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falkland islands, south georgia, scotia sea, antartic peninsula |
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Santiago, Chile
We arrive in the busy capital of Chile and transfer independently to the Hotel Plaza San Francisco or a similar conveniently-located hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore this colorful town at leisure |
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Stanley, Falkland Islands
This morning, after breakfast, we fly* to Stanley, the charming capital of the Falkland Islands. We embark the Professor Multanovskiy in the afternoon. |
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Southern Ocean
As we sail towards South Georgia, our lecture series begins on the unique wildlife, geology, glaciology and history of this wild and remote corner of the Southern Ocean. |
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South Georgia
South Georgia is an extraordinary place with spectacular scenery and astonishing concentrations of wildlife. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring places on Earth. It certainly has more wildlife than virtually anywhere else and we will be greeted by huge numbers of King and Gentoo Penguins, Wandering Albatrosses, southern elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals. The island also played a significant role in Ernest Shackleton's epic journey after the sinking of his ship, the 'Endurance', and we visit his grave at Grytviken, a once-active whaling station. |
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Scotia Sea
We spend two days at sea, with plenty of time to relax between looking for whales and watching the ever-present albatrosses and other seabirds around the ship. The first icebergs begin to appear on the horizon as we head south towards the Antarctic Peninsula. |
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South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula
When land is sighted we know we have reached the South Shetland Islands. This impressive archipelago, lying to the north and roughly parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, is a haven for wildlife. We visit vast penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe wallowing southern elephant seals. We also hope to visit one of the many research bases in the islands and look for Antarctica's only two flowering plants - which thrive here during the short southern summer. A highlight of our visit will be sailing through a narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island. We continue south and cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula.
This awe-inspiring wilderness of snow, ice, narrow waterways and towering mountains is the most readily accessible part of the White Continent - and has some of the best wildlife. Enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills and Antarctic Terns are just some of the many birds found here in abundance. We are also likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, and often encounter orcas, humpback whales and Minke whales. The Peninsula also has a remarkable history and we will learn about some of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world. Keeping a lookout from the Bridge or the deck of the ship as we thread our way along the continent edge, it is impossible not to feel the same sense of excitement as many of those early explorers.
Sailing around the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula we hope to navigate Antarctic Sound, where huge tabular icebergs drift north from the Antarctic Continent. If we are lucky, and weather and ice conditions permit, we may be able to land on Paulet Island to see its enormous Adélie Penguin rookery. We also plan to visit aptly-named Paradise Harbor, or nearby Neko Harbor, where glaciers fill the calm waters with an unforgettable vista of icebergs; this is where we hope to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself. At Port Lockroy, as well as enjoying the thriving penguin colonies, we visit a former British scientific station that has recently been renovated to serve as one of the most isolated and intriguing museums in the world. During the voyage we also hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways in the world (if they are not choked with pack ice and icebergs - a spectacular sight in itself). Two in particular, the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are narrow passages between towering rock faces and glaciers that are so impressive they are a highlight of the trip for many people. |
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Drake Passage
Today we leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage - a chance to relax and review our adventures before returning to Ushuaia. |
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Ushuaia
Today is the last day of our adventure and, after breakfast, we disembark and transfer by bus to the Antarctic Unit office located at the entrance of the pier. Passengers departing on the morning flight today will continue to the airport. |
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