HIGHLIGHTS
- See Antarctica in the late spring, when the icebergs and
glaciers are at their most stunning
- Take in the fjords of Patagonia and observe the mating and
nesting rituals of wildlife in Antarctica
- Sail aboard the world’s first sustainability
focused, hybrid electric–powered expedition ship
- Travel with a dedicated and experienced Expedition Team of
experts and scientists
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
ITINERARY
Day 1 -
Valparaíso, Chile
Day 2-3 - At sea
Day 4 - Castro
Day 5 - At sea
Day 6 - Puerto Edén
Day 7-8 - Puerto Natales
Day 9 - Chilean Fjords
Day 10-11 - At Sea
Day 12-15 - Antarctica
Day 16-17 - At sea
Day 18 - Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Day 1 ‘A
wonderful mess’
Lonely Planet describes this picturesque World Heritage City as
‘a wonderful mess’. That about sums it up! Feast
your eyes on a maze of neighborhoods and narrow alleys dotted across
several hills overlooking the Pacific. Unlike your experience in
Antarctica, you’ll find Valparaíso to be warm and
bursting with color, and exciting smells, sounds, and people. This
atmosphere must be lived and breathed first-hand. Wander its winding
streets of colorful houses, visit mercados filled with local produce,
or take a funicular up the Alegre and Concepción hills for
sweeping views. Plaza Aduana is the city’s historic center,
while the port district is filled with colonial buildings past their
prime and old-fashioned bars.
Have a few extra days before the expedition cruise? Plan ahead and join
an exciting Pre-Program adventure to the gorgeous Atacama Desert.
After embarking the MS Fridtjof Nansen, check-in and relax in your
cabin. Then you will attend an important health and safety briefing,
where you will meet the Expedition Team. We hope you’ve
worked up an appetite, because then the time has come for the welcome
dinner.
Day 2-3 Enhance your
knowledge
Two days at sea means relaxing and learning enthralling information.
Context is truly the key to your exploration and adventure. The more
deeply you understand what you see and experience along the way, the
more you can appreciate the cultural nuances and the intricate features
of the nature we encounter. The experts on the Expedition Team
specialize in fields ranging from biology, volcanism, oceanography,
geology, ornithology, glaciology, history, photography, and many more.
Listen attentively as they deliver a series of lectures that might
touch on any of these fascinating topics. There will also be hands-on
presentations in the Science Center involving microscopes, rock
samples, and anatomical replicas, along with on-deck guiding, whenever
possible.
We make sure your mind is well fed, but we certainly don’t
neglect your body, either. Three onboard restaurants serve up exquisite
meals to keep you and your taste buds delighted. To keep your body in
tip-top shape, the ship offers indoor training facilities, an infinity
pool, an outdoor running track, and an outdoor gym. After this tiring
mental and physical activity, recharge your batteries with a wellness
treatment in the spa, free your pores in the sauna, or soak in one of
the outdoor hot tubs.
Day 4 Chilote Capital
Time to stretch your legs while ashore in Chile’s
third-oldest city. It is the largest city on the island of
Chiloé, which is thought to have first been settled more
than 7,000 years ago. This rustic city’s main attractions are
the colorful ‘palafitos’, wooden houses mounted on
stilts along the water’s edge. Intrepid photographers can
walk to the opposite shore or to nearby hills to find good angles of
these interesting, iconic neighborhoods. Two UNESCO World Heritage
Sites, Iglesia San Francisco and Iglesia de Señora de Gracia
de Nercón, are also worth seeing. If archaeology and
ethnography spark your interest, the regional museum of Castro is a
nice spot, and the Chiloé museum of modern art houses a
significant collection of contemporary art.
Day 5 Through fabled
Patagonian waters
Southward we sail, through the fabled waters of Patagonia and to one of
the world’s most remote and beautiful places: the province of
Última Esperanza, which means ‘Last
Hope’.
The sailor Juan Ladrillero gave it this name, as he sought the Strait
of Magellan in 1557. This was his ‘last hope’ to
find the strait after exploring the maze of channels between the
Pacific and the mainland. As we sail through unmatched Andean
seascapes, take some time to reflect. Find a comfortable chair with a
view and feast your eyes on the vast expanse of undisturbed nature. The
compelling onboard lectures will inform you about the history and
wildlife of the upcoming destinations.
