Ultimate Explorer: Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Circle

After arriving at the airport, transfer to the Arakur Resort & Spa or another comfortable hotel in Ushuaia. Spend the rest of the day resting or exploring the city, known as the southernmost in the world. In the evening, attend a briefing to ask questions and meet other travelers.

Spend the morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring shops in Ushuaia before the mid-afternoon transfer to the ship. The Expedition Team and crew greet passengers on board and assist with settling in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and the Captain’s welcome dinner as the ship departs for Antarctica.

As you sail south, important briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety are held, and you won’t want to miss the scientific and environmental experts as they begin their deeply knowledgeable and always entertaining talks about the wildlife, history, and geology of the areas you'll soon be exploring.

Welcome to a wildlife lover’s dream. As you approach this ruggedly beautiful archipelago, keep the camera ready to capture the abundant wildlife and breathtaking scenery of this fascinating part of the world. Here, you’ll find the largest black-browed albatross colony in the world and five species of breeding penguin. Bird lovers, stay on the lookout for kelp gulls, dolphin gulls, black-crowned night herons, red-backed hawks, peregrine falcons, and turkey vultures. East and West Falklands provide a rare opportunity to witness the biological diversity, extraordinarily diverse landscapes, and rich history of the southern islands. Weather permitting, you’ll explore Saunders Island, the second-largest island in the Falklands, and The Neck, a narrow peninsula with sandy beaches and subtle cliff faces, where the mighty black-browed albatross build their nesting colonies.

Things continue ramping up with plenty of birdlife sightings as you make your way east across the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. See if you can identify the world’s largest bird, the Wandering albatross. From soaring giants like the Southern Giant petrel to the tiny Wilson’s Storm petrel, a range of impressive bird species are hitching a ride on the updrafts created by ocean swells and waves. And be on the lookout for whale blows and the very first iceberg sighting.

South Georgia is often referred to as the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’, and it’s easy to see why as you take in tens of thousands (not a typo!) of breeding penguins, seals, and seabirds. Breathtaking mountain scenery, majestically sculpted icebergs, glaciers in every direction, and a rich historical tapestry are all here to complement the incredible array of wildlife on view as you travel down South Georgia’s leeward coast. You’ll also visit the historic Grytviken whaling station, featuring the tiny graveyard where the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried.

Heading farther south, you’ll continue your informative presentations and wildlife spotting as the icebergs become bigger and more plentiful.

With twice-daily outings as the goal, you’ll explore any number of picturesque bays and famed landing sites, maneuvering through iceberg-rich channels as you travel alongside an array of wildlife. There are opportunities to stop at several active scientific bases and historic landing sites as you take in the wide range of penguin species, seals, and whales along the rugged coastlines and in the sea. Four days give you plenty of time to explore, discover, and be forever changed by the power of the last wild place on earth.

Venturing to the ends of the earth is a moment to cherish, as not all expeditions venture this far south. You’ll take the time gliding through the famed Lemaire channel, accompanied by icebergs of every dazzling shape and size, with the anticipation of reaching latitude 66°33’S. Along the way, you’ll marvel at one of the planet's most spectacular 360 landscapes, ushering you towards to the legendary Antarctic Circle. Together you’ll quietly marvel the sheer rawness of the surroundings and revel in the moment. A toast and celebration awaits should the Circle welcome you. While not a typical landing, the crossing of the Antarctic Circle leaves you breathless, and with one of life’s greatest memories.

Test your newfound penguin expertise and sharpen your wildlife-spotting skills as you identify fur, leopard, and Weddell seals. Zodiac cruises and shore landings continue, offering ample opportunities to encounter the peninsula’s diverse wildlife and capture stunning photographs of your adventure.

You leave this magical place and make your way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage. You have one last hurrah as you celebrate the conclusion of your expedition with a special slideshow, passenger photo contest, and a final celebratory meal together. Congratulations, explorers!

With huge smiles on weary, content faces, you disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.