Immense Discovery: Falklands, South Georgia & the Peninsula

Day 1: Arrival in Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will take a transfer to your pre-voyage hotel. There will be an opportunity to collect your luggage tags and confirm if you wish to join a cruise through the Beagle Channel and to Isla de Los Lobos Cruise (sea lion island) tomorrow. The team will also confirm details regarding embarkation day, answer any questions you may have and provide you with information on where to dine or make last minute purchases. The remainder of your time in Ushuaia is at your leisure; please note that any meals on Day 1 are at your own expense. 

Day 2: Embarkation 

After breakfast, you will need to check-out and ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags that are clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Take your luggage to your hotel reception at check-out; it will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance and then placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival onboard. Please keep any valuables or personal items you may need with you throughout the day. Your morning is free for you to explore Ushuaia. 

Those wishing to join the afternoon catamaran cruise should meet back at the hotel lobby at 1245 ready to transfer to the port at 1300. Here we board a catamaran and sail the Beagle Channel, towards Ushuaia’s iconic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. We’ll slow down around the Bridges Archipelago to watch colonies of sea lions and imperial cormorants sun themselves on the rocky outcrops. Gulls, rock cormorants, skuas, petrels, albatrosses and cauquenes are often sighted here too. The cruise offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountain range and share histories of the people and communities of the region. 

If you are not participating in the cruise, enjoy the day in Ushuaia and meet in the hotel lobby at 1545 to be transferred to the pier for embarkation. 

Once onboard the vessel, there is time to settle into your cabin before important mandatory briefings. We gather on the deck as the ship pulls away from port, to commence an Antarctic adventure and enjoy spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.  

This evening get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

Days 3 & 4: Drake Passage

As we begin crossing the Drake Passage, it’s time to get comfortable with the movement of the sea. Meanwhile, the expedition team will prepare you for the first landing in Antarctica with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures. The lecture programme also begins, helping you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment. 

Out on deck there is an opportunity to enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds that follow the vessel  including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels. On sea days, there is also chance to enjoy the facilities onboard including the gym, wellness centre and the relaxing observation lounges.  

The excitement will be palpable on the afternoon of Day 4 as we draw close to the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Everyone is likely to converge on one of the observation decks watching for the first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once the ship passes below the Antarctic Convergence; we will be surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures and the memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon. 

Days 5 to 10: Antarctic Peninsula & Antarctic Circle

The feeling of arriving in Antarctica is almost impossible to describe: spotting that first iceberg and taking your first breaths of some of the freshest, crispest air on Earth are memories that will last forever. 

On arrival in Antarctica, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands offer a whole host of opportunities to explore. We will be so far south that we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight, so the days can be as busy as you wish.  

The expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design the ideal voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. 

Generally there are landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to wrap up warm before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs. Be sure to keep watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, to visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of the most iconic spots along the peninsula.  

While ashore, you may choose to wander along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. When conditions allow, any optional activities you have signed up for will be taking place, including a chance to fully immerse yourself in polar waters. The polar plunge can take place at any time during the voyage, depending on when conditions are right, so prepare to listen out for the announcement from the expedition team and get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your life!  

We may cruise in the vessel, along some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling and feeding. This is a great time to use the observation lounge or even make your way to the bridge (open at the captain’s discretion) for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Listen out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they calve; take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the White Continent. 

On this voyage, we plan to cross the Antarctic Circle (with favourable conditions). This imaginary line is located at latitude 66°33' south and is certainly a special highlight for many expeditioners. Where possible, the moment will be celebrated with a toast on deck and you will have earned some boasting privileges by joining a small group of lucky adventurers who have ventured to this part of the world. As we approach The Circle, subtle changes take place in the landscape and in the distribution of wildlife. The waters here at this time of year are rich with krill meaning we can hope to see plenty of whales, particularly humpbacks and minkes. We also hope to enjoy the spectacle of penguins feeding their ravenous chicks.

