HIGHLIGHTS
- Marvel
at the enormous tabular icebergs that escape the Weddell Sea into the
Antarctic Sound, also known as "Iceberg Alley."
- Learn
about the fascinating history of Shackleton's Endurance expedition,
including the 2022 discovery of the shipwreck.
- Experience
South Georgia, an incredible wildlife sanctuary where fur seals,
elephant seals and four species of penguin coexist in harmony.
- Hike
from Fortuna Bay to the abandoned Stromness whaling station, repeating
the final leg of Shackleton's remarkable traverse of South Georgia from
east to west.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Mar 16, 2025 | Apr 04, 2025 | 21,747 |
22,595 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Mar 16, 2025 | Apr 04, 2025 | 21,747 |
22,595 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 Arrive Ushuaia
Arrive
in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your
assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to
make your way to your hotel. Check-in is from 3.00 pm. This afternoon,
visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby at Las Hayas
Ushuaia Resort, Luis Fernando Martial 1650, between 8.00 am and 12.00
pm, or 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm, to collect your luggage tags, and confirm
if you wish to join our Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise
(sea lion island) tomorrow. Our team will confirm details regarding
your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with
information on where to dine or purchase last minute items.
Expeditioners
arriving after 7.00 pm will find a welcome pack waiting for them at
check-in. We ask you to visit our hospitality desk tomorrow between
8.00 am – 10.00 am. The remainder of your time is at leisure.
All meals today are at your own expense. Assigned accommodation: Las
Hayas Ushuaia Resort or Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel
Day
2 Embarkation
This
morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin
luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and
cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or
at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to
the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your
arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you
throughout the day. Your morning is at leisure to explore Ushuaia.
Those
wishing to join our afternoon catamaran cruise, meet back at the hotel
lobby at 12.45 pm ready to transfer to the port at 1.00 pm. Here we
board our catamaran and sail the Beagle Channel, towards the city's
iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Crossing the Bridges Archipelago
we'll slow down to watch colonies of sea lions and imperial cormorants
sun themselves on the rocky outcrops, while gulls, rock cormorants,
skuas, petrels, albatrosses and cauquenes are often sighted. Our cruise
offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountain range,
in addition to hearing tales of the people and communities of the
region.
Alternatively,
enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby at 3.45 pm to be
transferred to the pier for embarkation.
Once
onboard, you'll have time to settle into your cabin before our
important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we'll
gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views
over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.
This
evening get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition
team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling
adventure to Antarctica.
Days
3-4 Drake Passage Crossing
Settle
into your stateroom and make yourself comfortable! The onboard gym,
wellbeing centre and well-equipped library are yours to discover, and
your expedition team will offer a series of presentations on
Antarctica's history, wildlife and environment to help enrich your
experience. You will also be invited to collect your Muck Boots and
attend important briefings on biosecurity, wildlife-watching guidelines
and Zodiac safety, in preparation for your first landing in Antarctica.
On day four the excitement is palpable as you near the South Shetland
Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, with everyone
converging on the observation decks to spot their first iceberg. Now
that you're south of the Antarctic Convergence the ocean takes on a
whole new character, as you're surrounded by porpoising penguins and
dramatic icebergs. The memory of your first iceberg sighting is likely
to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may
attempt our first Antarctic landing in the late afternoon.
Days
5-7 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 to cherish 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. 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.
While
on the Peninsula, we generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice
a day. Make sure you 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 marvel at sculptural icebergs
and photograph spectacular scenery. This is a great time to enjoy the
observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the
Captain's discretion) for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its
splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as
they carve into the sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder
of this incredible white continent.
Day
8 Weddell Sea
The
famed Weddell Sea is central to the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, which we are here to retrace. In
the summer of 1914 Shackleton and his crew of 27 men sailed into the
Weddell Sea to attempt the first overland crossing of Antarctica. As
they approached their starting point, their ship the Endurance became
trapped in sea ice, sinking any hopes they may have had of completing
their objective. Little did they know, this was the beginning of a
completely unexpected and remarkable journey. The incredible series of
events that followed have made Shackleton's voyage one of the most
celebrated in polar history.
