Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica Explorer
Trip type
Falklands & S. Georgia
Trip length
22 Days
From
$20,895
Ship Comfort
Comfort & Adventure
Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica Explorer - 22 Days - $20,895
Trip Summary and Itinerary Map
- 10 days ‘off ship’ exploring - The Falklands (2), Antarctica (4), South Georgia (4)
- This very comfortable ship’s amazing guides and state-of-the-art stabilisers really help make the difference
- Antarctic operational experience since 2012
- A low expedition staff to guest ratio of 1:7, which ensures a high level of personalisation
- Wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner
- Optional kayaking (additional charge)
- Complimentary Puerto Madyn hotel stay: pre-embarkation
- Complimentary Ushuaia 5* hotel stay: post-embarkation, parka jacket & 100 mins free WiFi
Start from Puerto Madryn and end at Ushuaia
Landmarks potentially visited on Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica Explorer
Operator's Itinerary
Day 1 - Puerto Madryn:
Located in the Patagonian province of Chubut, Puerto Madryn is a popular destination for wildlife excursions: considered to be the best place in Argentina to see Southern right whales. Here, you can take a whale watching trip, look for nesting cormorants and elephant seals, or experience a walk through a colony of Magellanic penguins and myriad species of native seabirds.
Check into your included hotel for the night; there will be an optional evening briefing which is a great opportunity for you to ask questions and to meet some of your fellow travellers.
Day 2 - Embarkation:
Arriving at the ship in the afternoon, you will be greeted by the Expedition Team and ship’s officers at a safety and orientation briefing which is followed by the Captain’s welcome dinner. Then, watch the city lights fade in the fresh night air as we set sail.
Days 3 & 4 - Southern Ocean:
As we sail south, albatrosses, prions, and petrels will frequently follow the ship. Our Expedition Team will join you out on deck spotting the whales and dolphins that can be seen in the area. Our experts will begin their onboard presentations with informative and entertaining talks on the wildlife, history, and geology of the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas) and the Southern Ocean. You can also attend helpful briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety in our comfortable lounge. Those interested in Citizen Science can take part in sea bird sighting surveys, or help collect salinity samples and weather data along the way.
Day 5 - West Falklands:
Remote farms that have been family-owned for six and seven generations are the westernmost settled outposts of the Falkland Islands, where sheep graze alongside albatross colonies. You will also find rockhopper, king, and Magellanic penguin rookeries while striated caracaras patrol overhead and upland geese graze at the water’s edge. A visit to one of these homesteads often includes an invitation for a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
Day 6 - Stanley, East Falkland:
Stanley is easy to discover on foot: most shops and services are centered on the port. The museum, the post-office featuring first day covers, plenty of shops with locally made wool items, and Stanley’s lively pubs are all worth a visit. It is also possible to experience the wildlife of the Falklands from the town, with sea lions and Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins in the harbour and plenty of bird life in nearby Gypsy Cove.
Days 7 & 8 - Southern Ocean:
We make our way east across the Antarctic Convergence and there will be plenty of wildlife spotting as we officially enter Antarctic waters. Onboard presentations will continue, featuring the exciting history and abundant wildlife of South Georgia.
Days 9 to 12 - South Georgia:
South Georgia will feature landing sites that host huge elephant seals, aggressive fur seals, gentoo penguins, albatross, petrels, skuas, gulls and hundreds of thousands of king penguins, from fuzzy little chicks to fattened adults. We will visit historic Grytviken whaling station, home of the whaling museum, Norwegian seaman’s church, the active British Antarctic Survey station and the tiny graveyard where the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried.
Days 13 & 14 - Scotia Sea:
Heading farther south, we keep a regular wildlife watch, observe as the icebergs become more and more plentiful and onboard presentations will continue.
Days 15 to 18 - The Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands:
In the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, we will explore using inflatable Zodiac boats and get a chance to witness nature’s glory up close. Our Expedition Leader and Captain will create a flexible itinerary based on weather, ice, and wildlife watching opportunities. We will aim for the most scenic bays and channels of the Peninsula, stopping at penguin rookeries, seal wallows, whale feeding areas and bird colonies, as well as sites of historic and scientific interest.
Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins abound, and Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals are often found hauled resting, along with predatory leopard seals and the assertive Antarctic fur seal. Minke and humpback whales are frequent visitors in the late season and orca sightings are also common.