Day 6 Isolated paradise
We will make several stops as we head south. With just a few
exceptions, each location will be less and less populated. The village
of Puerto Edén is a perfect example. This tiny, charming
village is known for its isolated location at the end of a deep fjord,
surrounded by mountains and only accessible by sea. Once a month, a
ferry is available to transport residents to the nearest coastal city,
Tortel, located just over 60 miles away. Due to the region’s
large tidewater glaciers, it also rains quite a bit here. And by
‘quite a bit’, we mean it rains quite a lot! Its
secluded and wet conditions makes roads unnecessary in the village, so
there are none—pedestrian boardwalks connect the houses and
shops. The population of 250 people includes the 15 remaining members
of the indigenous Kawéskar people.
Day 7-8 Hikers’
refuge
Scottish and German immigrants founded Puerto Natales in 1911. They
came to export lamb and wool back to Europe. Today, the city has around
20,000 residents and plays host to constant flow of adventure
travellers from around the world—a stop on their way to the
world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park. Join us on an optional
excursion to the national park or simply hang out in Puerto Natales
itself.
There are a number of trendy eateries here, along with Bohemian-style
bars and outdoor gear suppliers. Gin lover? Take a tour of the Last
Hope Distillery, which could just be the southernmost distillery in the
world. Or, head to Etherh Aike, a small artisan village where
you’ll have the opportunity to admire and purchase their
crafts. The waterfront is particularly photogenic, such as the wooden
posts of the old pier stretching toward the fjord and snow-capped
mountains in the background. You can also admire the fingers of the
hand monument and the dancing figures of the wind monument.
Day 9 Exploring a
fjord-filled paradise
Civilization is behind us now, as we set off toward the deep fjords of
Chile. One of the most enjoyable sights is the view from the deck of
the towering mountains plunging into the icy water. Weather and time
permitting, we might launch our small boats (RIBs) for a scenic cruise
around the majestic fjords. . The Expedition Team might even lead you
on a hike ashore to see first-hand how the glacial ice has scoured its
way between the mountains, creating gorgeous isolated islands and
hidden bays. We may take samples of ice from the region to study them
under the microscopes in the onboard Science Center.
Day 10-11 Cape Horn and
the Drake Passage
After sailing through the scenic Beagle Channel, we will turn to head
straight south toward Antarctica. In doing so, we will pass the
southernmost tip of South America, Cape Horn. Its fame as an essential
spot for round-the-world sailings is matched by its notoriety for
strong winds and wild waves whipping around the cliffs. To say the
least, these conditions make landings difficult—it is not a
feat for the faint of heart. The captain and the Expedition Team
members will carefully consider the day’s conditions to
decide whether it will be safe enough to try and land ashore. Should
the weather allow, you might be among an elite few who have set foot on
this dramatic island.
From Cape Horn, we head straight down into the legendary Drake Passage,
which places us on the doorstep to the pristine seventh continent.
During the days we need to make this crossing, the Expedition Team will
give important lectures, where you’ll learn about exploring
Antarctica while adhering to the IAATO’s sustainability
guidelines. You’ll also learn about the different wildlife
species you may encounter, how to observe and not disturb them, and
what to do and not to do if a penguin approaches you. We are committed
to making the landings safe for you, for the wildlife, and for this
pristine environment. That means leaving nothing behind and taking
nothing with us but pictures and amazing memories.
Day 12-15 The most remote
and beautiful place on Earth
Has nature ever left you completely stunned? Prepare for that feeling
as we reach Antarctica. Its immensity amazes and its stark beauty
astonishes. Some guests burst into tears from joy and sheer awe. To
make the experience even more magnificent, your visit in late austral
spring means many sculpted icebergs will be floating in the straits.
Romance will also be in the air, as the gentoo and chinstrap penguins
engage in courtship and mating. These clumsy yet charming creatures
will melt your heart as they waddle around flirting with their partners
and building their nests. Keep an eye out for a variety of seabirds
such as gulls, terns, and herons. There are as many as 45 different
species here.
