Carrying on a 15-year legacy of polar firsts, last year Quark Expeditions confirmed the existence of 4,000 pairs of Emperor Penguins at a previously unknown site near Snow Hill Island - and we're still the only company visiting this remote rookery. Our "safari" is an ideal opportunity for photographers and nature lovers to observe Emperors early in the breeding season and to take the time you need to appreciate these extraordinary creatures.
Day 1 Ushuaia, Argentina
Ushuaia is a picturesque community with excellent restaurants and intriguing museums. You’ll spend the night at our host hotel.
Day 2 Embarkation Day
You’ll have time to explore before boarding in the afternoon. The icebreaker follows the Beagle Channel into the open waters of the Drake Passage.
Days 3-4 Crossing the Drake Passage
Emperor Penguins will be on your mind while you cross the Drake Passage. En route, our ornithologist will make presentations on the biology, habitat and behavior of Emperors.
Days 5-7 Snow Hill Island Emperor Penguin Rookery
Reaching the Snow Hill rookery under the best possible conditions is the goal of the expedition. The Captain and Expedition Leader consult charts, weather bulletins and satellite images to determine where to park the icebreaker for efficient helicopter flights to the rookery. Our plan is to spend three days at the rookery.
Days 8-11 The Antarctic Peninsula
While the Emperors are our priority, we also plan to visit the Antarctic Peninsula. Our exact route will be determined by local conditions. We plan to sail Iceberg Alley. Use your newly acquired photographic skills to snap pictures of massive tabular icebergs until your camera beeps a warning that the memory is full.
While passing through Antarctic Sound, you will see more fantastic ice sculptures, from pure white to deep blue. A soulful silence may engulf you, unless a glacier calves or an iceberg overturns – then suddenly, everything is noise and waves. While visiting the Peninsula, we hope to explore penguin rookeries under construction. Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins court, lay eggs and raise their young during the austral summer. Your voyage takes place at a time when these smaller penguins are selecting nesting sites and choosing partners.
Days 12-13 Crossing the Drake Passage
You’ll be recalling the details of the voyage, as you cross the Drake Passage once again. These memories will stay with you, as clear and powerful as the day they were formed. The existence of the Emperor Penguin is more than a story of survival and endurance. It is the triumph of life itself.
Day 14 Ushuaia
After breakfast, you will disembark. The group will be transferred to the airport for the homeward flight.
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is $2000, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/mail/fourways.php
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure, and most travelers will pay the final balance with a check, money order, or bank transfer. You can also pay the final balance by credit card, but please note there is a 3% convenience fee assessed to all credit card-not-present final payments.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 100 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 180 Days or more | $750 per person |
| 90-179 Days | $2000 per person |
| 89 Days or less | 100% total cost |
