Quest for the Antarctic Circle

Your adventure begins this morning in Punta Arenas, a beautiful port city in Southern Chile. After having arrived independently you will join your fellow passengers at a central location to join your transfer to the airport for your included 90-minute flight to Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Upon arrival here you will have time to enjoy a brief exploration of this charming town with its brightly coloured houses, British-style pubs waterfront memorials and quaint cathedral, before embarkation begins in the afternoon. After a refreshing welcome drink and dinner you can spend some time settling in to your comfortable cabin and exploring your new surroundings as we set sail south for Antarctica.

Over the course of the next two days we will enjoy a relaxing sail towards Antarctica. We recommend spending some time on deck looking out for the abundant seabirds that are likely to be following the ship along with possibly whales in the waters below. This will be a great time to brush up on your wildlife photography skills, with your resident photography expert on hand to provide you with hints and tips for perfecting your technique.

You can also enjoy the commencement of your lecture and presentation programme delivered by onboard experts covering everything from Antarctic wildlife and geology to historical polar explorations. You will have the chance to get even closer to one particular historical expedition as the dark cliffs of Elephant Island gradually begin to appear on the horizon and excitement builds as we near our first stop. This exceptionally historically important area is where Shackleton and his men overwintered having lost the HMS Endurance in thick sea ice back in 1915, and the point from which Shackleton set off on his famous rescue mission to South Georgia. If weather conditions allow, we will hope to enjoy a thrilling Zodiac cruise to view the island close-up and learn all about the horrendous conditions that Shackleton and his men faced. This will be an exciting day for the history enthusiasts amongst us and a great way to set the scene for the adventures that lie ahead of us.

This morning we will awake alongside King George Island in the South Shetland Islands group and excitement will build as we prepare for our first of many landings in Antarctica. As with all polar expeditions, our course in Antarctica will be flexible and dependent on ice and weather conditions, but your experienced captain and crew will be sure to make the most of every opportunity available to ensure you get to see all that this incredible area has to offer. Exploring by Zodiac boat and on foot, each day will bring a new adventure and we will be on a constant lookout for the wildlife that abounds here including various species of penguins, seals, whales and seabirds.

Depending on weather conditions today we hope to visit Penguin Island and nearby Turret Point to get up-close to some of Antarctica’s abundant birdlife including chinstrap, Adelie and gentoo penguins, as well as Antarctic terns, southern giant petrels and kelp gulls.

Later in the day we will sail across the Bransfield Strait, an important whale migration corridor where some time on deck should reward with great whale spotting opportunities. By morning the awe-inspiring sight of Antarctica laid out before us and the pure majesty and remarkable remoteness of the White Continent will suddenly become even more apparent. You have arrived in the heart of one of the most spectacular places on earth!

Our first stop is likely to be the whale hotspot of Wilhelmina Bay where a shore visit should offer a more close-up view of the large pods of humpback whales that frequent these waters. We will then sail south into the Errera Channel to reach Cuverville Island, an important research site where one of the largest gentoo penguin colonies can be found. As we make land to take a stroll along the rocky beach we will also be on the lookout for the nesting Imperial cormorants that can be found here. This memorable destination will offer the perfect insight to Antarctica and its unwavering beauty. There will also be excellent opportunities for optional sea kayaking excursions here. Sea kayaking should be booked in advance and occurs an additional cost.

Having sailed south along the Peninsula towards Matha Strait overnight our goal this morning is to achieve the memorable feat of crossing the Antarctic Circle! We plan to cross at 66 degrees, 33 minutes south of latitude, the official position of the Circle, and the excitement will be palpable as we raise a glass to celebrate this unique achievement and join the short list of people who have ever reached this point.

Having crossed the Circle we will arrive at Detaille Island to enjoy an exciting shore visit. As we take a walk around this spectacular area surrounded by impressive snowy peaks more than 2,000 metres high, we will discover Base W, an abandoned British science station. Our historians will offer us an insight into life back in the early 1950’s when scientists would have been based here living in the harshest of conditions. Turning our gaze northwards, we will be able to see in the distance the glacier-covered peaks of the Peninsula and will get back onboard to sail back northwards for more exploration.

Our next stop is likely to be the Yalour Island group where we can enjoy a visit to a working scientific base to learn about the work these hardy scientists are carrying out regarding how climate change is affecting Antarctica’s landscape. And to contrast the modern with the historic, we will visit Winter Island to see the old British Antarctic Survey hut. Observing wildlife will be at the forefront of our minds throughout our time in Antarctica and a visit to Petermann Island should reward with sightings of a sizable Adelie penguin rookery, as well as Gentoo penguins and Imperial cormorants. Everywhere you look in Antarctica there will be a scenic photo opportunity, but the views on Petermann Island are some of the best, with panoramas of Mount Shackleton and Mount Scott marking the entrance to the Lemaire Channel being a sight to behold.

On nearby Pleneau Island we will have another chance for a shore landing and a Zodiac cruise here will be a memorable experience as we get up-close to and cruise around majestic icebergs of all shapes and sizes. Somewhere along this coastline we hope to be able to offer a thrilling camping on ice excursion that will be available if weather conditions allow. This unforgettable experience will see you camping out in your provided tents under the clear Antarctica skies surrounded by nothing but wilderness and the sounds of the Antarctic silence.

Continuing our exploration of the Peninsula, next up will be Paradise Harbour and Neko Harbour where we hope to be able to enjoy our first landings on the continent itself and partake in some fantastic hikes up to spectacular viewpoints. Kayaking opportunities around here will also be excellent.

The next day we will make our way back towards the remote South Shetland Islands and will sail into the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island. This historically rich area is a delight to explore and weather dependent we hope to enjoy a walk around to see the old whaling station and aircraft hangar. For a more energetic walk there is an excellent hike which will bring you high up onto the rim of the crater.

We then plan to cruise along the coast of Livingston Island and visit some of the other excellent landing sites in the South Shetland Islands including Yankee Harbour where good numbers of Weddell seals are often found, or Half Moon Island, an Important Bird Area which is home to numerous birds including chinstrap penguins, Antarctic terns, imperial shags and much more. Throughout the day we will enjoy Zodiac cruises and walks and will hope to visit the seal colony on Hannah Point before charting course back to King George Island. Tonight you will be invited to join the captain for a special farewell dinner to mark the end of your adventure of a lifetime.

On the morning of day 11 your ship will be positioned once again off King George Island where after disembarkation via Zodiac we will make our way to the airstrip, stopping to see the Chilean research station along the way. Your chartered 2-hour flight is certainly a scenic one as you watch the remote Antarctic landscapes disappear below you. Upon arrival back in Punta Arenas you will transfer to the hotel for your included overnight stay and in the morning it will sadly be time to bid farewell to your fellow passengers as you all set off on your homeward or onward journeys.

Punta Arenas is a gateway of Patagonia, lying just a few hours south of the celebrated Torres del Paine National Park, and there are numerous tour extensions here should you wish to extend your adventures. Please enquire for details and advice.