Peninsula in Depth

This is an all-encompassing tour around one of the most unique environments in the world. Discover some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes and amazing wildlife on this once in a lifetime experience.

• Buenos Aires – 1 night
• Cruise Ship – 1 night
• Cruise Ship (Drake Passage) – 2 nights
• Cruise Ship (Elephant Island) – 1 night
• Cruise Ship (The Weddell Sea) – 3 nights
• Cruise Ship (Antarctic Peninsula) – 7 nights
• Cruise Ship (South Shetland Islands) – 2 nights
• Cruise Ship (Drake Passage) – 2 nights

Day 2

Fly Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and embark – After breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Upon arrival, you will have a little time to explore this quaint port town before heading to the pier. Embarkation will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will sail down the historic Beagle Channel. This famous channel transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart – the next time you’ll see land you’ll be in the world’s most southern continent!

Meals Included: Breakfast / Dinner

Day 5

Elephant Island: Mountainous and ice-covered Elephant Island is the first land you’ll visit following the crossing. Named by early explorers for the elephant seals that dotted its shoreline, the island is best known as the refuge for Ernest Shackleton’s crew. Point Wild, the site of the crew’s camp, is an Antarctic Historic site.

There are also a wide variety of inclusive and additional activities available to all passengers (some may have to be booked in advance), including; kayaking, cross-country skiing, camping, paddleboarding, snowshoeing and photography.

Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Days 9-15

Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle – Travel around the Peninsula includes a variety of experiences, including Cuverville Island and the largest colony of gentoo penguins in the region – more than 6,500 breeding pairs. Other possible landing sites include Melchiors, Cuverville Island and Orne Harbour. Glaciers, penguin colonies and breaching humpback whales will highlight your days, while friendly seals are plentiful in these waters. You can also expect to encounter what is arguably the most formidable Antarctic predator, the leopard seal. You’ll have drinks to celebrate crossing the Antarctic Circle, and you may visit the Vernadsky Lounge, the Peninsula’s southernmost bar. A sure highlight is Wilhelmina Bay – one of our expeditions once spotted 50 whales in three hours! We’ll spend a full seven days exploring as many sites as we can, ensuring you the most comprehensive Antarctic experience possible.

There are a huge number of possible landing sites which you may experience over the course of these days. Please contact us if you want to receive more information about all the possible sites.

Meals Included: Breakfast (7) / Lunch (7) / Dinner (7)

Days 16-17

South Shetland Islands – In 1819, the British explorer William Smith described the South Shetland Islands as ‘barren and covered with snow, with seals in abundance.’ Places such as Half Moon Island or Livingston Island support huge numbers of nesting chinstrap, gentoo and even some macaroni penguins. Giant and cape petrels, blue-eyed shags and kelp gulls nest in the cliffs. Mosses, lichens and Antarctica’s only two flowering plants thrive during the short summer on the low-lying peninsulas of these rugged maritime islands. You will explore the busy penguin and seabird rookeries and marvel at the huge elephant seals that wallow along the shore. Deception Island is the caldera of an active volcano, where sealing and whaling operations were based in the past. Several microclimates can get quite warm, and there is a large colony of chinstrap penguins. Half Moon Island is a significant area for birds and it features a 2,200 yard (2 km) walking track to give you a close view of the wildlife.

There are a huge number of possible landing sites which you may experience over the course of these days. Please contact us if you want to receive more information about all the possible sites.

Meals Included: Breakfast (2) / Lunch (2) / Dinner (2)

Days 18-19

Crossing the Drake Passage – Use your second passage across the Drake to put your newfound Antarctic knowledge to use; spend time on deck, spot icebergs and name seabirds. Enjoy presentations by our onboard experts and bond with your shipmates.

Meals Included: Breakfast (2) / Lunch (2) / Dinner (2)

If you’re not ready to go home just yet, please feel free to contact us and our travel concierges can look into possible extenstions, whether that’s a week on a beach in Brazil, the Caribbean or even a short stay in the United States – the choice is yours!

• This all-encompassing trip includes everything you need for peace of mind on your journey, such as your return flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, pre-expedition hotel accommodation, transfers to and from your ship, full meals and drinks on-board, waterproof expedition boots for shore landings (on loan) and emergency evacuation insurance.
• Although our ice strengthened ships are big and sturdy, Antarctic waters can be unpredictable and rough. Some people may experience seasickness, especially through the Drake Passage and other open water crossings. Please be prepared with medications to combat this. There is also a doctor on-board should you need further assistance.
• As you’d expect, temperatures in the Antarctic are freezing. A warm parka will be provided along with waterproof boots and unlimited hot drinks, but you should also bring base layers and lots of warm clothing. Please see the trip notes for further important information about what to bring.
• Weather depending, you will be making regular excursions in a Zodiac boat to explore the local area and look for wildlife. It can get very cold and wet on the Zodiac, so make sure you are dressed appropriately and that you keep your camera safe and dry. Sturdy sea legs are needed as you make wet and dry landings from the boat, and on steep terrain, snow and other uneven surfaces. Some ships have a lot of stairs, so please hold on to the handrails if seas are rough.
• The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially to such a remote area. There are nearly 200 recognised sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands; the places mentioned in the itinerary may need to be changed to others (which are equally as interesting). We may also be confined to the ship during rough weather. The on-board library and educational lectures are ideal ways for keeping entertained.