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LeLyrial - Guests

The Great Austral Loop

Ushuaia - Ushuaia

Discover the Southern Ocean as you have never seen it before! Embark on a 16-day polar expedition cruise to the highest latitudes, from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia and the immaculate lands of Antarctica.

Your expedition to the heart of the South Atlantic begins with the exploration of the Falkland Islands: as you sail in this archipelago of 200 islands, you will be escorted by sei whales. Composing the wild beauty of the shorelines are beaches of white sand, jagged cliffs, windswept moors and tall grass swaying with the wind.

Your ship will soon take to the seas once again, to reach the mountainous island of South Georgia. It is there, in the midst of gigantic glaciers, that Sir Ernest Shackleton miraculously ran aground during the famous Endurance Odyssey in 1916. Today, king penguins, elephant and fur seals that have taken over the black-sand beaches dominated by the tall peaks that reveal the Scotia Arc.

You will ultimately land on the frozen shores of the nearly inaccessible White Continent, Antarctica. White shades take on a thousand nuances as it covers the icebergs, glaciers, mountains and frozen sea all around you. You will be one of the rare few travellers to have laid eyes on this legendary land, the theatre of the greatest expeditions and the witness of the most extraordinary adventures. Above all, you are in the realm of the penguins – Adelie, Gentoo, chinstrap – seals, whales and seabirds that accompany you on this unforgettable trip.



 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • A polar expedition cruise in the Southern Ocean, between the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, to discover a dazzling natural environment.
  • Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
  • Enjoy a magical experience as you are introduced to sea kayaking. Lead by experienced, State-Certified kayak guides, you will skim the water’s surface amid the ice. For more information about your kayak tour, please go to the section ‘PONANT activities’ and to book your kayak tour, contact your cruise advisor.
  • South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, two subantarctic archipelagos of singular beauty, where the great variety of fauna and flora is astonishing.
  • Lectures and information sessions hosted by our naturalist-guides, covering wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate, environmental protection and educational discovery in the respect of environment.
  • Hiking opportunity.
  • Landscapes: moors scattered with moss and lichen, white-sand beaches and turquoise waters in the Falkland Islands; black-sand beaches, alpine landscapes, lush green plains and suspended glaciers in South Georgia; drifting icebergs, ice floe, glaciers and snow-capped mountains in the Antarctic Peninsula.
  • Wildlife: black-browed and light-mantled albatrosses; Magellanic, Gentoo and southern rockhopper penguins in the Falkland Islands; king and macaroni penguins, elephant and fur seals in South Georgia; leopard seals, chinstrap penguins in the South Orkney Islands; humpback whales, Gentoo, Adelie, chinstrap penguins, leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals in the Antarctic Peninsula.
  • For your comfort, your cruise package includes an overnight in Buenos Aires the day before embarkation and the outbound flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia (for details, see the ‘Included in your cruise’ tab).

DATES / RATES

Rates are listed per person
Start DateEnd DateFrom EURFrom USD
Rates are listed per person
Start DateEnd DateFrom EURFrom USD

ITINERARY


2 FEBRUARY 2024 - USHUAIA

Embarkation 02/02/2024 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 02/02/2024 at 18:00

Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…

3 FEBRUARY 2024 - AT SEA

Arrival 03/02/2024
Departure 03/02/2024

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

4 FEBRUARY 2024 - NEW ISLAND

Arrival 04/02/2024
Departure 04/02/2024

This island with its distinctive jagged relief is located on the western edge of the Falkland Islands and is home to a tiny village of two families. Step onto the golden sand of its flower-lined beaches, beside which an old stone house still stands, and you'll feel like you've entered a natural paradise. A narrow pathway weaves around typical Falkland moorlands. Follow it and in under 20 minutes you'll find yourself at the heart of a colony of southern rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatross and imperial shags. It's the perfect opportunity to watch the albatross swoop down from the cliffs and skim the waves that crash against the rocks on the exposed side of the island.

