Expedition Cruise to Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands

In the spirit of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctica expedition, this expedition cruise offers in-depth Antarctica, South Georgia, and Falkland Islands adventure travel – all while seamlessly combining rich natural history with some of Mother Nature’s most rugged and dramatic landscapes. Your three-week Antarctica expedition takes place at the height of the southern summer; long daylight hours provide extra time for Zodiac trips to remote shores where you’ll be in the rare company of thousands of penguins; seals and albatross; and the otherworldly, icy architecture of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Price: From USD15,980.00 per person, twin share

Validity: 3rd January – 22 January 2025

Highlights: The opportunity to visit a research station, where a multinational team of scientists are unlocking the secrets of the continent and its inhabitants.

Detailed itinerary:

Day 1, Thursday January 3rd: Arrive Buenos Aires (D)
On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing or enjoy a sightseeing tour. A welcome dinner is included this evening at the hotel.

Day 2, Friday January 4th: Buenos Aires – Ushaia and embarkation (B, L,D)
Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia where we have lunch and a tour before boarding the Clipper Adventurer. Set sail for the Falkland Islands this evening.

Day 3, Saturday 5th January: At Sea
Enjoy a day at sea as you make our way to the Falkland Islands. Lecturers introduce you to the natural and historical highlights ahead.

Day 4, Sunday 6th January: Caracass Island – Saunders Island
On Carcass Island you explore gentoo and Magellanic penguin rookeries and walk the beautiful beaches rich with seabirds. On Saunders Island we hope to see gentoo, rockhopper, Magellanic, and king penguins, as well as black-browed albatross.

Day 5-6, Monday & Tuesday 7th & 8th January: Cruising the South Scotia Sea (B)
Our lecturers recap our experiences and prepare us for our visit to South Georgia. On deck, join naturalists in search of the seabirds and marine mammals that flourish in these nutrient-rich waters.

Day 7-9, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9th-11th January: South Georgia (B)
Flexibility in this area is a must. Many of our leaders have been to South Georgia numerous times and, if the weather is in our favour, we may want to make a landing before breakfast or even after dinner. We call at some of the many islands, bays, and coves where we can see outstanding birdlife and elephant and fur seals close at hand. The following is a list of places we plan to visit on South Georgia. Some of them are pending final government approval.

Elsehul Bay, Salisbury Plain, Stromness Bay, Grytviken and Gild Harbour.
Day 10. Saturday 12th January: South Scotia Sea (B)
Our lecture series continues as we venture south. Naturalists recap our memorable visit to South Georgia and introduce us to the history, geology, and wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands.

Day 11, Sunday 13th January: South Orkney Islands (B)
These mountainous isles were once known as “The Inaccessible Islands.” In winter a solid sheet of fast ice joins this island group to the Antarctic Peninsula, some 450 miles away. A scene of unparalleled beauty awaits, with penguins everywhere, including Adelie, chinstrap, gentoo, and the occasional macaroni penguin.

Days 12, Monday 14th: Elephant Island
This morning you arrive at Elephant Island, made famous by the Shackleton expedition. Awesome glaciers, speckled with pink algae, create a dramatic backdrop. Weather permitting, you enjoy a Zodiac cruise around the island and have an opportunity to view a thriving chinstrap penguin colony.

Days 13-17, Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th January: Antarctic Peninsula
As you cruise the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula and its adjacent islands, your daily schedule of landings are dependent upon weather and ice conditions. There is the possibility that you may visit a research station and witness the scientific activities conducted by the multinational community of scientists working there. The expeditionary nature of your voyage precludes guaranteeing specific stops; in the past we have visited the locations below. This list serves as a guideline only of the places you may experience.

Brown Bluff, Deception Island, Petermann Island, Drake Passage.

Days 18 & 18, Sunday 20th and Monday 21st January: Drake Passage
During your Drake crossing, you have opportunities to see and photograph wandering and black-browed albatross, sooty shearwaters, and white-chinned petrels. We also keep a lookout for the whales often seen in these waters.

Day 20, Tuesday 22nd January: Ushaia – Buenos Aires
Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires.

Included:
• Accommodation for 1 night in Buenos Aires on arrival
• Onboard accommodation for 18 nights
• All onboard meals
• Meals on land as indicated in the itineraries
• Group transfer
• Lectures, briefings, slide/film shows
• All group activities and excursions
• Landing and port fees
• All gratuities
• All entrance fees to historic and cultural sights and parks as outlined in the itinerary;
• US$50,000 of emergency sickness/accident medical expenses and $75,000 in evacuation insurance.

Contact your Concierge Traveller advisor to discuss the best Antarctica journey for you. Call 1800 047 47.

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