Adventure Life
800-344-6118 (Toll-free)
406-541-2677 (International)
406-541-2676 (Fax)
E-mail us
1655 S 3rd St. W, Ste 1
Missoula MT, 59801 USA

Extensions

Extend your Antarctica travel a few more days with an Antarctic extension. Antarctica Hospitality
Package » Chile Tour Extensions » Argentina Tour Extensions »

Research Ship Akademik Ioffe Akademik Shokalskiy Aleksey Maryshev Grigoriy Mikheev Polar Pioneer Professor Molchanov Professor Multanovskiy Akademik Sergey Vavilov MV Ushuaia Peregrine Mariner/ Akademik Ioffe Peregrine Voyager / Akademik Sergey Vavilov Ice Breaker Ship Kapitan Khlebnikov Expedition Cruise Ship Polar Star Antarctic Dream Clipper Adventurer - QU MV Orlova National Geographic Endeavour Ocean Nova Marina Svetaeva MV Plancius One Ocean Navigator / Plancius Luxury Expedition Ship Corinthian II Orion Minerva National Geographic Explorer Clelia II

Icon Legend

Please click to see a detailed explanation of these icons used throughout the site.

Escort

Escorted Unescorted

Difficulty

Easy Moderate Challenging

When to Travel

Excellent Very Good Unpredictable Unavailable

print itinerary

Ship: Grigoriy Mikheev

Itinerary: Antarctic Peninsula

click to enlarge
  Humpback whale breaching close to the shipPhoto by: Goran Ehlme

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Day 1 :	Embark in Ushuaia
Days 2-3 :	Across the Drake Passage
Day 4 :	Deception Island
Day 5 :	Penguins of Orne Islands
Day 6 :	Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island
Day 7 :	Icebergs and Minke Whales of Charlotte Bay
Day 8 :	Half Moon Island
Days 9-10 :	Drake Passage
Day 11 :	Disembark in Ushuaia
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
		Twin Non Private	Twin Private	Superior
11	Jan 31, 2009	$6,690	$7,590	$8,890
11	Feb 28, 2009	$5,750	$6,450	$7,550
Destinations : Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica Activities : Nature Viewing, Photography, Scuba Diving, Whale Watching

Day 1 : Embark in Ushuaia

In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the picturesque southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through the Beagle Channel.

Days 2-3 : Across the Drake Passage

During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may meet Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black-browed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, we glimpse at the first icebergs.

Day 4 : Deception Island

At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head with a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception Island is a huge volcano of which the crater opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.

Day 5 : Penguins of Orne Islands

We will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait. Later we continue to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. From there we sail through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Day 6 : Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island

We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island home to Elephant Seals. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales.

Day 7 : Icebergs and Minke Whales of Charlotte Bay

Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait we arrive at Charlotte Bay with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and Minke Whales.

Day 8 : Half Moon Island

Half Moon Island is a beautiful volcanic island with Chinstrap Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, sheathbills and Brown Skuas. Weddell Seals and Elephant Seals may also be spotted. The crew of the Argentine station is very hospitable. We may also choose to land at Hannah Point, which has a very rich wildlife featuring Elephant Seals, Cape Pigeons, Southern Giant Petrels, Macaroni Penguins and Gentoo Penguins.

Days 9-10 : Drake Passage

In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.

Day 11 : Disembark in Ushuaia

We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

---

- Twin non-private and private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.8 times the share price (85% for the Antarctic air cruises; 2 times the share price for Superior cabins).
- Solo Travelers: Request the Twin Share Program where you can be 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.
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy.

Ship Description: Grigoriy Mikheev

click to enlarge
  Grigoriy Mikheev

The 'Grigoriy Mikheev' is a modern and comfortable research vessel of the Hydrographic Institute of St. Petersburg. Built in 1990 in Finland, and designed as an ice-strengthened vessel and converted in the Netherlands for passenger use, the vessel is ideally suited to expedition cruising and polar travel. She has a range of 70 days independent operation and is ISM certified.

The vessel is strongly built of steel with an ice-strengthened hull, perfect for the polar seas. She is manned by an enthusiastic Russian crew of around 20, all highly experienced in ice navigation. Russian captains are recognized experts in polar navigation.
All our international expedition leaders and lecturers are highly knowledgeable, helpful and dedicated to the protection of the environment.

The 'Grigoriy Mikheev' has a large bridge (where you are almost always welcome) and good open deck-viewing areas during your travels. She carries a full complement of Zodiac craft, excellent for landings and wildlife viewing opportunities in otherwise in-accessible areas.
Excellent cuisine, prepared by international chefs, is served in the dining room, which also acts as the lecture room. Other public areas include a lounge and bar, small library, infirmary, and sauna. The vessel has email and satellite phone communication available for travelers.

Twin Non Private Cabins on deck 3 with upper and lower berths, a desk, small washbasin, ample storage and hanging space and portholes. Shared shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located on the same deck.	Twin Private 14 cabins on deck 3 and 4 with a private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet, upper and lower berths, a desk, ample storage space and windows.
Superior 3 Superior cabins on deck 4 with a double bed and a single sofa-bed. A private bathroom with shower, washbasin and toilet. A sitting area with a desk, Coffee and tea facilities, refrigerator and windows

Antarctica Articles & Information :
Antarctica Wildlife | Antarctica History and Present | Antarctica Weather | South Shetland Islands | South Georgia Islands | Falkland Islands | Antarctic vs. Arctic Pole Comparison | Sailing Antarctica in a World-Class Racing Yacht | Antarctica Travel: The Long and Short of It | Antarctic Peninsula | Jonathan's Adventures to Antarctica on the Professor Molchanov | Antarctica's Changing Ice Shelf | Falkland Islands: A Legacy of Disputes | The Falklands War | Current Politics | Cruising Falklands Geography | Wildlife in the Falklands | Introducing the Falkland Islands | Falkland Islands Environment | Weather in the Islands | British Influenced Culture of the Falklands | Cuisine in the Falklands