Antarctica, Falklands & S.Georgia Land & Sea

Your Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica itinerary will begin in the Chilean capital of Santiago where having arrived independently you will take your included flight to Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands. Upon arrival at Mount Pleasant you will transfer via internal FIGAS flight to the wonderful Pebble Island. Named for the brightly coloured pebbles which adorn the island’s beautiful beaches, the origins of which remain a mystery, Pebble Island is the third largest of the offshore islands of the archipelago.

After arriving on Pebble Island and checking into your comfortable guest house, there may be time for a quick orientation tour around the island before settling down for your first dinner at the lodge.

3 nights accommodation at Pebble Lodge on a full board basis.

You will now spend the next 2 full days seeking out the best wildlife and scenery opportunities on the island. The lodge will offer and provide wildlife, history and scenery tours.

Home to the largest sand beach in the Falklands, Pebble Island’s pretty landscape features mountain peaks and many large lakes and ponds which attract a wide range of wildfowl and wading birds. The island qualifies as an Important Bird Area and during your time here you will travel all around in the island in search, not only of exceptional scenic opportunities, but also of wildlife encounters. Around 40 birds species have been recorded on the island including over 1,000 pairs of Imperial cormorants as well as several large colonies of Gentoo, Megellanic and Southern Rockhopper penguins. There are also good chances of spotting Commerson’s dolphins and the Queen of the Falklands fritillary butterfly which are regularly recorded here.

This morning you will take an internal flight to Sea Lion Island where you will check into the Sea Lion Lodge for your 2 night stay. Sea Lion Island lies 17km south of mainland East Falkland and is the premier wildlife tourism site in the archipelago. As its name suggests, you can expect to see a number of sea lions hauled out on the shore, and the island is also home to 95% of the Falklands’ southern elephant seal population. You will be visiting during Killer whale season so you may be able to tick these off your bucket list of wildlife viewing experiences too. As well as marine wildlife, as with the majority of the Falkland Islands there are also excellent bird watching opportunities, with the island being home to Gentoo, Magellanic and Southern rockhopper penguins, along with an abundance of ground-nesting birds.

2 nights’ accommodation at Sea Lion Lodge on a full board basis.

On day 6 you will take another internal flight to Stanley and check in to the welcoming Malvina House Hotel. Stanley is a charming town which looks very much like a traditional English village, and is a place of great historical interest. There is a harbour, cathedral and a number of welcoming British-style pubs. There is also the fantastic Falkland Islands Museum. Make sure to take some time at leisure to explore through the colourful streets. Lots of birds can be seen within the town and along the waterfront area including geese, ducks, petrels and penguins.

2 nights’ accommodation at Malvina House Hotel on a bed & breakfast basis.

On day 8, the second portion of your exciting itinerary begins as you make your way to the port to board the fantastic M/V Sea Spirit expedition ship. After settling into your comfortable cabin and familiarising yourself with the ship, you can make your way to the restaurant for a refreshing welcome cocktail and your first dinner on board.

The following day will be spent exploring around some of the isolated outer islands on the south of the Falklands archipelago which are particularly important for their colonies of cormorants and different breeding birds that have been recorded there, including Magellanic, southern rockhopper, macaroni and gentoo penguin.

The next 2 days will be spent at sea as the ship sails east towards beautiful South Georgia. On the way you will pass the remote, seabird-covered Shag Rocks, so have your camera ready on deck. This expedition cruise has been designed specially for photographers (amateurs and professionals alike), so this time at sea is a great opportunity to meet your fellow travellers so discuss techniques and experiences, and to attend some of the photography workshops available onboard.

Your ship will cross the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. Your expert crew will provide lectures and presentations on the wildlife and history of South Georgia as well as briefings on bio-security procedures and the conservation efforts that are in place to protect the natural beauty of the area.

Welcome to the wildlife paradise of South Georgia Island, thought of as the best place on Earth for wildlife and landscape photographers! This exceptionally scenic wilderness is said to be home to over 100 million seabirds, including numerous species of albatross, penguins, prions, petrels, and terns, as well as over 100,000 elephant seals and three million fur seals! Your captain and photography team will take advantage of every opportunity for up-close wildlife encounters by creating a flexible itinerary for your time here, and each day the captain (and the weather) will decide which area to visit in order to get the very most from your South Georgia experience. We will seek out some great locations for the best light and settings for remarkable photography opportunities.

Likely places for exploration include Salisbury Plain and St Andrew’s Bay where penguins and seals flood the beaches jostling for a coveted spot. Don’t be surprised if your arrival is greeted by the inquisitive penguins coming up to you for a closer inspection!

The bountiful waters surrounding South Georgia are also inhabited by an increasing number of whales and you will have the chance to visit the historical whaling station of Grytviken which is also home to the South Georgia Museum. There will also be chance to visit Ernest Shackleton’s grave to pay your respects at the final resting place of this legendary polar explorer.

Your time on this uninhabited island will be filled with exciting Zodiac excursions, photo workshops, wildlife encounters and incredible scenery that will live long in your memory.

After an unforgettable time in South Georgia it’s time to set sail for the grand finale of your expedition and the wilderness of Antarctica and the South Shetland Islands. Sailing southwest towards the Peninsula there will be ample time for relaxing, collating the countless photos you will have no doubt taken already and attending presentations and briefings in preparation for your time on the white continent.

Welcome to the land of superlatives…Antarctica! In authentic expedition style your exact itinerary here will be dependent on ice and weather conditions. Each day your experienced captain and expedition leader will choose the very best course in order to take advantage of every wildlife and adventure opportunity available. The long daylight hours offer plenty of flexibility for Zodiac and land excursions to make the most of your time in this magical part of the world.

The Antarctic Peninsula is home to some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, with narrow channels surrounded by towering mountain peaks covered in permanent snow and immense glaciers and icebergs of every size imaginable. It is also home to millions of penguins and other birdlife as well as a variety of whale and seal species, making it a nature lover’s paradise.

Your first stop on your Antarctica adventure is likely to be the South Shetland Islands, the northernmost islands in Antarctica. Likely stops here include Elephant Island, where men from Shackleton’s famous Endurance expedition spent the winter.

Your vessel will then sail through the vast Gerlache Strait alongside the Peninsula itself where you will stop at a number of enchanting locations and famous landing sites to enjoy exciting Zodiac excursions, incomparable photo opportunities and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. For the adventurous there is a kayaking option available and this offers a unique and thrilling way to see the nature and feel the magic of Antarctica up-close. Please note, kayaking incurs an additional cost and should be booked in advance.

As your thrilling adventure comes to an end it’s time to head back towards south America as we sail for Ushuaia through the legendary Drake Passage. Continue your wildlife search as you spend time on deck and enjoy the final presentations and lectures from your onboard team of Antarctica experts. You will be invited to attend a farewell dinner and this is the perfect time to reflect on the unforgettable moments you will have experienced during your expedition.

Your unforgettable itinerary concludes in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, where after breakfast it will be time to bid a fond farewell to your crew and shipmates before disembarking and joining the group transfer to the airport or to a central downtown location.