Itinerary Expand all Day 1 Start Ushuaia, Argentina; overnight in hotel Begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port town at the tip of South America. This Argentine town is an ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Get active in the mountains or enjoy handcrafted chocolate at a café in town. Day 2 Embarkation Day As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon, you will begin your Antarctic journey, passing through the Beagle Channel. Named after the famed ship on which Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel presents great photo opportunities to capture seabirds hovering overhead. Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 3 At Sea There are many activities to keep you engaged while we’re at sea. You can take advantage of the library of books available on your ship, chat with your shipmates at the bar, or spend time out on deck, admiring the sea. The Expedition Team will also conduct a series of presentations to familiarize yourself with how to prepare for Zodiac cruises and shore landings. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 4-5 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) The Falkland archipelago contains two main islands, East and West, which we will explore by Zodiac excursions and daily landings. These rugged islands have a frontier feel to them, especially at Port Stanley—the largest settlement on the islands. It’s an interesting British outpost–type place, where you may just as easily wander into a pub as you will a church or museum. With your camera at hand, our wildlife sightings in the Falklands (Malvinas) should include at least three species of penguins and two endemic bird species—Cobb’s wren and the Falkland’s flightless Steamer duck. Your team of lecturers and specialists will be sure to educate you on the local flora and fauna so that you have the most memorable time. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 6-7 At Sea Enroute to South Georgia you’ll cross the invisible biological boundary unique to Antarctica – the Antarctic Convergence. This meeting of oceans is what creates the abundance of krill and marine life that attract large cetaceans such as Humpback whales. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 8-11 South Georgia Evidence of the old whaling and sealing heyday is still found throughout the island. You’ll be surprised to learn that whale and seal populations were once decimated here. Today, their populations are strong, with massive rookeries to be seen. One significant and historic site that will be of interest is the grave of the great explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Your visit to his gravesite at the Grytviken settlement, also home to an old whaling station and a research station, is a day for reflecting on what it must have been like to be one of the first explorers of this unforgiving yet beautiful environment. Although South Georgia’s history is an important attraction to the island, it is the wildlife that you and your shipmates will likely find most captivating. Often referred to as the Galapagos of the Poles, South Georgia contains an exceptional quantity of wildlife. Each landing you make on the island will open your eyes to a new wonder: one day you may see rookeries with hundreds of thousands of pairs of King penguins waddling on a beach; the next day you may visit another beach dotted with thousands of Fur or Elephant seals. The grasses, mountains and beaches of South Georgia all play an important role in the breeding and survival of different bird and animal species. The Expedition Team will be happy to share its knowledge of how these vulnerable relationships all play out on the island. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 12-13 At Sea Antarctica awaits, along with its own penguin and seal species. While you’re at sea, you can enjoy quiet time or take in presentations by the Expedition Team, who will cover everything from the history and geology of Antarctica to tips on identifying different species and what makes each of them unique. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 14-16 South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula The most common reaction to arriving at the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is hard to put into words. You will discover that Antarctica is a land of extremes: at one moment you’ll be overcome with a feeling of complete silence and loneliness, the next you’ll be laughing at the comical antics of a curious penguin. Glacier hikes, visits to research bases and, of course, communing with seals and penguins are sure to keep you smiling each and every day. Perhaps you’ll catch sight of the fearless penguin-eater, the Leopard seal, or come eye–to–eye with a curious Minke whale while on a Zodiac. Each day and each landing will present a new collection of creatures to entertain you and keep your camera busy! Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 17-18 Antarctic Circle Crossing the Antarctic Circle is an impressive achievement, as most expeditions to the Peninsula do not come close to reaching this far south. With a toast to the first explorers who ventured here, you can raise a glass of champagne and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world visited by very few people. This is raw Antarctica, home to the midnight sun, with the potential for fantastic iceberg sightings. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 19-20 Northbound Along the Peninsula If you haven’t had your fill of Antarctic wildlife and icebergs by now, you’ll surely be satisfied by the time we return to the Drake Passage. You will continue to journey onto land by Zodiac twice daily as you travel north along the western Antarctic Peninsula. The Expedition Team will always be on the lookout for species of penguins, seals and whales that may have eluded you on the journey south. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Days 21-22 Crossing the Drake Passage After more than a dozen days of memorable wildlife encounters, your journey home begins. Crossing the Drake is your unofficial rite of passage, putting a final stamp of approval on your Antarctic adventure. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 23 Disembark in Ushuaia Today you’ll say goodbye to the Expedition Team and fellow travelers, disembarking in the morning to catch your homeward flights. Meals included: Breakfast
South Georgia No visa required for British, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and most EU passports.
Polar Adventure Ship The Epic Antarctica: Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Circle Crossing voyage is offered on the Ocean Diamond which is a Polar Adventure Ship. Please visit the Polar Fleet page for Ship Information and Deck Plans. Polar Adventure Ships: These are small ice rated vessels well qualified for Polar waters. Intimate adventures are always more enjoyable with like-minded passengers and staff, so these voyages are for people who like flexible itineraries and plenty to keep them busy. Activities include frequent Zodiac excursions, trekking and many hours on deck in areas that other ships only dream about accessing. Food and staff are excellent and every guest benefits from the technical advances of this superb fleet. Rest assured our Polar Adventure Ships enable any traveller to maximize their experience sensitively in the Poles.
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Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia 17 reviews The fascinating history and overwhelming wildlife populations of the Sub-Antarctic combined with the awesome beauty of Antarctica itself Polar Expeditions Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 20 Days from £13,000 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari Enjoy all of the highlights of South Georgia and the Antarctic peninsula Polar Expeditions Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 16 Days from £9,000 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details