19-Day Antarctica, South Georgia, and Falklands Expedition

This afternoon, make your way to the port and board the ship. We embark from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening. *** Please note that we strongly recommend you fly into Ushuaia the day before your expedition and overnight. There are a number of 3-star and higher properties to choose from.

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

While at sea, our knowledgeable Expedition Staff will provide lectures about the regional wildlife, geology, climate, and other salient features of the region. As we sail onward, we will learn more and more about the birds we're observing, including various species of albatross, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels gliding alongside our ship.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. A hike along the Shore of Carcass Island will give us views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons and passerines. In addition, on Saunders we will be able to observe four species of breeding penguins (Gentoo, King, Magellanic and Rockhopper), Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we can experience Falkland culture, which has some South American characteristics as well as Victorian charm. In Stanley and the surrounding area we can see quite an important number of stranded clippers from a century ago. All passengers are free to wander around on their own. We recommend a visit to the local church and museum (admission fees not included).

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

On our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop by as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas. Your Expedition Leader & fellow guides will provide lectures about the climate and culture of South Georgia, while ship staff keep a close lookout for whales.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

This afternoon, we arrive at our first landing site in South Georgia. We might visit the bay of Elsehul, with its very active fur seal breeding beach, and then set course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Godthul, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour, Cooper Bay and Drygalski Fjord to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Elephant seals, Fur seals, King and Macaroni Penguins. One of the highlights might be our visit to Prion Island, where we will witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays (the island is closed for visitors during breeding season from 20 Nov - 07 January). At Fortuna Bay we might try to follow in the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stomness Bay. There and at Grytviken we'll see an abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken we'll also offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton's grave near by. We will depart from South Georgia in the afternoon of day 10.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

Cruise to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbor and Cooper Bay where we will see some of the most varied landscape and wildlife of the trip. Reindeer, elephant seals, king and macaroni penguins all call South Georgia home.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

Conditions allowing, we will have the opportunity to hike the path of the British explorer, Ernest Shackleton from Fortuna Bay to Stromness Bay. The abandoned whaling villages at Stromness Bay and Grytviken are now home to countless king penguins and seals who walk the streets and inhabit in the buildings. We may also visit the Whaling History Museum in Grytviken and Shackleton's grave nearby.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

Our visit to Prion Island may be a highlight of the trip for birdwatchers and non-birdwatchers alike. Wandering albatross, the largest flying birds on the planet, come here to breed. Enjoy watching the energetic displays and breeding efforts of these incredible animals.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

The ship will again be followed by numerous seabirds as we make our way through the sea-ice and towards the ice-edge. At some point we might encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we might have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like the McCormick Skua and Snow Petrel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

Arriving in the South Orkney Islands, we will visit Orcadas, an Argentinean research base, and the first permanent research station in Antarctica. The friendly personnel will show us their facilities and answer questions about their topics of research, including glaciology, seismology, sea-ice-zone glaciology and meteorological observations. The base also offers stunning views of the beautiful surrounding glaciers.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

At sea, the Expedition Leader will offer lectures about the upcoming sights and activities on the Antarctic continent. Seabirds and perhaps even humpback whales may be spotted along side the ship as we continue our journey.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Brown Bluff where we may set foot on the Continent. In good sailing conditions we may decide to extend our time in the Weddell Sea.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

Charlotte Bay on the west coast of Graham Land was discovered by Adrien de Gerlache during the 1897-99 Belgica expedition and named after the fiance of Georges Lecointe, Gerlache's executive officer, hydrographer and second-in-command of the expedition. The topography of the surrounding area is mountainous, with nunataks rising through the ice. Charlotte Bay is often filled with icebergs. Mostly we see seals on floes in Charlotte Bay, and occasional, kelp gulls, skuas, shags, or penguins. In Wilhelmina Bay we will admire the rugged ice coated mountains of the Arctowski Pensinsula.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

At Deception Island our ship braves into the entrance of the crater through the spectacular Neptune's Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. Deception itself is a sub-ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. We leave from here and sail through the Shetland Islands (Half Moon) to the open sea with direction Ushuaia.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

We will begin to sail northward, passing the South Shetland Islands and crossing the Antarctic Convergence. Large whales may appear alongside the ship to accompany us.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

Take advantage of the crew's expertise and knowledge to ask questions as we continue our journey across the Drake Passage. Seabirds such as wandering albatross, grey headed albatross, black-browed albatross, light-mantled sooty albatross, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson's storm petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels may follow us as we sail.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Antarctica Vessel

We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

The ship provides transfer to the airport (book your flight for 12:00pm or later). If you are staying in Ushuaia, there are taxis at the port that you can take to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast