Day 1: | Ushuaia
We strongly recommend that you are in Ushuaia the day prior to embarkation*. Arrive in the southernmost town of the world and transfer independently to your accommodation. Enjoy the rest day at leisure.
*NOTE: For those travelling onboard the following vessels, the pre-voyage overnight in Ushuaia (on a bed and breakfast basis) is INCLUDED, together with a transfer from the pre-voyage hotel to the vessel on day 2: Akademik Shokalskiy, Ocean Nova, M/V Orlova, Clipper Adventurer, Akademik Ioffe, Akademik Vavilov. For all other vessels we are happy to assist in booking an overnight in Ushuaia, at an additional cost; please contact our team to discuss your requirements.
Due to the considerable variety and choice of airlines and stopovers en route to your port of departure, flights are not included and are offered and quoted on a tailor-made basis. We are able to offer competitive rates with a variety of airlines for flights from the UK; please contact us for the best price at the time of booking and to discuss your further itinerary within South America. Thank you. |
Days 5-9: | The South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula
Dependent how quickly we have managed to cross the Drake Passage, we will possibly arrive on around day 5 in the South Shetland Islands (where we spend a day or so, weather permitting). Here you will find mosses, lichens and Antarctica's only two flowering plants which thrive during the short summer on the low-lying soils of these rugged islands, which are found around 160km off the Antarctic Peninsula. Huge numbers of nesting penguins and wallowing elephant seals line the shores. Deception Island is still considered an active volcano and sailing through the narrow passage into its huge, flooded caldera is a thrilling experience. Dig your toes into the steaming sand (thanks to the hot springs) at Pendulum Cove or even brave the frigid waters and take an Antarctic plunge. Thousands of cape pigeons, skuas, antarctic terns, Wilson’s and black-bellied storm petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station, and at Bailey Head a colony of ten thousands chinstrap penguins provide the first penguin sightings.
After spending around a day or so (weather-permitting) in the South Shetland Islands, move further south to the Antarctic Peninsula itself. Awe-inspiring scenery and a rich variety of wildlife are the essence of a wilderness region first discovered by Adrien de Gerlache's Belgian expedition at the end of the 19th century. Visitors often feel the same sense of excitement as the early explorers, keeping a lookout from the bridge or on deck, while the vessel threads her way through this dramatic and pristine place. The days are spent cruising among the offshore islands, passages and inlets that are home to abundant penguin colonies as well as seals and whales. This fantastic wildlife spectacle is set to a backdrop of soaring alpine ranges, shimmering glaciers and some of the most exquisite ice formations imaginable.
Expect to encounter a wide variety of wildlife including gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, which occur in rookeries ranging from a few pairs to many thousands. Other birds to look out for are blue-eyed shags, kelp gulls, cape petrels, skuas, snowy sheathbills and antarctic terns. Marine mammals include Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, while orcas, humpback and minke whales may be spotted at close range.
Sailing around the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, we hope to navigate the Antarctic Sound, often referred to as 'Iceberg Alley'. Huge tabular icebergs drift north from the Antarctic continent and into the sound. On some voyages land on Paulet Island, a crater island carpeted with nesting Adélie penguins.
The calm waters of Paradise Harbour host many sculptured icebergs, calved from a backdrop of shimmering glaciers. We may call in at Almirante Brown, an Argentine research station, or Port Lockroy, a former British scientific station, now a fascinating living museum and post office run by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (www.ukaht.org). Don’t forget to post a letter or card to your friends and family back home; revenue from the post office and souvenir shop is invaluable to the Trust and funds the running of Port Lockroy. Cuverville Island and Rongé Island are home to a large colony of nearly 5,000 pairs of gentoo penguins and other breeding birds in a dramatic location.
The spectacular Lemaire Channel is one of the most dramatic places on the Peninsula. Ice permitting, we sail the narrow waterway, which is flanked by towering cliffs, to the islands south of here. Petermann Island hosts colonies of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags, while Pleneau Island is home to elephant seals where if lucky witness these 3-4 ton giants hauled out on the flat rocks enjoying a communal wallow. In this area we are sometimes treated to spectacular encounters with humpback, minke and fin whales.
Landing on the Orne Islands, see the large colonies of chinstrap penguins, while gentoo penguins and brown skuas dominate on precipitous Cuverville Island. Sailing through Paradise Bay, whose majestic glaciers calve myriad icebergs into its deep cut fjords, there are good chances of seeing orcas, humpback and minke whales – if you can tear your eyes away from the scenery! Take to the Zodiacs to cruise among the icebergs in the inner fjords, providing a thrilling experience.
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel to Charlotte Bay, cruise by Zodiac among the icebergs in search of leopard and crabeater seals and minke whales. Back in the South Shetlands, volcanic Half Moon Island is another excellent wildlife location with chinstrap and gentoo penguins, blue-eyed shags and sheathbills. Hopefully spot Weddell seals, the most southerly of all mammals. Possibly land at Hannah Point, home to ‘grumpy’ elephant seals, cape pigeons, southern giant petrels, macaroni and gentoo penguins. |