Antarctic Explorer

Day 1 Ushuaia

We board our Peregrine expedition vessel in Ushuaia, on Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. In the early evening, we set sail charting a course through the Beagle Channel.

Days 2-3 Drake Passage

As we cross the Drake Passage, our team of experts will be out on deck to help us spot whales and identify seabirds. We’ll also have the chance to take part in the onboard presentation series preparing us for our adventures on the “White Continent”. Talks on wildlife, ice and polar history will create enormous anticipation that continues to build as we cross the Antarctic Convergence. Here the cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean meet the warmer waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. We’ll notice a sharp drop in temperature at this point. Huge icebergs loom up against the horizon and seabirds, such as the wandering albatross and petrels, are regularly in view.

Days 4-8 South Shetland Islands and Antarctica

We cruise among the volcanic South Shetland Islands and the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, traveling ashore as frequently as possible in inflatable zodiac boats. We’ll hope to make shore excursions to Livingston, Half Moon and King George Islands beginning on day 3 or day 4.

Admiralty Bay, on King George Island, is a favored feeding ground for humpback whales and, with luck, we may see them dining on krill. At crescent-shaped Half Moon Island, we’ll observe a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags while at Livingston Island, we’ll discover more flourishing wildlife. Here there are Weddell and elephant seals, skuas, giant petrels, Antarctic terns and rookeries of chinstrap, gentoo and macaroni penguins.

Weather permitting, we’ll also hope to enter the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island, a recently active volcano and one of the most perfect crater islands in the world. Steam rises in places along its shores where the cold Antarctic waters mix with the thermal waters of the bay. Here, the very adventuresome may choose to take a dip, if conditions are suitable.

Our journey continues onto Paradise Harbour or Hope Bay, both situated on the mainland. Here we’ll see some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. We’ll observe an impressive array of icebergs in many different shapes and sizes, including those that have eroded into natural ice sculptures as well as city-block sized 'tabular' bergs which break from the thick ice shelves. If the weather is temperate, we’ll have the chance to set foot on the Antarctic continent, and even to spend a night camping out on shore if you wish. The lights of the southern sky bath the landscape in an eerie luminescence, making this camping experience truly remarkable.

The days are long, and the short nights are often preceded by a wonderful twilight. On board, we’ll spend ample time on the bridge or on deck simply marveling at the glory of the passing scenery.

Days 9-11 Drake Passage

We leave the Antarctic Peninsula, heading back across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. The crossing is completed with the rounding of Cape Horn. We celebrate the conclusion of our adventure and last evening together on board, at the Captain’s Dinner as we make our way down the Beagle Channel.

Day 12 Ushuaia

In the early morning, we’ll arrive back in Ushuaia where our cruise ends. You’ll be transferred to your hotel, or to the airport for your onward flight.