Polar Circle Adventure

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina

Our program starts in the city of Ushuaia. Enjoy your staying at a 5* lodge, part of the "Leading Hotels of the World".

Day 2: Embarkation day in Ushuaia

We embark and set sail down the Beagle Channel. Our ship heads south to icebergs and penguins, and even deeper south to the "boundary" of Antarctica: the Polar Circle.

Days 3-4: At sea towards Antarctica

The Drake Passage is named after the famous 16th century English pirate (and explorer) Sir Francis Drake. The passage has picked up an unpredictable character of the pirate; it might be rough sea there. However, we hope to make our crossing comfortable with the help of the ship's stabiliser fins. We plan to see the first sub-antarctic land on the second day of our sea passage.

Days 5-12: The South Shetlands and Antarctic Continent

This is expedition cruising at its most authentic. Our route and exploration opportunities in Antarctica are heavily dependent on weather and ice conditions. Our experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant. We take advantage of long daylight hours to exploit every opportunity to experience excellent wildlife viewing, amazing scenery, and excursions via Zodiac.

The Antarctic Peninsula region contains some of the world's most impressive scenery and some of Antarctica's best wildlife viewing opportunities. Protected bays and narrow channels are surrounded by towering mountain peaks covered in permanent snow and immense glaciers. Icebergs of every size and description complete an image of incomparable beauty. Waters rich with krill are home to a variety of whale and seal species. The whole area is alive with penguins foraging at sea and forming large nesting colonies at special places on land. The area is also home to Antarctic research stations of various nationalities. Some stations have a gift shop and post office.

The South Shetland Islands are the northernmost islands in Antarctica and will likely be our first sighting of land. This wild and beautiful island chain contains numerous landing sites with abundant wildlife and historical significance. Among them is Deception Island, where the flooded caldera of an active volcano harbors an abandoned whaling station.

Farther south, on the Antarctic Peninsula, the vast Gerlache Strait area contains sheltered bays, accessible wildlife, and stunning scenery. Places with names like Paradise Bay are the epitome of everything Antarctic: glaciated mountains, towering icebergs, feeding whales, seals on ice floes, and bustling penguin colonies.

At the southern end of Gerlache Strait is the famous Lemaire Channel, also known as "Kodak Gap" because of the photogenic way the mountainous sides of the narrow channel are reflected in calm waters strewn with icebergs.

On this special voyage we have additional days set aside to push even farther south in our attempt to cross the Antarctic Circle. The landscape down here is especially desolate, the weather is particularly wild, and the waters are full of constantly shifting ice. This is real expedition cruising.

Our days in Antarctica are filled with memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by our experts, and enough incredible scenery and wildlife to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions.

Days 13-14: At sea towards Ushuaia

Antarctic birds and whales escort our ship through the Drake Passage. We believe that now you can identify them all easily.

Day 15:  Ushuaia, disembarkation

Our voyage finishes at the same port where it had started - Ushuaia. Now you are the part of the select group of travellers who have been south of the Antarctic Circle.

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.