Day 1: End of the world, start of a journey

Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.

Day 2 - 3: Path of the polar explorers

Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.

Day 4 - 10: Entering the Weddell Sea

The great Weddell Sea features massive tabular icebergs, wildly dramatic landscapes, and fascinating historical sites. It is also one of the best places in Antarctica for viewing iconic wildlife like whales, seals, and rarely seen seabirds.

We may visit the following locations, depending on local conditions:

Antarctic Sound - Antarctic Sound is nicknamed “Iceberg Alley,” as we often see enormous tabular icebergs here.

Brown Bluff - Possibly the most scenic location in the northern Antarctic Continent, Brown Bluff is characterized by sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, and beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice.

Herbert Sound - We will focus our attention on the visually impressive areas of Naze Peninsula and Comb Ridge.

Devil Island - This island offers a magnificent vantage point for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met.

Erebus and Terror Gulf - Here we look for new activity opportunities and may visit Vega Island, experiencing the wilderness of Antarctica in its most remote places.

Day 11 - 12: Familiar seas, familiar friends

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.

Day 13: There and back again

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

Photo Workshop

On select voyages, professional photographers will help you get the most out of your personal camera equipment

Snowshoeing

Explore your way inland from the Polar shorelines with a wide variety of snowshoeing expeditions built for everyone.

Mountaineering

Ascend the heights to enjoy spectacular views of the polar surroundings

Antarctic Camping

Few things get you closer to the Antarctic expedition experience than making camp, settling into your bivouac bag, and sleeping under the Southern Hemisphere stars

Kayaking

Kayaking is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the beautiful blue-and-white world of the peaceful polar seas

Paradise Bay

A breathtakingly beautiful bay offering classic views of colossal ice formations and iconic Antarctic wildlife

Neko Harbour

A pleasant beach in Antarctica’s larger Andvord Bay, Neko Harbour is a scenic landing site that offers great views of gentoo penguins and a nearby glacier

Chinstrap Penguin

Though armed with the "stonebreaker" nickname and a quarrelsome reputation, these gentoo relatives are fading from the Antarctic – probably due to climate change

Humpback Whale

Also known as "great-winged newfoundlanders" for their wing-like flippers, these cetaceans earned their more contemporary name by the way they bow their backs before a dive

INCLUSIONS

• Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary

• All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.

• All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.

• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.

• Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.

• Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.

• Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).

• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.

• Comprehensive pre-departure material.

• During our “Basecamp” departures, all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop) as well as our standard included shore excursions and zodiac cruises) are free of charge.

EXCLUSIONS

• Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights

• Pre- and post- land arrangements.

• Passport and visa expenses.

• Government arrival and departure taxes.

• Meals ashore.

• Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).

• Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.

• The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

A deposit of 25% is required to hold your spot within 14 days of being invoiced and final payment is due 90 days before departure. Payment can be made via bank transfer or debit and credit card. Cards accepted are Visa or Mastercard.