South Georgia & The Falklands Special

Your itinerary begins in Santiago, the vibrant capital of Chile, where upon arriving independently you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to the hotel for your included overnight stay. There will be a briefing in the evening to meet your fellow expeditioners and then the evening will be at your leisure.

You may wish to arrive in Santiago a couple of days early to see more of this memorable city.

After breakfast in the hotel on the morning of day 2, you will transfer to the airport for your included flight to Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. Upon arrival in Stanley there will be time for a tour of this charming town to discover its distinctly British feel, colourful houses, quaint pubs and cafes and fascinating museum. The tour will end at the pier where you will board your vessel.

After settling in to your comfortable cabin and familiarising yourself with the ship’s facilities, we will set sail.

Over the next 4 days we hope to visit a number of the islands, enjoying twice daily landings or Zodiac excursions. Your expert expedition team will assess the elements and choose the perfect landing sites for each adventure. There will be Zodiac cruises through rocky coves and along sea cliffs in search of sightings of seals, sea lions, penguins, dolphins and an abundance of seabirds. We will hope to visit albatross colonies, penguin rookeries and maybe even enjoy a cup of tea with the locals in some of the traditional cottages on the islands. Whichever islands in the archipelago that we visit, the scenery will be beautiful, and the wildlife even more so.

As we leave The Falkland Islands behind we will spend approximately 2 to 3 days at sea sailing through the Scotia Sea towards the wildlife paradise of South Georgia. Your informative and entertaining lecture programme will continue along with bio-security briefings for your time on the island. As we pass the Shag Rocks keep an eye out on deck for the abundant seabirds that follow the ship.

Welcome to the wildlife paradise of South Georgia, a mostly uninhabited land filled with historic associations, spectacular scenery and some of the world’s largest king penguin rookeries. Lying wholly within the Antarctic Convergence, South Georgia is a life-sustaining haven to some of the world’s largest congregations of wildlife, and your time here will allow for an in-depth exploration of the island, with your captain choosing each day the best spots to visit for the ultimate wildlife and scenic experiences. You will explore the stunning northern coast as well as the Stromness and Grytviken harbours, where 3000-metre peaks form dramatic backdrops to the remains of whaling stations. You can enjoy Zodiac excursions each day, and for the kayakers there are plentiful areas along the beautiful coastline to explore and get up close to the playful seals that frequent the waters. Enjoy walks along the beaches where an abundance of basking elephant seals, feisty fur seals and busy penguins jostle for the perfect spot, and take the time to soak up the sights and sounds of this simply remarkable island.

Synonymous with the epic expedition of survival by Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean, if conditions permit we will attempt to follow in their footsteps and complete the final leg of their journey on a walk from Fortuna Bay to Stromness. Our expert historians will share tales along the way of these hardy explorers’ feats and fates. We will also be able to pay our respects at Shackleton’s final resting place in Grytviken. On this expedition you will have the unique chance to partake in a special 3-day Shackleton Crossing mountaineering excursion where you will attempt to repeat the full journey taken by Shackleton and his men across an extreme mountain environment from King Haakon Bay to Stromness. This energetic activity will see you cover a distance of around 50 kilometres, and a suitable level of alpine trekking experience will be necessary to participate. The cost of this excursion is not included as part of your package and the activity should be booked in advance.

As well as gaining some in-depth knowledge of Shackleton’s feats, our main focus here will be on the indescribable numbers of wildlife that is found here. In St Andrews Bay you can enjoy a walk along the long black sandy beach to visit the largest King penguin colony on the island as well as hundreds of elephant seals. The sight and sound of over 200,000 pairs of King penguins at different stages of their breeding cycle jostling with the seals for prime spots along the beach, all set amongst the most incredible backdrop of spectacular snow-capped mountains, is something you won’t forget in a hurry. In Godthul you can enjoy a gentle walk along the tussock to a spectacular plateau offering magnificent views across the island, and seek out the large Macaroni penguin colony on the way back down, whilst in Salisbury Plains you will be greeted by 100,000 more pairs of king penguins as well as fur and elephant seals.

Aside from the penguins, there will be ample opportunities for enjoyable Zodiac cruises and walks, including in Fortuna Bay and across the landscapes of Grytviken where you can see the reminders of the historic whaling days. Another highlight will be the Bay of Isles where you can observe, from a safe distance, the magnificent wandering albatrosses proudly protecting their chicks. Other areas we may visit include Cooper Bay, Drygalski Fjord and Elsehul Bay.

As you bid farewell to glorious South Georgia, we will spend approximately 4 days at sea sailing towards Ushuaia where your expedition ends. These days are the perfect chance to relax after the excursions of the last 2 weeks, and maybe spend some time collating and editing the countless pictures you will no doubt have taken on your journey. You can catch the last of the informative lecture and presentation program, chill out on deck looking for seabirds and whales, or enjoy the fantastic onboard facilities such as the swimming pool and wellness centre.

On the evening of day 16 you will be invited to join the captain’s farewell reception.

On the morning of day 17 you will awake to your ship gently cruising along the Beagle Channel into Ushuaia, as your epic adventure comes to an end. After breakfast it will be time to say goodbye as you disembark and transfer to the airport or to a downtown location should you wish to extend your time in Ushuaia.