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Extend your Antarctica travel a few more days with an Antarctic extension. Antarctica Hospitality
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Ship: Kapitan Khlebnikov

Itinerary: Epic Antarctica: Semi-Circumnavigation 2008

click to enlarge
  Penguin FamilyPhoto by: Gerald Cubitt

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries  |  cancellation policy

Days 1&2 :	Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Days 3-5 :	Drake Passage and South Shetland Islands
Days 6-8 :	The Antarctic Peninsula
Days 9-10 :	The Phantom Coast
Days 11-16 :	Amundsen Sea
Days 17-18 :	Ross Ice Shelf
Days 19-21 :	Ross Island and McMurdo Sound
Days 22-24 :	Cape Royds and Cape Evans
Days 25-28 :	Southern Ocean and Campbell Island
Days 29-31 :	Enderby Island to Lyttelton, New Zealand
	Click for full itinerary

Days	Dates	Deck + Cabin Type
Destinations : Amundsen Sea, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Peter I Island, Polar Circle, Ross Sea Activities : Helicopter Tour, Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching

Only on our polar-class icebreaker can you circumnavigate Antarctica up close, sailing 5,000 miles from the tip of South America, across the Antarctic Circle, halfway around the White Continent to New Zealand. Tracing the routes of past explorers, you visit historic research stations and encounter a wide array of wildlife - penguins, seals, whales - on this once-in-a-lifetime journey through some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet.

Days 1&2 : Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Arrive in the world's southernmost city and transfer independently to your conveniently located hotel. The next day, breakfast at your hotel and enjoy a leisurely day exploring the area. Board the Kapitan Khlebnikov in late afternoon to sail eastward along the Beagle Channel.

Days 3-5 : Drake Passage and South Shetland Islands

Accompanied by magnificent Wandering Albatross, you cross the Drake Passage and pass through the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath warmer waters from the temperate zones. On reaching the South Shetland Islands, explore penguin rookeries and look for leopard seals with their pups on the sea ice. Antarctica's only two flowering plants grow here during the brief southern summer.

Days 6-8 : The Antarctic Peninsula

We reach the Antarctic Peninsula and head south, navigating the dramatic Neumayer Channel toward Port Lockroy and its colonies of Gentoo Penguins as well as Blue-eyed Shags. You then pass through one of the world's most breathtaking waterways - the Lemaire Channel, a narrow geological fault between the snow-covered mountains of Booth Island and the peninsula. We also hope to pay a visit to Vernadsky Station, where British scientists in 1983 detected the depletion of the ozone layer.

Crossing the Antarctic Circle in Crystal Sound, you have great opportunities to see Minke whales and Antarctic Petrels. With ice conditions in our favor and pending permission, we'll carry on to Rothera Station, a British base in Marguerite Bay. We then head into the Bellingshausen Sea, hoping to land on one of the world's most isolated islands - Peter I Island, ice-bound breeding site of Chinstrap Penguins, Storm Petrels and Southern Fulmars.

Days 9-10 : The Phantom Coast

Our route takes us along the Getz Ice Shelf and the largely unexplored Phantom Coast, dominated by 10,000-foot Mt. Siple and often bathed in an eerie pinkish light from the low evening sun. As we follow the Phantom Coast, we plan to visit Peter I Island. In 2006, the last time we landed successfully, our historian noted that only 800 people in all human history have been known to visit the fog-enshrouded island.

As on any polar expedition, our exact daily itinerary varies with local conditions - but, progress and weather permitting, you'll enjoy superb helicopter views of the Kapitan Khlebnikov pushing its way southward, as well as a possible landing on the rocky outcrops of Shephard Island.

Days 11-16 : Amundsen Sea

Look forward to several adventurous days of breaking through the Amundsen Sea pack ice. We’ll deploy our helicopters so you can witness the power of the icebreaker from the air. Make sure you take your camera when the call to board the helicopters is made.

Our Expedition Team will deliver a series of illustrated presentations about the history and geology of the region. Our naturalists will explain the natural life cycles of the penguins and seals you may encounter en route.

Days 17-18 : Ross Ice Shelf

Excitement builds as you approach the immense Ross Ice Shelf. We hope to make helicopter landings from the Kapitan Khlebnikov while navigating among the mile-long tabular icebergs that have broken away from this massive frozen barrier. Keep an eye out for Emperor Penguins, which can sometimes be seen in the Ross Sea this early in the season. Continuing west, you can set your watch forward one day as we cross the International Date Line.

