The Great Austral Loop (Falklands, South Georgia, Antarctic Peninsula)

Set on the windswept shores of the Brunswick Peninsula, this historic port city once served as a vital stop for ships navigating between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, long before the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914.

Arrival takes place in the afternoon, followed by an introduction to the expedition team and fellow travelers. A warm welcome and orientation lead into a festive group dinner, showcasing regional flavors and offering a preview of the journey ahead.

Spend the morning exploring Punta Arenas at leisure—stroll through its colorful streets, relax in a local café, or take in sweeping views over the Strait of Magellan. In the late afternoon, transfer to the pier where the Exploris One awaits, moored at the foot of the city. Step aboard to meet the captain and crew who guide the journey ahead.

As evening falls, the ship sets sail through the legendary, wildlife-rich waters of the Strait of Magellan, bound for the Falkland Islands. From the deck, watch for Magellanic penguins, rock cormorants, petrels, and black-browed albatross gliding overhead, along with the occasional sea lion colony offering a noisy send-off.

As you sail toward the Falkland Islands, take this day at sea to settle into life aboard the Exploris One and get to know your expedition team. This is the perfect opportunity to explore the ship’s inviting spaces, enjoy the view from the outer decks, and connect with fellow travellers.

Join the team of expert naturalists and historians to gain fascinating insights into the region’s wildlife, geology, and human history. Learn about the first archipelago you'll visit on this voyage—the Falkland Islands, or Islas Malvinas, as they are known in Argentina—and what lies ahead.

Spend time on the bridge or out on deck with the team as they scout for seabirds and marine life—your first taste of the remarkable biodiversity of this region.

Have your camera and binoculars ready as you approach the ruggedly beautiful Falkland Islands—a remote archipelago known for its dramatic cliffs, sweeping grasslands, and extraordinary wildlife.

These islands are famed for their vibrant penguin colonies, including gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins—offering a fascinating natural spectacle against a backdrop of wild ocean and wind-swept grass. You’ll explore a variety of landing sites by Zodiac and on foot, with opportunities to hike across open landscapes, paddle through quiet inlets by kayak, and enjoy shore excursions shaped by the weather and wildlife around you.

Look out for large populations of black-browed albatross, Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins, orcas, and a myriad of bird species—including the Falklands’ flightless steamer duck, imperial shags, and Cobb’s wren.

Learn more about the complex and sometimes controversial history of the Falklands and enjoy time to explore the town. Keep your eyes peeled for southern giant petrels, endemic Falkland steamer ducks, kelp and dolphin gulls, black-crowned night herons, red-backed hawks, peregrine falcons, and turkey vultures.

Set sail on an eastward course across the Southern Ocean, bound for South Georgia—home to some of the richest wildlife spectacles on Earth. Over the next two days at sea, you’ll cover more than 1,500 kilometres (837 nautical miles), journeying through open seas rich with history, mystery, and marine life.

This oceanic interlude offers time to slow down, reflect, and connect. Join your expedition team for presentations on the region’s dramatic history, fascinating geology, and the remarkable marine life that may appear along the way. Keep your eyes on the horizon—these waters are home to albatross, petrels, and the occasional sighting of large cetaceans. If whales are spotted, head to the decks to witness their powerful presence firsthand!

Stories of early navigators come alive here—none more compelling than that of Ernest Shackleton, whose fateful expedition passed through these very waters. Like him, you now look toward South Georgia, and if the skies are clear, you may catch the first glimpse of its mountainous outline on the horizon.

South Georgia captivates every traveller who steps foot on its shores. Home to one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on the planet, the island’s beaches are blanketed with hundreds of thousands of penguins as far as the eye can see.

You’ll spend three days exploring this stunningly beautiful island—one that teems with life and is steeped in history. South Georgia played a pivotal role in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary Endurance expedition and was once the heart of the southern whaling industry. You may even have the opportunity to visit the explorer’s final resting place at Grytviken.

Known as the “Galápagos of the South,” South Georgia is home to over thirty million breeding birds, thousands of seals, introduced Norwegian reindeer, and nesting sites of wandering albatross. The island hosts four species of breeding penguins. Watching thousands of them gathered together—sleek, dignified, and dressed in nature’s finest tuxedos—is a sight you won’t soon forget.