Days 19 & 20 - Drake Passage:
We leave this magical place and make our way north. Heading again across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage, we will continue our onboard presentation series and wildlife spotting. We celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow as we sail back to Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel.
Day 21 - Disembarkation
With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning and transfer to Ushuaia's finest 5 star hotel (enquire for more details). Here you can unwind at the resort, relax in the spa, or hit the streets of Ushuaia to explore more sights.
Day 22 - Ushuaia
Today, our Antarctic adventure officially comes to an end. As you continue on, homeward bound or perhaps on to another adventure, you’ll take with you the unforgettable memories of exploring the last wild place on earth.
Please 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.
Why our customers love Swoop
The Antarctic Experts.
No Compromises
Our team has visited Antarctica over 150 times and has 100 collective years of polar experience, so from which trip is right for you to what shoes to bring - there’s no question we can’t answer.
Expert impartial advice at no extra cost
Choosing the right voyage is complicated, Swoop makes it easy. We offer no-nonsense advice on 1500 voyages across 30 ships to find you the right trip, cabin, price - and we don’t charge a fee.
The only B Corp certified Antarctic specialist
We want to protect Antarctica for future generations - which is why we became a certified B Corp and set up our own conservation fund. So your adventures can be a force for good.
A full concierge service, unlike booking direct
We leave nothing to chance in delivering your perfect trip and have over 6500 happy travellers to show for it. With a dedicated Antarctic co-ordinator & support throughout - you’re in safe hands.
What our customers think of Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica Explorer
Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica Explorer trips scored 4.6/5 from 14 reviews
Review:
About The Ship
Your expedition vessel
Dining room
Relax in the bar
On deck
Onboard gym
Onboard sauna
Polar library
Your expedition vessel
Your expedition vessel
- An ice-strengthened hull and an impressive 1A super ice class rating
- Her speedy average cruising speed of 13.5 knots means less time at sea and more time exploring
- Plenty of space: takes up to 138 guests, even though she was originally built for 180
- Large picture windows in the dining room mean you can enjoy spectacular Antarctic views
- A variety of deck spaces to soak up the glorious landscape from every angle
This ship has so many strong attributes, but for me it’s Seaventure's wide expanse of windows in every social area. The wrap-around windows in the Panorama Lounge make for a perfect spot to defrost after a busy day exploring, without missing any of the jaw-dropping landscapes!
Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Antarctica
Prices, Departures and Inclusions
Prices quoted below are per person based on 2 people sharing. Cabin availability changes all the time so please contact us for up-to-date details and information on specific cabin availability.
Single Supplement And Child Policy
For those travelling solo who would like their own cabin, the single supplement is 1.7 times the cost of a single berth. Please contact us for details. There is no single supplement for solo passengers willing to share a cabin.
Children aged 12 years old or over are welcome. There isn't any concession on pricing.
Optional Adventure Activities
Enhance your trip with the following add ons. Limited places per activity.
Get in contact to check availability.
| Activity | Cost | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
Kayaking
|
$895 | An immersive full kayaking program for those who want to kayak multiple times (as often as weather and ice conditions allow) with a maximum of 10 fixed participants. Booking in advance is essential. |
|
Paddling
|
$250 | One-off discovery paddle session with a maximum of 14 participants per session. Available on select departures, subject to weather conditions. Previous kayaking experience is required. Booking in advance is strongly recommended. |
Includes
- All airport/ hotel/ ship transfers on Day 1
- Beer/wine/soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner
- Complimentary parka jacket
- Daily international news service
- Post voyage digital log
- Pre-voyage 5* hotel night in Puerto Madryn
- Post-voyage 5* hotel night in Ushuaia
- Free public internet and 200Mb of Wi-Fi
- Voyage aboard the vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- Accommodation and meals during the voyage on full board
- All shore excursions and zodiac activities
- Educational lectures by expert onboard polar guides
- Access to an onboard doctor and basic medical services
- Loan of rubber boots for the voyage's duration
- Comprehensive pre-departure information
- Port taxes and any entry fees to historic landing sites
Excludes
- Any flights to and from points of embarkation/disembarkation
- Any additional pre/post land services, including meals
- Transfers not specified in the itinerary
- Optional non-complimentary adventure activities (e.g. kayaking)
- Visa, passport and any vaccination expenses
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Personal travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature, e.g. laundry, beverages and communication
- Customary staff gratuity at the end of the voyage
- Additional onboard purchases (i.e. gift shop)
