HIGHLIGHTS
- Embard
from Ushuaia, considered the gateway to the Great White Continent
- Go
trekking in nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park
- Discover
the rich stories and historical heritage at "The End of the World"
museum
- Feast
your eyes on the exotic wildlife including penguins, seals, whales and
seabirds
- Go
on Zodiac cruises, kayaking expeditions and submersible diving at
different locations along the way
- Admire
breathtaking scenery such as icebergs, glaciated mountains and volcanoes
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Jan 07, 2025 | Jan 20, 2025 | 14,275 |
14,999 |
Jan 27, 2026 | Feb 09, 2026 | 12,134 |
12,749 |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Jan 07, 2025 | Jan 20, 2025 | 14,275 |
14,999 |
Jan 27, 2026 | Feb 09, 2026 | 12,134 |
12,749 |
ITINERARY
Day
0: ALVEAR ICON HOTEL (CHARTER)
Day
1: TRANSFER HOTEL/AIRPORT
Referred
to as the "Paris of South America", Buenos Aires is considered as one
of the most livable cities in South America. Although the bustling
capital city has just under 3,000,000 inhabitants and a population
density of 13,680 inhabitants per square kilometer (34,800 per square
mile), it was rated in 2018 as one of the top cities on the continent
for its ‘quality of life’. Twinned with world
cities such as Moscow and Miami, Buenos Aires displays through its
architecture, a cultural past rooted in both the Old and New Worlds. A
vibrancy for life can be seen everywhere. Crowded public markets,
street performers dancing the tango, colorful graffiti-style street
art, ultra-modern buildings, a dramatic skyline and a bustling port.
Culturally, Buenos Aires has the busiest live theatre industry on
Earth, outperforming New York, London and Paris. Every weekend, over
300 theatres are active with plays and productions.
Buenos
Aires was founded in 1580 by Spanish explorer Juan de Garay, and has
changed hands many times during its history.
BUENOS
AIRES AIR CHARTER TO USHUAIA
TRANSFER
AIRPORT/SHIP
For
centuries Ushuaia’s harsh climate seemed too forbidding for
the establishment of a European settlement, thereby leaving the land to
its native inhabitants, the Yahgan People.
Today,
however, Ushuaia is the southernmost city on Earth and is often
referred to as "the end of the world". Nestled on the banks of the
Beagle Channel, Ushuaia greets its visitors with a tapestry of colorful
houses dotted against a background of dramatic snow-capped mountains.
The jagged peaks of Monte Olivia, which tower some 4,530’
(1,318 m) above, dominate the landscape. Dense forests of Southern
beech trees, extend from sea level to alpine. Thanks to its
location and relative proximity to the Antarctic Peninsula, Ushuaia is
considered the gateway to the Great White Continent. Rich in natural
history, indigenous people’s heritage, and the spirit of
exploration, Ushuaia offers something for everyone, from spectacular
trekking in nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park to discovering the
rich stories and historical heritage at "The End of the World" museum.
Days
2-3: At Sea
Days
4-10: Antarctic Experience
Antarctica!
The name alone conjures up images of boundless ice, towering icebergs,
comedic penguins, epic snowstorms, great sailing ships held tightly by
ice and the hardy explorers striving to survive wrapped in thick, heavy
parkas. All of this is, or once was, true. Today, vessels have changed
and the level of safety on a journey to ‘The Great White
Continent’ has increased immensely. Antarctica is the truest
of wild places, the majesty of its pristine natural landscapes is
second to no other location on earth.
The
animals that thrive in the rigors of the Antarctic climate are present
in such great numbers and concentrations that they must be seen to be
believed. This untouched oasis harkens back to a time when the world
was untouched by humanity, pure in its natural innocence. Antarctica
has been a source of natural inspiration for as long as humans have
been aware of its existence -- and it may produce in you one of the
most exceptional emotional sensations it is possible to experience on
our great planet.
Aitcho Islands
The
Aitcho Islands are among the most mysterious areas of the South
Shetland Islands chain -- a place of both subtle beauty and quiet
solitude. This is a group of 13 small rocky islets, submerged reefs,
dramatic outcrops and rugged pinnacles. Extensively carpeted by mosses
and lichens, the islands display an unexpected tapestry of colors, in
hues of brown, green and yellow. Fog often sits over the islands,
adding to their tranquil mood. Charted in 1936, the Aitcho group was
named by the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office.
Chinstrap
and gentoo penguins nest on the island and can be seen porpoising
offshore. Gliding cape and giant petrels dance over the water, as the
occasional Weddell seal and gigantic elephant seal laze on the beach.
The sea between the islands is dotted with little ‘bergy
bits’ and as the sea fog lifts for an instant, we are offered
a glimpse into this magic world, where conversations tend to be only a
few degrees north of a whisper.
