ANTARCTICA, FALKLANDS & SOUTH GEORGIA

The journey begins by sailing east to the Falklands with its large population of rockhopper and Magellanic penguins along with black-browed albatross and several colonies of the majestic king penguins. The historic side of the islands is also explored before the ship sails on to South Georgia. Ernest Shackelton - the greatest Antarctic Explorer - is buried here under the spectacular ice-crowned mountains. The ship threads its way through magical fjords to Salisbury Plain and Gold Harbour, places so remote that they have evolved into astonishing wildlife havens boasting a 100,000-plus population of king penguins on their beaches - the greatest wildlife spectacle in earth. The island also supports significant populations of elephant and fur seals. The voyage continues to the South Orkney Islands and then enters an enchanted world of icebergs and ice-covered mountains approaching the bays and channels of the Antarctic peninsula.