Classic Antarctica: Discovering the Peninsula

Days 1-2 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Arrive in Ushuaia and transfer independently to our conveniently located hotel; explore at your leisure in this frontier port overlooked by the rugged Martial Mountains. Next morning, eat breakfast at your hotel before a leisurely day of exploring on your own. In late afternoon, your Expedition Team welcomes you aboard your ice-strengthened ship as we sail into the scenic Beagle Channel to begin your Antarctic adventure.

Days 3-5 Drake Passage and South Shetland Islands

We cross the famed Drake Passage, named for the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, looking out for Wandering Albatross and other seabirds from the ship's spacious decks and promenades. We also cross the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath warmer waters from the temperate zones. Expect to sight the South Shetland Islands, lying just to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula, late in the afternoon on Day 4. On our planned landings you will explore penguin rookeries and have chances to spot Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals on the beaches or hunting their prey. We may also visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago. And keep an eye out for Antarctica's only two flowering plants, which thrive here during the short southern summer. On many visits the ship is able to sail through a narrow passage leading into the sunken volcanic caldera of Deception Island. Here, if the tide allows, you may wish to strip down to your bathing suit and take a dip in the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.

Days 6-8 Antarctic Peninsula

The centerpiece of our expedition is the Antarctic Peninsula, the most readily accessible part of the White Continent, with its vast snow-covered landscapes ringed by jagged mountains, its spectacular waterways choked with glacial ice cascading into the sea. Count on seeing extensive rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie Penguins, plus a wide diversity of other bird life, including Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Snowy Sheathbills, Cape Petrels and Antarctic Terns. You may also encounter Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, as well as orcas, and humpback and Minke whales. Our exploration of the Peninsula typically begins with a visit to Paradise Bay or nearby Neko Harbor, both offering unforgettable views of calm, iceberg-filled waters. We visit the thriving Gentoo Penguin colonies at Port Lockroy, site of the secret British scientific station established in World War II by James Marr, who as a young Boy Scout visited Antarctica with Shackleton. The base has been transformed into one of the most isolated museums in the world (with a post office where you can mail cards home).

Back aboard the comfortable ship, we make use of the ice-strengthened hull to navigate some of the most breathtaking waterways in the world. If pack ice and icebergs allow, we pass through the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, dramatically narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. On some voyages we sail south of the Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island, where Adelie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags nest close to our landing site. Our expedition may also round the northern tip of the Peninsula to navigate Iceberg Alley, where huge tabular icebergs drift northward into the Antarctic Sound. We'll also try to land on Paulet Island to see its vast Adelie Penguin rookery - again, if weather and ice conditions permit.

Days 9-11 Back across the Drake to Ushuaia

We leave Antarctica behind, returning north across the Drake Passage. But the adventure is not over - there are still plenty of opportunities to view whales and myriad species of sea bird while strolling the ample decks. En route to Ushuaia, enjoy a last series of illustrated talks by our Expedition Team in the ship's comfortable lounge and presentation room. After the final morning's breakfast, transfer to town for further exploring or directly to the Ushuaia airport to catch your outbound flight.