Remote
and inaccessible, entry into the Weddell Sea is highly prized among
polar adventurers. Your passage begins at the northernmost extreme of
the Antarctic Peninsula, in the beautifully barren Antarctic Sound. In
this seldom-visited part of the Peninsula volcanic peaks tower above
penguin colonies, and wave-sculpted icebergs parade through the deep
channels leading to the Weddell Sea. Continuing further east, embrace
the expedition spirit as you forge your way as far as possible into the
Weddell Sea. The Weddell Sea is renowned for its breathtaking tabular
icebergs and expansive sea ice, which attracts an abundance of
wildlife, including crabeater seals, Weddell seals and an array of
seabirds. Take some time out on deck to observe the flight of storm
petrels, prions and Antarctic cormorants drawn here by the rich blooms
of Antarctic krill that flourish in the shelter of this ice-covered sea.
As
you travel, take a moment to reflect on the truly historic seas you're
sailing. It wasn't so far from here that the wreck of the Endurance was
discovered, mostly intact, on March 5, 2022. Researchers aboard the
polar research vessel S.A. Agulhas II were astonished to find the
well-preserved vessel only 6.4km (4 miles) south of the position
calculated by Captain Worsley in 1915, when he last laid eyes on his
ship.
Day
9 Elephant Island
Today
we set a course for Elephant Island, the lonely outpost where 22 of
Shackleton's men survived several winter months under the shelter of
two upturned boats. In the morning, join your expedition team in the
lecture room to hear the awe-inspiring story of Shackleton and his men,
who spent 9 months stuck in Weddell Sea pack ice and 6 months camping
on drifting sea ice before making a desperate escape from the sea ice
in three open boats. They spent almost a week battling the wind,
currents, swell and treacherous ice to finally make landfall on
Elephant Island, a striking, ice-covered extremity of the South
Shetland Islands, after 497 days at sea.
We
plan to sail past Cape Valentine to see the beach where the men first
put ashore over 100 years ago, then follow the coastline west to the
exposed promontory of Point Wild. This is where Shackleton's 22 men
survived several bitter winter months under their upturned boats,
hoping for rescue. Weather permitting, we will take a Zodiac cruise or
make a landing at historic Point Wild.
Days
10-11 Scotia Sea
After
an exciting program of excursions and activities in Antarctica, relax
and enjoy the slower pace of sea days as you sail towards South
Georgia. As you make your way across the Scotia Sea you're following
the route taken by Shackleton and five of his men when
they
sailed from Elephant Island in search of rescue. In their open wooden
boat, the James Caird, they spent 17 days sailing into the unknown
across this perilous patch of ocean. This boat journey, which concluded
with their safe arrival in King Haakon Bay on the west coast of South
Georgia, remains one of the greatest stories of maritime navigation and
survival in polar history.
As
you sail the onboard lecture program continues, with a series of
entertaining presentations on South Georgia's wildlife, geology and
history in the lecture room. Or you might prefer to simply unwind: take
a long lunch, catch up on your gym sessions, or curl up with a book
from our polar library. The Scotia Sea is known for its abundant
wildlife including fin, humpback and blue whales. Keep watch for these
gentle giants and elusive orca, which patrol these waters. Venture out
on deck with your camera to capture cape
petrels
and prions wheeling, and albatross soaring gracefully amidst the swell.
Of course, thoughts of Shackleton and his voyage are never far away.
“Nearly
always there were gales. So small was our boat and so great were the
seas that often our sail flapped idly in the calm between the crests of
two waves. Then we would climb the next slope and catch the full fury
of the gale where the wool-like whiteness of the breaking water surged
around us.”
