With a strong focus on exploring the Peninsula in all its incomparable glory, this voyage offers an immersive Antarctic adventure at a time of year when the continent is a pristine, just-waking-up hub of activity. As winter gives way to spring, prepare yourself for a trip into a pristine and lively environment populated by penguins courting mates, building nests, and tending to their eggs; where the passing of newly adrift icebergs dazzles the eye; and where fiery sunsets are the stuff of photographers’ dreams. All at a time of year when your chance of spotting another ship in the water is at its lowest, and the continent feels all your own.
Please note: This itinerary is meant to serve as a general guide. Plans may change along the way, depending on weather, sea conditions, or choices made by the Expedition Leader and team to give you the safest and most rewarding experience.
After a friendly welcome at the airport and a transfer to the luxurious Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, take some time to unwind or explore the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. (In the unlikely event that you can’t be accommodated at the Arakur, you’ll unwind at another of Ushuaia’s top luxury hotels.)
The optional evening briefing is your opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.
Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring the shops in Ushuaia, before our mid-afternoon escort to the ship. The Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and our Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!
Join Polar Experts as they share their vast knowledge of Antarctica, from its enchanting wildlife to its bold history. Participate in a pioneering Citizen Science program or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching glimpses of rarely seen wildlife. Keep your binoculars handy to identify the many seabirds that escort our ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctica’s waters and noticeably cooler temperatures.
Over time, the volcanic activity of the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. Here, you can expect a spectacular display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife including Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins; and it’s not uncommon to share the water’s edge with Elephant and Fur seals. Whales are often spotted as well. So, we’ll settle into our Zodiacs and spend most of our day exploring. And kayakers, it’s time to get your first taste of gliding just inches off the pristine Antarctic water. Whether on land or sea, in zodiac or kayak, be prepared for a fully immersive introduction to this incomparable part of the world.
Welcome to Antarctica in all its springtime glory. Untouched. Pristine. Getting busy. For the next three days, prepare to be amazed as we observe numerous species of penguins coming ashore and getting acquainted, building nests, and tending their eggs. Marvel at the winter sea ice that mantles these frigid seas, feast your eyes on glorious icebergs beginning the springtime march, and, as always, be on the lookout for seals and whales in the water. At day’s end, take in the miraculous sunsets that are a special treat this time of year. Visits to active scientific bases and historic landing sites may also be on the agenda
We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage. We have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and a final meal together.
With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.
This expedition includes
This expedition excludes:
