Day 1 Ushuaia | Embark | Beagle Channel
Step aboard the Polar Pioneer in the late afternoon to a warm welcome, introductory briefing, and an evening departure along the Beagle Channel with your shipmates.
Day 2-3 Drake Passage
- Ship
- 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
As the ship crosses the Drake Passage, keep watch for giant petrels, wandering and black-browed albatross, and your first icebergs. Fur seals and penguins pepper the sea surface as the ship approaches its first landing in the South Shetland Islands.
Day 4-6 Into the Weddell Sea
- Ship
- 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
An autumn dawn greets you in the spectacular Antarctic Sound where the ship may stop at towering Brown Bluff before pushing on into the Weddell Sea. There’s a strong fossil focus this time of year, as the pack ice movement may allow a continental landing and visits to the world-renowned fossil beds of Seymour, Vega, and James Ross Islands, as well as Nordenskjold’s Hut on Snow Hill Island.
Day 7 Elephant Island
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Elephant Island's Cape Wild is so exposed that landings are rare, but your capable crew may make an attempt, if only to pay tribute to the man whose leadership kept Shackleton’s men alive for four months while awaiting rescue. If conditions allow hope to take your Zodiacs as close as possible, perhaps even stepping ashore.
Day 8-9 Scotia Sea
- Ship
- 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Retracing James Caird’s epic voyage to South Georgia, traverse some of the most productive waters in the world, keeping watch for fin, sei and possibly even blue whales. Have time to reflect on your journey so far, and learn more about Shackleton’s life-saving crossing to South Georgia.
Day 10 South Georgia
- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enter King Haakon Bay and attempt a ceremonial landing at Cave Cove, Shackleton’s first landfall, before continuing up past Peggotty Bluff, where Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean set off to cross the island. It is from here where your crossing party alights to tackle the 50km trek.
Day 11-15 South Georgia
- Ship
- 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners
While negotiating Shackleton’s historic route, immerse yourself in one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles. See king penguin rookeries a half-million strong, chinstrap, gentoo and macaroni penguin colonies, wandering albatross on nests, and beaches thick with elephant and fur seals. Walk the final leg of Shackleton’s epic journey, from Fortuna Bay to Stromness, before visiting “The Boss’s” grave and whaling museum in Grytviken.
Day 16-17 Scotia Sea
- Ship
- 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Crossing the Scotia Sea, watch for whales and enjoy entertaining talks by the expedition team as the ship cruises back towards the Falklands Islands/Malvinas. At sea, your final days are a flurry of shared photos, memories and a farewell drink with the Captain.
Day 18 Falkland Islands | Disembark | Fly to Santiago or Punta Arenas
Dawn greets you in the Falkland Islands/Maldivas capital: Stanley. Here, bid farewell to the Polar Pioneer. Either spend more time exploring the Falkland Islands or continue on to Santiago or Punta Arenas.
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