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 remainder of the evening is at your leisure. 

You will have some time this morning to shop for any last-minute items and take a final look around town before departing in the afternoon. This afternoon, take an included transfer from your hotel to the port and board the Ocean Endeavour. Meet your expert crew and take a tour of the amenities and services available on the ship. 

In the evening, set off through the Beagle Channel and towards the legendary Drake Passage. Join your shipmates and meet the polar crew this evening for drinks and a Captain’s Welcome.

Set your eyes on the incredible terrain of the world’s most southern land. Get ready for onshore exploration over the next four days, stepping off the ship and into a Zodiac and taking your first steps on the Antarctic Peninsula. There are a number of potential landing sites and the crew will make a decision on which will be visited based on conditions. Enjoy Zodiac rides to get closer to marine life such as whales and seals, onshore exploration at penguin rookeries and optional activities such as snowshoeing, kayaking and camping overnight (these must be booked before departure). Wildlife encounters on the Antarctic Peninsula are likely to include Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals; Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins; and elephant seals. If the weather conditions make an excursion unsafe, the crew will arrange for alternative activities on the ship – such as wildlife presentations, documentary screenings or you can make the most of the wellness spa, heated pool and sauna, library and gym onboard.

Leave the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands behind as the ship charts a course for historic Elephant Island. If conditions permit, the crew will attempt to take the Zodiacs to Point Wild.

Elephant Island has its place firmly etched in polar history, as this is where Shackleton’s crew from the 1914-17 Trans-Antarctic Expedition took refuge when their ship, The Endurance, was crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea. They set up camp at Point Wild, a harsh and inhospitable place and waited for over four months, whilst Shackleton sailed with 5 other men in the James Laird lifeboat to South Georgia. This is one of the most incredible adventure stories and most heroic survival stories of all times.

Leaving Elephant Island, chart a course northeast towards South Georgia. Learn to identify the seabirds that follow in the wake of the ship or glide alongside the vessel including albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels. Look out for whales and dolphins as you enjoy the silence of the sea.

Attend lectures and presentations by the Expedition Team as they prepare you for what lies ahead on South Georgia – from the history and geology to the incredible wildlife. Take in the panoramic views from the observation lounge and spacious decks, or make the most of the onboard facilities that include a spa, saunas, pool, gym and yoga classes.
 

South Georgia captivates every traveler that steps foot on its shores. Home to the greatest concentration of wildlife on the planet, here penguins number in the hundreds of thousands, blanketing beaches as far as the eye can see. Aim to spend four days exploring this stunningly beautiful island, an island that is not only overrun with an incredible array of fauna but one that is steeped in history. South Georgia was an intrinsic part of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated Endurance Expedition and was once the center of the whaling industry.

South Georgia is home to over 30 million breeding birds, thousands of seals, the introduced Norwegian reindeer, nesting sites of the wandering albatross, four breeding species of penguin and the largest colony of king penguins on this planet. It is known as the ‘Galapagos of the South. If the wildlife is not enough of a drawcard - then the spectacular scenery against which it is set can only enhance your visit - emerald green bays, snow-covered peaks, and blue glacier ice.

Explore by Zodiac and kayak and on foot, with opportunities to learn more about photography from one of your expert guides. Every day provides a different experience and a different location. Stand in awe among tens of thousands of penguins, look out across beaches carpeted with elephant seals, visit the remains of abandoned whaling stations and even the grave of Shackleton himself.

Saying goodbye to the wildlife of South Georgia, head west towards the isolated and sparsely populated Falklands archipelago, where the silence is broken only by the call of birds. Attend lectures and presentations by the Expedition Team, relax and unwind in the saunas and spa, and take advantage of all the other amenities on board.

Have your camera at the ready on your approach to the ruggedly beautiful Falklands archipelago to capture not only the abundant wildlife but also the incredible scenery. Over the next couple of days, explore the East and West Falkland Islands by Zodiac and on foot as you make daily shore landings and maybe even discover smaller inlets by kayak.

Learn about the intriguing and controversial history of the Falkland Islands as we explore the quaint capital of Port Stanley, with its British outpost feel. Near the town, you may see Southern Giant Petrels, the endemic Falkland Steamer Ducks, Kelp Gulls, and Dolphin Gulls. There are also Black-crowned Night Herons, Red-backed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, and Turkey Vultures.

As you explore the islands, look out for the five species of penguins found here, large populations of Black-browed Albatross, elephant and fur seals, Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins, orcas, and a myriad of bird species including the Falkland’s Flightless Steamer Duck, Imperial Shags, and Cobb’s Wrens.

Cruise towards Ushuaia with time to reflect on the spectacular scenery and the multitude of wildlife you've encountered during the voyage, as well as on the endeavors of legendary explorers like Shackleton.

You are scheduled to arrive in Ushuaia early this morning and disembark after a final breakfast on board the Ocean Endeavour.