Highlights

Embark on an extraordinary expedition across the Southern Ocean, from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia and the legendary shores of Antarctica. Sail through pristine archipelagos, where white-sand beaches, windswept moors, glaciers, and towering peaks reveal breathtaking scenery. Encounter king penguins, seals, whales, and seabirds in their natural habitats, and follow in the footsteps of Shackleton’s famed odyssey. As you reach the frozen continent, witness a world of icebergs and wildlife, creating memories of a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Exploring the Southern Ocean, between the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, to discover a dazzling natural environment.
Stunning landscapes (moors, beaches, hanging glaciers, ice floes, snow-covered mountains, etc.) and the possibility of observing unique wildlife (penguins, elephant seals, sea lions, whales, etc.).
Activities: opportunities for hikes, outings and shore visits in a dinghy with an experienced team of naturalist guides, to discover the history and biodiversity of this region.

Map/Itinerary

Please note: This itinerary is meant to serve as a general guide. Plans may change along the way, depending on weather, sea conditions, or choices made by the Expedition Leader and team to give you the safest and most rewarding experience.

Day 1Buenos Aires

Meet at Ezeiza international airport in the arrival hall. You will be greeted by a local representative.

You will be transferred to your 5* hotel in Buenos Aires.

Check-in from late morning.
Lunch on your own and time at leisure in the afternoon.
Organised dinner for the group.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2Embarkation Day – Buenos Aires/Ushuaia

An early morning breakfast will be served before leaving to the airport for you flight Buenos Aires – Ushuaia.

Approximate flight duration: 3 hours, 30 min.
Meet and greet at the airport (English-speaking assistance).

According to the flight schedule, services and activities will be adapted before your transfer to the pier for embarkation.

Capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…

Day 3At Sea

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 4New Island & Grave Cove

New Island with its distinctive jagged relief is located on the western edge of the Falkland Islands and is home to a tiny village of two families. Step onto the golden sand of its flower-lined beaches, beside which an old stone house still stands, and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a natural paradise. A narrow pathway weaves around typical Falkland moorlands. Follow it and in under 20 minutes you’ll find yourself at the heart of a colony of southern rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatross and imperial shags. It’s the perfect opportunity to watch the albatross swoop down from the cliffs and skim the waves that crash against the rocks on the exposed side of the island.

Make your way through the turbulent Woolly Gut strait and emerge in the stillness of Grave Cove. Located in the northern edge of the Falkland Islands, this bay owes its name to the vestiges of whalers’ graves that overlook the beach. As you step off the boat and onto the white-sand beach, you might find yourself escorted by a few hospitable Commerson’s dolphins, elegantly adorned in black and white. A stroll along the grassy dunes will lead you to a vast plain of lush green grass, tended by a few sheep. On the other side of the island you’ll find one of the largest gentoo penguin colonies in the area. With some luck, you’ll also glimpse a sea lion scouring the waves for his next meal.

Day 5-7At Sea

Day 8-10South Georgia

Aboard your ship, discover South Georgia, a region formed by an underwater mountain chain that extends from the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula. All the wildlife of the Far South can be found there: king and Gentoo penguins, elephant seals, fur seals… You might get the chance to discover the majestic glaciers of Gold Harbour and the vast plains of Fortuna Bay. If you are fortunate enough to land at Salisbury Plain, you can expect a wonderful spectacle: more than 300,000 king penguins, which you will recognise by the bright orange mark on their head and neck, have taken up residence there.

Day 11-12At sea

Day 13-16Antarctic Peninsula

Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.

Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest zodiacoutings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.

Day 17-18Crossing the Drake Passage

If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don’t forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.

Day 19Disembarkation Day – Ushuaia/Buenos Aires

Disembarkation.

Meet and greet at the port (English-speaking assistance).
Transfer to the airport in time for check-in of the flight Ushuaia/Buenos Aires.
Approximate flight duration: 3 hours, 30 min.

Inclusions/Exclusions

Inclusions

Transfer to your hotel, the day before embarkation.
1-night accommodation in 5* hotel, the night before embarkation.
Early check-in available from late morning.
Hospitality desk at the hotel in Buenos Aires.
Return flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia/Buenos Aires, in economy class.
Services of local guides, in Ushuaia.
Meals as mentioned in the programme and beverage package.
Transfers as mentioned in the programme.

Exclusions

Tips for the local guide.
Personal expenses.
Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme.

Dates & Prices

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