South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands

Day 1 Depart to Falkland Islands

Board your indpendent flight from Santiago de Chile to Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands. In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, experience Falkland culture, which has some South- American characteristics as well as Victorian charm.In Stanley and the surrounding area you can see quite an important number of stranded clippers from a century ago.

In the afternoon, embark in Port Stanley and in the evening set sail to South Georgia.

Days 2-3 At Sea

At sea, across the Southern Atlantic Ocean, in the Westerlies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels. At sea, on your way to South Georgia cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop by as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.

Days 4-7 South Georgia

In South Georgia visit the bay of Elsehul, with it´s very active fur seal breeding beach, and then take course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour and Cooper Bay to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Elephant seals, King and Macaroni Penguins. At Fortuna Bay try to follow in the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stømness Bay. There and at Grytviken you’ll see and abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken you´ll also visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton´s grave near by. One of the highlights might be your visit to Prion Island, where you will witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays.

Day 8 At Sea

At sea to the rarely visited South Sandwich Islands.

Days 9-10 South Sandwich Islands

At the rarely visited and uninhabited South Sandwich Islands (British Territory), where your ship will try to land on Zavadovski Island, home to over a million pairs of breeding Chinstrap Penguins, making it one of the world's largest penguin colonies. Other landings will be pursued on the steep-sided Candlemas Island, Saunders Island, Montague Island and/or Southern Thule, depending on weather and landing conditions. These volcanic islands, discovered by James Cook in 1775, with an ice cap on the top, 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 and Chinstrap Penguins and Southern Giant Petrels. Elephant Seals and Fur Seals also haul out at the beaches.

Days 11-14 At Sea

On your way to Port Stanley you are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Southern Atlantic.

Day 15 Falkland Islands / Chile

Disembarkation and transfer to the international airport Mount Pleasant and flight to Santiago de Chile (included in the ship’s passage price).