are known to surprise, with rough seas and high winds giving it the name “Drake Shake”, or when it’s smooth sailing, it’s known instead as “Drake Lake”. The truth of the matter is you don’t know what you’re going to get until you get there. But no matter the forecast, you’ll be in expert hands aboard the Ocean Explorer.

This ship was designed for polar crossings, complete with stabilizers, an onboard medical team, and a seasoned crew. Even guests who typically experience motion sickness on boats have called the journey “100% worth it.” On our last voyage, only a few out of 24 travelers felt ill, and the overwhelming sentiment was one of safety, adventure, and deep reward. We encourage every explorer to come prepared: bring motion sickness meds, pack an open mind, and lean into the unknown. There’s something humbling and beautiful about surrendering to nature, and we fully believe it only heightens the magic of what awaits on the other side.

Antarctica Land & Sea Details:

Dates: November 4 – 14, 2025

Trip Length: 11 days, 10 nights

Participants: 10 – 18

Destinations: Ushuaia, Argentina, Antarctic Peninsula, & South Shetland Islands

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner & most diets welcome. Breakfasts & lunches on board are served buffet style and dinners are plated. Please let us know any dietary restrictions in application and again upon acceptance.

Cost: $14,950

Demographic: Women (21+)

Bucket list activities: Up close respectful encounters with wild life (like penguins, seals, whales, and more!), zodiac rides with incredible polar experts, scenic hiking on shore, birdwatching, yoga with a view, and a polar plunge!

Additional adventure options (not included): Sea kayaking and paddling excursions

Accommodations: On your first night in Ushuaia, you’ll meet the group for dinner and then rest your head comfortably while unwinding from the journey and recharging for the next one ahead. The southernmost city in the world, located on the southern coast of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego archipelago, oozes explorer vibes. Known as the Gateway to Antarctica, this is the end of the road for many, and quite literally as the Pan American highway spanning from the northern tip of Alaska ends right here. This remote and enchanting city serves as a gateway to some of the most breathtaking landscapes and adventures on the planet. Ushuaia boasts a rich cultural heritage with museums, historical sites, and vibrant local cuisine, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking adventure at the edge of the world. This is where we’ll board our home away from home – Quark Expeditions’s Ocean Explorer.

Your home away from home for 9 nights – The Ocean Explorer!

The Ocean Explorer:

This luxury, 138-passenger vessel is the newest addition to Quark’s fleet and was designed for polar exploration in the most remote destinations. One of the ship’s key features is the ULSTEIN X–BOW, a marine engineering innovation that ensures a comfortable and smooth sailing experience thanks to the inverted bow. The industry leading X-bow design houses a two-floor library with stunning 360 views, and the forward-sloping X-Bow minimizes vibration, noise, and impact for a comfortable passage in any polar sea conditions. With four sea level embarkation points and a fleet of 15 zodiacs, this is no ordinary cruising with stunning Scandinavian interior design, fuel efficient Rolls-Royce engines, and the ground-breaking MAGS gasification system that converts waste into energy, eliminating the environmental impact of waste transportation.

With deck viewing parties, two lounge areas, a gym, dry sauna, spa, two jacuzzis, two-story library, polar boutique, lecture lounge, Latitude Bar and three dining spaces, the options on-board are truly LIMITLES!

November is the very start of the expedition season, when the continent is at its most pristine. The ice is fresh and largely untouched, wildlife is highly active, and the dramatic landscapes are nothing short of breathtaking. This early-season timing offers a rare opportunity to witness towering icebergs and expansive sea ice formations before they begin to break up. It’s also prime time for spotting penguins as they begin courtship, offering front row seats to the start of life in one of the most remote regions of Earth. Think waddling pairs, stone-offering, and nest building. You can expect long daylight hours, few vessels nearby, and relaxed animal behavior meaning it’s a fantastic time for close-up seal photography.

Cabin:

Veranda Stateroom/Suite These stunning rooms aboard the Ocean Explorer will be double occupancy with two beds, a balcony, and will contain the following:

Please only complete the application form if you are seriously interested in attending the retreat, if the travel dates work with your schedules and if the price is within your budget. Applications close on May 21. We’ll be reading applications on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can expect to start hearing from us the week of May 19. A deposit of $3,000 per person is due upon acceptance to your reserve your spot. The first installment is due June 9 and you must pay in full by July 7.

Space is limited, but the opportunities are LimitLes.

Hear from the LimitLes Alumni