4 FEBRUARY 2024 - GRAVE COVE

Arrival 04/02/2024
Departure 04/02/2024

Make your way through the turbulent Woolly Gut strait and emerge in the stillness of Grave Cove. Located in the northern edge of the Falkland Islands, this bay owes its name to the vestiges of whalers’ graves that overlook the beach. As you step off the boat and onto the white-sand beach, you might find yourself escorted by a few hospitable Commerson's dolphins, elegantly adorned in black and white.  A stroll along the grassy dunes will lead you to a vast plain of lush green grass, tended by a few sheep. On the other side of the island you'll find one of the largest gentoo penguin colonies in the area. With some luck, you'll also glimpse a sea lion scouring the waves for his next meal.

5 FEBRUARY 2024  6 FEBRUARY 2024 - AT SEA

Arrival 05/02/2024
Departure 06/02/2024

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

7 FEBRUARY 2024  9 FEBRUARY 2024 - SOUTH GEORGIA

Arrival 07/02/2024
Departure 09/02/2024

Aboard your ship, discover South Georgia, a region formed by an underwater mountain chain that extends from the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula. All the wildlife of the Far South can be found there: king and Gentoo penguins, elephant seals, fur seals… You might get the chance to discover the majestic glaciers of Gold Harbour and the vast plains of Fortuna Bay. If you are fortunate enough to land at Salisbury Plain, you can expect a wonderful spectacle: more than 300,000 king penguins, which you will recognise by the bright orange mark on their head and neck, have taken up residence there.

10 FEBRUARY 2024  11 FEBRUARY 2024 - AT SEA

Arrival 10/02/2024
Departure 11/02/2024

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

12 FEBRUARY 2024  14 FEBRUARY 2024 - ANTARCTIC PENINSULA

Arrival 12/02/2024
Departure 14/02/2024

Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.

Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula.  Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.

15 FEBRUARY 2024  16 FEBRUARY 2024 - CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE

Arrival 15/02/2024
Departure 16/02/2024

If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.

17 FEBRUARY 2024 - USHUAIA

Arrival 17/02/2024 early morning
Disembarkation 17/02/2024 at 07:00

Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…

(Click image to view Ship details)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

For your serenity, PONANT has organised the following included programme for you, which starts the day prior to embarkation

The day before embarkation – Buenos Aires
  • Meet at Ezeiza international airport in the arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative.
  • A shuttle from the airport will permit you to join your hotel.
  • Check-in from late morning.
  • Lunch on your own and time at leisure in the afternoon.
  • Dinner.
  • Overnight at the hotel.
Embarkation Day – Buenos Aires/Ushuaia
  • An early morning breakfast will be served before leaving to the airport for you flight Buenos Aires – Ushuaia.
  • Transfer to the airport.
  • Flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia selected by PONANT in economy class. Approximate flight duration: 3 hours, 30 min.
  • Meet and greet at the airport (English-speaking assistance).
Depending on your choice made when booking your cruise (options not combinable):
You will be transferred to a restaurant for lunch.

OR

When booking the cruise, guests willing to visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park will be able to sign up for an optional group excursion, with extra cost. If you decide to do so, please note that immediately upon arrival at Ushuaia airport, you will leave towards the Park where you will have lunch before starting the tour.
Created in 1960, the park which covers 63 000 hectares (155 670 acres) is located in the south west of the Tierra del Fuego Province on the Beagle Canal. One of his entries stands slightly over 6 miles from Ushuaia.
Mountainous landscapes, lagoons, bogs, and rivers draw a picturesque scenery reinforced by the southern position of the park itself. The Darwin Mountains, which represent the southern part of the Andes Mountains are mainly responsible for such landscape. The Park is only partly accessible to the public and this tour will provide you with the opportunity to discover the local flora and sub-Antarctic landscapes. If you get lucky, you may encounter beavers, dams, birds, wild orchids, etc… This is a true paradise for Nature Lovers!
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant within the Park.
(Please note that the Tierra del Fuego excursion is subject to a minimum of participants: if this number is not reached, our operator will not be able to guarantee the departure – In this case, you will be given the option to join the “Lunch in Ushuaia” programme.)
At the end of your visit, you will return to Ushuaia and the port, for embarkation on your vessel.

