Experience this 17-day voyage to Antarctica and South Georgia at the height of the summer. Enjoy extended daylight hours, busy wildlife colonies, and a range of landing sites to explore as the sea ice continues to break up. Arrive in Antarctica to celebrate the New Year, and sail north towards the South Shetland Islands and the Falkland Islands. Take part in daily shore visits and witness the most incredible encounters with Antarctica's wildlife.
Highlights
Navigate through the Antarctic Peninsula's icy waterways
Experience daily off-ship excursions, exploring on shore and by Zodiacs
Land at Half Moon Island and explore Yankee Harbour's pebbly beach
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Your journey to Antarctica commences this afternoon in Ushuaia, in southern Argentina. Gather at a central meeting point, transfer to the pier, and embark your expedition ship, the Akademik Ioffe. After settling in to your cabin and exploring the ship, meet the expedition team and fellow passengers. Excitement is in the air as you enjoy a welcome cocktail and dinner and cast off, bound for Antarctica and the adventure of a lifetime.
Sailing south towards Antarctica you are joined by hundreds of seabirds, including the wandering albatross. Giant petrels and smaller Cape petrels are also constant companions. Photographing these magnificent birds from the deck of the ship takes patience and skill and a photography expert shows you the best techniques. Join the ship’s Captain on the bridge and learn about the operations of the modern research vessel. Keen birdwatchers love the viewing opportunities on the bridge and expansive outer decks. Spend time with your naturalist guides and learn the subtle variations between the different species as they soar on the winds of the Drake Passage. One of the most anticipated sightings are the stunning light-mantled albatross, often seen flying in pairs in elaborate aerial displays. Throughout the day the on-board experts give a series of presentations about the environment, wildlife, and history of the locations you can visit in the coming days.
Awaken today with the magnificent snowy peaks of continental Antarctica laid out before you. Take a deep breath – you have arrived. Welcome to Antarctica. This must surely be one of the most spectacular locations in the world to bring in the New Year!
Spend the next several days navigating through the icy waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula. The coastline features heavily glaciated mountains permanently covered in ice and snow. Rocky outcrops are home to gentoo, Adelie, and chinstrap penguin rookeries and the waters are rich in marine life. Make several off-ship excursions each day, exploring on shore, or cruising in the Zodiacs. Your activity program is in full swing and the crew encourage all guests to choose how their adventure unfolds. Break up into small groups allowing you to indulge your own personal interests– be it hiking, wildlife observation, photography, or blissful silent contemplation.
As well as exploring the offshore islands along the coastline, step foot on the actual continent of Antarctica. Neko Harbour, or nearby Paradise Harbour both provide opportunities to experience this great thrill.
After several busy days of exploration along the Antarctic Peninsula, head for the South Shetland Islands. If the weather conditions allow, sail into the flooded volcanic caldera at Deception Island. This is a very dramatic location. There are several other landing sites in the vicinity including Half Moon Island and the broad pebbly beach at Yankee Harbour, where you can encounter Weddell seals sunning themselves. To the north lies Elephant Island– forever connected to the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the HMS Endurance expedition a century ago. On the windswept north coast, exposed to the swells of the South Atlantic, is Point Wild. It was here that Shackleton and his exhausted men camped under their upturned boats– pondering their chances of survival. Shore landings here are notoriously tricky due to often gale-force winds and pounding surf onto the rocky beach. Nevertheless, this is a thrilling location for history buffs.
As the ship departs Antarctica you cannot help but ponder the journey made by Shackleton and his four companions as they attempted the near impossible– navigating 800 nautical miles in a 30-foot converted lifeboat across the tempestuous Scotia Sea to South Georgia. You make a much easier time of the crossing in your state-of-the-art expedition ship. Onboard experts keep you busy with fascinating presentations and leading lively discussions throughout the day. The great pelagic seabirds are sure to keep you company; anticipate excellent sightings of albatross and giant petrels soaring on the winds of the South Atlantic Ocean. Anticipation builds as the mountainous peaks appear on the horizon, marking your arrival at South Georgia.
