Antarctic Explorer: Discovering The Peninsula

Day 1

Ushuaia

We start our journey by spending a night on the tip of South America, in the outpost town of Ushuaia on Tierra Del Feugo.

Day 2-4

Beagle Channel and Drake Passage

We board our ship and head out onto the Beagle Channel, flanked by mountains and courted by seabirds, into the Southern Ocean and across the Drake Passage. While the Drake's reputation is fearsome, storms tend to pass through quickly and we've numerous crossings where the Drake displayed its alter ego - the Drake Lake! Our stable and comfortable ships cope admirably with whatever conditions the Drake presents. With a constant accompaniment of a profusion of seabirds, including the majestic albatross, our education program gets underway during the crossing.

Day 5-9

The Antarctic Peninsula

The South Shetland Islands and the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula form one of the most spectacular wilderness areas on earth, where the wildlife is overwhelmingly prolific and abundant. We see five species of seals and massive rookeries of Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins, as well as whales and countless seabirds. Responding to the weather conditions and passenger interests, no two of our voyages are ever the same as we seek out new areas and revisit old favourites to cruise in the Zodiacs, visit rookeries, scientific stations or enjoy shore hikes.

Our first landfall is on teh South Shetland Islands. Admiratly Bay, on King George Island, is a favoured feeding ground for humpback whales. We may be able to watch the whales from the Zodiacs as they breach and blow. At Livingston Island there are Weddell and elephant seals, skuas, giant petrels, Antarctic terns and rookeries of chinstrap, gentoo and macaroni penguins.

Weather permitting, we enter the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island - a recently active volcano and one of the most perfect crater islands in the world. Steam rises in places along its shores, as the cold Antarctic waters mix with the thermal waters of the bay.

Our journey continues on to Paradise Harbour or Hope Bay, both situated on the mainland amid some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in the world. We can cruise in the Zodiacs among an impressive array of icebergs, ranging from delicate, crenellated confections to massive tabular bergs that have been calved from the glaciers of the mainland.

Weather permitting we get to set foot on the Antarctic continent and may even spend an optional night camping on shore. We continue exploring the bays and islands, focusing on the areas with the greatest promise of wildlife. Opportunities abound for observing penguins and seals, whilst whales seem to be everywhere!

Day 10-11

The Drake Passage

We sail back through the Drake Passage via Cape Horn.

Day 12

Ushuaia

We arrive back in Ushuaia, where our voyage ends. You are transferred into town or to the the airport for your onward flight.