ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

12 days from GBP5,470 to GBP9,095 land only
Tripcode: PSC

Countries Visited: Antarctica, Argentina

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 8 reviews.

Jacqueline Faccenda

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

Written March 2011
An amazing once in a lifetime trip- a spiritual place.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were so many the spectacular beauty of the scenery was breathtaking- sensory overload.
I could have watched the penguins for hours, the seals were entertaining and the whales majestic.
What did you think of your group leader?
Woody was informative, witty and charming!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Seize the day!
Save your pennies and go.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The trip was well organised and you are at the mercy of the weather and the wildlife.
Take anti sea sickness medication with you and take it before you get sick in the Drake.
Go to everything, do everything and sleep later!
Karen Riddle

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

Written March 2011
A fantastic trip encompassing magnificent scenery and wildlife viewing.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The whole trip was an incredible experience from start to finish, but for me the highlight was the afternoon spent kayaking in Paradise Bay. Imaging 360 degrees of snow capped mountains, blue skies, sea ice and perfect mountain reflections in the sea and you still won't be close to experiencing how beautiful the place was.
What did you think of your group leader?
Kirsten was professional throughout and made sure we experienced the best that the Antarctic Peninsula has to offer.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for the fact that you have 3 days at sea from Ushuaia before you reach the Peninsula and 2 days on the way back. There are plenty of presentations on the ship to help pass the time and prepare you for the trip but it can seem like a long time since you have left home before you are able to leave the ship and do some landings. Having said that, the sea days are forgotten in an instant as soon as you reach the peninsula and the trip starts properly.
We were incredibly lucky with the weather; there was only 1 landing which we were unable to make as the conditions would not allow it. You need to be aware though that if weather conditions aren't favourable you won't be able to do all of the landings or zodiac cruises which could potentially detract from the overall enjoyment of the trip.
Aerolinas Argentinas can be quite strict with their luggage allowances; there is a 5kg limit for hand luggage on the internal flight. If you are carrying a lot of photographic equipment then your hand luggage will be way over this. However, if you have your backpack on your back when you check in then they do not seem to weigh it; if it is on a luggage trolley then they will weigh it and potentially ask you to pack some of your hand luggage into your checked luggage.
Do not wear expensive jewellery in Buenos Aires and leave your valuables locked in the safe in the hotel.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go ahead and book the trip - it is truly an experience of a lifetime.
Denise Williams

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

Written March 2011
An absolutely amazing trip! It had been a long time coming as I booked it 18 months previously, but it did not disappoint.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There was so much that was fantastic....the sheer beauty and enormousness (don’t know if that is a real word) of it all, unspoilt by humans, but the most inspiring moment was watching an iceberg calve, and then because its’ centre of gravity had changed, virtually turn over.......and I think I was the only one sitting there watching it! And yes, Paul, I do have photographic evidence!!
What did you think of your group leader?
Kirsten was professional, and made the best of the weather conditions.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travelling to Ushuaia is very long and tedious, especially if you are on the early flight from Gatwick to Madrid (8 hour wait at Madrid), and even if you have been checked straight through to Ushuaia, you need to collect your baggage, even if you have the domestic flight from the international terminal (very confusing....nearly left my luggage at BA airport).

3 days travelling on board without setting foot on land, can seem a long time, but there are presentations given by various members of the expedition staff that give you an insight to the Antarctic region, its wildlife, and history. You can also go on deck if weather permits, or up to the bridge viewing platforms to pass the time of day and take pictures of the birdlife, or icebergs on your journey south.
Once you make your first zodiac trip though, everything previously is forgotten, and take Paul’s advice....don’t have your viewfinder surgically implanted to your eye, make sure you take stock of where you are, and enjoy every moment of it.
We were lucky with the weather, and only missed 1 landing, but be prepared that if the weather is bad, you will not be able to go ashore or do the zodiac cruises, and be prepared for some ‘iffy’ moments on the zodiacs if the sea is a bit rough. It was my first time on zodiacs, and now feels that I could cope with anything.
It didn’t happen to me, but remember the Aerolineas Argentinas weight restrictions for hand-luggage; 5kg. If you can put your camera equipment in a backpack and have it on your back, they don’t seem to mind. Also, leave room in your case/bag for the Quark Parka. I wore the inner fleece for flying and packed the outer shell, but still fairly cumbersome.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just book it!! You’ll not regret it. This was my first polar trip, but certainly not my last!!
Martin Grace