Days 19-21 : Ross Island and McMurdo Sound

Still further south, we reach Ross Island, part of the Transantarctic Mountain Range that divides the continent geologically into east and west. The island is home to the US research base McMurdo Station, which we hope to tour. Nearby is Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery Hut (1901/04), well maintained though strikingly primitive. After a visit to Scott Base, the New Zealand station, our next objective is Ernest Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds, built during his Nimrod polar attempt in 1907/09 and now used by thousands of Adelie Penguins in the world's southernmost penguin rookery. At nearby Cape Evans you can visit another of Scott's original huts, preserved by the New Zealand Heritage Trust. And we plan helicopter flights beyond the fast ice to a seldom-visited region of Antarctica: the spectacular Dry Valleys, where virtually no precipitation has fallen for millions of years and the sole vegetation is lichen that grows inside rocks. Landing in this desert wasteland, you encounter unusual granite formations eroded by the winds and mountain glaciers colored by the sand and rock blown into the ice.

Days 22-24 : Cape Royds and Cape Evans

At Cape Royds, we’ll visit Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod Hut (1907-09). At Cape Evans, we’ll visit a hut associated with Shackleton and Scott. A century after its construction, the Cape Evans hut is considered one of the ten most endangered monuments in the world. The Antarctic Heritage Trusts are raising funds for its restoration. Quark Expeditions supports the project through onboard charity auctions, and visitor admission fees.

Days 25-28 : Southern Ocean and Campbell Island

As we continue northward, onboard presentations focus on the diverse wildlife of New Zealand's Subantarctic islands. We sail into Perseverance Harbor, eroded into the base of a volcano and surrounded by rocks that are 8 to 11 million years old. During our landing at a meteorological station, you can view Royal Albatross from hilltop lookouts.

Days 29-31 : Enderby Island to Lyttelton, New Zealand

In your walks on Enderby Island you may encounter endangered New Zealand (Hooker's) sea lions, elusive Yellow-eyed Penguins, nesting Royal Albatross and, in the island's distinctive rata forests, Red-crowned Parakeets. During our last full day at sea, our specialist presenters review some of the highlights of your wildlife encounters and adventures ashore. On the last morning, depart the Kapitan Khlebnikov and transfer to nearby Christchurch Airport for flights to Auckland and home.

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- Additional fuel surcharge of $58/night on ship, per person, for Antarctic departures between Oct 2008 - Mar 2009.
-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.
-Single supplement of 1.7 times the twin rate for travelers who want to guarantee single room.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person is required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.

Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.

Ship Description: Kapitan Khlebnikov

click to enlarge
  Kapitan Khlebnikov breaking ice

The KAPITAN KHLEBNIKOV was built in Finland in 1981 and is a powerful polar class icebreaker, which has sailed to extremely remote corners of the globe with adventurous travelers since 1992. No other expedition vessel has navigated more polar waters. It was the first ship ever to circumnavigate Antarctica with passengers in 1996-97.

The ship's interior provides passenger facilities necessary for excellent comfort, with accommodations in 54 first class outside cabin and suites. The vessel carries a maximum of 112 passengers.

All cabins are outside, with windows that can be opened for fresh or cooler air. In addition, passengers may control the flow of air into the cabin by adjusting the vent. Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower, toilet and wash-basin. Cabin floors are carpeted. The cabins have ample cupboard and drawer space, and a large desk. The second bed in each cabin is a convertible sofa bed, which is made up each night by the stewardess and converted back into a sofa during the day. Triple cabins have two lower berths and one upper berth. Each cabin is equipped with an 'in-cabin' music system. All cabins have robes for use while on board, which will be collected on the last day of the voyage. These are available for purchase if passengers wish to take one home.

There is ample storage space under the beds to store most luggage. If not, passengers should alert the cabin stewardess who can store it for the duration of the voyage. Hair dryers, quality soap and shower gel are available in each cabin.

Triple 135 sq. ft. Cabins include twin bunk beds and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window	Twin 135 sq. ft. Cabins include one twin bed and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, 2 wardrobes, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window
Suite 193 sq. ft. Cabin includes separate living area, TV/VCR, refrigerator, convertible sofa, double bed 2 desks, 2 chairs, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, 2 wardrobes, and picture window	Corner Suite 285 sq. ft. Cabin includes separate living area, TV/VCR, refrigerator, convertible sofa, double bed 2 desks, 2 chairs, bookshelves, storage box, telephone, 2 wardrobes, and picture window
Single Twin 135 sq. ft. Cabins include one twin bed and a convertible sofa, writing desk, chair, bookshelves, 2 wardrobes, storage box, telephone, and porthole or window

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