HIGHLIGHTS
- Step
ashore on the Antarctic continent to unforgettable vistas, bustling
penguins, swooping skuas and curious seals
- Raise
a glass as you join a small club of people to cross the Antarctic
Circle (conditions permitting)
- Zodiac
through glassy waters and gaze at the iridescent blues of gleaming
icebergs
- Stand
in awe at the world’s largest king penguin rookeries
- Hike
along pebble beaches and climb tussock steps with unexpected wildlife
encounters at every turn
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 Arrive in Santiago
Arrive
in Santiago, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your
included hotel, kindly remind hotel check-in staff to provide you with
Aurora Expeditions cabin tags. Please clearly label the tags with your
name and ship cabin number.
Enjoy
free time to explore Santiago at your own pace and discover the
town’s excellent restaurants. Between 5.00-7.00 pm, meet your
fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation
Briefing. Afterwards, there’s free time to dine at your
leisure. (Dinner not included).
Accommodation: Hotel
Intercontinental Santiago
Day
2 Embarkation in Punta Arenas
After
breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Santiago airport for
your flight to Punta Arenas (flight not included in voyage price). Upon
arriving in Punta Arenas, you’ll be met by a representative
from Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our selected hotel for our
mandatory pre-embarkation health screening and rapid antigen test.
Afterwards, you’ll be transferred to the pier for
embarkation. Once aboard, you’ll have time to settle into
your cabin before our important safety briefings. As the ship pulls
away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to farewell Punta
Arenas and commence our adventure to Antarctica.
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.
Day
3 Chilean Fjords
Sail
along the legendary Beagle Channel and enjoy splendid scenery of fjords
and channels flanked by majestic mountains. Keep watch for the many
seabirds and marine wildlife including dolphins, sea lions and whales
preparing to migrate to Antarctica to fatten up on plentiful krill. In
the evening, we exit Nassau Bay, sail past Cape Horn and prepare to
enter Drake Passage.
Days
4-5 Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands
As
we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time
getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team
prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines
and biosecurity procedures, and start our lecture program to help you
learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and
environment.
Our
wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the
many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels
following in our wake. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents
created by the ship to gain momentum.
Nearing
the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on
day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of
the observation decks, watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes
on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence
and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures.
Weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by
late afternoon.
Days
6-11 Antarctic Peninsula, Crossing the Antarctic Circle
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’ll 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’ll 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.
On
this voyage, we plan to cross the Antarctic Circle, an imaginary line
located at the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33' South. This
is certainly a special highlight for everyone, and the moment will be
celebrated with a toast on the deck. You’ve earned some
boasting privileges, joining a small group of lucky adventurers
who’ve made it to this part of the world. As we approach and
cross the circle, you will notice subtle changes in the landscape,
icescape, and also in the distribution of wildlife. The waters at this
time of year are rich with krill and we hope to see plenty of whales -
particularly humpbacks and minkes, and enjoy the spectacle of penguins
feeding their ravenous chicks.
Days
12-13 Scotia Sea
En
route for South Georgia we'll head across the Scotia Sea, following the
route that Shackleton and five of his men took in order to find help
for the rest of their crew. On 24 April, 1916, they piled into the
James Caird, the most seaworthy of their open boats, to attempt this
perilous journey to South Georgia, some 1290 km (802 mi) distant.
Shackleton hoped to reach South Georgia in two weeks. There he would
enlist the help of the whalers to return to Elephant Island and rescue
the men who had been left behind. As excitement builds for South
Georgia, catch up with fellow expeditioners in the bar, keep watch for
wildlife alongside our naturalist from the open bridge (Captain's
call), or learn more of the Shackleton story from our historian.
“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
14-17 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.
On
approach, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often
spotted soaring around the ship. You’ll sail along the east
coast, taking in the spectacular glaciated scenery and enjoying a
little shelter from the prevailing westerly winds. This enchanting
coastline is yours to explore! Remember to keep an eye out for South
Georgia’s kelp forests as well - these remarkable underwater
ecosystems are quite mesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on
the water’s surface.
