Emperor Penguins Below the Circle - Luxury

Arrive independently to the Chilean capital of Santiago and join your transfer to your 5* hotel for your included overnight stay. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the city before joining your fellow passengers for dinner.

After breakfast on day 2 you will take your transfer to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas where upon arrival you will transfer to the port to board your luxury expedition vessel. Settle into your beautiful stateroom and watch as we sail away from South America and begin our journey to Antarctica.

The next two days will be spent at sea sailing towards Antarctica and into the legendary Drake Passage. These days can be spent relaxing in your comfortable surroundings, availing of the luxury onboard facilities, and enjoying some time on deck searching for whale and seabird sightings including albatrosses and cape petrels.

Your informative and entertaining lecture programme will begin, covering everything from Antarctic wildlife and geology to historical polar explorations, and there will be briefings around the strict IAATO rules that must be adhered to during your visit to the natural wonderland of Antarctica. There will also be briefings for the Zodiac (small inflatable boat) excursions, and as the icebergs begin to appear on the horizon and we reach the awe-inspiring Antarctic continent the excitement will build even more!

Today you will experience something that only a few lucky people in the world have ever experienced…crossing the Antarctic Circle! Weather and ice conditions dependent, we will cross the mythical line of the Antarctic Polar Circle, located along 66°33’ south of the Equator. This is sure to be a moment to remember and one that will be celebrated with aplomb!

As with all Polar expeditions, flexibility is key. Each day your experienced captain and crew will assess the weather and ice conditions to chart the perfect course for adventures, and planned routes can not always be guaranteed.

Having crossed the Antarctic Circle, it’s now time to begin our in-depth exploration of the lands below the Circle. Lands that few travellers have ever explored and that hold sights and delights that are completely unique to this part of the world. Sailing into the heart of the Bellingshausen Sea - this area is covered by ice floe for the majority of the year - this sailing has been timed to coincide with the best time to discover these remarkable lands. First up will be Charcot Island which is entirely covered in ice and sheer cliffs, with the exception of the rocky outcrops extending over a dozen kilometres in the far north-west. Very few people have ever landed here, but with the help of our Zodiac boats we plan to achieve just that. Whilst we explore around, we will also be on the lookout for the numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns and skuas that abound here.

We now make our way even further into the deep south in the direction of the legendary Peter I Island. Surrounded by pack ice and with about 95% of its surface covered by ice, this volcanic island, whose highest peak reaches 1,640 metres, is protected by ice cliffs some 40 metres tall, making any approach difficult. With our fully ice-strengthened ship we will attempt to get as close as possible for some marvellous vistas.

It’s now time for what may be the highlight of your trip as we arrive along English Coast and set off in search of sightings of the enigmatic Emperor Penguins. Antarctica is the only place in the world where these iconic animals can be observed in their natural habitat, and this rarely visited area offers fantastic changes of seeing these beautiful birds up-close. An unforgettable experience!

Moving back north, a day of incredible scenery awaits today as we make our way to Marguerite Bay to see majestic icebergs of all shapes and sizes scattered around the deep and intense blue waters of the bay. Thought of as one of the most beautiful places in all of Antarctica, as well as boasting abundant iconic icebergs, the bay is also home to a number of cetaceans and also offers good chances to observe leopard seals and Adelie penguins.

Next up is the small island of Stonington which was a British research station from 1946 to 1950 and later from 1960 to 1975. Now an important breeding ground for Antarctic terns and south polar skuas, we can enjoy a walk around here to see the steel-framed buildings and abandoned equipment that tell the stories of the work carried out here.

In the afternoon we will land on the coast of Pourquoi Pas Island which is scattered with narrow fjords and snow-covered mountains. An enjoyable Zodiac cruise around here will give us the chance to observe Adelie penguins going about their business on the island’s rocky shores.

Our last full day in Antarctica will see us discover the sumptuous landscapes of “the Gullet”, a narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land. This unique area is like an ice palace, with its immaculate white walls reflecting in the frozen mirror formed by the waters of the Southern Ocean, and scattered with icebergs and gleaming blocks of ice. Expect some incredible photo opportunities here!

Our final stop will bring us to the small island of Detaille which is located within the magnificently scenic Crystal Sound. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks, the island offers us another chance to explore around some historic research station buildings.

Leaving Antarctica in our wake we will now sail back into the Drake Passage to make our way to Ushuaia in southern Argentina. Enjoy the final lectures and presentations delivered by your expert team and some final whale watching and birdwatching from the deck. Or simply relax on your luxurious ship and catch your breath after what will have been an incredibly exciting voyage.

Arrive in Ushuaia in the early morning, disembark after breakfast and join your transfer to the airport for your included flight back to Santiago. Upon arrival in Santiago your itinerary will come to an end. Please enquire should you wish to extend your trip to spend more time in this unique capital city.