South Georgia with Falklands & Antarctica

After having arrived independently to Ushuaia, the southernmost town in Argentina, you will embark your ship in the afternoon. Settle in to your cabin and meet your expedition team and lecture staff as we set sail through the scenic Beagle Channel on our way to the Falkland Islands.

As we make the short sea crossing towards the Falkland Islands your programme of informative and entertaining lectures and presentations will begin, covering everything from navigation and polar exploration to the wildlife and geology of the areas you are about to encounter. There will also be bio-security briefings to prepare you for your time in the Falklands.

As we sail the ship will be followed by an interesting group of seabirds including albatrosses and petrels and we recommend spending some time on deck with your expedition team looking out for these and marine life including orcas and dolphins.

As we arrive at the remote and beautiful secret wildlife gem of the Falkland Islands we aim to spend a day exploring the rugged western side of the archipelago visiting the Carcass and West Point Islands. Your team of experienced and knowledgeable lecturers and naturalists will accompany you to offer insight into the wildlife and geology of the area as well as the islands’ history and culture. On Carcass Island we will find a spectacularly large population of small birds as well as Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins. We also have good chances of spotting Peale´s and Commerson´s dolphins which frequently come close to the shoreline to get a glimpse of the visitors. We will spend some time walking through the settlement and its beautiful gardens and will be invited to enjoy tea and cookies with the locals.

West Point Island lies off the most north-westerly point of mainland West Falkland (Malvinas). This attractive settlement sits on the edge of a small harbour on the eastern side of the Island, in the lee of Black Bog Hill and Michael's Mount. The valley between these two peaks rolls over the centre of the island to the dramatic Devil's Nose, one of the Island's main attractions. From here visitors are treated to splendid views of Cliff Mountain, the Island's highest point, and the highest cliffs in the Falklands. This is where we will encounter a vast colony of Rockhopper Penguins and Black-browed Albatrosses, nesting together in close vicinity.

After exploring the western side we will sail overnight past the northern islands to pay a visit to Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. Here we will enjoy a day exploring this quaint little town which is filled with charm and historical associations. We will take a trip to the excellent museum here as well as having time to visit the souvenir shops and maybe enjoy a drink in one of the charming pubs. Even from the town the wildlife opportunities never end, with Southern Giant Petrels often flying close to the shore and endemic Falkland Steamer Ducks abounding on the shorelines. We also have chances of seeing Kelp Gulls, Dolphin Gulls Black-crowned Night Herons, Red-backed Hawks and Peregrine Falcons.

As we make our way towards South Georgia your extensive lecture programme will continue as the expert naturalists share their knowledge of the wildlife and unique ecosystems we will encounter throughout our voyage. Keep an eye out on deck for seabirds and marine life and attend bio-security briefings preparing you for your time in one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on earth with more wildlife than virtually anywhere else on the planet.

Today we will arrive in the wildlife paradise of South Georgia for 5 days of exploration of the land known as the jewel in the crown of the Antarctic region. With probably a greater concentration of wildlife than anywhere else on the planet our days will be filled with unrivalled wildlife sightings and exciting encounters. Our exact itinerary here will be determined by weather conditions and your captain will choose the best course to gain the very best experiences.

Our first stop is likely to be the beautiful harbour of Elsehul, which is on the eastern side of the knife-edged summit ridges of Parydian Peninsula, to see the colonies of Black-browed and Grey-headed Albatrosses. We will take a Zodiac cruise within the protection of the area’s sheltered inshore waters to get a closer look. Alternatively we may visit Right Whale Bay to see a small colony of King Penguins, along with Giant Petrels, gulls and breeding elephant seals on the bay’s black ashen beach.

As we sail down the east coast of the island we will stop at the wonderful Salisbury Plain, a wildlife site without parallel. Known as the “Serengeti of the South” we will see tens of thousands of King Penguins nested in the tussac grass of this remarkable ecosystem set amongst the dramatic backdrop of several large glaciers. Prepare for an awe-inspiring experience as we take a walk along the wide beaches surrounded and delightfully outnumbered by throngs of curious, gentle penguins. Fur seals also abound here and don’t be surprised if a curious fur seal pup comes up to you for a closer inspection. We are also likely to see Southern Giant Petrels and the occasional wandering Gentoo Penguin. Next will be the beautiful tussac-grass covered islet of Prion Island where we will climb to the summit on a wooden boardwalk to get a closer look at a breeding colony of Wandering Albatross.

