Join the former Australian Geographic's Adventurer of the Year, Chris Bray, in this 20-day photographer's expedition. Hone your photography skills in a series of masterclasses and workshops. Capture the best of Antarctica and South Georgia as you experience close encounters with curious elephant seal pups, mating penguins, and crabeater, Weddell, and leopard seals. Take advantage of extended kayak excursions for stunning photographs.
Highlights
Film the courting, mating, and stone-stealing of penguins
Photograph albatrosses, petrels, and prions alongside naturalist guides
Attend Chris Bray's photography masterclass and workshops
Explore South Georgia's northern network of harbors
Capture the early season Antarctic light over ice-clad mountains
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Board your aircraft for the short, scenic flight to Puerto Williams. On arrival you can enjoy a town tour before boarding Polar Pioneer to begin your journey to Antarctica and South Georgia.
Spend the next couple of days getting familiar with the ship, your home-away-from-home, and enjoying briefings from your expedition team and your naturalist and historian. Attend the photography masterclass, and prepare yourself with initial workshops.
Cruise from the South Shetland Islands and through spectacular Gerlache Strait, passing the western flank of the Antarctic Peninsula, where you can step foot on the continent. While cruising among the icebergs, attempt to enter Antarctic Sound and visit some of the magnificent penguin rookeries at the northern end of the Peninsula.
Farewell Antarctica and begin your crossing to South Georgia. Enjoy some time to unwind and reflect on Antarctica and prepare for the next leg of your adventure.
Spend four days exploring South Georgia, investigating the network of harbors along the northern side of this wonderful island. Combine the fascination of local history with wildlife havens by visiting the old whaling station at Grytviken. Nearby are enormous penguin rookeries in St Andrews Bay, Royal Bay, Gold Harbour and Salisbury Plain, to name just a few.
If time and weather permits, pass Shag Rocks - the six small islands in the westernmost extremity of South Georgia - before continuing your journey towards the Falkland Islands.
Back on the Scotia Sea, make your last sea crossing. As Tierra del Fuego approaches, the air becomes warmer and you can smell the scent of green, grass-covered land.
Day 20: Ushuaia, Argentina | Disembark
1 Breakfast
During the morning travel up the Beagle Channel to dock in Ushuaia, then transfer to your hotel or onto homeward-bound flights.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$17,500
Select a Date
Twin Shared
Twin Shared Cabins have two lower bunks, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Showers and toilets are very close by and are shared with other Main Deck cabins.
Notes
Please note that all of Polar Pioneer itineraries are at the mercy of weather conditions and not all landings are guaranteed. These itineraries are flexible and will change voyage to voyage, allowing the best chance to make the most of surprising wildlife displays and unexpected opportunities.
- Rates represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
Initial deposit is $2700 plus $250 USD deposit for any activities at the time of booking, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
19 Breakfasts, 18 Lunches, 19 Dinners
19 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Comprehensive pre-departure information
Beer, House Wine, and Soft Drinks with Dinner
Educational Lectures and Guiding Services from Expedition Team
Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consult)
Port Surcharges, Permits, and Landing Fees
Captain's Welcome and Farewell drinks including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket
Complimentary use of Muck boots during the voyage
All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
Airport Departure Tax - Airport arrival or departure taxes
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, Wi-Fi, email or phone charges
Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
Optional activity surcharges
Reciprocity and Vaccination Charges
Passengers traveling with Aurora Expeditions are required to be covered by a reputable travel insurance policy that includes baggage loss, cancellation & curtailment of the holiday, medical, accident, and repatriation/emergency evacuation coverage worth at least $250,000 USD.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.