Your tour highlights
- Zodiac Cruising & Shore Program
- Flora and fauna of the Falkland Islands – Lying between the tundra climate zone and the sub-Antarctic, these verdant islands have many of the same ecological traits as Patagonia
- Saunders Island – One of the largest islands in the Falklands, Saunders Island lies in the northwest of the archipelago and has been farmed since 1948
- Carcass Island – Contrary to what its name may suggest, Carcass Island is a lively place for viewing breeding Magellanic and gentoo penguins
- Gold Harbour – Thousands of king penguins, hundreds of gentoos, and loads of elephant seals share this awesomely scenic South Georgia bay
- Salisbury Plain – Known for its colossal king penguin colony, Salisbury Plain is a longstanding favorite in our South Georgia expeditions
- Antarctic Fur Seal – Once hunted nearly into extinction, these pointy-eared polar swimmers are the comeback queens and kings of the Antarctic
- Adelie Penguin – These gallant-fighting, deep-diving namesakes of the French-claimed Antarctic Adélie Land are among the four penguin species on mainland Antarctica
- King Penguin – Second in size only to the emperor penguin, these colorful divers look so different than their own chicks that they were once thought to be a different species
- Leopard Seal – These “slender-clawed water workers” spend much of their lives submerged, though it’s known they are the only member of their family to consume other seals
- Magellanic Penguin – These timid feather-shedders are named after the famed Portuguese explorer whose crew spotted them in 1520
- Striated Caracara – These “Johnny Rooks” have a penchant for stealing red objects, and prefer to settle on islands populated by seals and seabirds in Tierra del Fuego and the Falklands
Tour itinerary
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.
Several species of albatross follow the vessel into the westerlies, along with storm petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels.
The capital of the Falklands and center of its culture, Port Stanley has some Victorian-era charm: colorful houses, well-tended gardens, and English-style pubs are all to be found here. You can also see several century-old clipper ships nearby, silent witnesses to the hardships of 19th century sailors. The small but interesting museum is also worth a visit, covering the early days of settlement up to the Falklands War. Approximately 2,100 people live in Port Stanley. Admission to the museum is included.
En route to South Georgia, you now cross the Antarctic Convergence. The temperature cools considerably within the space of a few hours, and nutritious water rises to the surface of the sea due to colliding water columns. This phenomenon attracts a multitude of seabirds near the ship, including several species of albatross, shearwaters, petrels, prions, and skuas.
There may be sea ice on this route, and at the edge of the ice some south polar skuas and snow petrels could join the other seabirds trailing the vessel south.
Depending on the conditions, you might visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine scientific station on Laurie Island in the South Orkney archipelago. The personnel here will happily show you their facility, where you can enjoy expansive views of the surrounding glaciers. If a visit isn’t possible, you may instead land in Coronation Island’s Shingle Cove.
Enormous icebergs and a fair chance of fin whale sightings ensure there’s never a dull moment on this last sea voyage south. Also, your best chance to spot Antarctic petrels is here. Depending on conditions, we aim to begin activities the afternoon of day 14.
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.
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.
What you’ll see on the tour
Tour pricing:
from $31,915
Quadruple with porthole is USD$15,600 pp twinshare
Triple with porthole is USD$17,500 pp twinshare
Twin with Window is USD$19,850 pp twinshare
Twin Deluxe is USD$21,650 pp twinshare
Superior is USD$23,200 pp twinshare
Junior Suite is USD$24,450 pp twinshare
To secure your place now:
Phone: 03 364 3400 or 0800 747 737
Email: [email protected]
Tour 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.