Falklands, South Georgia & The Polar Circle

Day 1 - Ushuaia; The End of the World:

Where the world drops off, in Ushuaia, your voyage begins. Located on the far southern tip of South America, Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. Starting in the afternoon, we embark our vessel and sail from “The End of the World,” into the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.

Day 2 - At Sea:

Several species of albatross will follow the vessel into the westerly winds, along with shearwaters, storm petrels and diving petrels.

Day 3 - The Falklands (Las Malvinas):

The Falkland Islands offer an abundance of wildlife. Largely unknown gems, these islands were the site of a 1982 war between the UK and Argentina. Not only do many species of bird live here, but there’s a good chance you’ll see both Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins in the surrounding waters, too.

During this segment of the voyage, we may visit the following sites:

West Point Island – A beautiful island, hosting a bounty of birdlife: from shore birds near the landing site to black-browed albatrosses on their nests. Among them, a rookery of rockhopper penguins who have to endure an incredible climb from the sea to reach their nests amongst the albatrosses.

Saunders Island – On Saunders Island you can see the black-browed albatross make its sometimes-clumsy landings, breeding imperial shags and rockhopper penguins. King penguins, Magellanic penguins, and gentoos can also be found here. 

Day 4 - Port Stanley:

The capital and cultural centre of the Falklands, Port Stanley is home to approximately 2000 people. It retains a Victorian-era charm with colourful houses, well-tended gardens, and English-style pubs all to be found here. You can also see several century-old clipper ships nearby, witnesses to the hardships of 19th century sailors. The small but interesting museum is worth a visit, covering the early days of settlement up to the Falklands War. Feel free to wander at will (please be aware that admission fees to local attractions are not included in the voyage).

Days 5 & 6 - At Sea:

En route to South Georgia, we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. As the temperature cools considerably within the space of a few hours, nutritious water rises to the surface of the sea due to colliding water columns and attracts a multitude of seabirds near to the ship. Expect to see several species of shearwater, albatross, petrel, skua and prion.

Days 7 to 10 - South Georgia:

Today we arrive in South Georgia. Weather conditions in this area can be challenging and will dictating the program over the following days. We hope to visit some of the sites below:

Prion Island – From January onwards, you will find wandering albatrosses matched up with their partners and sitting on eggs or nursing their chicks. Enjoy witnessing the gentle nature of these creatures, which possess the largest wingspan of any birds in the world. This location is closed during the early part of the wandering albatross breeding season - from November 20 to January 7. 

Fortuna Bay – Amongst beaches inhabited by penguins and seals, there is the chance to follow the final leg of Shackleton’s route into the abandoned whaling village of Stromness. The path cuts across the mountain pass beyond Shackleton’s Waterfall, and with swampy terrain, be prepared to cross a few small streams.

Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour – Not only are the three largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia to be found here, these sites are also home to three of the world’s largest breeding beaches for Antarctic fur seals. Literarily millions breed on South Georgia during December and January, and by February the young fur seals are curious and playful. They fill the surf with life and fun and large elephant seals also come to the beaches to moult.

Grytviken - King penguins walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place at this abandoned whaling station. Here you might visit the South Georgia Museum and Shackleton’s grave.

Day 11 - Southward Bound:

We may encounter some sea ice on this route, and at the edge of the ice some south polar skuas and snow petrels could join the vessel as we head south. 

Day 12 - South Orkney:

Depending on the weather and ice, we might visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine scientific station on Laurie Island in the South Orkney archipelago. The personnel here will happily show you around their facility, including the expansive views of the surrounding glaciers. If a visit isn’t possible, we may land at Shingle Cove on Signy Island instead.

Day 13 - Elephant Island:

You've now completed roughly the same route, albeit in the opposite direction, as Sir Ernest Shackleton. In the spring of 1916, he set off in a lifeboat, the James Caird, for South Georgia. As Elephant Island comes into view on the horizon, after crossing all of that water, it’s hard not to marvel at how he and his five-man crew accomplished that incredible journey. Conditions on Elephant Island are severe; the 22 marooned members of Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition miraculously survived here for four and a half months while Shackleton launched their rescue attempt. If possible you will take the zodiacs to Point Wild, to see vertical rock and ice cliffs highly exposed to the elements, where the crew survived waiting for Shackleton to return.

Day 14 - Antarctic Peninsula:

We will sail into the Antarctic Sound at the northwestern edge of the Weddell Sea, if ice permits. Here colossal tabular icebergs herald your arrival at the eastern edges of the Antarctic Peninsula. Brown Bluff is a potential location for a landing, and offers the chance to set foot on the White Continent.

Day 15 - South Shetland:

The volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often cloaked in mist, but there is still plenty to see: a wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and no small amount of fauna (gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels).

At Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded caldera. Here you find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels, kelp gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. It may be possible to take a hike in this fascinating and desolate volcanic landscape.

Days 16 to 20 - Antarctica:

Towers of broken blue-white ice, grey stone peaks sketched with snow, unique polar wildlife below and above all welcome you into the otherworldly landscape of Antarctica. We enter the area around the Gerlache Strait, one of the most beautiful settings Antarctica has to offer. 

Sites we may visit here include: 

Neko Harbour – With mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a zodiac cruise and a landing that affords the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.

Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a zodiac cruise in the ice-flecked waters, with a good chance that you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales. 

Pléneau & Petermann Islands – If the ice allows, you could sail through the Lemaire Channel, searching for Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. You may also encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as leopard seals.

We then aim to cut south, reaching Crystal Sound and the Antarctic Circle. A landing at Detaille Island may be possible, with a visit to an abandoned British research station. Finally we return to the area around the Lemaire Channel and the Gerlache Strait. Conditions on the Drake Passage will determine the exact time of our departure.

Days 21 & 22 - At Sea:

While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds who will be a little more familiar to you now, than they were on the journey out; your time at sea will be far from lonely.

Day 23 - Ushuaia:

Our journey must eventually come to an end and it’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.