The early season marks the beginning of the wildlife-migration and commencement of the breeding cycle for many species. In South Georgia, scenes of male elephant seal battling for control of the beaches, and the beautiful courtship rituals of the albatross. This is a dynamic time to experience the Antarctic eco-system. Penguins are returning and nesting precious eggs. Seals are on the move and busy feeding. Early season whales are starting to return. Explore onshore in the company of expert guides – including naturalists, marine biologists, ornithologists. An additional highlight of this departure will be the onboard photography symposium open to all guests. The members of the photographic team each have a special area of expertise including wildlife photography, landscape, and composition, along with technical elements. For the photography buffs, this trip is not to be missed!
Highlights
Admire the fantastic glaciated scenery of the Antarctic Peninsula
View incredible wildlife on shore and from the ship
Visit historic sites and world famous science stations
Learn about the environment, history and photography from on board experts
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, Chile, where your Antarctic journey commences, make your way to the hotel for an included pre-voyage stay. This evening, you are encouraged to visit the welcome desk set up in the lobby of the hotel to check in with the representative and to collect luggage tags for your voyage. Punta Arenas is the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, facilitating easy exploration of the region pre-voyage.
Your journey begins this morning in a central location with a transfer to the pier to embark your expedition ship. After settling into your cabins and exploring the new surroundings, meet your expedition team and fellow passengers. Excitement is in the air as you enjoy a welcome refreshment and set sail. No doubt, everyone will be looking forward to the adventure ahead.
Sailing east towards the Falkland Islands you will be joined by hundreds of seabirds, including the wandering albatross, who you'll come to know well on this journey. Giant petrels and smaller Cape petrels are also constant companions. Photographing these magnificent birds from the deck of the ship takes patience and skill and your photography expert will be on hand to show you the best techniques. Join the ship’s Captain on the bridge and learn about the operations of the modern research vessel. Throughout the day your onboard experts educate you with a series of presentations about the environment, wildlife and history of the Southern Ocean and the locations you can hope to visit in the coming days.
Arrive in the Falkland Islands overnight, launch the zodiacs and make your first shore excursion this morning. The plan is to explore several locations in the West Falkland archipelago. These remote islands are home to a proliferation of seabirds and migratory birds including the stunning black-browed albatross. The first penguin sightings will be on West Point Island with its bustling rookeries of rockhoppers. On Carcass Island or Saunders Island, you may observe nesting Magellanic penguins as well as oystercatchers, geese and the striated caracara – a bird of prey. The following morning you arrive in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands Islands. As you wander through the charming streets of brightly painted houses, learn how this quiet harbor was once a major port in the 19th century for tall ships rounding the fabled Cape Horn. There are several interesting activities to enjoy today. Stanley has an excellent museum that outlines the historic events that took place during the conflict with Argentina in 1982. The waterfront memorial built to commemorate the lives of the British servicemen killed during the war is a sobering reminder of recent history. Stanley’s famed philatelic museum with its impressive collection of historic stamps is another interesting diversion.
Chart a southeasterly course bound for South Georgia. The seabirds once again join you in the Southern Ocean. The educational presentations continue and are always popular. History is a key theme of this voyage and the epic story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the HMS Endurance expedition is central to any trip to South Georgia. Perhaps you will pick up some valuable tips from the onboard photographic guide, learning about image composition, the subtle polar light and all the basics of good camera craft. Also, learn about polar conservation - a theme particularly close to the hearts of the guides and crew.
South Georgia has often been called the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’ – and as you approach the deep bays of this rugged, rocky outcrop, you will begin to see why. Launching the Zodiacs begin your exploration of the island, in the vicinity of Elsehul Bay. Large numbers of fur seals and the much larger elephant seal will line the dark sand beaches. Living in the tussock grass, king penguins and their chicks may number up to 100,000 birds in some locations, including Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay, and Gold Harbour. The island is also home to large numbers of nesting albatross as they fill the skies above, coming and going from the nest. South Georgia is a thrilling location for history lovers and the rusting relics of the early whaling industry are all around us. Observe several of the old stations at locations including Leith, Husvik and Stromness. A highlight is a visit toGrytviken – the largest of the whaling stations, situated at the head of Cumberland Bay. Visit the gravesite of Sir Ernest Shackleton. For many, being in the presence of the great explorer will be a highlight of the trip. An excellent museum atGrytviken, maintained by the South Georgia Heritage Trust and the restored church built by the original Norwegian whales provides a fascinating glimpse into the past.