Almirante Brown Base
On
a small rocky peninsula deep within Paradise Bay lies one of the few
landing spots on the rocky outcrop of the Argentine station of
Almirante Brown.
The
visually stunning location of the base is one of its most engaging
features. With the cluster of bright red buildings at one end and Punta
Proa, a 230 foot (70 m) cliff at the other, Almirante Brown is truly
dwarfed by its backdrop of vertical ice. Climbing the slope behind the
station, you will be rewarded with spectacular views all around and
have the chance to hear the distant, loud calving of glaciers as their
bergs rumble and thunder into the water.
During
the last several decades, gentoo penguins have reclaimed the areas
around the base, creating a unique fusion of humans and penguins during
the summer months. Opened in 1951 as a meteorological station, it was
taken over by the Argentine Antarctic Institute in the mid-sixties and
has become one of the most comprehensive biology laboratories in the
region.
Antarctic Sound (Scenic
Cruising)
Some
30 miles (48 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide, the Antarctic Sound is
located at the far northern end of the Peninsula. It is renowned for a
prevalence of massive tabular icebergs. Sometimes miles in length and
towering vertically hundreds of feet above the sea, these awe-inspiring
ice islands drift in the current after breaking off the ice shelves
along the Weddell Sea.
Often
covered by pack ice, the Antarctic Sound is an ever-changing labyrinth
of cathedral-like icebergs of various shapes and sizes. Its wildlife is
varied and plentiful. Some of the region’s largest
Adélie penguin colonies can be found along its shores and a
wide diversity of whales and other sea mammals frequent the area.
It
was named during the Swedish Antarctic Expedition under Otto
Nordenskjold to commemorate the expedition’s ship Antarctica,
the first vessel to traverse these waters in 1902. Antarctic Sound is a
true wilderness in the raw, and its ‘Iceberg Alley’
will both impress and inspire all those fortunate enough to explore
this spectacular environment.
Arktowski Station, King
George Island
The
Polish Antarctic research station, Arktowski, was established in 1977
on the shoreline of Admiralty Bay on King George Island. It is named
for Henryk Arktowski, the Polish geologist, oceanographer and
meteorologist of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition from 1897-1899. This
was the first expedition to overwinter in Antarctica and, perhaps
unsurprisingly, Arktowski was the first scientist to propose the idea
of wind chill factor.
Field
work is done at the two large Adélie and gentoo penguin
rookeries in the vicinity. Other wildlife includes numerous brown skuas
and Wilson’s storm petrels nesting on the rocky cliffs. Thick
carpets of moss provide a splash of color here and there in this
otherwise monochromatic landscape. Bleached whale bones, relics of the
19th-century whaling history, are scattered around the pebble beach in
front of the station, providing a reminder of the past. One of the few
lighthouses in Antarctica, Point Thomas lighthouse, is located on the
station’s premises.
Baily Head, Deception
Island
One
of Deception Island’s most spectacular places to visit is
Baily Head, the prominent rocky headland on the island's southeastern
side. Its steep black-sand beach is exposed to large, rolling ocean
swells. Ash-covered ice creates an eerie atmosphere in this alien
landscape, where shades of black and grey are interrupted by the
rust-red hues of rock.
The
largest chinstrap penguin colony in Antarctica is found at Baily Head,
numbering in excess of 200,000 birds. The colony dominates the entire
landscape, stretching from the beach to the high ridgeline, outlining
every hill and occupying every possible expanse of the ground.
The
rolling, ashen hills are mottled with literally thousands of black and
white specks, and a constant flow of penguins march up and down along
the route to and from the ocean continually. Nervously massed on the
beach, penguins await the right moment to plunge into the water to
avoid the crashing surf and possible attacks by leopard seals. Once in,
they swim rapidly from the shallows into deep water.
Brown Bluff (Tabarin
Peninsula)
Brown
Bluff owes its name to the bright, rust-colored, iron-rich volcanic
rocks that form its cliffs above the beach. Towering to 2,444 feet (745
meters), the heavily eroded cliffs are part of an extinct and rare tuya
volcano that volcano that erupted beneath the glacier a million years
ago. The beach is composed of rounded, water-smoothed pebbles, volcanic
rocks and ash, along with enormous, randomly shaped, yellow-brown
boulders.
Forty
thousand Adélie and twelve hundred gentoo penguins breed
here, each choosing their own areas to build their nests. Because of
its large penguin population, Brown Bluff can be an excellent place to
view hunting leopard seals. Kelp gulls, brown skuas, cape and
Wilson’s storm petrels are among the many other species found
here.
