Antarctic Expedition - Ushuaia Roundtrip

Embark at Ushuaia, Argentina and prepare for memorable exploits amid the extremes of this southerly location - as you adventure into the colossal scenery of the fractured Tierra del Fuego and beyond. Known as the 'End of the World'.

Set sail on your initial transit, familiarise yourself with the elegant Silver Explorer and the Expedition Team members. Partake in wildlife, geography and history discussions hosted by your expert Team Members and naturalists and attend talks by your guest lecturers preparing you for the exciting adventures that lie ahead.

The Drake Passage has a notorious reputation for its turbulent seas due to the westerly winds and the funnelling effect of the passage, but with modern navigational aids and stabilizers Silver Cloud brings you safely across these southern waters.

Spend some time on deck watching the horizon and the variety of seabirds that glide in the air currents of our ship’s wake -such as the Black-browed Albatross, Cape Petrels, White-chinned Petrels and Sooty Shearwaters.

Start your Antarctic experiences at the top of the Antarctic Peninsula, venturing into Antarctic Sound and its magnificent array of tabular icebergs, historical sites and Adelie and gentoo penguin rookeries.

Depending on weather and ice conditions you may visit Brown Bluff, Hope Bay and cruise the Antarctic Sound. Brown Bluff, (a 2,200-foot bluff on the Antarctic continent) is an ice-capped, 745-metre-high, flat-topped mountain with a prominent cliff of reddish-brown volcanic rock. The coastal area at the base of Brown Bluff is used by Adelie and gentoo penguins, kelp gulls, and Cape petrels as a breeding area. Under good climatic conditions a walk onto a nearby glacier might be feasible.

Hope Bay has one of the largest Adelie penguin colonies in Antarctica and a Zodiac cruise past the Argentine Station “Esperanza” shows some of the penguins, Weddell seals and blue-eyed shags.

While sailing in Antarctica’s vast white wilderness, your itinerary is flexible and in the true spirit of expedition cruising, each day the Expedition Leader and Captain determine the best course depending on weather, ice conditions and wildlife you may encounter. Unseen by humans until 1820 - a blink of an eye ago in relative terms - this is an adventure sure to make your hairs stand on end, as you experience the thrill of the truly unknown and extraordinary. The vast peninsula is sprinkled with research bases, which are at the frontline of human scientific endeavor, pushing to study and understand this unique landscape, its exceptional wildlife, and the impact that humans are having on this pristine continent.
 

End your Antarctic sojourn in the South Shetland Islands. Lying close to the northwestern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, separated by the Bransfield Strait, the South Shetland Islands. ing George Island is the largest and most hospitable island, hosting the majority of the research stations - some of which are populated all-year-round by tiny, hardy crews. Don’t be fooled though, these islands offer extraordinary adventure in one of the most remote locations on earth. The triple peaks of Mount Foster tower above the archipelago, and you’ll feel your heart pumping a little quicker, as you sail into the core of Deception Island’s magnificent collapsed volcano caldera.

Navigating your return through the Drake Passage, watch for seabirds and wildlife you may have missed on your initial crossing. There are opportunities to attend additional presentations offered by the Expedition Team lecturers and to edit the many photos taken as you travel towards Ushuaia. 

After breakfast, disembark Silver Explorer.