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Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctic Peninsula Cruise
offered by supplier M08364 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 19
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 99
people
Destination(s):
Antarctica
Falkland Islands
Specialty Categories:
Ecotourism
Wildlife Viewing
Season: December - February
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 9550 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 16230 US Dollar (USD)
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The Falkland Islands are generally cool and windy because they are situated in the stormy latitudes of the southern westerly winds or "Roaring Forties". Temperatures can range between 40 - 50 degrees F (5 -10 degrees C). The Falklands were discovered in 1592.
Port Stanley has a few shops, hotels and pubs.
Island stamps can be purchased and there is an excellent small museum.
The island of South Georgia (together with the South Sandwich Islands which lie four hundred miles to the southeast) is one of the remotest of the United Kingdom's Overseas Territories. Huge numbers of seabirds and marine mammals breed along its tussac fringed shores.
Save for the rusting remnants of the old whaling stations, the Island is virtually unspoilt by man and so offers unique opportunities to observe the wildlife and scenery of this most beautiful part of the Southern Ocean.
The Antarctic Peninsula offers you the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica. In the southern summer large ice-free areas provide breeding grounds for very large numbers of seabirds and seals.
From King George Island and Penguin Island we will sail down to the beautiful Paradise Bay, where you can go ashore on the Antarctic mainland.
The narrow and spectacular Lemaire Channel is surrounded by mountains and glaciers and a popular passage for several species of whales journeying up and down the sheltered Antarctic Peninsula waterways. In the Antarctic Peninsula Minke Whales, the smallest of the rorqual whales, and ferocious-looking Leopard Seals are common.
Day 1
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the picturesque southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through the Beagle Channel.
Day 2
At sea, in the westerlies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.
Day 3
In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on New Island offering among others large colonies of Black-browed Albatrosses, Rockhopper Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, and Sea Lions
Day 4
In Port Stanley , the capital of the Falklands, we can experience Falkland culture, which has some South-American characteristics. In Port Stanley and surrounding area we can see a quite important number of stranded clippers from a century ago.
Days 5-6
At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, prions and skuas.
Days 7-10
In South Georgia we shall visit Grytviken with the abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets, and King Edwards Point with a British garrison and the grave of Shackleton. Fortuna Bay and Bay of Isles with breeding Wandering Albatrosses on Albatross Island, and Salisbury Plain with a large colony of King Penguins are other highlights of the South Georgia program. We may also visit Elsehul, Right Whale Bay, Possession Bay, Gold Harbour and Drygalski Fjord to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals, Gentoo Penguins, Macaroni Penguins, Grey-headed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels, White-chinned Petrels, several species of prions and storm petrels, Brown Skuas, Dominican Gulls, Antarctic Terns, sheathbills and the endemic South Georgia Pintail.
Day 11
At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds.
Day 12
In the South Orkneys we plan to call at Laurie Island and may visit the friendly Argentine base, in which vicinity we can see breeding Southern Giant Petrels. With permission of the base personnel we may also visit Punta Cormoran which has an Adelie Penguin colony.
Day 13
At sea when we approach the sea-ice, we may have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like Maccormick Skua, Snow Petrel and the elusive juvenile Emperor Penguin. Chances to encounter Minke Whales are also increasing when we approach the ice.
Day 14
Our landings in the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula may include Paulet Island featuring the remains of polar expeditions from the beginning of the 20th century, and a colony of hundreds of thousands of Adelie Penguins. Here at the tip of the Weddell Sea we see the magnificent table icebergs.
Day 15
At Brown Bluff we may set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a beautiful volcanic area. At Mikkelsen Harbour at the south end of Trinity Island we can observe a Gentoo Penguin colony and Weddell and Fur Seals hauled out on the beach. In the beautiful Charlotte Bay we may again set foot on the Antarctic Continent at Portal Point, where Crabeater Seals have often been seen. Here in the Gerlache Strait we often see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.
Day 16
We try to land at Baily Head (Deception Island), where we are surrounded by 100.000 Chinstrap Penguins like in an amphitheatre. From here good walkers can walk to Whalers Bay. In Whalers Bay, we can observe the remains of the Hektor whaling station from the beginning of the 20th century. We intend to visit Hannah Point, one of the best wildlife spots in the South Shetlands, with Giant Petrels, Cape Pigeons, Blue-eyed Shag, Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins, a few Macaroni Penguins and Elephant Seals.
Days 17-18
On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 19
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Please inquire for further price information.
Price Includes:
- Shore Excursions
- Services Of Expedition Guides
- Accommodations in Select Cabin Category
- Three Meals Daily Shipboard
Also see tour packages in:
Antarctica
Antarctica
Falkland Islands
Ecotourism
Wildlife Viewing
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