Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica – 20 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Ushuaia
After a friendly welcome at the airport and a transfer to the luxurious Arakur Resort & Spa, take some time to unwind or explore the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. Our evening briefing at the Arakur is your opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.

Day 2: Embarkation
Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring the shops in Ushuaia, before our mid–afternoon escort to the ship. Our Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and our Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!

Day 3: Southern Ocean
As we sail south, important briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety are held, and you won’t want to miss our experts as they begin their informative and entertaining talks about the wildlife, history, and geology of the area.

Day 4: West Falklands/Malvinas
We’ll be exploring some of the westernmost settled outposts in the Falklands/Malvinas, where you can take in the beautiful countryside and look for Black-Browed albatross or Rockhopper, King, and Magellanic penguin rookeries.

Day 5: Stanley, East Falklands/Malvinas
The archipelago’s largest island, Stanley, is a lively hub of activity nestled in a sheltered harbor. Here, the Falklands Islands Museum has fascinating exhibits devoted to maritime exploration, natural history and the 1982 Falklands War. We’ll likely visit Gypsy Cove, part of Cape Pembroke peninsula, a National Nature Preserve. Magellanic penguins, also known as Jackass penguins for the braying sound they make, breed here, nesting in underground burrows. Other native bird species include Black–Crowned Night herons, Long–Tailed meadowlarks, Two–Banded plovers, and Upland and Kelp geese. Nearby Ordinance Point is the final resting place for several World War II guns.

Day 6 – 7: Southern Ocean
Things continue ramping up with plenty of birdlife sightings as we make our way east across the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. See if you can identify the world’s largest bird, the Wandering albatross. From soaring giants like the Southern Giant petrel to the tiny Wilson’s Storm petrels, a range of impressive bird species will be hitching a ride on the updrafts created by ocean swells and waves. And be on the lookout for whale blows and our very first iceberg sighting.

Day 8 – 11: South Georgia
South Georgia is often referred to as the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’ and it’s easy to see why as you take in tens of millions (not a typo!) of breeding penguins, seals, and seabirds. Breathtaking mountain scenery, majestically sculpted icebergs, glaciers in every direction, and a rich historical tapestry are all here to complement the incredible array of wildlife on view as we travel down South Georgia’s leeward coast. We’ll also visit historic Grytviken whaling station, featuring the tiny graveyard where the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried.

Day 12 – 13: Scotia Sea
Heading farther south, we’ll continue our informative presentations and wildlife spotting as the icebergs become bigger and more plentiful.

Day 14-17: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Welcome to Antarctica in all its awe–inspiring glory. For the next few days, we’ll explore any number of picturesque bays and famed harbors, maneuvering through majestic channels, where glorious icebergs and an array of beguiling wildlife share the highly active waters. Prepare to be amazed as we spot numerous species of penguins, seals, and whales, both along the rugged coastline as well as in the sea. There are great opportunities to stop at several active scientific bases and historic landing sites, and we plan to take full advantage of all the continent offers.

Day 18-19: Drake Passage
Time to leave this magical place inspired, exhausted, and most likely changed forever. We make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage. We’ll have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and photography awards ceremony, then a final meal together.

Day 20: Ushuaia Disembarkation
With huge smiles on weary, content faces, and perhaps some new friends for life, we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.

Please note the itinerary and route map are only tentative outlines of what you may experience. No specific itinerary, routing or landing sites can be guaranteed in advance. Where the ship actually sails will depend on a lot of factors including, but not limited to, the weather & ice conditions and the captain & expedition leader. Every trip is different, which adds to the excitement of expedition cruising in the polar regions.