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

Written March 2011
This was an expedition that promised much but delivered rather less, though I would have given it 3 stars out of 5 if there had been no description of the categories. We weren't told in advance that our Photographic and Whale Special had been amalgamated with another trip because of insufficient bookings, and this really diluted its value, particularly as the expedition leader was from the non-photographic trip and did not appear particularly sympathetic to the needs of photographers. The quality of the catering was poor compared with previous trips: contracting out the catering to the lowest tender was not sensible and will not encourage repeat bookings.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Excellent landings on Petermann Island and Danco Island which gave good photographic opportunities and just about adequate time.
What did you think of your group leader?
She spoiled the trip with excessive over-caution with regard to Health and Safety, and inflexibility with regard to landing times. We were not allowed out on deck if the decks were wet or the sea was even a little rough, thereby preventing us from experiencing the full atmosphere of the Antarctic. On our previous Exodus Antarctic trip the leaders did their utmost to allow us the genuine Antarctic experience, but with this one we might as well have been in an enclosed capsule for much of the time. Often only half the ship's zodiacs were deployed for landings, when to deploy the full complement would have given us significantly extra time on land.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Inevitably there is a huge of travelling involved on this trip - from the UK or wherever to Ushuaia and thence to the Pole side of the Antarctic Circle. Be prepared for long roughish days on board ship across the Drake Passage and don't expect too much in the way of wildlife sightings, though we did have very good views of whales (particularly humpbacks). Leaving late in the season (late February) means that there is a good chance of achieving the objective of crossing the Antarctic Circle but does mean that the penguin breeding is completely over apart from a few stragglers and the majority of penguins seen will be moulting.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The Ioffe is not the ideal polar ship. The layout of the Vavilov with an open deck behind the lounge/bar on deck 5 is much more conducive to the polar experience. Do try to travel with the ebullient Paul Goldstein - wherever - Svalbard is a very good option. The odds against Paul may have been just too great this time for him to ignite the trip, but he will always try his best to maximise the viewing and photographing experience and he's an annoyingly good photographer to boot (not that I'm jealous).
Richard Boardman

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

Written February 2011
The journey to and from Ushuaia was long and tedious but when we got on the boat things improved immediately. The journey across Drakes Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula was a bit rough and I was sick until the Doctor gave me some very good pills. Once there it was calm. we started at King George Island and went south, calling at various Islands as we went. There was floating Ice and Icebergs everywhere.Everything was black(rock) or white (Ice). We saw nothing green after leaving King George. The only other colour was a bit of yellow (lichen) and some red stain on the snow. The scenery was everywhere spectacular. Ice Cliffs with blocks breaking off and black rock precipices. There were a few rocky beaches and one black sand beach. We were loaned Wellington Boots and given a heavy, warm waterproof jacket for use on the zodiacs and on land. In antarctica they were very useful and necessary but I don't think it will ever be cold enough in Enland for me to wear it again. There were penguins everywhere. we landed at one colony and I have never seen so many creatures of one species together at the same time. They smelled awful.. We crossed the antarctic circle and tried to land at one of the scientific bases but it was too rough. We went back north and paused in Paradise Harbour. Here it was fantastically smooth and peacefull. We saw an occasional Whale and some of the party went on a zodiac cruise to where there were some spectacular grounded icebergs. There were also seals and lots of birdsWe landed at one scientific station and I climbed a low cliff and looked into the water. I could see a penguin catching fish under the water. On land the penguins were clumsy and awkward, under the water they were incredibly quick and active, darting here and there like dragonflies.On the last day we went to Deception Island. This is a flooded volcanic caldera. We entered through a very narrow entrance called 'Neptunes Bellows' and landed just inside the entrance. Inside the caldera, the water was warmed by volcanic activity and some people went swimming. Sadly, one thing I hadn't brought was a bathing costume.Finally back across Drakes Passage to Ushuaia, much smoother than the way out and we saw Cape HornThe journey back from Ushuaia was awful but that was British Airway's fault not Exodus
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Deception Island
What did you think of your group leader?
Woody was marvellous
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Bring warm waterproof trousers. One hint that I was given was to bring a clip to attach something colourfull to my pair of boots so that I could spot them amongst lots of similar pairs.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A wonderful holiday, but Spitzbergen gives you much the same scenery and the journey is much easier
LINDA WILLS

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

Written February 2011
This was a holiday of a life time, and was beyond all our expectations. The whole expedition was superbly organised and all the expedition staff were so enthusiastic, knowledgable and helpful, making sure that everyone had the best experience possible.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It is so difficult to pick one moment out of such a wonderful experience and we all said 'How are we going to describe our experiences to our friends when we get home.' Ice berg alley was just fantastic with such colour as well as grandeur and crossing the circle was a very special moment. Seeing albatross flying behind the ship and of course the wonderful penguins, seals and whales was truely amazing.
What did you think of your group leader?
Absolutely fantastic. Woody made everyone feel special and was so caring as well as enthusiastic, encouraging and great fun.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go on the expedition as soon as you can and enjoy every moment.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We just had such a wonderful time and are now saving to go to go to the Arctic. It was amazing and a privilege to see the animals in their natural habitat, not being phased by our presence and showing us their everyday lives. The lectures given by the expedition staff were very well presented, interesting and informative in a way that didn't need us to be experts!
The ships crew were so helpful, pleasant and efficient and the catering was absolutely fantastic. In the rough seas the staff were very caring for passengers who were not well.
Words just cannot describe adequately the fantastic time we had so thank you for making this possible for us.
David Jowett

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE QUEST

Written February 2010
A lifetime's ambition achieved; a worthy complement to "Spitsbergen Explorer". I can never answer the question "Which did you prefer?"
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Humpback whales a few yards from the zodiac
Icebergs of every conceivable shape
Coastal scenery of the peninsula
Penguins and albatrosses
What did you think of your group leader?
A man with all the qualities necessary for the job, including enthusiasm and boundless optimism. He had been our leader in the Arctic and we did not dare hope we should have him again, but there he was as we boarded the ship in Ushuaia. Woody makes the trip more than just memorable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be aware that weather or ice conditions may cause alterations to the planned itinerary.