Antarctic Peninsula - Basecamp Plancius

Day 1 Embark in Ushuaia

In the afternoon, embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening.

Days 2-3 Across the Drake Passage

During these two days sail across the Drake Passage. When crossing the Antarctic Convergence, arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area 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. If the winds are favourable you might do your first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands.These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins and southern Giant Petrels.

Days 4-9 Antarctic Peninsula

Sail directly to “High Antarctica”, passing the Melchior islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Island. Sail to the Neumayer Channel, where your ship is positioned for the multi activity base camp. The protected waters around Wiencke Island will become your playground for all activities. In this alpine environment there great opportunities to scout the region on foot, per zodiac and during kayak trips. Walkers will find opportunities to use snowshoes on hikes near the shore lines and the mountaineers will find their challenge by climbing hills and view points further inland, ie. Jabet Peak (540 m). All climbs and excursions can only be conducted in good weather conditions.

Plan to stay two overnights at anchor in order to implement two camp nights and two full activity days. Visit the British research station and post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Close to Port Lockroy possibly land on Jougla Point with Gentoo Penguins and Imperial Shags. Sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where you can find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales. Your second Basecamp night will be erected near the continent, choose a camp site which is suitable and close to next days activity. The mountaineers hope to reach the summit of Mt Demaria (640 m) at Waddington Bay. A visit to one of the scientific stations in Antarctica will give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent. Further south you may have time to visit the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station, where you will receive a warm welcome from the station crew.

When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, have the opportunity for zodiac cruising and kayaking between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area there are good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. Hikers, mountaineers and photographers will spend time ashore.

In afternoon at Neko Harbour have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glacier and enjoy the landscape during zodiac cruises, hikes and kayak excursions. A small group of mountaineers may climb up on higher grounds of the glacier. Spend the night at Neko or near Paradise Bay with a camp erected ashore. Leave Neko Harbour in the early morning after breaking your last camp. Sail via Melchior Islands towards the open sea of the Drake Passage. Again have a chance of seeing many seabirds.

Days 10-11 At Sea

Day 12 Ushuaia / Disembark

Arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia.