Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula

Day 1 : Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon you’ll receive detailed information about activities and schedule available for your Antarctic journey. You’ll then have time at leisure to visit the town or just relax at your room.
NB: Today you can choose to add a visit to Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos cruise (sea lion island) on day 2 of your itinerary.

Day 2 : Ushuaia

After breakfast your luggage will be transferred ahead of your arrival on board. Your morning is at leisure to explore Ushuaia.

If you opted to join a catamaran cruise to Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos, you’ll be met at the hotel and transfer to the port to board a catamaran and sail the Beagle Channel, towards the city’s iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Crossing the Bridges Archipelago we’ll slow down to watch colonies of sea lions and imperial cormorants sun themselves on the rocky outcrops, while gulls, rock cormorants, skuas, petrels, albatrosses and cauquenes are often sighted.

Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby this afternoon to be transferred to the pier for embarkation. Once onboard, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before a mandatory briefing. As the ship pulls away from port, you’ll gather on the deck to commence an adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.

This evening enjoy a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

Days 3 & 4 : Drake Passage Crossing

Today you will commence the Drake Passage crossing. Make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. The expedition team will prepare you for your first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start a lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.

The wildlife experiences begin as you enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following the vessel. On sea days, you may enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, wellness centre or the relaxing in one of the observation lounges.

The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.

Days 5 – 8 : Antarctic Peninsula

It is almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Because you’ll be so far south, you’ll experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.

Your experienced expedition team will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Generally there’ll be landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day.

You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula. While ashore, wander along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below.

If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do participate in the activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting!

In addition, cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the captain’s discretion) for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Listen out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the splendid white continent.

Days 9 & 10 : At Sea

Enjoy informative and entertaining lectures from our expedition team and learn about the wildlife, history and culture of the places that you will visit on the voyage. You may want to treat yourself to a massage in the wellness centre, stay active in the gym or borrow a book from our well-stocked library and relax in one of the many observation areas on board the vessel.

Days 11 – 14 : South Georgia

As you near the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In fact, it is a small island only 176 km long, but with a 3,000 m snow-capped mountain range, some of the world’s largest congregations of wildlife and a truly fascinating human history, South Georgia is an island of incredible riches. On approach, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship.

Remember to layer up before joining Zodiac cruises around craggy coves and along the rocky coastline in search of nesting penguins, seal haul-outs and bird cliffs. Keep an eye out for South Georgia’s kelp forests as well – these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite mesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on the water’s surface.
Once ashore you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies on the planet, take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals and wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains. We also hope to visit the remnants of South Georgia’s thriving whaling stations and pay our respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible voyage of survival is synonymous with this island.

Day 15 : South Georgia / At Sea

Sea and weather conditions will determine our departure time from South Georgia today.

Days 16 & 17 : At Sea

Today you’ll sail towards the Falklands~Malvinas, there is plenty to keep you occupied on board. Our expedition team will continue to share their wealth of knowledge about the wildlife, history and natural world as part of the onboard lecture series. You will have ample time to enjoy observing seabirds from the stern of the ship, keeping a close watch for whales and other marine wildlife, or simply enjoying the many facilities available to you on the ship.

Day 18 : At Sea / Falklands~Malvinas

Sea and weather conditions will determine our arrival time to the Falklands~Malvinas today.

Days 19 & 20 : Falklands~Malvinas

The Falklands~Malvinas comprises two large islands (East and West Falkland), with over 700 islands scattered off the coast. All but seven of these are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white sand beaches and crystal-clear water. These beautifully barren islands are true wildlife havens, sheltering an impressive diversity of birdlife, including the largest black-browed albatross colony on earth. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location for spotting marine life.

There are many beautiful areas to explore, each offering a unique perspective. Your experienced expedition team will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing winds, weather and wildlife opportunities.

Zodiac cruises take us into rocky coves or along sea cliffs, keeping watch for seals, sea lions, dolphins and penguins. On landings we may visit albatross colonies, penguin rookeries and perhaps even have a traditional English ‘tea and scones’ at a local cottage.

Conditions permitting, we aim to land in historic Stanley, the capital of the Falklands~Malvinas. This charming town has a distinctly British character, with terraced town houses, pioneer cottages and even an iconic red telephone box! Colourful buildings house cosy cafes, English pubs, souvenir shops, a post office and the fascinating Historic Dockyard Museum, with displays on the maritime history of the Falkland Islands, natural history and links to Antarctica.

Day 21 : At Sea

There is time for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced. As we approach the tip of South America, your Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.

Day 22 : Ushuaia

During the early morning, cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where you will disembark. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers. You’ll be transferred to Ushuaia airport.

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.