Sailing through iceberg-filled bays beneath snowcapped peaks; spotting seals and whales among the ice floes; exploring vast penguin rookeries and remote research stations - it all adds up to the perfect introduction to Antarctica for a small group of active adventurers.
Tour Itinerary:
Days 1-2: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
In the beautiful port city of Ushuaia, Argentina, join your fellow travelers on the morning of day 2 for a guided tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park. Discover diverse mammals and birds, then lunch on local specialties at our Argentine asado barbecue. Later in the afternoon, the Expedition Team gets you settled aboard your ice-strengthened ship as we sail into the Beagle Channel to start your Antarctic expedition.
Days 3-5: Across the Drake to the South Shetlands
Named for explorer Sir Francis Drake, we will cross the powerful Drake Passage. Keep an eye out for seabirds, including the Wandering Albatross, accompany us on our crossing. We also sail through the Antarctic Convergence. By Day 4 we should reach the South Shetland Islands, where we plan to visit penguin rookeries and walk remote beaches sighting Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. We also hope to visit one of the archipelago's many research bases. Conditions permitting, the Captain will try to sail through a narrow passage into the sunken volcanic caldera of Deception Island, where you can test the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.
Days 6-9: Antarctic Peninsula
There will be many unforgettable closeups in the days ahead, but if you painted the broader canvas of your Peninsula experience it would begin with endless vistas of windswept ice; jagged mountain peaks crowned with snow; massive glaciers descending into the sea; and our ship winding through deep blue waters dotted with floating icebergs. Then there is the wildlife: Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adlie Penguins; Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals; orcas; humpback and Minke whales; and every kind of bird, from Blue-eyed Shags and Snowy Sheathbills to Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels and Antarctic Terns. We typically sail first to Paradise Bay or nearby Neko Harbor, each home to penguins and seals - before continuing on to the large Gentoo Penguin colonies at Port Lockroy. Close by is one of the world's most out-of-the-way museums: established in 1944 as a secret wartime outpost by James Marr (who as a Boy Scout explored Antarctica with Sir Ernest Shackleton), the former British scientific station includes a post office from which you can mail cards home. Around this point in the journey, those who opted for polar camping will set off with their expedition tents for an unforgettable night on the ice.
If conditions allow, we navigate the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, taking in stunning views as the ship passes between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. Travelers who've chosen the sea-kayaking option enjoy an even more dramatic perspective as they paddle among the icebergs. Often we make a Zodiac landing on Petermann Island, a nesting area for Adlie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags. Weather permitting, we may also sail up to the Peninsula's northern tip into Iceberg Alley - where massive pieces of the ice shelf have calved into the Antarctic Sound - and land on Paulet Island to visit its Adlie Penguin rookery.
Days 10-12: Back across the Drake to Ushuaia
Leaving the Peninsula, we sail back across the Drake Passage, keeping an eye out for whales, penguins, seals and myriad species of bird. When not out on deck, you can enjoy more presentations, compare notes and digital photos, or simply relax in the ship's lounge chatting over drinks with other travelers and the Expedition Team. After a last breakfast aboard, transfer to town or head directly to Ushuaia airport to catch your outbound flight.
Departure Dates: Nov 22, 2007; Dec 20, 2007; Feb 26, 2008, Dec 30, 2007; Jan 9, 2008; Feb 6, 2008; Feb 16, 2008 (Ship: Akademik Shokalskiy)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
- Sea Kayaking Option: US$695 per person
- Camping Option: There is no supplementary charge for this option. Participation will be confirmed at booking on a first come, first served basis.
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabinmate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
- Single costs are 1.5 times the twin rate.
- Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Also see tour packages in:
Antarctica
Antarctica
Boating and Sailing
Glacier Tours
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