Giant
rock formations loom on shore, as gargantuan tabular icebergs float in
the distance, adding drama to the bluff’s breathtaking
scenery. Brown Bluff’s unique geology and prolific wildlife
make it a highlight of a visit to Antarctica.
Cuverville Island
Sitting
at the northern entrance of the Errera Channel, Cuverville Island is a
dome-shaped rock with a permanent snowcap, rising to the height of 825
feet (252 m). It is home to some 13,000 gentoo penguins, one of the
largest colonies in the region. Penguin ‘highways’
mark the snow leading to the upper nests, deep furrows created by the
birds’ repeated treks between the sea and the breeding areas.
Leopard seals cruise the shoreline in search of a penguin meal, while
the island’s vertical cliffs are alive with the nests of
Antarctic shags.
The
expansive, mile-long cobble beach offers plenty of great places to sit,
relax and immerse yourself in the subtle rhythm of Antarctic beauty,
watching Zodiacs slowly cruising the bay amongst massive icebergs,
arrayed in a maze of exquisite frozen forms.
The
island was discovered in 1897 by Adrien de Gerlache, commander of the
Belgian Antarctic Expedition, and named for J.M.A. Cavalier de
Cuverville, a vice admiral of the French navy.
Deception Island
Deception
Island is a geological wonder of Antarctica and one of the safest
harbors in the South Shetland Islands. Its name dates from 1820, when
American captain Nathaniel Palmer discovered the navigable gap in the
volcano’s caldera walls as he explored the island and denotes
the deceptive unbroken appearance of the island from afar. Today this
passage is known as Neptune’s Bellows, for the strong winds
that blow through its narrow mouth. After its discovery, Deception
Island became a major outpost for the whaling industry in the Southern
Ocean. Remains of a whaling station can be seen on the black sand
beaches of Whalers Bay.
Despite
its dormant status, Deception Island continues to display regular signs
of thermal activity. If lucky, you may spot elusive clouds of steam
rising along the shoreline.
Eight
miles in diameter, this dormant volcano with its flooded caldera and
narrow entrance has been a natural safe heaven amidst the frequent fury
of the Southern Ocean for sealers, whalers, explorers and modern
visitors alike.
Devil Island
Deep
in the Weddell Sea lies the one-and-a-half-mile (2 km) long Devil
Island, which was discovered and named during Otto
Nordenskjold’s 1901-04 Swedish Antarctic Expedition. The
island owes its name to the resemblance of two hills, one at each end,
to a devil’s horns when seen from a distance.
Snow
petrels, Antarctic terns, and Wilson's petrels find nesting sites among
the scree on its upper slopes. Its most abundant inhabitants, however,
are some 30,000 Adélie penguins, which form a large colony
sprawling along the entire shoreline. The ice-free hillsides of Devil
Island offer incredible views of the surrounding region of Erebus and
Terror gulf.
In
the late Austral summer, the dark brown cliffs of adjacent Vargas
Island are adorned with stark, white strings of waterfalls spilling
from the glaciers above. Trapped in the shallows at low tide, icebergs
often create an intricate, jigsaw-puzzle maze of frozen ice along the
island’s shores.
Cruising the Drake Passage
A
voyage to Antarctica necessarily entails crossing the legendary,
600-mile-wide (966 km) Drake Passage. Notorious for its changeable, and
often rough weather during the age of sail, the Drake Passage owes its
reputation to the fact that currents and westerly winds at this
latitude meet no resistance from any landmass. In reality, however,
crossing the Drake can frequently be tranquil. Affectionately known as
the ‘Drake Lake’, the stillness of such a day is
barely disturbed by the sound of the waves splashing behind the ship.
Chances
for spotting wildlife along the way are high, whether it be Wilson's
petrels, soaring albatrosses or occasionally appearances by whales and
dolphins.
The
passage is named for the English explorer Sir Francis Drake, who in
1578 led the first English expedition to sail around the southern tip
of South America. Whether rough or calm, it will soon be eclipsed as a
memory, when you arrive in Antarctica and immerse yourself in the
unparalleled wonders of the Great White Continent.
Elephant Island
Elephant
Island, at the northeastern end of the South Shetland chain, is a
narrow, rugged island constantly battered by the southern seas and
frequently swept by strong winds. Its steep, ice-covered cliffs rise
straight from sea level and are crowned by the protruding nunataks of
Pardo Ridge. Resembling a formidable fortress, the stronghold of
Elephant Island has only a few existing entry points allowing access
its inner domain.
Early
sealers named it for the abundance of elephant seals on the
island’s shores. Nowadays, the majority of the accessible
shoreline is occupied by a large colony of chinstrap penguins, although
elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals are also present.
