Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands

Your Antarctica trip begins in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, where having arrived independently you will make your way to the port to board your expedition vessel in the afternoon. As you settle in to your comfortable home for the next 9 nights, we will set sail through the incredibly scenic Beagle Channel and begin our journey towards Antarctica.

You may wish to arrive in Ushuaia a couple of days before departure to allow you time to explore this quaint city and the hiker’s paradise of nearby Tierra del Fuego. Please enquire should you require any advice or help in organising this.

The next 2 days will be spent at sea sailing across the legendary Drake Passage. The Drake Passage is notoriously changeable, but your exceptional purpose-built vessel is more than equipped to deal with any crossing with ease. Whilst on board you can make the most of the ship’s fantastic facilities, attend some of the informative lectures and presentations on offer, spend time on deck looking out for seabirds and whales following the ship, or simply relax and prepare for your time in Antarctica.

As we get closer to the South Shetland Islands and the first of many icebergs start to appear on the horizon, we may spot our first seals or penguins and the excitement will build as we get ready for our first landings.

Over the next days, we will begin the exciting Antarctic experience our ancestors only dreamed of. During these days we will explore the sub-Antarctic islands of the South Shetland chain and be marveled by the captivating landscapes we will encounter along the way. Weather permitting, our projected landfalls include: King George Island; Deception Island, an extinct volcano with waters warm enough for a polar swim; and Half Moon Island with nesting Wilson's storm petrels and chinstrap penguins. As the white shimmer of Antarctica looms on our horizon, the presence of wildlife multiples by tens of thousands with many species of lively penguins, inquisitive seals, nesting birds and the spray of marine mammals. Wildlife abounds along our projected route along the Antarctic Peninsula: leopard, fur and Weddell seals of Cuverville Island; humpback whales of Gerlache Strait; Paradise Bay; the dramatic Lemaire Channel's orcas and much more. The itinerary and activities over these next days depend on weather and ice conditions. The route and shore landings will be determined by the captain and expedition leader and communicated to guests through regularly scheduled briefings. Please note that all the outings and landings rely on weather, sea and ice conditions being favorable both for the ship to access the areas, as for the zodiacs and kayaks to maneuver under adequate conditions, ensuring the safety of all our passengers and staff. For this reason, during moments of harsh weather and throughout the entire trip, our ships offer excellent public areas such as wellness/sauna, restaurant, bar and a library for our passengers to spend their spare time. Our ships are staffed by experts in the field who will also share great lectures along the way, ranging from exploration history to biology, geology, ice and wildlife.

Sadly, it’s time to say goodbye to Antarctica as we make our way back into the Drake Passage for our return journey to Ushuaia. Relax in the comfortable surroundings of your ship with a drink and chat with your new-found friends, join the activities designed to commemorate your trip, enjoy the last of the lecture and presentation programme, or spend time collating and editing the countless pictures you will have taken.

As we get closer to the Beagle Channel we plan to cruise past Cape Horn, a legendary maritime landmark and the southern tip of South America.

Having sailed through the Beagle Channel overnight, we will arrive back in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. There are multiple options available for extending your stay in South America, including discovering more of Argentina and trips into Brazil. Please enquire for further details should this be of interest.