An Emperor Penguin rookery, is situated south of Snow Hill Island. Although we will not be able to reach that far through the ice, we will try to sail between Snow Hill Island and James Ross Island close to the ice-edge and observe the young Emperor Penguins on their way to the open water. If the weather and /or ice-conditions are adverse, we will try again the next day. If on the other hand the weather is great, but we can not find any Emperor Penguins, our program would still unfold on Snow Hill Island with a visit to the historic hut of the Swedish Nordenskjöld Expedition and a visit to Seymour Island in order to see fossils.
Day 1 Embark for Antarctica
In the afternoon, we 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 Crossing the Drake Passage
During these two days we will sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may 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.
Day 4 Weddell Sea
A typical itinerary in the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula could be as follows. This is a sample only, the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.
We will sail into the Weddell Sea and if the Antarctic Sound is accessible and the ice does not prevent us to sail further, we might see the huge tabular icebergs that announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. On Dundee Island, we will to get to the flat area in the west, where the American Lincoln Ellsworth , created a landing strip for his plane, when he began his Trans-Antarctic flight, Nov-Dec 1935. It is a great area for an extensive and easy walk along the coast. We plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins.
Day 5 Snow Hill Island
In the afternoon we visit Snow Hill with the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition. Between Snow Hill Island and James Ross Island we will make our first attempt to observe Emperor Penguins on the ice-edge making their way to open water. In case this should fail we will tray again on day 6. We might also visit Seymour Island, where many fossils can be found, and the Argentinean station Esperanza on the Antarctic Continent, where we can observe Adelie Penguins, Cape Petrels, Pale-faced Sheathbills, Skuas, Kelp Gulls and Antarctic Terns.
Day 6 Devil Island and Vega Island
If the ice allows us to go further into the Weddell Sea area we will visit Devil Island and Vega Island with a large colony of Adelie Penguins and a magnificent view for those hikers who can make it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes provides spectacular waterfall from the cliffs close to point ‘Well-Met'.
Day 7 Penguins Galore
On our way north through the Antarctic Sound we might pay a visit to the Argentinean station Esperanza on the Antarctic Continent. We will still look out for Emperor penguins on the ice-floes. In the afternoon we may visit Gourdin Island, with three penguin species; Chinstraps, Gentoo and Adelies.
Day 8 Graham Land
On rarely visited Astrolabe Island we will see a great variety of Antarctic birds, like breeding Antarctic Fulmars. Late in the afternoon we will sail along the Wright Ice Piedmont at the Antarctic Continent at Graham Land, mapped in the fifties of the last century based on photographs taken between 1955-57. The piedmont was named after the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright who made the first flight with an aero plane in December 1903.
Day 9 Cuverville Island and Neko Harbour
On our way further South we will sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. In Neko Harbour we again will have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers. An alternative could be sailing to Paradise Bay.
We will have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In these areas we have good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.
Day 10 Melchior Islands
After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.
Days 11 - 12 At Sea
Back in the Drake Passage on our way to Ushuaia.
Day 13 Ushuaia
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is 15% total trip cost, 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 70 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 70 days prior to departure.
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Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 60 Days or more | 15% total cost |
| 30-59 Days | 35% total cost |
| 29 Days or less | 100% total cost |
