Explore the shores of South Georgia, Antarctic Peninsula and the Falkland Islands.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Embark in Ushuaia
Embark in the afternoon from the charming port city of Ushuaia, Argentina. Located at the Beagle Channel, we sail through this picturesque region.
Day 2: At Sea
At sea, watch the seabirds who follow the ship - albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels
Day 3: New Island, Falklands
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: Port Stanley, Falklands
The capital of the Falklands, Port Stanley, we can experience Falkland culture. In Port Stanley and surrounding area we can see a quite important number of stranded clippers from a century ago.
Days 5-6: En route to South Georgia
On our way to South Georgia we will cruise across 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: South Georgia
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
At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds.
Day 12: South Orkney Islands
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 Cormorant which has an Adelie Penguin colony.
Day 13: Whale Watching at Sea
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.
Days 14-16: South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
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. 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. 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: Drake Passage
On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 19: Disembark in Ushuaia
Departure Dates: Dec 29, 2007; Jan 27, 2008; Feb 21, 2008;(Ship: Aleksey Maryshev)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark
- Twin non-private and private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the share price for the 206-2007 season and 1.8 times the share price for the 2007-2008 season (2 times for Superior cabins).
-Solo Travelers: Request the Twin Share Program where you can be matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy.
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Falkland Islands
Antarctica
S. Georgia and S. Sandwich
Boating and Sailing
Glacier Tours
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