Choose from a variety of 11 or 12 day cruises on a number of ships. There is also the option of flying across the Drake Passage on select dates in December 2011 and January 2012, cutting the cruise duration by two days. Please ask us for details on dates and prices.
Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
This expedition to Antarctica begins with a night in a hotel in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Day 2: Embarkation Day
After embarkation, you cruise down the Beagle Channel. From the deck, birders can add albatross, penguins and petrels to their life list. Later in the evening everyone should be on deck to watch the sure-footed Channel pilot clamber down to the boat sent to collect him.
Day 3-4: Crossing the Drake
Prepare for rough water, but do not be disappointed if your crossing of the Drake Passage is smooth sailing. The world's roughest stretch of water is continually changes.
Days 5-8: South Shetland Islands & Peninsula
Many factors play a role in shaping the expedition's itinerary – weather, ice and the presence of wildlife. Perhaps, you'll feel salt spray on your face as the Zodiac weaves in and around grounded icebergs in Pleneau Bay. Scramble to the top of a craggy hill for an unforgettable view of a splendid chasm near Port Lockroy. Sit quietly on a pebbled beach to wait for a curious penguin chick to approach. Or take a plunge into the icy waters of Neko Harbour.
During this cruise itinerary, explore the highlights of the Peninsula with travelers who enjoy kayaking, camping, cross-country skiing, and mountaineering.
The natural cycle of life ensures that every expedition is different. And that every expedition itinerary is full of surprises! In Antarctica, silence is so complete that interruptions become indelible memories; noisy penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, the boom and crack of a calving glacier. For some, there is the sound of breathing: Arms pump and legs power you up an incline on cross-country skis.
As you sail from island to shore to bay, the Expedition Team makes time for contemplation, tests your endurance and engages your curiosity
Days 9-10: The Drake Passage
Return to Ushuaia across the Drake Passage.
Day 11: Disembarkation in Ushuaia
After breakfast aboard, we transfer the group to the airport for homeward flights.
[Please note 12-day expeditions spend an extra day in the Antarctic Peninsula.]
