This is the ultimate Antarctic voyage and one of the world’s great wilderness journeys. From Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego to the windswept Falklands, onward to the incredibly remote South Georgia before exploring the Great White Continent.
At the Falkland Islands we enjoy close encounters with breeding colonies of black-browed albatross, rockhopper, magellanic, gentoo and king penguins. Even from the harbour road in Stanley, one can see steamer ducks ‘powering’ their way down the inlet, while pods of delightfully playful Commerson's dolphins ride the bow wave of any moving boat they can find, which could include your zodiac.
We sail onwards to South Georgia, often quoted as the highlight of an Antarctic experience and the burial place of Sir Ernest Shackleton, his grave found in the hills above Grytviken. Glaciers are easily viewed along the coastline as they sparkle with dangerous beauty above the blue oceans and green valley’s below. This is an island renowned for its extraordinary abundance of wildlife. On the beaches fur and male elephant seals dominate the goings on. Over half the world’s population of elephant seals congregate here who with much noise and energy, claim their territories and parade for their harems. We explore the spectacle of Salisbury plain, home to one of the World’s largest colonies of King penguins, dotted along the shore as far as the eye can see.
We next head to the South Orkney Islands and on to the Antarctic Peninsula where we can explore the bays and penguin rookeries before sailing through the spectacular Lemaire channel hoping for an ice free passage. This entire area promises excellent whale and seal sightings with minke, fin and humpback whales and Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals often found. In the South Shetlands we hope to land at other famous sites including Deception Island, Hannah Point and Half Moon Island, all of which have spectacular wildlife and even offer the chance for an Antarctic swim; a fitting end to a truly spectacular journey.
|
Photographs kindly provided by Chloe Burnett, David Drummond, Bob Guttermuth, Keith Hiscock & Murray Watson
|
Antarctica - Antarctic - Peninsular - South Georgia - Falkland - Islands - Ice-stengtherned - Polar - Wilderness & Wildlife - Carbon Climate Neutral - Responsible Travel - Penguin - Leopard- Seal - Albatross - Birdwatching
This is a sample only; the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Team and is influenced by local conditions, like ice and weather.
Day 1
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located in the shadow of the Andes and right at the Beagle Channel shore. We'll sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.
Day 2
At sea, in the wester lies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.
Day 3
A typical itinerary in the Falklands - South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula could be as follows. This is a sample only, the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.
In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us instead views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons. In addition, on Saunders we will be able to observe Rockhopper Penguins, Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.
Day 4
In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we can experience Falkland culture, which has some South- American characteristics as well as Victorian charm. In Stanley and surrounding area we can see a quite important number of stranded clippers from a century ago. Especially for the birders, we will also offer a three hours excursion outside Port Stanley.
Day 5 & 6
At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.
Day 7- 10
In South Georgia we shall visit the bay of Elsehul, with it´s very active fur seal breeding beach, and then take course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour and Cooper Bay to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Elephant seals, King and Macaroni Penguins. At Fortuna Bay we might try to follow in the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stømness Bay. There and at Grytviken we'll see and abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken we´ll also offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton´s grave near by. One of the highlights might be our visit to Prion Island, where we will witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays.
Day 11
At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds. At some point we might encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we might have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like the Maccormick Skua, Snow Petrel and the elusive Emperor Penguin.
Day 12
We are aiming for a visit at Orcadas station, an Argentinean base located in the South Orkney Islands. The friendly base personnel will show us their facilities and we can enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.
Day 13
At sea.
Day 14 - 16
We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins and the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition. At Brown Bluff we can put our feet on the continent.
At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune's Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. In the afternoon we may land at Half Moon Island, where we can obsereve Elephant, Weddell and Fur Seals as well as Chinstrap Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Kelp Gulls, Snowy Sheatbills, Antarctic Terns and Antarctic Brown Skuas.
On our way West, we sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. From there we sail to Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay and through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large Whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
Day 17- 18
On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 19
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark
Print 
E-Mail
Trip details | Itinerary | Vessels Dates and Prices | South Georgia | Falklands | Argentina | Antarctica 
