HIGHLIGHTS
- Meet
at least six penguin species!
- Watch
several species of birds like albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters,
and diving petrels as they follow the vessel
- Visit
the Falkland Island which is home to 39 recorded bird species including
King Penguins, 13,000 pairs of Black Browed Albatross
- Meet
sizable rookeries of Gentoo, Rockhopper and Magellanic Penguins
- See
Sea Lions as well as further birdlife such as Southern Caracara, tussac
birds, and a large population of Thin Billed Prions (estimated 2
million pairs) on the Falkland Islands
- Visit
Brown Bluff, located in the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound, where you
could get the chance to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
Start Date | End Date | Quadruple Porthole | Triple Porthole | Twin Porthole | Twin Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior | Junior Suite | Grand Suite |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
Start Date | End Date | (Starting from) Quadruple Porthole | (Mid-range) Twin Deluxe | (High-end) Grand Suite |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Sandy Argentine beaches
You
embark from Puerto Madryn in the afternoon, your prow aimed for the
Falkland Islands. Golfo Nuevo is renowned for its visiting southern
right whales, so you have a good chance of spotting one as you sail
toward the open ocean.
Day
2-3: Sea life, sea birds
Though
you're now at sea, there's rarely a lonesome moment here. Several
species of bird follow the vessel southeast, such as albatrosses, storm
petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels.
Day
4: Finding the Falklands
The
Falkland Islands offer an abundance of wildlife in a stunning
landscape. We may head to New Island which is situated to the Southwest
of the archipelago. Home to 39 recorded bird species including King
Penguins, including 13,000 pairs of Black Browed Albatross there are
sizable rookeries of Gentoo, Rockhopper and Magellanic Penguins.
The
island boasts a rich history and there is a small museum, the morning
will be spent at the South of the island and we will re-position the
ship during lunch and head to the 'North End' where we will hope to see
Sea Lions as well as further birdlife such as Southern Caracara, tussac
birds, there is also a large population of Thin Billed Prions
(estimated 2 million pairs) on the island.
There
is a great chance to see both Peale's dolphins and Commerson's dolphins
in the surrounding waters.
Day
5: Falklands Life in nature
We
may visit George and Barren Islands; these are privately owned and one
of the most successful farms on the island. The islands are also
recognised as being a haven for wildlife and are recognised as an
'Important Bird Area' by Birdlife International. Boasting 42 recorded
species of bird including Cobbs Wren, Correndera Pipit and Tussacbirds.
The islands are home to Magellanic Penguins, Striaited Caracara and
Giant Petrels and along the coast you are likely to see Southern
Elephant Seals and Southern Sealions.
We
will meet the May family who own the islands and will show us how they
farm on an environmentally friendly basis with no chemicals or
fertilizer as well as the opportunity to tour the farm and possible see
the sheep being sheared and woolprepartaion and dog handling.
We
may even join them for 'smoko' a traditional Falkland Island break to
enjoy homemade cookies and cakes.
Day
6-7: Once more to the sea
En
route to South Georgia, you now cross the Antarctic Convergence. The
temperature cools considerably within the space of a few hours, and
nutritious water rises to the surface of the sea due to colliding water
columns. This phenomenon attracts a multitude of seabirds near the
ship, including several species of albatross, shearwaters, petrels,
prions, and skuas.
Day
8-11: South Georgia journey
Today
you arrive at the first South Georgia activity site. Please keep in
mind that weather conditions in this area can be challenging, largely
dictating the program.
Sites
you might visit include:
Prion Island - This
location is closed during the early part of the wandering albatross
breeding season (November 20-January 7). The previous summer's
wandering albatross chicks are almost ready to fledge, and adults are
seeking out their old partners after a year and a half at sea.
Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay,
Gold Harbour - These sites not only house the three
largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia, they're also three of
the world's largest breeding beaches for southern elephant seals. Only
during this time of year do they peak in their breeding cycle. Watch
the four-ton bulls keep a constant vigil (and occasionally fight) over
territories where dozens of females have just given birth or are about
to deliver. You can also see a substantial number of Antarctic fur
seals here during the breeding season (December-January).
Fortuna Bay - A
beautiful outwash plain from Fortuna Glacier is home to a large number
of king penguins and seals. Here you may also have the chance to follow
the final leg of Shackleton's route to the abandoned whaling village of
Stromness. This path cuts across the mountain pass beyond Shackleton's
Waterfall, and as the terrain is partly swampy, be prepared to cross a
few small streams.
Grytviken - In this
abandoned whaling station, king penguins walk the streets and elephant
seals lie around like they own the place-because they basically do.
Here you might be able to see the South Georgia Museum as well as
Shackleton's grave.
In
the afternoon of day 11 and depending on the conditions, we will start
sailing southwards in the direction of the South Orkney Islands.
Day
12: Southward bound
There
may be sea ice on this route, and at the edge of the ice some south
polar skuas and snow petrels could join the other seabirds trailing the
vessel south.
Day
13: The scenic vistas of South Orkney
Depending
on the conditions, you might visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine
scientific station on Laurie Island in the South Orkney archipelago.
The personnel here will happily show you their facility, where you can
enjoy expansive views of the surrounding glaciers. If a visit isn't
possible, you may instead land at Signy Island's Shingle Cove.
Day
14: Last push to the Antarctic
Enormous
icebergs and a fair chance of fin whale sightings ensure there's never
a dull moment on this last sea voyage south. Also, your best chance to
spot Antarctic petrels is here.
Day
15-18: Awe-inspiring Antarctica
If
the ice conditions permit, you now sail into the Weddell Sea. Here
colossal tabular icebergs herald your arrival to the eastern side of
the Antarctic Peninsula. Paulet Island, with its large population of
Adélie penguins, is a possible stop. You might also visit
Brown Bluff, located in the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound, where you
could get the chance to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself.
If
conditions aren't favorable to enter the Weddell Sea from the east, the
ship will set course for Elephant Island and head into the Bransfield
Strait, between the South Shetland Island's and the Antarctic
Peninsula.
The
volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often cloaked
in mist, but they nonetheless offer many subtle pleasures. A wide
variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and fauna (gentoo
penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels) live here.
Chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul out onto the beach near
Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific research station on
Half Moon Island.
On
Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune's Bellows and into
the flooded caldera. Here you can find hot springs, an abandoned
whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels. A number of kelp gulls,
brown skuas, south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns can be spotted too.
Wilson's storm petrels and black-bellied storm petrels also nest in the
ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. As an alternative, you can
take part in activities near Telefon Bay, further inside the caldera.
This
extended voyage gives you the chance to sail even farther down the icy
coast of the western Antarctic Peninsula. There are several
opportunities for great landings where you might set foot on the
Antarctic Continent, surrounded by an epic landscape of alpine peaks
and mammoth glaciers calving at sea level. Gentoo penguins, leopard
seals, Weddell seals, humpback whales, and minke whales are often seen
here.
The
breathtaking scenery continues in the Bransfield Straight and, if
conditions allow further South in the Gerlache Strait. Conditions on
the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
Day
19-20: 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
21: Earth's southernmost city
You
arrive and disembark in Ushuaia, commonly held to be the world's most
southern city. It is located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago,
nicknamed the “End of the World.” But despite this
stopping point, the wealth of memories you've made on your Antarctic
expedition will travel with you wherever your next adventure lies.
(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.
- 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.
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
- Birding:
Free
- Zodiac
Cruising:
Free