Throughout your four days here, you will join the Expedition Team on a
range of landings and ice-cruises using small boats (RIBs) that will
bring you to scenic locations and penguin colonies on and around the
Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands. Weather permitting, you
may also be lucky enough go snowshoeing in an optional activity, if
conditions allow.. Or kayak among the giant icebergs (also an optional
activity subject to weather and ice conditions). You never know when a
penguin or seal might turn up nearby in the water to investigate you.
To further engage with Antarctica’s unique environment, you
can join different Citizen Science projects, such as photographing
whales, seabirds, and leopard seals; samplingphytoplankton; or cloud
and sea ice observation. Your participation in these projects not only
helps scientists around the world, but also allows you to gain a better
and more meaningful understanding of Antarctica’s fragile
ecosystem. The onboard lectures enhance your experience. And by
analyzing samples taken during the day, you will observe another kind
of Antarctic ‘wildlife’ on a cellular level using
the Science Center’s advanced microscopes.
Day 16-17 Triumphant
northward return
After spending four days in Antarctica, the time has come to head back
north. Your mind will be chock full of unforgettable sights and sounds.
Your camera’s memory cards will be even fuller and loaded
with impressive images. Head over to the Science Center to talk about
your experiences in Antarctica with members of the Expedition Team and
other guests and keep the experience going a little longer.
Don’t forget that you can unwind from all the excitement with
a pampering in the Wellness Center.
Day 18 One adventure ends
and another begins
The expedition cruise ends as we reach Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, the
southernmost province of Argentina. Your Antarctic adventure may be
over, but that just means the next one is beginning. We will transfer
you to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Consider spending a
few extra days here before heading back home. With its museums,
theaters, and wide selection of tango shows, it is well worth taking
the opportunity to explore this exciting city.
If you’re still hungry for adventure and beautiful scenery,
we strongly recommend joining a Post-Program to the incredible
Iguazú Falls.
We hope that your Antarctic exploration will hold a special place in
your heart and mind for decades to come. Let your experiences on this
expedition inspire you to embark on many more adventures, always with
sustainability and respect for nature at the forefront.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Transfer
- Transfer from the ship to Ushuaia airport after the
expedition cruise
Flights
- Flight in economy class from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires
Expedition Cruise
- Expedition cruise in a cabin of your choice
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including beverages (house
beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water) at restaurants Aune and
Fredheim
- Lindstrøm, the À la carte restaurant,
is included for suite guests
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in
remote areas with limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
- Complimentary, reusable water bottle to fill at onboard
water refill stations
- English-speaking Expedition Team who organize and guide
activities, both on board and ashore
- Range of included activities
Onboard Activities
- Experts from the Expedition Team deliver detailed lectures
on a variety of topics
- Use the ship’s Science Center, which features an
extensive library and advanced biological and geological microscopes
- The Citizen Science program allows guests to contribute to
current scientific research
- The onboard professional photographer will give tips and
tricks for taking the best landscape and wildlife photos
- The ship has hot tubs, a sauna, an outdoor and indoor gym,
and an outdoor running track
- Participate in informal gatherings with the crew, such as
daily recaps and the next day’s preparations
Landing Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs) while in
Antarctica
- Loan of boots, trekking poles, and all equipment needed for
the activities
- Complimentary wind- and water-resistant expedition jacket
- Expedition Photographers will help you configure your
camera settings before landings
Not Included In Your
Expedition
- International flights
- Travel protection
- Baggage handling
- Optional shore excursions with our local partners
- Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team
- Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area
Notes
- All planned activities are subject to weather and ice
conditions
- Excursions and activities are subject to change
- Please ensure you can meet all entry and boarding
requirements
- No gratuities are expected
Get the most out of
your cruise with activities run by our Expedition Team. They start from
the ship, and are available for reservation once you get on board.
Activities are subject to change.
- Camping
in Antarctica (An Amundsen Night)
- Extended
Hikes in Antarctica
- Kayaking
Adventure in Antarctica
- Snowshoeing
in Antarctica
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