In Shackleton's Footsteps

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred with your fellowexpeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to make your way to yourhotel. Check-in is from 3.00 pm. This afternoon, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby at LasHayas Ushuaia Resort, Luis Fernando Martial 1650, between 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm, to collect your luggage tags, andconfirm if you wish to join our Beagle Channel and Isla de Los Lobos Cruise (sea lion island) tomorrow. Our team willconfirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information on whereto dine or purchase last minute items.Expeditioners arriving after 7.00 pm will find a welcome pack waiting for them at check-in. We ask you to visit ourhospitality desk tomorrow between 8.00 am – 10.00 am.The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.Assigned accommodation: Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort or Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel

At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).

ettle into your stateroom and make yourself comfortable! The onboard gym, wellbeing centre and well-equippedlibrary are yours to discover, and your expedition team will offer a series of presentations on Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment to help enrich your experience. You will also be invited to collect your Muck Boots andattend important briefings on biosecurity, wildlife-watching guidelines and Zodiac safety, in preparation for your firstlanding in Antarctica.On day four the excitement is palpable as you near the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula,with everyone converging on the observation decks to spot their first iceberg. Now that you’re south of the AntarcticConvergence the ocean takes on a whole new character, as you’re surrounded by porpoising penguins and dramaticicebergs. The memory of your first iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weatherpermitting, we may attempt our first Antarctic landing in the late afternoon.

En route to the Peninsula, if time and weather permits, we may attempt to follow the coastline of Elephant Island, ahalf-submerged mountain cloaked with an ice sheet at the outer limits of the South Shetland Islands.It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deepbreath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, andwe have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience nearly 24 hours of daylightand the days can be as busy as you wish.Rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch forwhales, seals and porpoising penguins. Our trusty Zodiacs will also shuttle us ashore, where we may visit penguinrookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines tovantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below.In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straitsseparating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into the sea. Take a quiet moment to experience thewonder of this incredible white continent.

Remote and otherworldly, Antarctic is irresistible for its spectacular iceberg sculptures and calving glaciers, and for the possibility of up-close encounters with marine mammals and the iconic penguins. The Antarctic Peninsula – the main peninsula closest to South America – has a human history of almost 200 years, with explorers, sealers, whalers, and scientists who have come to work, and eventually intrepid visitors coming to enjoy this pristine and remote wilderness. It is a region of protected bays, unscaled snow-capped mountains, vast glaciers and a few places where whalers or scientists have worked. Just as irresistible are the many Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguin colonies, the seals basking on ice floes, the whales and orcas.

The famed Weddell Sea is central to the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, whichwe are here to retrace. In the summer of 1914 Shackleton and his crew of 27 men sailed into the Weddell Sea toattempt the first overland crossing of Antarctica. As they approached their starting point, their ship the Endurancebecame trapped in sea ice, sinking any hopes they may have had of completing their objective. Little did they know,this was the beginning of a completely unexpected and remarkable journey. The incredible series of events thatfollowed have made Shackleton’s voyage one of the most celebrated in polar history.Remote and inaccessible, entry into the Weddell Sea is highly prized among polar adventurers. Your passage beginsat the northernmost extreme of the Antarctic Peninsula, in the beautifully barren Antarctic Sound. In this seldom-visited part of the Peninsula volcanic peaks tower above penguin colonies, and wave-sculpted icebergs paradethrough the deep channels leading to the Weddell Sea. Continuing further east, embrace the expedition spirit as you forge your way as far as possible into the Weddell Sea.The Weddell Sea is renowned for its breathtaking tabular icebergs and expansive sea ice, which attracts anabundance of wildlife, including crabeater seals, Weddell seals and an array of seabirds. Take some time out on deckto observe the flight of storm petrels, prions and Antarctic cormorants drawn here by the rich blooms of Antarctickrill that flourish in the shelter of this ice-covered sea.As you travel, take a moment to reflect on the truly historic seas you’re sailing. It wasn’t so far from here that thewreck of the Endurance was discovered, mostly intact, on March 5, 2022. Researchers aboard the polar researchvessel S.A. Agulhas II were astonished to find the well-preserved vessel only 6.4km (4 miles) south of the positioncalculated by Captain Worsley in 1915, when he last laid eyes on his ship.

Today we set a course for Elephant Island, the lonely outpost where 22 of Shackleton’s men survived several wintermonths under the shelter of two upturned boats.In the morning, join your expedition team in the lecture room to hear the awe-inspiring story of Shackleton and hismen, who spent 9 months stuck in Weddell Sea pack ice and 6 months camping on drifting sea ice before making adesperate escape from the sea ice in three open boats. They spent almost a week battling the wind, currents, swelland treacherous ice to finally make landfall on Elephant Island, a striking, ice-covered extremity of the SouthShetland Islands, after 497 days at sea.We plan to sail past Cape Valentine to see the beach where the men first put ashore over 100 years ago, then followthe coastline west to the exposed promontory of Point Wild. This is where Shackleton’s 22 men survived severalbitter winter months under their upturned boats, hoping for rescue. Weather permitting, we will take a Zodiac cruiseor make a landing at historic Point Wild.

