Discover Antarctica

Antarctica is all about discovery and exploration. We follow in the footsteps of the great heroes of Antarctic history as we set sail from the tip of South America and cross the Drake Passage.

Accompanied by expert naturalists we spot albatross gliding gracefully over the southern ocean as we eagerly await our first sight of land. The Antarctic Peninsula offers you the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica.

In the southern summer large ice-free areas provide breeding grounds for very large numbers of seabirds, penguins and seals. From King George Island and Penguin Island we will sail down to the beautiful Paradise Bay, where we make our first landing on the Antarctic mainland. The narrow and spectacular Lemaire Channel is surrounded by mountains and glaciers and a popular passage for several species of whales.

In the Antarctic Peninsula Minke Whales, and sometimes Orca and Humpback Whales can be spotted as well as the ferocious-looking Leopard Seals.

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Itinerary / Highlights

DAY 1: Embark Ushuaia
In the afternoon we embark from Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. The voyage will depart through the Beagle Channel and sail
through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening. (D)

DAYS 2/3: Cross the Drake Passage
During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. We cross the Antarctic Convergence which is a natural boundary between the warm Subantarctic surface water and the cold Antarctic surface water. In this area we observe an abundance of bird life including Wandering
Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. If the winds are favourable we may do our first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog. There is an interesting variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and birdlife, such as Gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins and southern giant petrels. (BLD)

DAY 4: Deception Island
At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head with a colony of thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception Island is a huge volcano of which the crater opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station,
thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. (BLD)

DAY 5: Orne Islands
We will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait. Later we continue to
Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. From there we sail through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep
cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. (BLD)

DAY 6: Lemaire Channel, Petermann Island We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island where we can find Adelie
Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island home to Elephant Seals. In this area there are good chances to encounter
Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales. (BLD)

DAY 7: Neumayer Channel, Charlotte Bay
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait we arrive at Charlotte Bay with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and Minke Whales. (BLD)

DAY 8: Half Moon Bay Half Moon Island is a beautiful volcanic island with Chinstrap Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, Blueeyed Shags, sheathbills and Brown Skuas. Weddell Seals and Elephant Seals may also be spotted. The crew of the Argentine station is very hospitable. We may also choose to land at Hannah Point, which has a very rich wildlife featuring Elephant Seals, Cape Pigeons, Southern Giant Petrels, Macaroni Penguins and Gentoo Penguins. (BLD)

DAYS: 9/10 Drake Passage
In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds and to take advantage of the knowledge of our lecture team. (BLD)

DAY 11: Disembark Ushuaia We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark. (B)