It
is here that the crew of Shackleton’s Endurance expedition
scrambled ashore to endure a long, desperate 135 days awaiting rescue
after their ship was stranded and crushed by sea ice in 1915. Few areas
on earth serve to inspire the human spirit for adventure as does the
forbidding landscape of Elephant Island.
Cruising Gerlache Strait
The
Western Antarctic Peninsula possesses some of the most dramatic scenery
in coastal Antarctica. Rugged mountain peaks rise to a height of 9,800
feet (3,000 meters). Jagged rock nunataks protrude upward through an
endless rolling sea of glaciers, set against a backdrop of numerous
islands, protected bays and narrow channels.
Gerlache
Strait runs from the northern fringes of the peninsula along its coast
southward to the entrance of the Lemaire Channel, like a grand,
glittering boulevard through this frozen kingdom. Nearly 200 miles (320
km) long, the strait spans 30 miles (50 km) at its northern end and
slowly narrows to a mere 6 miles (10 km) at its southern end. It
separates the icy islands of the Palmer Archipelago from the Peninsula
and was named in honor of Adrien de Gerlache, the leader of the
1897-1899 Belgian Expedition. It is home to pods of orca whales and
large populations of humpback and minke whales.
Half Moon Island
Half
Moon Island is a small, mile-and-a-half (2.4 km)-long, crescent-shaped
island located in the South Shetland Island chain. It was named by
19th-century sealers because of its unmistakable half-moon shape.
The
island houses the Argentine research station
‘Camara,’ but the main attraction is undoubtedly
Half Moon’s wildlife, plant life, colors and scenery. A
chinstrap penguin rookery of some 2,000 breeding pairs occupies the
plateau above the beach. Wildlife abounds on this tiny outpost
– Wilson’s petrels, kelp gulls, brown skuas and
about 125 pairs of Antarctic terns nest on its rocky outcrops. Various
seals can often be seen snoozing around the island. Given the
island’s relatively small area, it is possible to spot
several species at once.
Distinctively
picturesque rocky outcrops and the distant glacier-covered backdrop of
Livingston Island create one of the most dramatic landscapes in the
South Shetlands. Vibrant orange, yellow and black lichens decorate the
island’s cliffs and rocky outcrops, creating the most
beautiful abstract patterns.
Hannah Point, Livingston
Island
Hannah
Point, named after the British sealing vessel Hannah that wrecked here
in 1820, is an ice-free rocky peninsula on the southern coast of
Livingston Island in the South Shetlands. It teems with life,
displaying a wide variety of Antarctic wildlife. Chinstrap and gentoo
penguins nest here and the rare macaroni penguin may occasionally be
found as well. Giant southern petrels, blue-eyed shags, Antarctic terns
and kelp gulls can be spotted nesting throughout the area. A large
diversity of sea mammals may also be found here. Depending on the time
of year, Antarctic fur, Weddell and leopard seals may be seen, while
huge molting elephant seals lounge on the beach.
For
something out of ordinary, visitors can catch a glimpse into the
prehistoric past of Antarctica by admiring the occasional fossil found
on the shores of nearby Walker Bay. From 1957-58 the British Antarctic
Program kept a base camp, ‘Station P’ on the
eastern side of the peninsula.
Hope Bay
Hope
Bay marks the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. It was
discovered by Otto Nordenskjold and was named to honor the Swedish
Antarctic Expedition members Andersson, Duse and Grunden, who were
forced to spend a desperate winter there in 1903. Remains of their
humble stone hut are still there, beside the brightly colored red
buildings of the nearby Argentine Esperanza station. With a school,
chapel, post office, infirmary, several family houses and almost two
kilometers of gravel roads, Esperanza station resembles a village more
than a base. Several children have been born there, comprising amongst
the first native-born Antarcticans.
Hope
Bay is home to one of the largest colonies of Adélie
penguins on the Peninsula. Hundreds of penguins scurry to and fro
between the colony and shoreside, congregating on the beach in a
classic scene of hesitation before entering the water. None of them
wants to be first, but eventually one jumps in and then a cavalcade of
plunging penguins follows.
King George Island
King
George Island, the largest island in the South Shetlands, is 43 miles
(69 km) long and 16 miles (25 km) wide. Its discovery is attributed to
British captain William Smith who explored the island in 1819 and named
it in honor of King George III.
It
is probably one of the most multinational islands in the world, thanks
to its scientific community. Eight countries maintain permanent
year-round bases here: Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Russia,
China, South Korea and Poland. Holland, Germany, Peru and the United
States also have stations on the island but operate them only in the
summer. The Antarctic Marathon, the region’s first non-profit
international sporting event, takes place on King George Island each
year.
There
are more than 12 miles (20 km) of roads connecting bases, as well as an
active airplane runway attracting multiple flights throughout a year.