Awesome glaciers flecked with pink algae can be seen approaching Elephant Island — so named either for its elephant-like appearance or for sightings of elephant seals here. Elephant Island is home to several Chinstrap Penguin rookeries, as well as 2,000-year-old moss colonies. Weddell seals and Macaroni Penguins can also be spotted. In 1916, when Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance was crushed in pack ice in the Weddell Sea, the crew was stranded here for more than 4 months finding shelter under two upturned lifeboats on the spit of land Shackleton’s men named ‘Point Wild’. The bust of the Chilean captain Luis Pardo has been erected here to commemorate the successful rescue in the tug.

After an exciting program of excursions and activities in Antarctica, relax and enjoy the slower pace of sea days asyou sail towards South Georgia.As you make your way across the Scotia Sea you’re following the route taken by Shackleton and five of his men whenthey sailed from Elephant Island in search of rescue. In their open wooden boat, the James Caird, they spent 17 dayssailing into the unknown across this perilous patch of ocean. This boat journey, which concluded with their safearrival in King Haakon Bay on the west coast of South Georgia, remains one of the greatest stories of maritimenavigation and survival in polar history.As you sail the onboard lecture program continues, with a series of entertaining presentations on South Georgia’swildlife, geology and history in the lecture room. Or you might prefer to simply unwind: take a long lunch, catch upon your gym sessions, or curl up with a book from our polar library.The Scotia Sea is known for its abundant wildlife including fin, humpback and blue whales. Keep watch for thesegentle giants and elusive orca, which patrol these waters. Venture out on deck with your camera to capture capepetrels and prions wheeling, and albatross soaring gracefully amidst the swell.Of course, thoughts of Shackleton and his voyage are never far away.“Nearly always there were gales. So small was our boat and so great were the seas that often our sail flapped idly inthe calm between the crests of two waves. Then we would climb the next slope and catch the full fury of the galewhere the wool-like whiteness of the breaking water surged around us.”

As you near the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In fact, it is a small island only 176 km (110 mi)long, but with a 3,000 m (9,842 ft) snow-capped mountain range, some of the world’s largest congregations ofwildlife and a truly fascinating human history, South Georgia is an island of incredible riches.As you approach, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship. Youwill sail along the coast, taking in the spectacular glaciated scenery and enjoying a little shelter from the prevailingwesterly winds. This enchanting coastline is yours to explore!Zodiac cruise around craggy coves and along the rocky coastline in search of penguins, seal haul-outs and bird cliffs.Remember to keep an eye out for South Georgia’s kelp forests—these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quitemesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on the water’s surface.Zodiacs will also shuttle you from ship to shore, where you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies onEarth, take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals (making sure you listen to your guides and keep yourdistance!) and wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains. We also hope to visit the remnantsof South Georgia’s thriving whaling stations and visit the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incrediblevoyage of survival is synonymous with this island.In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship-cruise through fjords with towering cliffs of ancientstone, or into deeply indented bays towards dramatic glacier fronts. This is a great time to find a comfy spot in theobservation lounge to enjoy uninterrupted views of South Georgia’s majestic coast.For some intrepid Shackleton fans, the optional hike from Fortuna Bay to Stromness will be a highlight. This routefollows the final stage of Shackleton, Worsely and Crean’s improbable traverse of South Georgia, from their landingplace in King Haakon Bay on the east coast to Stromness in the west, where they finally found safety after 24harrowing months at sea.From Fortuna Bay the trail rises to a spectacular alpine plateau, before angling steeply down towards the abandonedStromness whaling station. Conditions permitting, we aim to repeat this final section of their traverse.“Bright moonlight showed us that the interior was tremendously broken,” Shackleton wrote. “High peaks, impassablecliffs, steep snow- slopes, and sharply descending glaciers could be seen in all directions.”

South Georgia is a breathtaking destination of towering snow-covered mountains, mighty glaciers, and low-lying grasslands that attract an astounding concentration of wildlife. It is possible to find Southern fur seals, Southern elephant seals and a variety of albatross species including Black-browed, Light-mantled Sooty, Grey-headed and the spectacular Wandering Albatross, plus thousands of King and Macaroni Penguins. South Georgia is also linked to the early Antarctic explorers. Captain James Cook first stepped ashore in 1775, but perhaps more famous is Ernest Shackleton’s arrival in 1916 following the sinking of his ship Endurance. Shackleton’s grave and the whaling museum at Grytviken are highlights, as would be a visit to one of the King Penguin colonies at Salisbury Plain or Gold Harbour.

The ship was at sea, surrounded by vast stretches of water that seemed to go on forever. The gentle rise and fall of the waves rocked the vessel, while the salty breeze carried the scent of the ocean. Above, the sky met the horizon in a seamless line, creating a scene of endless beauty and solitude.

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where wewill be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continueour onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arrangedexclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in downtownareas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to UshuaiaAirport, those with flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airporttransfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation.Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pmon the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.

At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).