South Georgia, Falklands & Antarctic Odyssey

Upon arrival in Ushuaia, a representative meets and transfers you to the assigned pre-voyage hotel. If already in the city, please proceed directly to the hotel, where check-in begins at 3:00 pm. Between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, visit the hospitality desk in the lobby to collect luggage tags and confirm interest in the Lake Escondido pre-embarkation tour scheduled for tomorrow. The team confirms details regarding embarkation day, answers questions, and provides information on dining or purchasing last-minute items. For arrivals after 7:00 pm, a welcome pack awaits at check-in; please visit the hospitality desk the following morning between 8:00 am and 8:45 am. The remainder of the day is at leisure, with all meals at personal expense.

Start the morning with breakfast and check-out. Ensure cabin luggage bears tags clearly labeled with your name and cabin number. Please leave your luggage at the hotel reception prior to or upon check-out; it is then stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance and placement in your cabin. Keep all valuables and personal items with you throughout the day.

For those joining the Lake Escondido tour, please meet in the hotel lobby at 8:45 am. This excursion features a panoramic drive through glacial valleys, evergreen and deciduous forests, waterfalls, and rivers within the vast Andes Mountain Range. Departing Ushuaia to the northeast of Tierra del Fuego, travel through peat bog valleys to reach Garibaldi Pass via a winding road leading to a panoramic viewpoint. Here, marvel at views of Lake Escondido and, weather permitting, Fagnano Lake. The descent towards the northeast leads to the shores of Fagnano Lake to visit a local ranch. After appreciating the landscape, savor a typical Fuegian Lamb barbecue. Enjoy some free time before returning to Ushuaia for embarkation.

Alternatively, spend the day at leisure, meeting later at the hotel lobby or the designated point at the parking lot near the pier (details provided by ground staff) for transfer to the ship. Once onboard, take time to settle into your cabin before attending mandatory briefings. As the ship departs, gather on deck to commence the adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening, get to know fellow expeditioners and the expedition team at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of this thrilling Antarctic adventure.

As you commence your trip across the South Atlantic Ocean towards the Falklands~Malvinas, make the most of your time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. The expedition team prepares you with essential wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures for your first landing. It starts the lecture program to help you learn more about the region’s history, wildlife, and environment.

Your wildlife experiences begin as you enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels, following the vessel. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents created by the ship to gain momentum. 

The Falklands~Malvinas comprises two large islands (East and West Falkland), with over 700 islands scattered off the coast. All but seven of these are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white sand beaches, and crystal-clear water. These beautifully barren islands are true wildlife havens, sheltering an impressive diversity of birdlife, including Earth's largest black-browed albatross colony. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location for spotting marine life. 

There are many beautiful areas to explore across the Falklands Malvinas, each offering a unique perspective on this magnificent archipelago. Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage daily, choosing the best options based on the prevailing winds, weather, and wildlife opportunities.
 
You generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Even though you are north of the Antarctic Convergence, it can be pretty chilly here, so you want to layer up before joining Zodiac cruises into rocky coves or along sea cliffs, keeping watch for seals, sea lions, dolphins, and penguins. Zodiacs will also shuttle you from the ship to land, where you may visit albatross colonies and penguin rookeries and perhaps even have a traditional English' tea and scones' at a local cottage.
   
Conditions permitting, you plan to land in historic Stanley, the capital of the Falklands~Malvinas. This charming town is distinctly British, with terraced townhouses, pioneer cottages, and even an iconic red telephone box! Colorful buildings house cozy cafes, English pubs, souvenir shops, a post office, and the fascinating Historic Dockyard Museum, with displays on the maritime history of the Falkland Islands, natural history, and links to Antarctica.
 
If you have chosen an optional activity, you can do that whenever conditions allow. Of course, keen polar plungers will have the chance to immerse themselves in polar waters—conditions permitting! 

Between the Falklands~Malvinas and South Georgia, be enthralled by the ceaseless flight of the many seabirds that follow and circle the ship. The onboard lecture program will continue with presentations from the team of experts. You can also enjoy the many facilities on the ship, borrow a book from the well-stocked library, or perhaps stay active in the fitness center.  

Sea and weather conditions will determine your arrival time into South Georgia today. 

As you near the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In fact, it is a small island only 176 km (110 mi) long, but with a 3,000 m (9,842 ft) snow-capped mountain range, some of the world’s largest congregations of wildlife and a truly fascinating human history, South Georgia is an island of incredible riches. 

On approach, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship. Sail down the coast, taking in the spectacular glaciated scenery. This enchanting coastline is yours to explore! 

If time and weather conditions permit, en route you could pass close to Shag Rocks, a fascinating group of jagged rocky islets protruding from the sea, in the proximity of South Georgia. 

Your experienced expedition team will use their local knowledge to plan your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea state and wildlife opportunities. 

Remember to layer up before joining Zodiac excursions that may zip into craggy coves and along the rocky coastline in search of nesting penguins, seal haul-outs and bird cliffs. Remember to keep an eye out for South Georgia’s kelp forests as well - these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite mesmerizing as their fronds sway back and forth on the water’s surface.  

Zodiacs will also transport ashore, where you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies on Earth, take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals (making sure you listen to your guides and keep your distance!) and wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains. You can also hope to visit the remnants of South Georgia’s thriving whaling stations and pay your respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible voyage of survival is synonymous with this island. If you have chosen an optional activity, you can have the option to do that whenever conditions allow.  

In addition to Zodiac excursions and shore excursions, you may ship cruise through fjords with towering cliffs of ancient stone, or into deeply indented bays towards dramatic glacier fronts. This is a great time to find a comfy spot in the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the Captain’s discretion) to enjoy uninterrupted views of South Georgia’s majestic coast. 

Sea and weather conditions will determine your departure time from South Georgia today. 

Attend informative lectures to learn about Antarctica as you sail across the Scotia Sea towards the white continent. You may want to relax in the sauna and jacuzzis or stay active in the gym; the choice is yours on how you want to enjoy days at sea. 

En route to the Peninsula, if time and weather permits, you may attempt to follow the coastline of Elephant Island, a half-submerged mountain cloaked with an ice sheet at the outer limits of the South Shetland Islands.   

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.  

Once you arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are yours to explore, and you have a host of choices available to you. Because you are so far south, experience nearly 24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.  

Rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Your trusty Zodiacs will also shuttle you ashore, where you may visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of your favorite spots along the peninsula.  

While ashore, you aim to stretch your legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridge lines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below.  

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, you may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales traveling or feeding. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into the sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent. 

Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before you re-enter the Drake Passage for your return journey to South America. 

With lectures and film presentations to complete your Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced. The team hope you become ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.  

As you approach the tip of South America, your Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting. 

During the early morning, cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where you disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as you all continue your onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.   

On disembarkation, passengers on flights departing prior to 2.00 pm will be transferred directly to Ushuaia Airport, while those fortunate enough to be continuing their travels in this spectacular region of the world, will be transferred to their post-voyage Ushuaia accommodation. Passengers flying after 2.00 pm will have time to explore Ushuaia, prior to an afternoon airport transfer, the details of which will be provided onboard prior to disembarkation.  

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, it is not recommended to book flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.