There is no other place on earth where you can walk from Chile to
Russia with a side trip to China along the way!
Lemaire Channel
The
Lemaire Channel is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking nautical
passages anywhere and has become an iconic photographic image of
Antarctica. Seven miles (11 km) long and a mere 700 yards (.6 km) wide
at its narrowest point, the Lemaire is framed by the sheer cliffs of
Booth Island on one side and towering mountains of the Peninsula on the
other. Mount Scott rises to 2,890 feet (881 m), marking its southern
periphery, crowning the grandeur of the Channel’s
un-scrolling vertical landscape, in which massive glaciers cling to the
cliffs on either side as you proceed slowly along the narrow passage.
Trapped
by wind and tide, icebergs of surprising shapes and sizes often
dominate the channel. Barely passable at times, the Lemaire Channel
leaves its fortunate visitors reflecting in awe on this magnificently
pristine environment. It was the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache
who first traversed the channel in 1898, naming this strikingly
beautiful passage for his friend, Charles Lemaire. The Lemaire is truly
a place of vertical wonder and serves as a gateway south to the
Antarctic Circle.
Neko Harbor
Neko
Harbor is a very small cove indenting the shoreline of Andvord Bay on
the Antarctic Peninsula and is most renowned for its proximity to one
of the most active calving tidewater glaciers in Antarctica. Massive
ice walls, deep-blue crevasses and rugged ice caves surround the
harbor. The constant crackling of sea ice is interrupted only by the
booming, rumbling and distant thunder of icebergs tumbling into the sea.
Kelp
gulls nest on the rocky ledges, hiding their fluffy chicks amongst the
boulders. Weddell seals come and go, unperturbed by visitors. A gentoo
penguin colony sprawls from the shoreline to the rocky slopes high
above. From this high viewpoint, there are spectacular vistas of the
Gerlache and Bismarck straits, set against a backdrop of magnificent,
distant peaks.
Neko
Harbor takes its name from the Scottish whaling factory ship, Neko,
captained by Christian Salvensen. The Neko operated in the area between
1911 and 1924 and used the harbor to shelter from the perils of the
southern seas.
Neumayer Channel
The
Neumayer Channel is a true jewel among the scenic passages of
Antarctica stretching for 16 miles (26 km) through the islands of the
Palmer Archipelago. Glacier-covered mountains, glistening under the
bright Antarctic skies, rise to great heights over the dark waters of
the passage. Strewn with brash ice and larger icebergs, the Neumayer is
merely one mile (1.5 km) in width. Its curves create the illusion of
impassability, resembling an enchanting labyrinth of icebergs and icy
cliffs. Whales occasionally traverse this icy realm, where a variety of
seals and penguins are frequent visitors atop its floating ice.
The
southwestern entry of the channel was discovered during the German
Antarctic Expedition of 1873-1874 under the command of Eduard Dallmann.
However, Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache was the first to sail
through the passage during the Belgica Expedition of 1897-1899. He
named it in honor of German scientist and renowned polar explorer Georg
von Neumayer.
Paradise Harbor
Paradise
Harbor is located on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula behind
Bryde and Lemaire Islands. It was first named by 19th-century whalers
for its serenity and its majestic scenery and became renowned during
the early 1900’s for calm waters that provided ships a refuge
from blistering winds and rough seas.
Glaciers
surround the harbor, forming an amphitheater of tall, snowcapped
mountains. Ice-cliffs rise sheer out of the water and towering ice
pillars known as seracs rise from deep crevasses. Massive
iridescent-blue ice caves dwarf the buildings of the two nearby
scientific stations, Almirante Brown and Gonzalez Videla. Nesting
gentoo penguins occupy every available space surrounding the buildings.
On the water, brash ice forms a delicate cover amongst the large,
sculpted icebergs that drift in the current. Solitary seals lounge on
ice floes, oblivious to the rumble of distant glaciers tumbling into
the sea. Humpback and orca whales navigate the ice as Antarctic terns
fly above.
Paradise
Harbor is one of Antarctica's most indescribably beautiful destinations!
Paulet Island
Paulet
Island is a circular volcanic island in the Weddell Sea, topped by a
cinder cone with a small summit crater. It was discovered by British
captain James Clark Ross on his expedition of 1839-43 and was named for
Royal Navy captain Lord George Paulet.
Although
Paulet Island is less than one and a half miles (2 km) in diameter, it
is home to one of the largest Adélie penguin colonies in
Antarctica. Over 100,000 pairs nest on the island. The colony is
bustling with activity. Raucous penguin calls fill the air, parents and
chicks pursue each other, neighbors argue and steal nest stones from
one another, adults return from the sea and call for their offspring,
while skuas patrol the sky in search of unguarded chicks.