Days 11 & 12: The Scotia Sea

On our way to South Georgia, we will sail across the Scotia Sea. This follows the route that explorer Ernest Shackleton and five of his men took in order to find help for the rest of their abandoned crew at Elephant Island. On 24 April 1916, Shackleton and his men piled into the James Caird, the most seaworthy of their lifeboats, to attempt a perilous journey to South Georgia, some 802 miles or 1,290 kms away. Shackleton hoped to reach South Georgia in two weeks. There he would enlist the help of local whalers and return to Elephant Island to rescue the men who had been left behind.  

With excitement building for arrival to South Georgia, pass the time by catching up with fellow expeditioners in the bar, keep a close watch for marine wildlife, or perhaps hear more tales of Shackleton’s story from our historian. 

Days 13 to 17: Exploring South Georgia

As the vessel approaches the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent. In fact, it is just a small island only 110 miles (176 kms) long. South Georgia is, however an island of incredible riches. It has a 9,842ft (3,000 m) snow-capped mountain range, some of the world’s largest congregations of wildlife and a truly fascinating human history.

From the sea, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship. We will sail along the coast, taking in the spectacular glaciated scenery and the enchanting coastline is yours to explore. Be sure to layer up before joining Zodiac cruises around craggy coves and along the rocky coastline in search of porpoising penguins, seal haul-outs and bird cliffs. Keep an eye out for South Georgia’s kelp forests: remarkable underwater ecosystems which are quite mesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on the water’s surface.  

Zodiacs will shuttle you to shore, where you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies on Earth and take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals (making sure you listen to your guides and keep your distance). Wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains and visit the remnants of South Georgia’s thriving whaling stations. There is time to pay respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible voyage of survival is synonymous with this island. If you have chosen any optional activities, there will be the option to do that whenever conditions allow.  

We may cruise in the vessel through fjords with towering cliffs of ancient stone, or into deeply indented bays towards dramatic glacier fronts. Make your way to the ship’s bridge or find a comfy spot in the observation lounge to enjoy uninterrupted views of South Georgia’s majestic coast.

Days 18 to 20: At Sea 

We sail towards the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas), and there is still plenty to keep you occupied on board. The expedition team will continue to share their wealth of knowledge about wildlife, history and the natural world as part of the onboard lecture series. You will have time to enjoy observing seabirds from the stern of the ship and keep a close watch for whales and other marine wildlife.

Day 21: Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas) comprise two large islands (East and West Falkland), with over 700 more islands scattered off the coast. All but seven of these are uninhabited and these beautifully barren islands are true wildlife havens. With windswept coastlines, white sand beaches and crystal-clear water, they shelter an impressive diversity of birdlife, including the largest black-browed albatross colony on Earth. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands also make this a prime location for spotting marine life. 

There are many beautiful areas to explore across this area, each offering a unique perspective on this magnificent archipelago. We plan to land in Stanley, the historic capital of the Falklands. A charming town with a distinctly British character: terraced town houses, pioneer cottages and even an iconic red telephone box! Colourful buildings house cosy cafes, English pubs, souvenir shops, a post office and the fascinating Historic Dockyard Museum. This museum has displays on the maritime history of the Falkland Islands, local natural history and links to Antarctica. 

Day 22: At Sea

As we set sail to return to Ushuaia, you may choose to spend your time editing photos, enjoying the ship’s facilities, or attend any final lectures on offer onboard. With newfound friends, celebrate the end of an unforgettable voyage at a special Captain’s farewell dinner.  

There is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home and time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We hope you become ambassadors for the Antarctic region, telling your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky enough to see and do here.  

Day 23: Disembarkation

Early this morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we disembark around 0800. Say farewell to your expedition team and fellow passengers as you continue your onward journey, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.   

On disembarkation, passengers on flights departing prior to 1400 will be transferred directly to Ushuaia Airport, while those fortunate enough to be continuing their travels in this spectacular region of the world will be transferred to post-voyage Ushuaia accommodation. Passengers flying after 1400 will have time to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, details of which will be provided onboard prior to disembarkation. 

Please note: 

At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing from Ushuaia prior to 1200 on the day of disembarkation, in case there are any delays.   

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.