Itinerary Expand all Day 1 Start Buenos Aires, Argentina; overnight in hotel. Our journey begins in Buenos Aires where we will overnight in a hotel. Day 2 Fly to Ushuaia and embark. After breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Upon arrival, you will have a little time to explore this quaint port town before heading to the pier. Embarkation will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will sail down the historic Beagle Channel. This famous channel transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart—the next time you see land you’ll be in the world’s most southern continent! 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, hang out at the bar chatting to other travellers or spend time out on deck, admiring the sea. Your Expedition Team will also conduct a series of presentations to familiarize you 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 heydays is still found throughout the island. You’ll be surprised to learn that whale and seal populations were once decimated here, as 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. Visiting his grave at the settlement of Grytviken, which is 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 to this unforgiving, yet beautiful environment. While South Georgia’s history is an important attraction to the islands, 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 South Georgia will open your eyes to a new wonder of wildlife. One day you may see rookeries with a 100 thousand pairs of King penguins waddling on the beach. The next day we may visit another beach 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. Your Expedition Team will be happy to share their 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 The 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 and fly to Buenos Aires We will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning after breakfast. After disembarkation, we will taste a little of Patagonia by touring Tierra del Fuego National Park before we transfer to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires. Meals included: Breakfast
South Georgia No visa required for British, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and most EU passports.
Ultramarine The Epic Antarctica: Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Circle Crossing via Buenos Aires journey is offered on the Ultramarine 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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Epic Antarctica: Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Circle Crossing All the highlights of the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic peninsula as well as crossing the Antarctic Circle Polar Expeditions Suitable for: Age 18+ Activity level: Leisurely 23 Days from $19,495 USD Guided (Incl. Taxes) View More Details
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 $15,995 USD Guided (Incl. Taxes) 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 $11,795 USD Guided (Incl. Taxes) View More Details