Antarctica & the Falkland Islands

Latin passion and European romance spark a dynamic combination that makes Buenos Aires such a captivating city. The Captain and crew will greet you with a warm welcome and a sparkling glass of champagne as you board your spectacular ultra-luxury yacht for the start of a 15-night Expedition Voyage.  

Meet your fellow guests and acquaint yourself with your yacht’s luxuriously appointed offerings. Toast the beginning of your journey from the open deck, as you wave farewell to the coast and tap glasses with a hearty “saúde”. 

Due to the extraordinary nature of this region, Discovery Excursions throughout your Expedition Voyage are dependent on the weather conditions. Your experienced Captain and specialist polar Discovery Team, who have made countless journeys to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, making the most of your time in this spectacular destination.

Arrive and check in to your hotel. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, is an eclectic combination of Latin and European influences. The tree-lined streets and postcolonial architecture draw on the city’s Spanish, French and Italian heritage, while the many cafés and bodegas and vibrant nightlife are decidedly Argentine. Its barrios, or neighborhoods, exude an intimate atmosphere that belies the city’s size. Full of bohemian flair, historic San Telmo’s cobblestone streets and Belle Époque–style buildings reverberate with the mesmerizing melodies of the tango.

At Sea refers to being on or traveling across the open ocean, away from the shore. It is often associated with ships, boats, and maritime journeys. The sea environment can be calm and beautiful or rough and challenging, depending on weather conditions. Life at sea involves navigation, exploration, fishing, trade, or recreation. The vastness of the ocean gives a sense of adventure, freedom, and connection with nature.

Remote and unspoiled, the Falkland Islands offer a breathtaking sanctuary for wildlife enthusiasts. Home to the world’s largest Gentoo penguin population, watch as they waddle along the shores, nesting and interacting in their natural environment. Spot black-browed albatross soaring above and keep an eye out for Cobb’s wren and the Falkland flightless steamer duck, two rare species only found here. For a deeper appreciation of this remarkable ecosystem, engage with the specialist polar Discovery Team – a dedicated group of geologists, historians, ornithologists, marine biologists and glaciologists who bring the magic of the Falklands to life through their unparalleled knowledge and passion.

The Falkland Islands are a windswept archipelago in the South Atlantic, known for their dramatic coastlines, rolling grasslands, and rich wildlife. They are home to large colonies of penguins, seals, and seabirds, making the islands a paradise for nature enthusiasts and photographers. The rugged landscapes, combined with a strong British cultural heritage, create a unique blend of wilderness and history in this remote corner of the world.

At Sea refers to being on or traveling across the open ocean, away from the shore. It is often associated with ships, boats, and maritime journeys. The sea environment can be calm and beautiful or rough and challenging, depending on weather conditions. Life at sea involves navigation, exploration, fishing, trade, or recreation. The vastness of the ocean gives a sense of adventure, freedom, and connection with nature.

Elephant Island is a remote, ice-covered island located off the coast of Antarctica. It is famous for its dramatic glaciers, rugged mountains, and abundant wildlife, including seals, penguins, and seabirds. The island is historically significant as the refuge of Ernest Shackleton and his crew after the loss of their ship, the Endurance, in 1916. Cruising around Elephant Island offers breathtaking views of towering ice cliffs and pristine Antarctic landscapes. It is a highlight of many Antarctic expedition voyages, combining natural beauty with remarkable exploration history.

Slide open the floor-to-ceiling doors of your verandah suite to see icebergs sculpted by nature and glacial mountains rising thousands of metres from the ocean. True magic awaits as you witness the incredible wildlife spectacle: from graceful seals to majestic whales and the delightful colonies of penguins that dot the landscape. Antarctica is a birdwatcher's delight, home to a huge variety of species. Keep your eyes peeled for wandering albatrosses, shearwaters, giant petrels and more. Due to the extraordinary nature of the region, Discovery Excursions throughout your Expedition Voyage are dependent on the ice and weather conditions. Your experienced Captain and Discovery Leader, who have made countless journeys to Antarctica, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, making the most of 18–20 hours of daylight.

Scenic Discovery: Explore by zodiac, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard~ with possible shore landings (weather and ice permitting). To see Antarctica from above or below the horizon book a helicopter flight^ or a submersible^ experience.

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.

At Sea refers to being on or traveling across the open ocean, away from the shore. It is often associated with ships, boats, and maritime journeys. The sea environment can be calm and beautiful or rough and challenging, depending on weather conditions. Life at sea involves navigation, exploration, fishing, trade, or recreation. The vastness of the ocean gives a sense of adventure, freedom, and connection with nature.

This morning, bid farewell to your expert crew and fellow guests as your extraordinary journey comes to an end. After a final breakfast on board, disembark in Ushuaia and board your flight to Buenos Aires, carrying with you memories of an unforgettable Expedition Voyage in the pristine landscapes of Antarctica.

Please book your flight to depart out of Buenos Aires after 09:30 PM.

#Spa treatments and services at additional cost. Daily activities may be subject to change; please consult your Daily Wonder for updates. +All drinks on board, including those stocked in your mini bar, are included, except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, Champagnes and spirits. Specialty restaurants require a reservation, enquire on board.
^Experiences on board our two helicopters and submersible are at additional cost, subject to regulatory approval, availability, weight restrictions, medical approval and weather, ice and tidal conditions. ~Kayak and stand-up paddleboard not available in all locations.

The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the voyage will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.

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).

Arrive and check in to your hotel. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, is an eclectic combination of Latin and European influences. The tree-lined streets and postcolonial architecture draw on the city’s Spanish, French and Italian heritage, while the many cafés and bodegas and vibrant nightlife are decidedly Argentine. Its barrios, or neighborhoods, exude an intimate atmosphere that belies the city’s size. Full of bohemian flair, historic San Telmo’s cobblestone streets and Belle Époque–style buildings reverberate with the mesmerizing melodies of the tango.