Antarctica, Weddell Sea & South Georgia
In the Footsteps of Shackleton - Weddell Sea & South Georgia to Montevideo in Luxury – 19 Days
In the Footsteps of Shackleton - Weddell Sea & South Georgia to Montevideo in Luxury – 19 Days
Aboard: Le Commandant Charcot
Travel in the wake of the legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as you embark on a polar exploration to the imposing Weddell Sea and enigmatic South Georgia. In the comfort of Le Commandant Charcot, an exceptional ship designed to sail through ice-covered waters, set off on a timeless journey to the heart of wild and pristine nature; a territory of the seals, whales and king penguins.
After crossing the often-rough waters of the Drake Passage, you will sail on to the remote waters of the Weddell Sea. The ice floe that stretches to the horizon and the tabular icebergs – among the largest ever observed – drift around you. It is right near here that Shackleton’s Endurance sank, only to be found in 2022, almost a century after this mythical expedition. History takes shape before your very eyes.
Set a course northward through the frozen Southern Ocean, to reach the shores of the Antarctic Peninsula. There, with ice and shades of white all around you, an intense feeling of serenity and freedom will envelope you. Icebergs, glaciers, mountains and frozen sea compose a landscape with an unparalleled power of attraction. The South Shetland Islands soon reveal themselves. There, you will explore from the sea another place made famous by Shackleton’s expedition: Elephant Island. After getting shipwrecked in the middle of the arid desert of the White Continent, it is here that the crew arrived from the Weddell Sea to await help.
Next you will sail to the South Orkney archipelago, islands with an alpine relief where impressive glaciers overlook a pristine, almost inaccessible landscape. A rare privilege few will experience.
Your ship will take to the seas once again to follow the extraordinary adventure of Shackleton, who set out in a rowing boat in an attempt to save his crew stranded on Elephant Island. On the horizon, the mountainous relief of South Georgia slowly comes into view. This is where the legendary explorer miraculously ran aground, in the middle of the black-sand beaches dominated by snow-covered mountains. The emotion is palpable as the feat becomes imaginable. You will almost feel like you’ve travelled back in time to (re)discover both this fabulous saga and life at this little-known time in history.
Various dates available. Please enquire for full dates and rates.
Highlights
- Cruise in the wake of the legendary expedition of the Endurance, from the Weddell Sea to the Antarctic Peninsula & the South Shetland Islands, & on to the fabulous South Georgia
- Discover incredible landscapes of drifting icebergs, ice floe, snow-capped mountains, black-sand beaches & suspended glaciers
- Sight an abundance of wildlife including humpback whales, leopard, crabeater, Weddell, elephant & fur seals, and undescribable numbers of penguins
- Enjoy thrilling Zodiac cruises & shore visits accompanied by a team of naturalist guides
- Take part in photo workshops delivered by proffesional nature photography experts
- Kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, Polar plunges and Polar swimming activities available (some activities may incur a fee)
What's Included
- Full board accommodation on board, including bar/beverage service
- One night 5* hotel stay in Santiago pre-voyage, with breakfast, dinner and early check-in included
- Flight: Santiago to Ushuaia
- Transfers between airports, hotel and ship
- Zodiac cruises and shore excursions
- Entertainment and expert lecture programme
- Loan of rubber boots
- Expedition parka
So much to experience
Our popularitinerary Suggestions
All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable
Santiago to Ushuaia
At Sea - Drake Passage
Weddell Sea
North Antarctic Peninsula
South Shetland Islands
South Orkney Islands
At Sea
South Georgia
At Sea
Montevideo
A view from Above
All Aboard
Le Commandant Charcot
The truly luxurious, brand-new (2021) Le Commandant Charcot is the latest addition to the stunning fleet of high-class Ponant expedition ships. Re-imagining luxury Polar cruises, the ship is the very first hybrid-electric polar exploration ship powered by liquefied natural gas and has been designed with the greatest attention to detail in terms of safety and respect for the environment. Offering more comfort and luxury than any other expedition ship on the market, Le Commandant Charcot features a beautiful indoor swimming pool, a fantastic spa, gym and wellness area, and truly elegant common areas including a panoramic indoor restaurant, Blue Lagoon outdoor restaurant, lounge bar, observation lounge and conservatory. Every element of the ship has been designed to both convey French-style discreet luxury and arouse wonder and amazement.
The 123 exceptional suites and staterooms, ranging in size from 20 to 115 m², provide ultimate relaxation after a long day of exploring. With private balconies or terraces, each room allows for incredible views of your surroundings, and with their unique understated design, each room exudes the feeling and sense of sailing on a private yacht. Large comfortable beds, air-conditioning, minibars, satellite TV, Bose Bluetooth speakers, Wi-Fi, bathrobes and top-of-the-line toiletries are just a few of the room features. Premium rooms also feature a butler service, and some even have their own private jacuzzis.
we work hard to earn passionate reviews from our clients.
Now that I am back from my odyssey voyage, I thought I would let you know that after all that planning it really did exceed my expectations – we managed landings everywhere even on Tristan da Cuhna and had great bird sightings. The guides all knew what they were talking about too and made sure I got some great photos – still sorting them all out! Thanks for everything and see you at Birdfair!
Dave MartinI want to thank you for all you did to make my recent Falklands trip run so smoothly and comfortably. Thank you for all your help over the diet too.
Dr Lorna MairsJust a quick note to express my sincere thanks to you and all your staff for making this an epic adventure of immense proportions. Everything went smoothly, pickups, hotels and most of all the expedition itself. Truly a mind blowing experience unlike any I have ever taken.
Mr J Borg, MaltaToo much to choose from? This is where we come in
Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Antarctica adventure for you.
Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.
With a lifetime of unforgettable nature and adventure based travel under his belt, Simon shares his passion, enthusiasm and hands-on experience to help create the perfect itinerary for every client.
Amy’s abiding love of adventure travel has taken her to some of the most incredible wildlife-rich places on Earth. Her vast experience and genuine desire to share her knowledge makes her an outstanding and invaluable person to help you organise your wildlife adventure trip.
Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?
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0800 195 3385
Outside the uk
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
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Fill in our
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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?
Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us - 0800 195 3385
Chat Now
Request a
callback
Fill in our
Enquiry form
Book a
Consultation