HIGHLIGHTS
- Anchor
in Neumayer Channel "High Antarctica," where our ship serves as a
multi-activity base camp; two overnights
- Choose
to: Scout region on foot or with snowshoes; kayak; or ride in zodiac
- Visit
the Port Lockroy British Research Station and Historic Site and
possibly the Vernadsky Ukranian Scientific Research Station a bit
further south, near our second base camp
- Sail
through waters with Humpback, Minke, Fin, and Orca Whales
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
ITINERARY
Day
1: End of the world, start of a journey
Your
voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to
be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern
tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this
small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of
the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for
the remainder of the evening.
Day 2 - 3: Path of the
polar explorers
Over
the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same
experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted
these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale
spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence
– Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when
north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas
– you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only
does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering
albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses,
light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars,
Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels
are a few of the birds you might see.
Day 4 - 10: Entering
Antarctica
Gray
stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and
dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the
snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between
Brabant and Anvers Islands.
Places
you might visit includes:
Neumayer Channel
– The vessel may position itself here, launching its multiple
basecamp activities from the protected waters around Wiencke Island.
You can enjoy the splendors of this alpine environment at sea with
Zodiac and kayaking trips, or if you’re in the mood for a
walk, there are possible snowshoe hikes and soft-climb mountaineering
options farther inland. Naturally, favorable weather conditions
determine the possible activities.
Port Lockroy
– After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a
chance to visit the former British research station – now a
museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island.
You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point,
meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. At the nearby sites, such
as Damoy Point there may be the opportunity for snowshoeing to the old
ski-way, this is also one of our favourite camping sites.
Pléneau &
Petermann Islands – If the ice allows it, you
can sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of Adélie
penguins and blue-eyed shags. There’s also a good chance
you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as
leopard seals. Kayaking, glacier walks, and more ambitious
mountaineering trips are the potential activities of this location.
Neko Harbour
– An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless
wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise
and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine
peaks.
Paradise Bay
– You have the chance to make camp here like a true polar
explorer, enjoying a supreme overnight Antarctic adventure.
Errera Channel
– Possible sites in this area include Danco Island and
Cuverville Island, but also the lesser known (though equally
picturesque) Orne Island and Georges Point on Rongé Island.
On
your last day of near-shore activities, you pass the Melchior Islands
toward the open sea. Keep a sharp lookout for humpback whales in
Dallmann Bay. You might also shoot for Half Moon Island, in the South
Shetlands, with further chances for activities.
Conditions
on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
Day
11 - 12: Familiar seas, familiar friends
Your
return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake,
you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered
from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you
now, and you to them.
Day
13: There and back again
Every
adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end.
It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that
will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Hondius (Expedition, 170-guests)
MV Hondius offers luxury accommodation for up to 180 passengers. The ship has a luxury standard while Oceanwide's signature cozy and informal atmosphere. Hondius the strongest ice-strengthened vessel will be in the polar regions and will be equipped with stabilizers, and great trips for advanced, innovative exploratory quality in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea.
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program
of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff.
- Free
use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Luggage
transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in
Ushuaia.
- Pre-scheduled
group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly
after disembarkation).
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material.
- During
our “Basecamp” departures, all offered activities
(including camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo
workshop) as well as our standard included shore excursions and zodiac
cruises) are free of charge.
Excluded
from this voyage
- Any
airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre-
and post- land arrangements.
- Passport
and visa expenses.
- Government
arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals
ashore.
- Baggage,
cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- Excess
baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry,
bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The
customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other
service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Snowshoeing
- Free (Includes
snowshoes)
- Camping
- Free (Group size:
min 8, max 30 campers)
- Mountaineering
- Free
- Kayaking
- Free (Group size:
min 4, max 14 kayakers)
- Photo
Workshop - Free