As well as its simply bountiful wildlife South Georgia also has a rich history as a whaling base in the 18th & 19th centuries and we will visit the old whaling settlement of Grytviken, where there is now an interesting museum and visitor centre. Here there is also the grave of the famous explorer, Ernest Shackleton and a replica of the 'James Caird', the small boat in which he navigated the Scotia Sea after the loss of his ship, 'Endurance'. The scenery here is exceptional, even by South Georgia’s standards!

Other areas that we may visit on our exploration include St Andrews Bay which hosts the biggest colony of King Penguins on South Georgia. Now in the heights of summer, the beach will also be carpeted with fur seals and Leopard seals will be patrolling the rocks hunting for penguins. The birdlife here is remarkable with likely sightings of Sheathbills, Cape Petrels, White-chinned Petrels, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Brown Skuas and Antarctic Terns. The flurry of wildlife is an unforgettable sight, likewise at Cooper Bay where we will enjoy a thrilling zodiac cruise to watch wildlife from the waterfront and search for the Chinstrap, Gentoo and Macaroni Penguins that dot the spectacular landscape.

As we sail away from South Georgia we will see the glacier filled Drygalski Fjord where with a little luck, we might see the glaciers calve and witness the birth of a new iceberg from on board the ship.

Leaving the wonders of South Georgia behind we will set sail for our next adventure and head towards Antarctica across the Scotia Sea. The crossing will take 2 days and during this time you can catch your breath and have the opportunity to check and edit the countless photos you will have taken already. Spend some time on deck looking for seabirds and sightings of icebergs and attend some of the lectures and activities that will be offered on board.

If time and conditions allow we hope to have the chance to visit the enigmatic Elephant Island, an important area in the history of Antarctic exploration where Shackleton embarked on one of the most dramatic rescue missions of all time.

We are now in the heart of Antarctica, a land where words cannot do justice to its majestic scenery and awe-inspiring majesty. In true expedition style our route here will be flexible and dependent on weather and ice conditions. Your captain and crew will decide each day on the best course to take to gain the very best views and wildlife encounters. We will spend our days exploring by Zodiac and on foot along the Sound, the Peninsula, and the South Shetland Islands, racking up unforgettable experiences and memories. The abundance of wildlife we expect to encounter includes various species of penguins, Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals as well as Minke, killer (orca) and humpback whales.

Our likely passage will take us to the east side of the Peninsula into the Antarctic Sound to explore areas such as Hope Bay where we hope to make land either at the Argentine Station Esperanza or Brown Bluff. The Weddell Sea area is the epicentre of Antarctica’s Adelie Penguin population and we are very likely to witness a huge number of penguins on our journey. All-white Snow Petrels are also likely to be coursing over the floes, often joined by Pintado Petrels. If we are very lucky we may also catch a glimpse of an Emperor Penguin on the ice floes.

After an exploration of the Antarctic Sound area we will sail westwards towards the Peninsula itself. We will have time to explore along the Peninsula to discover its pristine landscape of snow, ice and mountains and an enchanting array of wildlife. Sailing through the exceptionally scenic Gerlache Strait, we hope to make at least two continental landings each day, exploring areas such as Cuverville Island, home of the biggest Gentoo Penguin colony in the Peninsula surrounded by glaciers and castellated icebergs, and Hydrurga Rocks to see the Chinstrap Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags and Kelp Gulls that abound here.

On our way back north we will visit the South Shetland Islands, a group of ice-tinged islands that are a haven for wildlife with vast penguin rookeries and beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and Southern elephant seals. Sailing through the breathtaking Neptune’s Bellow’s into the flooded caldera of Deception Island is an unforgettable experience, as is visiting the crescent shaped Half Moon Island, home to Chinstrap Penguins in breathtaking surroundings.

As we leave the wonders of Antarctica behind it’s time to make our return to Ushuaia as we spend 2 days sailing through the famous Drake Passage. Take the chance to reflect on the unforgettable experiences you will have had over the past days and join your lecturers and naturalists on deck for some final bird spotting and whale sightings.

Arrival back into the port of Ushuaia signals the end of our thrilling Antarctica cruise and after breakfast it will be time to disembark and bid a fond farewell to your crew and shipmates.