-
Ernest Shackleton
Days
12-16 South Georgia
As
you near the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for
Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the
northern tip of a great southern continent! In fact, it is a small
island only 176 km (110 mi) long, but with a 3,000 m (9,842 ft)
snow-capped mountain range, some of the world's largest congregations
of wildlife and a truly fascinating human history, South Georgia is an
island of incredible riches. As you approach, jagged mountain peaks
rise steeply, while seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship.
You will sail along the coast, taking in the spectacular glaciated
scenery and enjoying a little shelter from the prevailing westerly
winds. This enchanting coastline is yours to explore!
Zodiac
cruise around craggy coves and along the rocky coastline in search of
penguins, seal haul-outs and bird cliffs. Remember to keep an eye out
for South Georgia's kelp forests—these remarkable underwater
ecosystems are quite mesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on
the water's surface. Zodiacs will also shuttle you from ship to shore,
where you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies on Earth,
take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals (making sure you
listen to your guides and keep your
distance!)
and wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains. We
also hope to visit the remnants of South Georgia's thriving whaling
stations and visit the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton,
whose incredible voyage of survival is synonymous with this island.
In
addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship-cruise
through fjords with towering cliffs of ancient stone, or into deeply
indented bays towards dramatic glacier fronts. This is a great time to
find a comfy spot in the observation lounge to enjoy uninterrupted
views of South Georgia's majestic coast. For some intrepid Shackleton
fans, the optional hike from Fortuna Bay to Stromness will be a
highlight. This route follows the final stage of Shackleton, Worsely
and Crean's improbable traverse of South Georgia, from their landing
place in King Haakon Bay on the east coast to Stromness in the west,
where they finally found safety after 24 harrowing months at sea. From
Fortuna Bay the trail rises to a spectacular alpine plateau, before
angling steeply down towards the abandoned
Stromness
whaling station. Conditions permitting, we aim to repeat this final
section of their traverse. “Bright moonlight showed us that
the interior was tremendously broken,” Shackleton wrote.
“High peaks, impassable cliffs, steep snow- slopes, and
sharply descending glaciers could be seen in all directions.”
Day
17-19 At Sea
As
we sail from South Georgia, you will be enthralled by the ceaseless
flight of the many seabirds that follow the vessel, skilfully using the
air currents created by the ship to gain momentum. If time and weather
conditions permit, we could pass close to Shag Rocks, a fascinating
group of jagged rocky islets protruding from the sea, in the proximity
of South Georgia.
As
we sail on towards Ushuaia you may choose to spend your final precious
moments at sea soaking up the views on deck, enjoying the onboard
facilities, or attending final lectures. There is plenty of time to
enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean, have a drink with newfound
friends and reflect on the voyage you've shared. On the final night,
celebrate your unforgettable voyage with newfound friends at a special
Captain's farewell dinner. We hope you will become ambassadors for the
Antarctic region, telling your family, friends and colleagues about
your journey to this magical place, and advocating for its conservation
so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have
been lucky to see and do here.
Day
20 Disembark in Ushuaia
During
the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly
slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark
around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as
we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of
the immense power of nature. On disembarkation, passengers on flights
departing prior to 2.00 pm will be transferred directly to Ushuaia
Airport, while those fortunate enough to be continuing their travels in
this spectacular region of the world, will be transferred to their
post-voyage Ushuaia accommodation. Passengers flying after 2.00 pm will
have time to explore Ushuaia, prior to an afternoon airport transfer,
the details of which will be provided onboard prior to disembarkation.
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.
Greg Mortimer (Luxury Expedition, 120-guests)
Capable of negotiating the strongest winds and waves, the Greg Mortimer is built to world-class polar standards. It is designed in close consultation with expedition specialists, taking advantage of Auroras more than 25 years of experience.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All
airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One
night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Ushuaia
on Day 1.
- Half-day
tour of Ushuaia on Day 2, prior to embarkation.
- 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.
EXPEDITION
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
- Sea
Kayaking - USD 1,745
- Snorkelling
- USD 835
- Paddling
- USD 640