Weather and ice will dictate your crossing of the Scotia Sea from south Georgia to Antarctica, leading you perhaps to the South Orkney Islands or Elephant Island. As with all of the itinerary planning, the Expedition Leader and Captain will make a decision based on the conditions at the time. The South Orkney islands represent the peaks of a submarine mountain range called the Scotia Arc, connecting South Georgia to the South Shetland Islands. Often shrouded in fog and surrounded by ice much of the year, a chance to visit these islands doesn’t come often. As you edge ever closer to the frozen continent, large icebergs announce your arrival in Antarctic waters. If conditions allow, see the dark cliffs of Elephant Island appear on the horizon. Shackleton and his men were encamped here for many months, having lost HMS Endurance in the thick sea ice, far to the south in the Weddell Sea in 1915. From the tiny beach at Point Wild, Shackleton and five companions set off on the rescue mission to South Georgia, aboard the tiny lifeboat, James Caird. To this day, the epic ocean crossing is considered one of the greatest in history. If conditions allow, attempt a landing at Point Wild on Elephant Island.
Around 60 miles off the coast of the Antarctic mainland find the South Shetland Island chain. Possible landing sites could include King George Island, Half Moon Island or Yankee Harbour. Weather conditions permitting, sail the ship into the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island. There are some outstanding hikes at these locations and the old whaling station and aircraft hangar at Deception Island beg for further exploration.
Sailing northeast towards the Falkland Islands you'll be joined by hundreds of seabirds, including the wandering albatross, who you come to know well on this journey. Giant petrels and smaller Cape petrels are also constant companions. As you make, your way back to Stanley, the educational presentations continue, and you can enjoy an entertaining and memorable voyage recap by the Expedition Leader. Join the photography experts at the multimedia station and download your precious images. Approaching the coast of the Falkland Islands in the early evening light, enjoy a special dinner attended by the Captain of the ship.
Day 20: Arrive Stanley | Disembark | Fly to Santiago, Chile
1 Breakfast
This morning find yourself in the port of Stanley. Say goodbye to the crew and make your way to the airport for your return private charter to Santiago (this flight is included in the price of your voyage). On arrival in Santiago, your journey comes to an end. Onward regional and international flight connection may be possible this evening. A transfer is provided to a downtown location for those choosing to stay and explore Santiago and the delights of Chile.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$20,695
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Main Deck Triple
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Twin Private Cabin
Twin Private cabins are located on Deck 4 and have the option for either a queen or two single configured beds. Features include a comfortable lounge adjacent to the large picture window, writing desk and chair, ample storage and private washroom facilities with shower.
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Superior Cabin
Located forward on Deck 5 the Superior cabins have the option for either a queen or two single beds. Features include a comfortable lounge adjacent to the large picture window, writing desk and chair, ample storage and private washroom facilities with shower.
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Superior Plus Cabin
Superior Plus cabins are located midships on Deck 5. They are spacious and well appointed with the option for either a queen or two single beds. A comfortable lounge is placed by the large picture window, writing desk and chair, ample floor to ceiling cabinet storage and private washroom facilities with shower.
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Shackleton Suite
The Shackleton Suites are situated on Deck 6. Suites include the comfort of a sectional lounge, writing desk, substantial floor to ceiling cabinetry, and washroom facilities with shower. A flat screen entertainment system is also included. Sleeping quarters feature the option for either a queen or two single beds with upgraded linen/ pillows.
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One Ocean Suite
The One Ocean Suites are situated on Deck 6 and offer an indulgent amount of space. Sleeping quarters feature a queen size bed with upgraded linen/pillows. Included is a comfortable sectional lounge with matching club chairs, a large desk, expansive floor to ceiling cabinetry, and spacious washroom facilities with both a shower and bathtub.
Notes
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy.
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
