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Expedition |
| Start: | Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina |
| Finish: | Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina |
| Length: | 19 days |
| Grade: | A (you need to be in reasonably good health) |
| Price: | US$9990 |
| Departs: | 9 Jan 2008, 4 Jan 2009 - see Departures |
Please click on the map to enlarge it
Highlights: Join us on a voyage of discovery to Antarctica, a fabulous and virtually pristine paradise for wildlife with incomparable scenery. Explore one of the last true wilderness areas left on earth, largely unchanged since early explorers and whalers first landed on its shores less than two centuries ago.
Throughout the voyage, a team of lecturers and staff will share their knowledge of the remarkable natural history of Antarctica along with entertaining stories from its earliest and most notable expeditions. The expedition also offers possible visits to scientific bases.
Travel in an ice-strengthened vessel, which is ideally suited to expedition cruising in this icy wilderness and which offers a more intimate atmosphere than a traditional cruise. A fleet of Zodiac boats enable shore excursions and short cruises among the icebergs and whales.
Day 1: Embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina and sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.
Day 2: At sea, in the westerlies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses,
storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.
Day 3: In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago.
Day 4: In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we can experience Falkland culture, which has some South- American characteristics as well as Victorian charm.
Day 5 and 6: At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence.
Day 7 - 9: In South Georgia we shall visit the bay of Elsehul, and then take course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour and Cooper Bay to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Elephant seals, King and macaroni penguins.
Day 10: At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds. At some point we might encounter sea-ice.
Day 11: We are aiming for a visit at Orcadas station, an Argentinean base located in the South Orkney Islands.
Day 12: At sea
Day 13 - 16: Sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins and the remains of the Nordenskild expedition. At Brown Bluff we can put our feet on the continent. On our way West and south we will pass the Orne Islands. From there we sail to Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay and through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large whales. Sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue- eyed Shags. At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.
Day 17 - 18: On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 19: We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
Click here for the detailed trip dossier
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