Zodiacs
will transport 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 pay our respects to
Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible voyage of survival is
synonymous with this island. If you have chosen an optional activity,
you’ll have the option to do that whenever conditions allow.
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 or make your way to the
bridge (Captain's call) to enjoy uninterrupted views of South
Georgia’s majestic coast.
Days
18-20 At Sea
Between
South Georgia and the Falklands~Malvinas, you will be entranced by the
ceaseless flight of the many seabirds that follow our wake, skilfully
using the air currents created by the ship to gain momentum. On this
leg, we are usually travelling into the prevailing weather so it is
difficult to estimate our arrival time in the Falklands~Malvinas. Our
lecture program will continue and highlight all of the amazing sights
we have witnessed over the past few days. We’ll have ample
time to enjoy the rest of our time observing the sea birds, whale
watching from the many observation areas, or simply relaxing in the bar
with a book.
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.
Day
21 Falklands~Malvinas
The
Falklands~Malvinas comprises two large islands (East and West
Falkland), with over 700 islands scattered off the coast. All but seven
of these are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white sand beaches
and crystal-clear water. These beautifully barren islands are true
wildlife havens, sheltering an impressive diversity of birdlife,
including the largest black-browed albatross colony on earth. The cold,
nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location
for spotting marine life.
There
are many beautiful areas to explore across the Falklands~Malvinas, each
offering a unique perspective on this magnificent archipelago. Even
though we’re north of the Antarctic Convergence it can be
quite chilly here, so you’ll want to layer up before joining
Zodiac cruises. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land,
where you may be able to visit albatross colonies, penguin rookeries
and perhaps even have a traditional English ‘tea and
scones’ at a local cottage.
We
also aim to land in historic Stanley, the capital of the
Falklands~Malvinas. This charming town has a distinctly British
character, with terraced town houses, pioneer cottages and even an
iconic red telephone box! Colourful buildings house cosy cafes, English
pubs, souvenir shops, a post office and the fascinating Historic
Dockyard Museum, with displays on the maritime history of the Falkland
Islands, natural history and links to Antarctica.
Day
22 At Sea
You
may choose to spend the sea days returning to Puerto Williams editing
your photos, enjoying the onboard facilities, or listening to an
informative lecture. As we approach the tip of South America, our
Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time
permitting. Celebrate the end of an unforgettable voyage with newfound
friends at a special Captain’s farewell dinner.
Day
23 Disembark in Puerto Williams | Charter Flight to Punta Arenas
During
the early morning, we sail along the Beagle Channel, before quietly
slipping into dock in Puerto Williams, where we begin disembarking at
around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and transfer to Puerto
Williams airport for our charter flight to Punta Arenas.
We
recommend booking a flight departing Punta Arenas after 1.30 pm in case
there are any delays.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Arrival
transfer from airport to hotel on day 1
- One
night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast in Santiago on day
1
- Mandatory
pre-embarkation health screening and COVID test on day 2
- Transfer
from hotel to airport in Santiago on day 2
- Transfer
from airport to hotel (for COVID testing) in Punta Arenas on day 2
- Transfer
from hotel to pier in Punta Arenas on day 2
- Transfer
from pier to airport in Puerto Williams on day 23
- Charter
flight from Puerto Williams to Punta Arenas on day 23
- On-board
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 reception including four-course dinner, house
cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages
- All
shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
- Educational
lectures and guiding services from expedition team
- Complimentary
access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial
consult)
- A
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
Note: A $15 USD per
person per day gratuity for the crew is automatically added to your
onboard account. It is at your discretion if you would like to remove
the tip (or increase/decrease the amount) when you settle your bill. It
is not necessary to tip the expedition team members. This gratuity
amount is included for suites as part of their ‘Suite
Benefits’.
Exclusions
- International
or domestic flights to or within South America, unless specified
- Transfers
not mentioned in the itinerary
- Airport
arrival or departure taxes
- Passport,
visa, reciprocity and vaccination charges
- Travel
insurance or emergency evacuation charges
- Hotels
and meals not included in itinerary
- Optional
excursions not included in the itinerary
- 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 1,470
- Snorkelling
- USD 740