Antarctica, the Southern Ocean and South Sandwich Islands

Arrive and embark in Ushuaia, Argentina - the world’s southernmost city. Explore bustling downtown, or the laid-back local countryside. Alternatively, consider a day trip off the beaten path into the raw, untamed nature of Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is a hiker's paradise with rugged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, flower-filled meadows and ancient forests.

The ship modern expedition vessel awaits in port, and guests embark the ship by mid-afternoon. An arranged transfers from the city center to the ship. After being shown to your stateroom you are given the mandatory safety briefing, while the captain gets ready to steer out into the South Atlantic Ocean. 

Your journey begins as you navigate through the tranquil Beagle Channel, the strait marking the Chile-Argentina border in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago.

During our time at sea, a variety of activities can be arranged on board which can provide the perfect opportunity to socialize with your passionate fellow travelers. Enjoy the fascinating lectures by our onboard Expedition Team, visit our shop, or indulge in the vessel’s purpose-built leisure facilities, designed to provide a comfortable, relaxing day whatever you choose to do.

As you arrive in the Falkland Islands you can deploy our Zodiacs for the first landing of our voyage, landing in the sparsely inhabited and nature-rich western part of the archipelago. 

On the following day you can cast anchor and Zodiac ashore in the sheltered natural harbor of Stanley, a quaint and very British outpost in the south Atlantic. The city is walkable, with colorful houses and cozy pubs lining the streets. This tiny capital has plenty on offer to visitors, from rugged scenery, local history and culture to excellent shopping and locally brewed beers. Wildlife watchers could encounter the endemic flightless steamer duck in the harbor, as well as the delicate dolphin gull, while fur seals are often found snoozing on our landing pier.

Heading due East, expect the vessel be followed by numerous black-browed albatross and giant petrels. As you cross the Antarctic convergence the quantity of wildlife increase; a variety of whale and dolphin species and a plethora of seabirds can be expected in these cold nutrient-rich waters. You can pass Shag Rocks on our way to South Georgia where huge flocks of seabirds feed on krill in between large packs of fur seals. Join your onboard Expedition Team to hear about the species and ecology of this unique region.

The forbidding glacier-clad peaks of South Georgia can be the setting for the next days of our expedition. Lying in the Southern Ocean below the Antarctic convergence, these frigid seas are teeming with life. The island, often referred to as “The Galapagos of the Poles”, can only be reached by ship. There is no permanent human settlement (other than visiting scientists and conservationists), but penguins, seabirds and seals breed in the millions. The difficulty of accessing this remote outposts and the regulations in place to protect the delicate environment makes South Georgia one of the least-visited tourist destinations in the world. Once a global whaling capital, today the island has been left to recover from human over-exploitation, and intensive conservation efforts have resulted in dramatic increases in whale, and bird populations. The itinerary and activities over the next couple of days are largely dependent on the weather and the sea conditions, which dictate all aspects of life here; your onboard team work hard to ensure you can experience the best of South Georgia’s unparalleled nature.

Potential landing sites include Salisbury Plain, home to one of the largest king penguin colonies on the island, estimated to number up to half a million birds. At this time of the year the beaches can also be crowded with plenty of young and very curious Antarctic fur seals as well as hulking southern elephant seals.

Another possible landing site is Prion Island, a reserve for the wandering albatross. The site is closed until the end of January to protect the breeding birds, and visiting late in the season allows you unique access. This is one of the few sites where one can observe these gentle giants (with the largest wingspan of any bird) up close. Gentoo penguins, giant petrels and Antarctic prions also breed on the island.

The British administration at Grytviken is also a popular stop. Once a Norwegian whaling station specializing in industrialized slaughter, Grytviken now serves as the hub of island conservation, and the preserved ruins of the whaling station and the excellent South Georgia Museum offer a unique glimpse into the island’s industrial past. Legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton (whose heroism is synonymous with the island) is buried in the small graveyard – a fence keeps out the ever-present penguins and seals. The endemic South Georgia pipit and South Georgia pintail may be seen around the buildings; once almost eradicated, these birds have benefitted hugely from the eradication of rats on the island, and these endemic birds are now once again a common sight.

Leaving the jagged peaks of South Georgie behind, you venture further East towards the South Sandwich Islands, the least visited part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia. While these remote seas can be rough, the unique backward sloping bow of the ship and her efficient stabilizers reduces vibration and wave action, ensuring a comfortable crossing. En route to the next set of remote islands, you have plenty of time to edit your photos of the wildlife and stunning landscapes from the first half of the voyage. Our onboard photographer offer you help, tips and tricks to improve your picture taking and editing skills. Guests can attend high quality lectures on geology, meteorology, ornithology, marine mammals as well as the exploration history of the Southern Ocean. From the upper decks you can study the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters taking advantage of the ship to hunt for food in the vast emptiness of the South Atlantic.

Venture further East towards the South Sandwich Islands, the least visited part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia.

Leaving the South Sandwich Islands behind you the 60th parallel south, signaling our departure from British Overseas Territories and into the jurisdiction of the Antarctic Treaty. While you have been in the Antarctic region for several days, you now enter true Antarctic waters. Expect to see brutal steel-grey seas, soaring giant petrels, and vast icebergs studding the sea on our journey to the Antarctic Peninsula. During our time at sea, a variety of activities can be arranged on board, providing the perfect opportunity to socialize with fellow travelers. As the white shimmer of Antarctica looms on our horizon, the volume of wildlife increase tenfold with lively penguins, inquisitive seals, and the plumes of whales inviting you on towards the ice.

Over the coming days, you can begin our exciting Antarctic experience at the very tip of the Continent. The itinerary and activities over the next few days depend on weather and ice conditions. The route and shore landings are determined by the Captain and Expedition Leader and communicated to the guests through regularly scheduled briefings. Wildlife abounds on the Antarctic Peninsula: leopard, fur, crabeater and Weddell seals are common throughout the peninsula; humpback whales come to feed in the rich waters of the Gerlache Strait; penguin colonies cling to rocky outcrops warmed by the sun, and orcas hunt for prey in the frigid depths. Our program in Antarctica is aim to include a mixture of sites to give guests the best possible range of experiences; these may include historical sites, wildlife colonies, or areas with particularly spectacular scenery.

Today, you depart Antarctica and spend two days at sea on our way back to the calmer waters of the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia, Argentina. En route, you can cross the Drake Passage and cruise past Cape Horn, a legendary maritime landmark and the southern tip of South America. During our time at sea, a variety of activities are be arranged on board providing the perfect opportunity to dwell on some of the fantastic moments you have witnessed during this exceptional voyage.

After a hearty farewell to the vessel and crew, you disembark the ship in Ushuaia, departing with memories of the voyage of a lifetime across the Southern Ocean.