Remnants
of a stone hut and a lonely grave recall a long-ago drama that unfolded
on the island's shores in 1903, when survivors of Otto
Nordenskjold’s Swedish Antarctic Expedition came ashore after
their ship Antarctic was crushed and sunk by the sea ice.
Pendulum Cove, Deception
Island
Deception
Island is one of the most unusual islands in the South Shetlands chain.
A semi-dormant volcano with a flooded caldera, it has captured the
imagination of sailors and explorers alike since its discovery. The
calm inner harbor has provided a safe haven for numerous whaling,
sealing and exploration vessels. Pendulum Cove was named after British
captain Henry Foster made scientific pendulum and magnetic observations
there in 1829. Its gently sloping beach is composed entirely of coarse
volcanic ash, black sand, and cinders of various sizes, colored in
shades of black and red.
Pendulum
Cove is a site of constant thermal activity. Steam, often very thick,
rises from the beach, indicating that the water along the shoreline
could easily reach scalding temperatures. A Chilean station, Pedro
Aguirre Cerda, was established on the shores of Pendulum Cove in 1955
to monitor the volcanic activity. In 1969, it was destroyed in an
eruption and subsequently abandoned.
Petermann Island
Several
miles south of the Lemaire Channel lies mile-long (1.6 km) Petermann
Island. Set against a background of the impressive mountains of the
peninsula, Petermann is often surrounded by massive icebergs grounded
in its shallow coves. Known as an ‘iceberg
graveyard’, this phenomenon creates a display of unimaginable
icy beauty and attracts a variety of sea mammals including leopard and
crabeater seals, and humpback whales.
The
presence of some 3,000 breeding pairs of penguins brings this small
rocky outcrop to life in an endless cacophony of sounds and movement.
Petermann is home to one of the most southerly gentoo penguin colonies,
as well as one of the most northerly Adélie colonies in
Antarctica.
The
island was discovered by whaling captain Eduard Dallmann, during the
German Expedition of 1873-74 and named for August Petermann, a noted
German geographer. A large cross overlooking the bay commemorates three
members of the British Antarctic Survey who perished nearby in 1982.
Pleneau Island
There
is no better place to experience the true wonder and beauty of sculpted
ice than the shallow shoreline of Pleneau Island. Deposited by wind and
tide, huge and bizarrely sculpted icebergs lie grounded in the
shallows. Affectionately known as ‘Iceberg Alley’,
the large concentration of icebergs stranded along the eastern shore of
Pleneau Island must be seen to be believed. A frozen labyrinth of
amazing shapes and colors: free-standing pinnacles, arches,
Caribbean-blue lagoons and sculptural ice-castles greet the eye. Those
with an artistic imagination can perceive animals and faces shaped in
the ice by the forces of erosion, warmth and waves. At closer range,
they metamorphose into massive murals of delicate designs: blue veins,
crystalline icicles and scalloped waterfalls. In addition to ice,
Pleneau hosts a number of gentoo penguin colonies, which attract
leopard seals to hunt just offshore. Whales may also be seen navigating
through the ice.
Explored
by Jean-Baptiste Charcot during the French Antarctic Expedition
1903-05, the island was named for the expedition’s
photographer Paul Pleneau.
Point Wild, Elephant
Island
The
infamous historical outpost of Point Wild is on the northern coast of
Elephant Island. The rocky outcrop, set against a vertical cliff and
only a yard above high tide, is densely occupied by a colony of
chinstrap penguins. It was here, in one of the most inhospitable
locations for human habitation on earth, that 22 men of the Shackleton
Endurance Expedition were marooned for some four-and-a-half long months
awaiting rescue. Shackleton himself had undertaken one of the most epic
open-boat journeys in history, travelling 828 miles (1,333 km) to the
closest civilization on South Georgia Island. Surviving on rations of
penguin meat and sleeping under the overturned hulls of their two
wooden boats, the men anxiously awaited Shackleton’s unlikely
return. On August 30th, 1916, he finally returned with assistance to
rescue his companions.
Visiting
Point Wild is a thrilling experience not only for those intrigued by
heroic stories of early explorations in Antarctica, but also for those
wishing to experience the rugged, forbidding and austere beauty of
remote Elephant Island.
Port Charcot, Booth Island
Located
on the back steps of the Lemaire Channel, the small sheltered bay of
Port Charcot hides along the western side of Booth Island. This is a
place of rather quiet, subtle beauty, its gently curving shorelines and
shallow waters are often crowded with brash ice and accentuated by
massive grounded icebergs.
The
low-lying shoreline is home to three species of penguins. Gentoo,
Adélie and chinstrap penguins all nest within Port Charcot
and can be seen all at once, a very unique and rare occurrence in
Antarctica.
