Epic Antarctica Via The Phantom Coast And Ross Sea

Day 1

Santiago

When you arrive in Santiago to spend the night at our hotel, expect to meet the other travellers, like yourself, who have dreamed of sailing  on the only polar-class icebreaker fitted for expedition travel in Antarctica.

Day 2

Stanley, Falkland Islands

Arriving in Stanley on our charter flight from Santiago, we'll board the icebreaker, Kapitan Khlebnikov, in the early evening and will set sail for the South Shetland Islands.

Days 3-8

South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

We plan to visit penguin rookeries and to cruise among the ice flows, where seals lounge in the Antarctic summer sun. Pushing southward, we cross the Antarctic Circle and enter a world of continuous daylight. We'll explore bays ringed by glaciers, where penguins and seals co-exist in relative harmony. From Marguerite Bay, we'll enter the Bellinghausen Sea.

Days 9-15

Phantom Coast and Amundsen Sea

As we follow the Phantom Coast, we expect to visit Peter I Island. In 2006, our historian noted that only 800 people in all human history have been known to visit the island. Look forward to several adventurous days of breaking through the Amundsen Sea pack ice. We'll deploy our helicopters so you can witness the power of the icebreaker from the air.

Days 16-24

The Ross Sea

The water around the Ross Ice Shelf is the known habitat of emperor penguins, the largest species of penguin. Ross Island is home to the U.S. research base McMurdo Station and to Scott Base, New Zealand's research station. Nearby is Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery Hut (1901-04). Our planned visit is carefully controlled to ensure there is very little impact from our exploration. At Cape Royds and Cape Evans, we'll visit two huts associated with the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. We'll tour the huts after an onboard presentation by our historian.

Days 25-29

At Sea and Macquarie Island

Heading north, we pause to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Macquarie Island. Four species of penguin breed on the island and it is the only place on earth where the white-chinned royal penguin is found. The number of visitors to this nature reserve is highly restricted to help protect the wildlife.

Days 30-31

At sea

The Captain's Farewell Dinner will be especially poignant, as you will be bidding the icebreaker farewell also.

Day 32

Hobart

Upon disembarking in Hobart, Australia, we will transfer the group by motor coach from the dock to the airport.