- Cruise on board your ship -

Disembarkation Day – Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
  • Disembarkation.
  • Meet and greet at the port (English-speaking assistance).
  • Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of the flight Ushuaia/Buenos Aires selected by PONANT in economy class.
  • Approximate flight duration: 3 hours, 30 min.
Your programme includes :
  • A shuttle for your way towards your hotel, the day before embarkation.
  • 1-night accommodation in a 4* hotel the night before embarkation.
  • Early check-in available from late morning.
  • Hospitality desk at the hotel in Buenos Aires.
  • Return flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia/Buenos Aires selected by PONANT, in economy class.
  • Services of local guides, in Ushuaia.
  • Meals as mentioned in the programme and beverage package.
  • Transfers as mentioned in the programme.
For your optional Tierra del Fuego National Park excursion, your programme includes:
Please note if you choose this excursion, it is not combinable with “Lunch in Ushuaia” programme and therefore replaces it.
  • The excursion by local bus and the entrance fees to the National Park
  • The lunch including beverage package.
  • Transfers and visit as mentioned in the programme
  • The services of a local English speaking guide
Your programme does not include:
  • Transfer between airport and hotel in Buenos Aires, the day before embarkation.
  • Tips for the local guide.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
  • The local currency is the Argentinian Peso. You will be able to make most of your purchases in USD (in small denominations) or by credit card, accepted in most hotels, shopping centres and boutiques. You will also be able to retrieve Pesos from the ATM’s.
  • Summer season in Buenos Aires: temperatures may be very hot, but often between 68 °F (20 °C) and 95 °F (35 °C).
  • Summer season in Ushuaia: temperatures vary between 41 °F (5 °C) and 65 °F (15 °C)
  • We recommend you wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
  • Duration and order may vary.

To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

KAYAK DISCOVERY

Get as up close to the natural environment as possible with an excursion aboard a two-person sea kayak, during one 2-hour session.
Guided by a state-registered polar navigation specialist, you'll discover and explore breathtakingly scenic polar landscapes and scenery.
All the necessary equipment will be provided for you on board.

What requirements do you need to meet in order to go sea kayaking?


Though it’s always useful to have at least one experience of sea kayaking under your belt, due to the high quality of the equipment we provide and the experience of the guides who’ll be supervising you, we are able to take complete beginners to places normally only accessible to professional kayakers and seasoned outdoor adventurers.

Participants will be formed into groups based on ability level onboard the ship to ensure everyone is able to make smooth progress on the trip.

Sea kayaking is a physically demanding activity, for both the heart and the muscles. We require you to be in a good state of general physical health and to have a good sense of balance.

This activity is available to adults (aged 18 or over) and to children of 16 and over when accompanied by a parent.

 Please note:

  • One 2-hour session. Price per participant: 350 €
  • Number of participants restricted to 20 per trip.
  • This activity must be pre-booked in advance at least 7 days before the start of your cruise. Bookings made after this deadline will only be confirmed once onboard and are dependent on availability.
  • Your vouchers will be dropped off directly in your room, during your cruise.
  • Due to restrictions on the number of places available and a high level of interest from our passengers, there may be limited access to certain activities. The cost of any kayak trip cancelled by a passenger prior to departure will still remain payable in full.
  • PONANT provides each participant with a sea kayak (Prijon Excursion EVO - two-person kayak for two participants), a dry suit (Sandyline - specially designed for PONANT), a life jacket, hand protection, kayak sea socks, spray skirt, carbon paddle (TNP Wolferine) and a waterproof bag.
  • Depending on opportunities/availabilities during your cruise, additional Kayak tours can be booked only onboard.
  • Kayak excursions are subject to weather and ice conditions on the day.
  • You will be accompanied by state-certified kayakers each time you go out in a kayak.
  • We require you to be in a good state of general physical health and to have a good sense of balance.

 

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DISCLAIMER: Rates are per person, subject to availability and can change at any time