South Georgia and the Falklands

Today, you will arrive in Santiago and transfer to the Ritz-Carlton Santiago or a similar hotel. Then, you will embark on a guided city tour, taking in the stunning Andes mountain range. During the tour, you will visit various sites such as the Plaza de Armas, and get a sense of the blend of old and new that makes this city unique.

Later in the evening, you will attend an informal reception and enjoy a drink at the hotel.

Fly southward to Ushuaia, also known as 'The End of the World'. You will be surrounded by ice-covered peaks and protected waters of the Beagle Channel. During the cruise, enjoy a delicious lunch onboard a private catamaran while keeping an eye out for plump sea lions and sleek imperial cormorants. At the end of the day, you will embark and settle into your floating expedition home base.

Feel the excitement build as you depart South America and enter the chilly realm of the Far South Atlantic. Visit the Bridge (the nerve center of the ship and ideal for spotting wildlife), enjoy a massage, and listen in on informal gatherings with our naturalist staff as they discuss what to expect in the wilds of the Falklands. Spend time on deck scanning the horizon for petrels, penguins, and albatross.

Everything you love about expedition travel seems to come together in the western Falkland Islands. Where else can you land on a beach tucked into a rocky cove, hike out across a rolling green pasture, and suddenly find yourself at the crest of a sea cliff looking out over the South Atlantic surf? Just a few steps further, you’re standing at the edge of a breeding colony of black-browed albatross, so close that you can hear the wind on their wings as they swoop into land beside you. Check out the thousands of irresistible gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins congregating here, along with magnificent albatross and fur seals.

During your days at sea, you'll learn about the fascinating history of Antarctic exploration and the flora, fauna, and geology of South Georgia. Our naturalists will help identify the seabirds that follow you: wandering albatross, prions, and black-browed albatross. There'll also be time to browse the library, enjoy a massage in the wellness center, or work out in the gym.

Explore the spectacular coastline of South Georgia Island. In keeping with the nature of an expedition, your schedule is flexible with opportunities for walking, hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac excursions. Sailing along the coast, plan to offer activities every day including visits to Grytviken, the final resting place of Shackleton, and Stromness Harbour, where Ernest Shackleton, Tom Crean, and Frank Worsley finally reached aid at a whaling station. The island is also home to huge elephant seals and thousands of king penguins.

Relax onboard and enjoy the ship’s amenities. Head up to the Bridge to observe expert navigation at work as the skilled Captain and officers sail these historic waters. There’ll also be time to enjoy a massage in the wellness center, work out in the gym, and browse in the library. Each day, the naturalists offer talks that add depth to your experience.

With whales beneath and birds above, head up to the bridge or spend these days enjoying the ship’s spa, fitness center, library, and observation deck. After time at sea, your journey across the South Atlantic Ocean takes you again to the island archipelago that teems with nature. In the afternoon, you visit Stanley, the bright, pretty capital of the Falkland Islands, a charming outpost of British culture tucked into a small bay on the shore of these windswept islands in the far South Atlantic. Many Falkland Islanders still live in very traditional ways, and you’ll have a chance to visit a small farm to see some expert sheep shearing and learn about the best techniques for cutting blocks of peat for the fire. The rocky hills and white sand beaches outside town offer some excellent hikes, and afterward, a cup of tea or a pint at the local tavern goes down very nicely.

After breakfast, disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for your private charter flight to Santiago or Buenos Aires to connect with your flight home.