Each day offers a new landing and a new perspective. Hike across plains where fur and elephant seals lounge between glacial streams. Marvel at snowy peaks, emerald bays, and electric-blue glacier ice. Visit abandoned whaling stations that speak to a complex past and observe a living world that thrives in one of the planet’s most remote corners.

As you bid farewell to the wildlife haven of South Georgia, you set the course southwest across the Scotia Sea, bound for the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Here, the horizon stretches wide and empty, the silence broken only by the wind and the call of seabirds wheeling overhead.

Join the expedition team for engaging presentations on glaciology, Antarctic wildlife, and the icy ecosystems ahead. Outdoor viewing areas and time on the bridge offer excellent opportunities for spotting seabirds and scanning for icebergs as you cross into polar waters.

Beyond the sixtieth parallel, you may begin to encounter vast tabular icebergs—flat-topped giants calved from the Weddell Sea ice shelves—heralding your approach to Antarctica. As each day passes, you deepen your understanding of this frozen frontier, learning more about the wildlife and natural forces that shape it.

In between lectures and birdwatching, take time to unwind in the ship’s sauna or jacuzzi, connect with fellow travellers, and enjoy the many comforts aboard Exploris One.

Spend four unforgettable days exploring the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula—a region that has captivated explorers for centuries and continues to enchant modern-day travellers.

Antarctica dazzles with its scale and silence. Towering peaks and electric-blue glaciers dominate the skyline, while chinstrap, gentoo, and Adélie penguins crowd the shores. Crabeater, Weddell, fur, and elephant seals sprawl across the ice, and seabirds trace lazy arcs overhead. Listen for the thunderous crack of a calving glacier or the raucous chatter of penguins fiercely defending their perfect nesting pebble.

You’ll make the most of every opportunity to explore—whether it’s hiking along ridgelines with sweeping views, kayaking through brash ice, snowshoeing over white terrain, or enjoying spontaneous Zodiac cruises that bring you close to Antarctica’s wonders. Between landings, the on board experts continue to share insights through lectures, workshops, and informal conversations.

Sites like Brown Bluff, Paradise Bay, and Neko Harbour offer ever-changing possibilities for exploration—each shaped by the mood of the sea, of the weather, and the wonders that await. You may visit Deception Island, the flooded caldera of a collapsed volcano, where black-sand beaches contrast starkly with snow and steam, or sail through the Gerlache Strait, threading among towering bergs and glacial cliffs.

As you cruise from one site to the next, take in the scenery from the outer decks or enjoy the ship’s health and wellness amenities—from the spa and sauna to the fitness centre and a relaxing massage. And for the truly adventurous, there may even be a chance to take a polar plunge into the icy Antarctic waters!

The course is set north across the legendary Drake Passage—the stretch of sea that separates Antarctica from South America. Named for explorer Sir Francis Drake, these waters are famously unpredictable—sometimes calm and still, other times wild and rolling.

Head out on deck to look for the mighty albatross that flies overhead, scan the waters for breaching whales and drifting icebergs, or enjoy the view from the warmth of the observation lounge.

As the journey winds down, the expedition team shares closing reflections on the Antarctic Treaty and its vital role in protecting this region. After two weeks of wonder, you return with a renewed sense of connection—and a shared commitment to protecting this extraordinary part of the planet.

Journey through the majestic Beagle Channel—a narrow, glacier-carved passageway that winds between the southern edges of Chile and Argentina. Framed by rugged mountains, windswept islands, and forests that spill down to the sea, this storied waterway—named after the ship that carried Charles Darwin—offers a peaceful stretch of sailing and a chance to reflect as seabirds wheel overhead and soft light plays across the water.

As you navigate past remote islets and rocky shores, watch for sea lions basking in the sun, imperial cormorants lining the cliffs, and dolphins weaving through the ship’s wake. With the Andes rising in every direction and the waters leading you gently toward Ushuaia, the Beagle Channel offers a serene and stirring finale.

Disembark in Ushuaia after enjoying your final breakfast on the Exploris One. You have an included transfer to Ushuaia airport if you're flying home today, otherwise, enjoy some extra time exploring Tierra del Fuego and its rugged surroundings.

A departure transfer to the airport is included in your voyage fare if you are flying out today. Please speak to your agent to organize this.

If you are flying out today, please do not book your flight to depart Ushuaia before midday in case of any delays caused by unfavorable weather conditions.