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Day 1 - Arrive Ushuaia
Meet team and spend night in cabana/hotel.
IMPORTANT: Cabin pricing is based off 5 confirmed passengers. Should the expedition confirm with 6 passengers there may be a reduction in the per person costs, at the operator's discretion.
Day 2 - Ushuaia
Prepare equipment and practice glacier crossing and crevasse rescue skills.
Day 3 - Ushuaia; Embarkation Day
Pack Icebird and set sail to Puerto Williams in Chile. This delightful little village is home to the infamous Micalvi, the yacht-club bar inside a sunken ship, where we shall see in the New Year.
Day 4/7 - Drake Passage
Sail to Antarctica across the Drake Passage. This usually takes 3 to 4 days.
Day 8/25 - Ski Mountaineering
We shall make landfall near Anvers Island and then start to explore the many coves, islands and fjords along the Antarctic Peninsula. As we explore the Antarctic Peninsula ski ascents will be attempted of multiple peaks. Most ascents will be single-day tours from the yacht, while more remote peaks will require dragging sleds across glaciers to establish a base-camp for a few days. The exact locations will depend on the weather and sea-ice conditions, which vary greatly from year to year.
During rest days, or when the weather is not suitable for ski touring, we will be able to take to the sea kayaks to explore more of the coast-line. Sea kayaking is a wonderful way to experience the beauty of the glaciers and ice, and to see the abundant wildlife that Antarctica has to offer.
Day 26/29 - Drake Passage
We sail back across the Drake Passage for Ushuaia
Day 30 - Ushuaia; Disembarkation
Spend night in cabana/hotel.
Day 31 - Depart Ushuaia
Depart Ushuaia when you are ready.
IMPORTANT: Cabin pricing is based off 5 confirmed passengers. Should the expedition confirm with 6 passengers there may be a reduction in the per person costs, at the operator's discretion.
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.
All skiing is on heavily glaciated mountains, above fjords studded with icebergs. Due to the heavily glaciated nature of the terrain we will ascend most mountains roped-up, and will return, un-roped if it is safe to do so, by our route of ascent. While it is unlikely that we will be skiing champagne powder, we will be skiing slopes up to 35° in one of the most spectacular places in the world with truly breathtaking back-drops.
Sea kayaks - great toys for exploring the South Georgia & Antarctic coastline during rest days or when low clouds obscure the mountains.
As we explore the Antarctic Peninsula ski ascents will be attempted of multiple peaks. Most ascents will be single-day tours from the yacht, while more remote peaks will require dragging sleds across glaciers to establish a base-camp for a few days. The exact locations will depend on the weather and sea-ice conditions, which vary greatly from year to year.
During January and February Antarctica's babies are born and fledging, its a magical time as new
life comes to Antarctica. The experience of seeing newly hatched penguins and seals pups just days old, is an
experience that will last forever.
In a continent of stunning views, Lemaire Channel has been called the Kodak Gap. Locked between the rocky vertical cliffs of Booth Island and the continent this one kilometer wide passage is one of the most photographed attractions of Antarctica. You will be glad your camera is digital.
Enjoy a few nights accomodation in Ushuaia staying in a comfortable cabin.
Your expedition includes highly trained expedition leaders and ski guides. As well group climing equipment, tents and sleds are provided.
There are a number of kayaks on board for you to explore when the conditions are right.
Although no previous sailing experience is required, all members will need to have ski-mountaineering experience and be comfortable skiing all snow-types on slopes up to 30°. It is also preferable that members know how to rope up to cross glaciers and how to perform a crevasse rescue. If this is new to you we can recommend suitable courses that teach these skills so that you can make the most of your expedition to Antarctica.
How much technical climbing is there?
Although most of the ascents will be completed on skis, using skins and ski crampons, there may be short sections, particularly close to the summits, where we may need to fix skis to our rucksacks and use crampons and an ice-axe.
ICEBIRD
Icebird is a specially designed and constructed luxury polar expedition yacht. Built by Trintella in the Netherlands, one of the very best European yards, her aluminium hull has been re-inforced to enable her to operate safely in ice. She has 6 watertight compartments, including the engine room, and is insulated throughout which, together with central heating, makes her ideal for comfortable expedition sailing in Antarctica. Her hydraulically operated lifting keel can reduce her draft to a mere 1.9 metres, allowing access to safe shallow anchorages out of the path of drifting ice, while in the down position the 3.3m keel, with 10-ton foil and 5 tonnes of lead bulb, ensure excellent handling in even the roughest of seas.
| Luxury star rating: | 3 |
| Guests #: | 6 |
| Crew #: | 4 |
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We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.