In
1904, the bay served as the winter refuge for the third French
Antarctic Expedition under the command of Jean-Baptiste Charcot. They
spent several long months here on their ship Francais. Charcot
subsequently named the site for his father, Jean-Martin Charcot.
Historical remnants include a commemorative cairn inscribed with the
names of the members of the expedition that sits atop the hill, a stone
hut and, nearby, the planks of a small wooden boat can be seen.
South Shetland Islands
The
South Shetland Islands are a remote chain of isolated volcanic islands
separated from the Antarctic Peninsula by 75-mile (120 km)-wide
Bransfield Strait. They are one of the true highlights of a visit to
Antarctica, their diversity of wildlife and dramatic mountain scenery
make them a ‘must-see’ destination on a voyage to
Antarctica.
The
South Shetlands are heavily glaciated and, due to their more temperate
climate, are often hidden in mist and fog. The islands offer a number
of opportunities to get ashore and explore. Historic remnants of the
former whaling era, modern-day research stations, unusual geological
formations, evidence of volcanic activity and an overwhelming number of
penguin rookeries make the South Shetlands a unique outpost on the way
to the Great White Continent.
The
discovery of the islands is attributed to British captain William Smith
who, while attempting to find favorable winds for rounding Cape Horn in
1819, sailed further south than anticipated and accidentally stumbled
onto the islands.
Vernadsky
Station
The
Ukrainian research station of Vernadsky, is situated in the Argentine
Islands, a labyrinth of small picturesque rocky islets and often
ice-choked channels. It began its existence in 1934 as the small wooden
hut ‘Wordie House’. Now preserved as a museum,
Wordie House was built on Winter Island as part of the British Graham
Land Expedition of 1934-37.
Vernadsky
has a reputation as one of the friendliest research stations in
Antarctica and welcomes all visitors for tours of the base. In addition
to scientific laboratories and equipment storage rooms, the station
boasts the southernmost traditional-style English pub in the world.
The
environment surrounding the base is renowned for its well-protected
waterways, for its beautiful views of the high mountains to the east,
and for a variety of wildlife. Numerous seals, penguins and seabirds
can often be seen while Zodiac cruising. Offshore in more open water,
an occasional whale may be seen.
Waterboat Point
The
true scale of the Antarctic landscape becomes apparent at Waterboat
Point. Located on a small rocky point of land, the Chilean station of
Gonzales Videla is named after the first head of state to visit
Antarctica, Chilean President Gabriel Gonzales Videla. Surrounded by
thousands of nesting gentoo penguins, it sits perched beneath one of
the most impressive glacial landscapes on earth.
Located
between Andvord Bay and Paradise Harbor, Waterboat Point is surrounded
by water during high tides, but connected to the mainland by an isthmus
of rocks during low tides. Icebergs usually lie entrapped in the small
bay surrounding the station, which is often a great location to view
wildlife. Orca, humpback and minke whales have been seen here in the
past. Crabeater seals are regular visitors to the ice floes in the bay.
The
name originated in 1921, when two young British researches, Thomas
Bagshawe and Maxime Lester, spent a winter here sheltered beneath the
overturned hull of a wooden waterboat.
Scenic Cruising, Weddell
Sea
The
birth place of massive tabular icebergs, the less-visited Weddell Sea
is some 1,200 miles (2,000 km) wide. It stretches eastward from the
Antarctic Peninsula to the fringes of Queen Maud Land. Bounded by
gigantic floating ice shelves, some larger than many U.S. states, the
Weddell Sea is truly one of the grandest and most isolated areas on
earth. Gargantuan tabular icebergs, sometimes many miles in length and
towering vertically hundreds of feet above the sea, break from the ice
shelves to become massive, moving ice islands.
One
can only imagine the fortitude of the early explorers who challenged
this perilous wilderness. The Scottish captain James Weddell first
recorded the discovery of this remote sea in 1823. In 1915,
Shackleton’s ship Endurance became trapped, crushed and sank
within the confines of its pack ice. The Weddell Sea is a place of
astounding history and raw beauty.
Whalers Bay, Deception
Island
Ever
since its discovery in the early 19th century, the flooded volcano of
Deception Island has earned a reputation as one of the safest harbors
in Antarctic waters. Surrounded by high lava cliffs and ridges of
volcanic ash, the main anchorage of Whalers Bay is only accessible
through a small cleft in the caldera cliffs known as
Neptune’s Bellows.
