Antarctica Polar Solar Eclipse Special

Your fantastic Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia expedition will begin in Ushuaia, Argentina, where after having arrived independently you will embark your ship in the afternoon. As you settle in to your cabin, your ship will sail through the scenic waterway of the Beagle Channel and turn southwards towards the Drake Passage where the wonders of Antarctica lie ahead. You may want to spend some time on deck capturing the sight of the city fading into distance behind you and looking out for the seabirds that follow the ship.

As we cross the fabled Drake Passage towards Antarctica your programme of informative and entertaining lectures and presentations will begin, covering everything from the geology and wildlife you are about to discover to the history of Antarctic exploration. There will also be safety and bio-environmental briefings in preparation for your time in Antarctica. We recommend spending some time on deck to spot the fin whales which will likely be following the ship along with Antarctic petrels and various other seabirds. As we near closer to Antarctica keep an eye out on deck for the enormous icebergs of all shapes and sizes that will dot the landscape. Next stop Antarctica!

Welcome to Antarctica, a land of superlatives! Enchanting scenery, unique wildlife encounters and thrilling adventures await as we spend our days exploring by Zodiac and on foot to get up close to the action. Your exact itinerary here will be determined by weather and ice conditions with your captain choosing each day which areas to visit for optimum experiences.

We plan to sail through the breathtaking scenery of the Gerlache Strait, stopping to explore at select points along the Peninsula. We will enjoy various excursions here, including Cierva Cove or Mikkelsen Harbour. After an exploration along the peninsula we plan to enjoy some more exploration around the volcanic windswept islands of the South Shetlands where we will sail into Neptune’s Bellows to reach the flooded caldera of Deception Island. We will hope to land here to discover the island’s abandoned whaling station, fascinating hot springs and huge numbers of cape petrels. For the birders amongst us this area will be a delight, as a walk around should also reward in sightings of Antarctic terns, southern giant petrels, kelp gulls and brown and south polar skuas. The South Shetlands will also bring us some excellent encounters with penguins, as large numbers of gentoo and chinstrap penguins are often found here.

Having discovered the South Shetlands we will then sail into the Weddell Sea where colossal tabular icebergs herald your arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Our first possible stops will be Paulet Island which is home to a large population of Adélie penguins, and Brown Bluff in the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound.

As we begin our sail away from the Peninsula we will set course for the Weddell Sea Pack Ice. Keep an eye out on deck for the enormous icebergs of all shapes and sizes that will dot the landscape. There are also great chances of spotting Antarctic petrels and fin whales.

Still deep within Antarctic territory, today will be an exciting one as we await the sight of the cosmic phenomenon of a total solar eclipse! Your captain will today position the ship in the centre of the shadow of the moon, and if possible, some distance into the Scotia Sea drift ice. The ice edge will be about 60°S, 41°W. We will make our way to deck to enjoy a celebration of witnessing this unique spectacle in the heart of the most enchanting wilderness in the world. The feeling of seeing the eclipse surrounded by the breathtaking Antarctic silence will surely be one you will remember for a lifetime.

Some coordinates for the path of the moon’s shadow: 7.06 UTC: 58.47.7 S – 42.45.2 W, 1.39 minutes, 8 degrees above horizon 7.08 UTC: 60.42.4 S – 40.59.8 W, 1.42 minutes, 9 degrees above horizon 7.10 UTC: 62.22.3 S – 39.48.0 W, 1.44 minutes, 11 degrees above horizon

Leaving Antarctica behind we will now sail north towards the wildlife paradise of South Georgia. Your ship will again be followed by a multitude of seabirds so make sure to spend some time on deck for excellent photo opportunities. On our sail we may encounter some sea ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we would have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like the McCormick skua and snow petrel. Onboard bio-environmental briefings will be held to prepare you for your time in South Georgia and your programme of lectures and talks will continue.

On day 10 we will arrive in the wildlife paradise of South Georgia, a remote and exceptionally scenic island that is home to millions of penguins and other birdlife and wildlife. Over the next few days we will explore the eastern coast of the island searching for wildlife, scenic opportunities and visiting sites of historical interest. Our exploration will begin with a thrilling Zodiac cruise in Cooper Bay which will reward with fantastic sightings of fur and elephant seals along the beach, majestic light-mantled albatrosses gracefully gliding above, and our first large rookery of macaroni penguins.

Places we expect to visit include Fortuna Bay where a hive of wildlife activity will greet us on the beaches. You will see various penguins and seals as well as having the chance to follow the final leg of Shackleton’s route to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness.

We will also visit the areas of Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour to see the three largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia. These areas are also home to three of the world’s largest breeding beaches for southern elephant seals, and you may also see a substantial number of Antarctic fur seals here during the breeding season (December – January).

During our time here we will also have chance to visit the abandoned whaling station of Grytkiven where king penguins walk the streets and elephant seals are in abundance. We hope to have chance to see the South Georgia Museum as well as visiting Shackleton’s grave to pay our respects at the final resting place of one of Antarctica’s most well-known explorers.

As we sail from South Georgia towards the Falkland Islands we will cross the Antarctic Convergence and the temperatures will become considerably milder. As we spend these 2 days at sea there will be excellent opportunities for bird spotting on deck with likely sightings of several species of albatross, shearwaters, petrels, prions, and skuas. The informative and entertaining lecture programme will also continue as well as briefings for your time in the Falklands.

As we arrive in the Falklands our first stop will be Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, where we can esample the Falklands culture, which has some South American characteristics as well as English charm. In Stanley and the surrounding area we can see a number of stranded wrecks from a century ago and geese, giant petrels and other birds. All passengers are free to wander around on their own. We recommend a visit to the local museum (admission fees not included) and perhaps a drink in one of the charming pubs.

Continuing our exploration of the Falkland Islands, today we plan to spend the day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. The exceptionally scenic Falklands offer an abundance of wildlife and have an intriguing history. Our first adventure today will be a hike along the shore of Carcass Island which will give us views of magellanic and gentoo penguins, as well as close encounters with elephant seals, water fowl, night herons and passerines. Later we will visit Saunders Island to observe four species of breeding penguins - gentoo, king, Magellanic and rockhopper,as well as black-browed albatross and king cormorants.

As our exhilarating expedition comes to end it’s time to head back south towards Ushuaia. We recommend spending some time on deck to spot the several species of albatross which will likely be following the ship along with storm petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels. Enjoy the last presentations from your team of noted naturalists and take the time to dissolve all of the unforgettable memories you will have made on your once in a lifetime expedition.

As we sail back through the scenic Beagle Channel and arrive in Ushuaia in the early morning it’s sadly time to say goodbye to your crew and fellow shipmates. After breakfast you will disembark and a group transfer will be provided to the airport for onward or homeward journeys.