FALKLANDS, SOUTH GEORGIA & ANTARCTIC WILDLIFE EXPEDITION

• Day 1 - Ushuaia, Argentina: Embarkation Day

  Morning flight to Ushuaia, which lies on the triangular-shaped island of Tierra del Fuego. While Ferdinand Magellan was exploring the straits between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in 1520, he was amazed by the smoke and fires which seemed to appear at every turn. These fires, kept continuously alight by the Yaghan and Ona Indians, became the inspiration for the name “Tierra del Fuego,” Land of Fire.

  *Important - Your itinerary begins 1 day prior with arrival and overnight in Buenos Aries.

• Day 2 - CRUISING THE SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

  At sea cruising towards the Falkland Islands.

• Day 3/4 - FALKLAND ISLAND EXPEDITION

  This remote archipelago lies about 300 miles east of Patagonia and is known for its extraordinary birdlife – 63 species breed on these islands. Cast your eyes in any direction to spot albatross, petrels, skuas, the Falkland steamer duck and more. Amidst the rugged, windswept terrain and cliff-lined coasts, five different types of penguins make their home here, including Magellanic, gentoo, rockhopper, king and macaroni. Other wildlife sightings might include orca whales, sea lions and seals.

  OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
  Stanley is the capital of the Falkland Islands – an archipelago long of importance to both scientists and seaman located some 350 miles east of Tierra del Fuego, 1,000 miles north of Antarctica and, as the locals claim, a mere 8,000 miles from Britain. Explore the Historic Dockyard Museum with galleries dedicated to maritime exploration, Antarctic heritage and the 1982 Falklands War. See the whalebone arch near Christ Church Cathedral, and look for magellanic penguins gathering at Gypsy Cove.

• Day 7/10 - SOUTH GEORGIA EXPEDITION

  Regarded as one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and accessible only by sea, this one-time whaling outpost is home to glacier-clad coastlines and dramatic fjords, astonishing wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery. Here is where thousands of king penguins flock to a single beach to nest, and where the largest congregation of Antarctic fur seals is found. Look for southern elephant seals and albatross – wandering, black-browed and more – and take hikes to follow in the footsteps of Shackleton.

• Day 11/12 - CRUISING THE SCOTIA SEA

  Cruising the Scotia Sea towards Antarctica.

• Day 13 - ELEPHANT ISLAND

  Named for the elephant seals early explorers spotted on its shores, this rugged, ice-covered island earned its place in history for the role it played in the 1916 survival of explore Ernest Shackleton’s crew of 22 after the loss of his ship, the Endurance.

• Day 14/17 - ANTARCTIC SOUND EXPEDITION

  Renowned for the massive tabular icebergs – iconic “ice cathedrals” often miles long and hundreds of feet above sea level – that break free from the ice shelves along the Weddell Sea, this channel between Trinity Peninsula at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and Joinville Island measures about 37 miles long and nine miles wide. Some of the largest Adélie penguin colonies make their home here, and whales and other sea mammals are often seen.

  SNOW-CAPPED WILDLIFE HAVEN
  Just northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula, the icebergs and snow-capped mountains of South Shetland volcanic archipelago are a mesmerizing site. A haven for wildlife, colonies of chinstrap, gentoo and Adélie penguins make their home here, and Antarctic fur seals and Southern elephant seals command the beaches. Seabirds are everywhere, including Antarctic terns and giant petrels.

  HOME TO SEABIRDS, SEALS & PENGUINS
  Known as O’Higgins Land in Chile, Graham Land in Great Britain, Tierra de San Martin in Argentina, and originally as the Palmer Peninsula in the US, the Antarctic Peninsula belongs to no one and is cherished by all. This is where humpback whales feed on krill before migrating north, where penguins breed and where seals frolic. Home to petrels and terns, gulls and skuas, all thrive amidst the otherworldly grandeur of ice mountains and glaciers, rocky cliffs and glistening inlets.

• Day 18/19 - CROSSING DRAKE PASSAGE

  We begin our across the Drake Passage today homeward bound for Ushuaia.

• Day 20 - Ushuaia, Argentina: Disembarkation Day

  Ushuaia lies on the triangular-shaped island of Tierra del Fuego. While Ferdinand Magellan was exploring the straits between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in 1520, he was amazed by the smoke and fires which seemed to appear at every turn. These fires, kept continuously alight by the Yaghan and Ona Indians, became the inspiration for the name “Tierra del Fuego,” Land of Fire.

Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your Captain and Expedition Leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.