The
shores of Whalers Bay hold many stories. One can explore the remains of
the old whaling station with its rusty boilers and huge rusted tanks
used to store whale oil. The stark white crosses of the
whalers’ cemetery can be viewed against the barren landscape
of gray and brown. Penguins come ashore on the black lava-sand beaches
amidst a landscape of historic buildings, derelict wooden boats and
steam rising from the sand as magma far below heats the deep ocean
water. Deception Island is a truly unique and beautiful destination.
Yankee Harbour
Located
in the South Shetland Islands, Yankee Harbour is home to some 2,000
pairs of nesting gentoo penguins, easily identified by the long, stiff
tail feathers that stick out behind as they walk. They are also often
viewed from the water as they swim. Depending on the time of year, the
site also attracts a variety of abundant sea mammals. Antarctic fur,
Weddell and leopard seals may be seen cruising offshore, while huge
molting elephant seals lounge on the beach. Overhead, predatory brown
skuas and giant petrels patrol the rookery for unguarded penguin chicks.
Set
against the backdrop of the towering peaks of Livingston Island, Yankee
Harbour welcomes visitors with the promise of a stroll over a narrow
gravel spit of land protruding half a mile into the sea. The
harbor’s large, protected anchorage is sheltered from the
strong swells of the temperamental Southern Ocean. During the 19th
century it was a place of respite for decades for American sealers and
British whalers.
Seabourn
Expeditions: Exploring Antarctica by Kayak - Starting at $295
Kayaking
in Antarctica is an incredible way to explore the great white
continent. Your qualified guide will join you as you silently paddle
amongst icebergs, porpoising penguins, or curious swimming seals.
Kayaking in Antarctica is highly weather-dependent. Your onboard
expedition team will make every effort to offer this activity as often
as conditions are safe and weather permits.
Please note:
(Dis)embarking the kayaks may take place from the ship, a Zodiac, or
other suitable location depending upon operational requirements. A
Zodiac follows the kayaks to lend assistance as required. This tour
operates weather permitting although rain does not deter us. As
temperatures and weather conditions can vary, please dress in layers. A
waterproof outer layer is provided in the form of a dry suit. Pogie
gloves are provided, along with booties and dry bags for your cameras
and extra gear. Bring a hat or beanie, camera and binoculars and wear
sunglasses and sunscreen. Please remove all rings, watches, bracelets
and earrings. No prior kayaking experience is required. A briefing and
instructions on how to paddle are given before your tour departs. All
kayaks are doubles. Maximum weight per kayak (2 persons) is 617lbs or
280kg. Minimum height for participants is 150 cm (5 ft). Guests under
18 must be accompanied by an adult. Your kayak tour will be
approximately 1.5 hours in duration, depending on the operational
requirements. The entire experience from start to finish will be about
2 – 2.5 hours.
Seabourn
Expeditions: Diving Antarctica by Submersible - Starting at $499
Join
the very few people who have explored the little-known underwater realm
of Antarctica. The first dive ever was made here only in 1902 by Willy
Heinrich during the Drygalski expedition, who wore a brass diving
helmet and lead boots. Instead of such difficulties you can now gaze in
comfort from your seat into the frigid waters where creatures struggle
to survive and grow. If you are lucky you might see krill, the most
important zooplankton species in this ecosystem upon which so many
other creatures depend. Brittle stars or salps or sea urchins may make
an appearance. Take the time to appreciate that whatever you encounter,
you are in a place on this earth where very few people have ever been.
Please note:
Submersibles are sensitive to bad weather and dives can be cancelled at
a moment’s notice. You will need to be able to negotiate
several steps on a vertical ladder to enter and exit the sub. An
accurate weight of each participant including the gear (cameras etc)
being brought into the sub is required for the pilot to calculate safe
diving parameters. Minimum age is 8. Guests under the age of 18 must be
accompanied by an adult. Your Sub dive will be approximately 45 minutes
in duration. The entire experience from start to finish will be about
90 min.
Days
11-12: At Sea
Day
13: Ushuaia, Argentina
USHUAIA
AIR CHARTER TO BUENOS AIRES TRANSFER CITY/AIRPORT TRANSFER SHIP/CITY
EZEIZA
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
TRANSFER
AIPORT/AIRPORT
Seabourn Venture (Luxury Expedition, 264-guests)
Seabourn Venture is Seabourn's ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship. The ship features 132 all veranda, all ocean-front suites. The ship is built for polar environments (PC6 Polar Class standards) with a brand new innovative design, created specifically for the ultra-luxury expedition traveler. There are two custom-built submarines onboard, providing an unforgettable view of the world beneath the ocean's surface. The ship is also designed to carry a complement of double sea kayaks as well as 24 Zodiacs that can accommodate all onboard guests at once.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Please Call Us to find out what is included in the fare
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Exploring
Antarctica by Kayak - Starting at $295
- Diving
Antarctica by Submersible - Starting at $499