Upon arrival in Ushuaia, a representative greets you and accompanies you, along with your fellow expeditioners, to your designated pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, please proceed directly to your hotel. Check-in is available from 3:00 pm onwards. Later in the afternoon, between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm, the team invites you to visit the hospitality desk located in the hotel lobby. Here, you can collect your luggage tags and confirm your participation in the Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise scheduled for the following day. The team provides detailed information about your embarkation day, addresses any inquiries you may have, and offers recommendations on dining options or any last-minute purchases.

Expeditioners arriving after 7:00 pm receive a welcome pack upon check-in. The team kindly requests that you visit the hospitality desk the following day between 8:00 am and 10:00 am.

For the remainder of the day, you are free to explore Ushuaia at your leisure. Please note that all meals today will be at your own expense.

Included accommodation in Ushuaia will be provided upon confirmation.

This morning, enjoy breakfast before checking out. Ensure your cabin luggage has tags clearly labeled with your name and cabin number. Drop it off at the hotel reception before or during check-out. Your luggage will be securely stored and transferred to the port for clearance, arriving in your cabin before embarkation. Keep valuables and personal items with you throughout the day.

Guests joining the Lake Escondido tour should meet in the hotel lobby at 8:45 am. This excursion offers a breathtaking panoramic journey through glacial valleys, lush forests, waterfalls, and rivers set against the grandeur of the Andes. Traveling northeast from Ushuaia, pass through peat bog valleys before ascending the winding road to Garibaldi Pass, a spectacular viewpoint overlooking Lake Escondido. If weather permits, you may also glimpse the vast Fagnano Lake. Continuing your descent, reach Fagnano’s shore and visit a local ranch, where you can admire the landscape and savor a traditional Fuegian lamb barbecue. After some free time, return to Ushuaia for embarkation.

Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely day before meeting in your hotel lobby or at the designated parking lot near the pier (the ground staff will provide details) for transfer to the port.

Once onboard, settle into your cabin before attending mandatory briefings. As the ship departs, gather on deck to take in the breathtaking views of Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego, marking the beginning of your Antarctic adventure.

This evening, join your fellow expeditioners, expedition team, and crew for a welcome dinner as you celebrate the start of this extraordinary journey.

As you commence the Drake Passage crossing, make the most of your time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. The expedition team will prepare you for the first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start the lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife, and environment.

Your wildlife experiences will begin as you enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following the vessel. On sea days, you can enjoy the facilities on board the vessel, including the gym, sauna, and jacuzzis or relax in one of the observation lounges.

Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on the afternoon of day four, the excitement will be palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks watching for your first iceberg. The ocean will take on a whole new perspective once you are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, travelers may attempt first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.

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 freshest, 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 us. Because you are so far south, experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.  Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities.

Travelers generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals, and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of the favorite spots along the peninsula. 

While ashore you aim to stretch your legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you can have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course, keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting!

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. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendor. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from the summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.

As you sail towards the South Sandwich Islands, enjoy informative and entertaining lectures from the expedition team and learn about the wildlife, history, and culture of the places you visit on the voyage. You can use the sauna and jacuzzis, stay active in the gym, borrow a book from the well-stocked library, and relax in one of the many observation areas on board the vessel.

On Captain James Cook’s second voyage of discovery (1772–1775), he circumnavigated the globe in high southern latitudes, without seeing land, casting doubt on the existence of the Antarctic continent, which at that time was still unknown. It was during this voyage Cook discovered the South Sandwich Islands and landed on South Georgia Island, describing them as, ‘Lands doomed by Nature to perpetual frigidness: never to feel the warmth of the sun’s rays; whose horrible and savage aspects I have not words to describe.’

He named the South Sandwich Islands for Lord Sandwich, they are considered together with South Georgia, as a UK Dependent Territory (see above), and are uninhabited. Although Cook sighted a number of the islands, several more were not discovered until Bellingshausen visited in 1819.

Located about 740 km / 460 mi south-east of South Georgia, the islands form a chain some 350 km / 220 mi long, comprising 11 large and several smaller islands with a total area of about 600 sq. km / 230 sq. mi. Most are ice-capped, and the tallest peak, on Montagu Island, reaches 1,370 m / 4,500 ft. The climate is cold, with frequent snow and strong winds.

The islands are volcanic in origin and some remain active. The island of Zavodovski, for instance, appears in constant eruption and reeks of rotten eggs (the volcano itself is named Mt. Asphyxia), while the islands of Visokoi, Candlemas, Saunders, and Bellingshausen all show definite signs of activity. Bristol, Cook, and Thule islands are heavily glaciated and show no signs of warmth or activity. All the islands are steep-sided above the water, and fall away rapidly into deep water (more than 1,500 m / 5,000 ft).

In this wild environment, nature determines what you can do and see. If conditions allow, you can explore the dramatic coastline of some of the islands on board the ship or by Zodiac. These islands are little known, although the British Antarctic Survey has undertaken some limited biological and geological work there, mainly in the 1960s. Vegetation is very sparse. But at least one extraordinary wildlife spectacle: Zavodovski Island supports a chinstrap penguin colony with around one million penguins on its steep volcanic slopes—those who have seen this massive penguin colony speak of it with awe. 

Reflect over a few drinks on the adventures of your time spent in the South Sandwich Islands and hear tales of exploration and discovery from the onboard experts as you prepare for your exciting days in 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. 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.

You Zodiacs will also transport you 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 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.

As you sail towards the Falklands~Malvinas, there is plenty to keep you occupied on board.

The expedition team will continue to share their wealth of knowledge about the wildlife, history, and natural world as part of the onboard lecture series. You can have ample time to enjoy observing seabirds from the stern of the ship, keeping a close watch for whales and other marine wildlife, or simply enjoying the many facilities available to you on the ship.

Sea and weather conditions will determine your arrival time into the Falklands-Malvinas today.

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 the largest black-browed albatross colony on Earth. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location for spotting marine life.

There are many beautiful areas for you 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 from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing winds, weather, and wildlife opportunities.

Generally, landings or Zodiac excursions are made twice a day. Even though you are north of the Antarctic Convergence, it can be quite chilly here, so be sure 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 shore, where you may be able to visit albatross colonies, penguin rookeries, and perhaps even enjoy a traditional English ‘tea and scones’ at a local cottage.

Conditions permitting, hope to land in historic Stanley, the capital of the Falklands~Malvinas. This charming town has a distinctly British character, with terraced townhouses, pioneer cottages, and even an iconic red telephone box! Colourful 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.

As you sail towards Ushuaia, you can choose to spend your precious time editing photos, enjoying the onboard facilities, or attending final lectures. Celebrate the end of an unforgettable voyage with newfound friends at a special Captain’s farewell dinner.

With lectures and film presentations to complete the Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time for you to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. Take this opportunity for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced. The team hopes you become ambassadors for the Antarctic region, 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.

During the early morning, cruise up the Beagle Channel before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where you can 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.

Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before 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.