Antarctica Solar Eclipse

On arrival at Ushuaia Airport, make your way through to the Arrivals Hall where your representative will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel. The first night of your voyage is spent in the quaint town of Ushuaia, the most southerly city in the world, and the capital of Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire).

The remainder of the day is at leisure and you are free to explore, perhaps making a few last-minute purchases from the many shops or artisan markets or relaxing in a café. Visit the excellent museums along the main street, Avenida San Martin, or wander the streets and take in the town’s dramatic setting, with views of the mountains to the north and the Beagle Channel to the south.

This morning is free for you to explore Ushuaia, giving you time to wander the streets of this quaint port town, or discover Tierra del Fuego National Park. Transfer to the pier of Ushuaia for embarkation in the late afternoon. You will be welcomed on board the Ocean Endeavour by the Expedition Team and the Ship’s Officers. This evening set sail through the Beagle Channel that was named after the British ship the HMS Beagle. This famous channel transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America, and is rich in wildlife. Keep a look out for Magellanic penguins, rock cormorants, petrels and black-browed albatross from the deck as well as sea lion colonies.

En route to the Eclipse location, your time at sea can be filled with presentations from your onboard team of experts or enjoy photography and bird watching from the warmth of the viewing space on the Ocean Endeavour’s spacious bridge as albatross and other seabirds circle the ship and spot whales. On this special voyage, talks from the resident astrophysicists and meteorologists will prepare you for the incredibly rare event that lays ahead and evening programming will see a chance for a casual drink at the bar while you get to know your shipmates and guides.

During the early hours of the fifth expedition day, you will be invited onto the deck of the Ocean Endeavour to view the incredibly rare spectacle that is an Antarctic Total Solar Eclipse. During the night, the ship will have sailed well into the zone of 100% obscuration, the navigators precisely measuring longitude in conjunction with local weather events to allow a viewing for approximately 1 and a half minutes - the longest possible for the region. Also on deck will be the resident experts in astrophysics and meteorology as well as the team of photography guides to interpret this astronomical phenomenon and instruct on how best to capture a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Following the early start to the day, the ship will turn back to face the west and you'll have an opportunity to rest and review your photographs while aiming to reach the historic Elephant Island.

Join the crew on the bridge this morning as you scan the horizon for your first sighting of land since South America, when icebergs may well appear in numbers and when you first lay eyes on the continent of Antarctica. The Ocean Endeavour’s navigators will be aiming for the historic Elephant Island – a place central to the incredible survival story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men who used this very island as a camp and rendezvous point during the final and harrowing legs of their epic Endurance saga. Either from the ship or from zodiacs, you’ll witness Point Wild – the very place where Shackleton’s men clung to rocks for several months in anticipation of his return from South Georgia. Ashore, a monument marks this site and the incredible feat of survival that surmises their astonishing journey.

The eighth day of your voyage will see the ship turn south and sail toward the eastern side of Joinville Island, at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Far less trodden than the western shores, this area affords time to truly explore some of the world’s most remote and rugged beaches and islands. This area is home to some of the largest Adelie penguin colonies on Earth which attract an abundance of leopard seals and other marine fauna. On this day, you’ll be in true expedition mode as you take the opportunity to visit this remote region on your way further south.

Perhaps the most profound experience and when the sights and sounds of the Antarctic really come to life is upon visiting one’s first gentoo penguin colony. Here, on the Peninsula’s western side, explore some of the continent’s most famous locations where tens of thousands of penguins find a rare piece of bare rock on which to nest for the summer months. At this time of year, penguins will be sharing incubating responsibilities and perhaps a few tiny penguin chicks will be appearing. Jumping out of a zodiac onto a beach laden with these vast congregations of birds makes for an unforgettable immersion into the Antarctic ecosystem and a sensory experience like none other! In addition to the penguins, on this voyage, explore glacial faces, channels and bays of the Peninsula offering you the chance to witness icebergs of every description and to get up close and personal with the various seal species that call this part of the continent home. Along the way, your expedition team will be constantly scouting for those leviathans of the ocean – the thousands of humpback whales that migrate to this part of the world at this time of year to feed on krill.

After turning north again, your voyage will take you to the rugged, windswept vistas of the South Shetland Islands. Home to some peculiar species including elephant seals and fur seals, these islands also boast a water-bound volcano, a string of scientific bases and some of the best sunsets the Antarctic has to offer – making for a fantastic way to round out your excursions and take to the deck of the Ocean Endeavour for a toast to the Antarctic at sundown.

Leaving the Antarctic Peninsula behind, head back across the Drake Passage. This is another great opportunity to look out for wildlife from the deck of the ship, as you identify seabirds and maybe whales with the help of your Expedition Team. Gain more insight into the region by attending final lectures and presentations by the polar experts and take time to relax and reminisce about your Antarctic experiences. By the evening you can hope to be back in the tranquil waters of the Beagle Channel, ensuring a restful night's sleep on board.

You are scheduled to arrive into Ushuaia early this morning, disembarking after a final breakfast aboard the Ocean Endeavour.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight, or maybe spend a few days in Ushuaia, giving you time to explore further, maybe hiking in Tierra del Fuego National park.