Rounding the remote southeastern end of South Georgia, spend the next three days thoroughly exploring the coastline. Dark-sand beaches, tussock-covered hinterland, and a backdrop of towering peaks and glaciers are a feast for all the senses. South Georgia is called the most staggering wildlife show on earth. Seals cover the beaches, and seabirds fill the skies and live in rookeries of immense size. Here you can meet the majestic king penguins. Aim to visit a number of these huge colonies, where naturalists estimate that more than 100,000 adult and juvenile penguins live in close proximity. Locations to visit include Gold Harbour, Royal Bay, St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain. Dotted along the coastline are the rusting relics of the early whaling era. The largest of these locations is Grytviken. Here is a fascinating museum and a beautifully restored Norwegian Lutheran Church. Adjacent to the old whaling station lies a small cemetery. This is the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who was laid to rest here in 1922. For many onboard, being in the presence of the great polar explorer is a highlight of the trip.
Continue your journey along the coastline, hoping to visit Stromness, another former whaling station, and the final destination of Shackleton and companions Frank Worsley and Tom Crean, having made the near-impossible traverse across the interior of South Georgia.
By now you are in sensory overload, your camera is full of images, and your journey towards the Falkland Islands commences. Much of your time is spent scanning the horizon in search of whales and other marine mammals. The spectacular seabirds including several albatross and petrel species are your constant companions as they soar above the ship. Photographing these stunning birds in flight takes great patience and skill and a resident photography expert on board can show you the best techniques. The onboard educational program continues and your experts recap your remarkable journey to date. These days provide a good opportunity to catch up on journal entries, sort through your images in the multimedia room, and catch some rest after a busy two weeks of activity.
After several days crossing, Sea Lion Island marks your arrival into the Falkland Islands. This windswept location situated in the southern archipelago provides one further day of activity. Launch the Zodiacs and go ashore to view the remarkable wildlife colonies found here. Three species of penguins including gentoo, Magellanic, and rockhopper exist in the vicinity. Southern elephant seals and South American sea lions are found hauled out on the beaches. Once ashore look for king cormorants and striated caracaras. Weather permitting you may have time to visit neighboring Bleaker Island, another settlement on the exposed southeastern coast of the Falklands. Charting a northerly course towards Stanley, enjoy a special dinner attended by the Captain of the ship and reflect on your remarkable expedition to the farthest corners of the planet.
In the early morning, the ship navigates through the narrows and into port. Stanley is currently home to just over 2,000 residents and is reminiscent of a rural town in coastal England or Scotland. It is charming with brightly colored houses, pretty flower-filled gardens, a quaint cathedral, and several local pubs. There is time to explore the town before making your way to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas (this flight is included in the price of your voyage).
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$16,995
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Main Deck Triple
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Twin Semi-Private
Deck 4. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and tall wardrobes with internal shelving for storage. Facilities are semi-private (one bathroom between two cabins) and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
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Twin Private
Deck 4 and 5. Two lower berths (one which can be converted to a sofa during the day), a writing desk/chair, bookshelf and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
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Superior
Deck 6. Two lower berths, a sofa, a writing desk/chair and ample storage. Facilities are private and all cabins have a window that can be opened.
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Shackleton Suite
Deck 4 & 5. One double bed, one sofa bed, separate sleeping quarters, up-graded bedding, a writing desk/chair, IPod alarm clock, mini stereo, capsule coffee maker, mini bar. Private facilities. Large window that can be opened.
Notes
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and 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.
- Twin and superior cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.5 times the shared price, suites for 2 times the shared price. Single supplement is not available in triple cabins.
- Child and Youth Prices: 25% discount for young people aged up to 17 years, and 20% off for those aged from 18-21 years who can prove they are in full-time education.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 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
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 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days 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
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.