South Georgia & Antarctica Shackleton Special

Your itinerary begins in unforgettable Buenos Aires, where after having arrived independently, you will transfer to the hotel for your overnight stay. We recommend taking some time to soak up the sights, sounds and delicacies of this splendid city.

Please note, a mandatory transfer package including charter flights and 1 night’s hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires is required for this trip and costs £850.

After a good night’s rest and breakfast in the hotel, you will join your transfer to the airport for your private charter flight to Ushuaia, where upon arrival you will have some time to explore around the world’s southernmost city before making your way to the port where your polar expedition ship awaits you. Embarkation will begin in the late afternoon and after meeting your expedition team and settling into your comfortable cabin, you can spend some time exploring your new surroundings and watching from deck as we sail through the scenic and historic Beagle Channel, leaving civilisation far behind as we start our journey south to Antarctica.

We will now spend two days at sea sailing across the legendary Drake Passage towards Antarctica. Your expert-delivered series of presentations, lectures and talks will commence, including presentations from two distinguished special guests, Tim Jarvis and Dr Ross MacPhee, who have both delved deeply into the life of Sir Ernest Shackleton. Talks will cover everything from Shackleton’s explorations to the wildlife found in the areas you will visit on your trip.

As we sail, we also recommend spending some time on deck watching the seabirds following the ship, seeking out your first sightings of whales, and keeping your eyes peeled on the horizon for the first glimpse of the icebergs of Antarctica.

After the anticipation (and possible choppy waters) of the last two days, your first sight of land in Antarctica will not disappoint, and you will begin to appreciate exactly why these remarkable lands have long captivated the attentions of explorers and intrepid adventurers. A land of extremes, Antarctica is likely to arise almost every type of emotion in you, from the feeling of total isolation amongst the startling imposing landscapes of mountains and icebergs, to the exhilaration of watching the comical antics of the abundance of chinstrap, adelie and gentoo penguins.

As with all Antarctica expeditions our exact itinerary over the course of the next two days will be flexible and dependent upon weather and ice conditions, with your captain and experienced crew deciding each day on the best course for unrivalled wildlife, scenery and adventure experiences. Each expedition to Antarctica is different and you can be guaranteed of multiple unique, once in a lifetime moments that will live long in the memory.

Exploring each day by Zodiac boat you will discover multiple bays, channels and landing sites on a constant lookout for wildlife sightings including humpback and minke whales, various southern seal species and, of course, bustling penguin rookeries.

During your time in Antarctica you will be invited to enjoy your included unforgettable helicopter flightseeing experience which will take you high above the Peninsula for simply breath-taking views of the icescapes below.

There should also be opportunities for enjoyable hikes and walks throughout our time in Antarctica and the majesty of the Antarctic Peninsula’s mountains will enchant as you scramble up snowy pathways to vantage points offering you 360° views of your surroundings.

Throughout your time here you can enjoy walks along the beaches alongside the penguins, thrilling Zodiac cruises through the crackling sea ice, navigating through mazes of towering icebergs of all shapes and sizes, experience the awesome sights and sounds of calving glaciers, and fully immerse yourself in all that this wonderful continent has to offer. For the more adventurous we highly recommend a Polar Plunge in the frigid Antarctic waters. There are exciting kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding options available too at an additional cost.

We now move eastwards from the Peninsula and enter the famous Weddell Sea, an area synonymous with Shackleton’s ill-fated expedition, for this is where Endurance was crushed by the pack-ice and disappeared into the harsh waters never to be seen again. We will explore around the area by sea, and by air with the help of the onboard helicopters, searching for sightings of penguins, seals and whales, before heading onwards towards Elephant Island.

One of the most important locations in terms of Shackleton history, the often mist-shrouded and ice-covered Elephant Island will be the next stop on our memorable journey. It was here in April 1916 where Shackleton and his crew reached land after 165 days of drifting through the hostile ice of the Weddell Sea, and as we approach the island you may get a sense of how it must have felt for Shackleton and his team to finally reach relative shelter.

Weather conditions dependent, we will hope to hope in the Zodiacs and get as close as possible to Point Wild on the northern shores of the island, where Shackleton and his men were able to come ashore and from whence Shackleton launched his epic 650-mile journey to South Georgia.

It’s time for our next adventure as we wave goodbye to Antarctica and set sail for South Georgia, where even more exciting wildlife and scenic opportunities await. As we sail, there will be an air of excitement as celebrate the New Year in style aboard your impressive expedition ship! As we approach South Georgia there will be briefings on what to expect over the course of the next few days, and your expedition team will keep you entertained with more stories of Shackleton’s remarkable feats.

Welcome to the wildlife paradise of South Georgia, where millions of penguins, abundant birdlife, regular sightings of whales and other marine mammals, spectacular scenery and a rich history combine to make one of the world’s most surprising and enchanting destinations. We will spend four days here exploring as much as possible of what the area has to offer, with the prominent focus being on Shackleton’s journey across the island to seek help.

Our main goal will be to arrive at Grytviken, an area of significant historical interest and Shackleton’s final resting place. Here we can visit a research station, abandoned whale station and beautiful church, and soak up the mystical surroundings before spending some time paying our respects at Shackleton’s grave. For many, this will be a poignant moment of reflection as we raise a toast to the man whose adventures we will now know inside out.

We will also hope to make land at King Hakkon Bay to discover the site where Shackleton and his crew finally made land after their arduous journey from Elephant Island and began their traverse across the island.

Although South Georgia’s rich history is a huge draw for visitors to this mostly uninhabited island, the abundance of wildlife on display is South Georgia’s crowning glory and the locations we will hope to visit have been selected to also provide you with unforgettable up-close wildlife encounters. From Salisbury Plain, home of one of the largest king penguin rookeries on the island, to Gold Harbour where the hanging Bertrab Glacier provides a spectacular backdrop to a hive of activity of king and gentoo penguins squabbling with rowdy elephant and fur seals for prime position along the beaches, this wildlife wonderland will not disappoint.

We recommend arriving here with as much space on your camera as possible as the photographic opportunities are simply endless. The unique Drygalski Fjord with its dramatic peaks rising from the sea is an unforgettable sight, whilst the tens of thousands of breeding pairs of penguins in St Andrew’s Bay is a wildlife spectacle to behold. Throughout your time here your experienced expedition team will offer insights into not only the island’s history and wildlife, but also to the area’s unique geological features which play such an important role in the breeding and survival of the different bird and animal species.

As we make our way back to Ushuaia with our cameras as full as out hearts, it’s time for some relaxation as we soak up the adventures of the last two weeks. You could choose to spend this time collating the masses of pictures you will no doubt have taken, or indulging in the luxury facilities on board including the sauna with spectacular sea views, indulgent spa and beautifully designed lounges. Or simply put your feet up and let the wonder of the last couple of weeks sink in as your epic journey comes to its conclusion.

After having sailed through the Beagle Channel overnight you will arrive back into the port of Ushuaia in the early morning, where you will disembark for a tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park (included in mandatory transfer package). After your Taste of Patagonia experience you will then transfer to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires (included in mandatory transfer package).