HIGHLIGHTS
- Be
awed by the array of wildlife who play and hunt in the Antarctic Sound
- Marvel
at enormous tabular icebergs in the Weddell Sea
- Learn
about the incredible fossil-rich volcanic islands from our onboard
palaeontologist
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
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| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
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Rates are listed per person
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| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
ITINERARY
Day
1 Arrive Punta Arenas
Having
made your way to Punta Arenas, you will be met by a representative of
Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. This evening,
enjoy a light refreshment as you meet your fellow expeditioners at a
Welcome Reception and Pre-Voyage Briefing. Afterwards, dine at your
leisure (dinner not included).
Accommodation:
Hotel Cabo de Hornos (or similar)
Day
2 Embarkation
This
morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our charter
flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The
flight will take approximately one hour and forty-five minutes.
On
arrival into King George Island our expedition team is on hand to greet
you and to prepare you for your Zodiac transfer to the vessel. You will
have time to settle into your cabin before our important safety
briefings.
Note:
King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic
Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote
places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for
safe take-off and landing. We apologise in advance for any delays.
Days
3-11 Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula
It's
almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica.
Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the
most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you
forever.
Once
we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South
Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices
available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience
approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as
you wish.
Your
experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this
area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day,
choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice
conditions and wildlife opportunities.
We
generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want
to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or
among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising
penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where
you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore
some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.
While
ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or
perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains
towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an
optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever
conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the
chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions
permitting!
In
addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise
some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from
the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or
feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make
your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its
splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as
they carve their way from summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to
experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
Central
to the story of where Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, the Endurance
became trapped in formidable sea ice, the Weddell Sea certainly is high
on the list for many polar adventurers. A small set of islands standing
off to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula collectively form the
Antarctic Sound - the gateway to the Weddell Sea. With a well-deserved
reputation as being an iceberg alley where large icebergs try to escape
the Weddell Sea through Antarctic Sound, often making navigation
difficult. However, the rewards can be great. Fossils are a reminder of
a more temperate era - gastropods, large clams, and spiral-shaped
ammonites, all turned to stone.
We
hope to experience memorable wildlife encounters as the Weddell boasts
a large Adélie penguin colony just outside of Antarctic
Sound, some of which breed on the rocky slopes of a small volcanic
island, where a large colony of Antarctic blue-eyed shags jostle for
space with nest-building Wilson's storm petrels. On thrilling Zodiac
excursions or slicing a path through the maze of sea ice in your kayak,
keep watch for chinstrap and gentoo penguins in and out of the water,
as well as humpback, minke and orca whales. Your camera is sure to get
a solid workout during your time in the Weddell Sea.
Days
12-13 Drake Passage Crossing
Enjoy
a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we
re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America.
With
lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience,
there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean
and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and
discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We hope you become
ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends and colleagues
about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its
conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the
region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.
As
we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to
legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.
Day
14 Disembark Ushuaia
During
the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly
slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we disembark from approximately
8.00 am. Farewell your attentive crew, expedition team and fellow
passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a
newfound sense of the immense power of nature. A transfer to Ushuaia
airport or to your hotel is included in the voyage fare.
Note:
At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights
departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in
case there are delays.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All
airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One
night's hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Punta Arenas on Day
1.
- Charter
flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island.
- Onboard
accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
- All
meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage.
- Beer,
house wine and soft drinks with dinner.
- Captain's
Welcome and Farewell receptions including four-course dinner, house
cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
- All
shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
- Educational
lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team.
- Complimentary
access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial
consultation).
- One
3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
- Complimentary
use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure information.
- Port
surcharges, permits and landing fees.
- Gratuities
for ship's crew.
Exclusions
- International
or domestic flights - unless specified in the itinerary.
- Transfers
- unless specified in the itinerary.
- Airport
arrival or departure taxes.
- Passport,
visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
- Travel
insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
- Hotel
accommodation and meals - unless specified in the itinerary.
- Optional
excursions and optional activity surcharges.
- All
items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic
beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry
services, personal clothing, medical expenses, wi-fi, email or phone
charges.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Bird
watching
- Lectures
on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations
- Photography
- Polar
plunge
- Trips
ashore
- Walking
- Whale
and mammal spotting
- Zodiac
cruises
Add-on Activities
- Sea
Kayaking - USD 1,260
- Scuba
Diving - USD 1,260
- Snorkelling
- USD 640
