Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia

Itinerary

Day 1: U.S. / Santiago, Chile

Depart Miami this evening on an overnight flight to Santiago. We've found that Miami is a convenient gateway for most, but other air alternatives are available.

Day 2: Santiago, Chile

Arrive in Santiago this morning. With the soaring Andes as a backdrop, Santiago makes a spectacular and welcoming first impression--as does your hotel, the Hyatt Santiago, located in a gracious residential neighborhood. In the afternoon, you have a panoramic overview of the city including a visit to the Pre-Columbian Museum. Return to the Hyatt for a relaxing dinner.

Day 3: Santiago, Chile / Ushuaia, Argentina / Embarkation

The morning's LAN Chile charter flight offers some rare views as you fly over the vividly rugged terrain of Patagonia before landing in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. Enjoy a traditional Argentinean barbecue for lunch and then board your ship.

Day 4: At Sea

You awake this morning well into your journey across the Drake Passage. Lying between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, the Drake holds a unique place in maritime lore. Sometimes misty and gray, other times calm and clear, crossing the legendary Drake Passage is unforgettable--a milestone in any adventurer's personal travel history.

Days 6-10: Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula

With nearly 24 hours of daylight at this time of year, you make the most of our five days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands. Your schedule is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of the unexpected. You’ll sail through the incomparable Lemaire Channel and land on the "White Continent."

Day 11: At Sea / Elephant Island

You pass the speck of land that is the legendary Elephant Island, an unforgettable part of the Shackleton story, where the crew of Endurance finally landed on April 24, 1916. From here, Shackleton and five men set sail for one of the most incredible stories of survival at sea: 700 miles across the Southern Ocean in a 22' long wooden sailboat.

Day 12: At Sea

This is a time to spend hours on the deck or the bridge watching the sky and the sea. The ever-changing light presents endless photographic possibilities.

Day 13: South Orkney Islands

Since they're so isolated and often icebound, the South Orkneys are rarely visited. As you enter the vicinity, the shapes and shades of ice are endless. Although it is such a cold and frozen world, the wildlife is surprisingly abundant. Penguins and Leopard seals float by on icebergs, and Snow and pintado petrels weave through the sky. The knowledge of your leaders make these islands once known as the "Inaccessible Islands," accessible to you. In their capable hands, you are able to experience the South Orkneys' remote and rugged beauty.

Days 14-17: South Georgia

Renowned for its beauty and vast colonies of king penguins, this is also the final resting place for the legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Teeming wildlife, breathtaking scenery and soaring cliffs filled with birdlife greet our ship. Hundreds of young Antarctic fur seals are on hand as our Zodiacs make landfall. At St. Andrew's Bay, you may come upon 100,000 king penguins.

Days 18-19: At Sea

These days at sea give you a chance to reflect on all that you have seen and experienced in South Georgia, and prepare for the exciting days ahead in the Falkland Islands. There'll be time to hear talks from our staff, read in the ship's cozy library, and search for whales from the Bridge. For the more indulgent, enjoy a rejuvenating massage with your licensed therapist, work out in the gym--or simply relax.

Day 20: Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

See the photogenic tin-roofed, Victorian-style houses of Port Stanley. Visit the Anglican Cathedral with its organic archway of whalebones and the Falkland Islands Museum.

Days 21-22: Falkland Islands

The Falklands boast the largest albatross colony in the world, irresistible Magellanic penguins in their burrows amid the green tussock grass and herds of enormous elephant seals.

Day 23: At Sea

Your last day at sea gives you one more opportunity to watch for marine life, and a chance to reflect on all you have seen and heard, hearing talks from your staff which provide perspective on the truly colossal scope of this voyage.

Day 24: Ushuaia, Argentina / Disembark / Santiago

You disembark in Ushuaia and have some time to explore before boarding your exclusively chartered LAN Chile flight to Santiago, and the subsequent overnight flight to the U.S.

Day 25: Arrive Miami

You land in Miami at sunrise, feeling inevitably that you are, as some guests describe it, re-entering the world. Then, board your respective connecting flights home.

Trip Details

Ship	National Geographic Explorer
Just Released Offer	Book this trip by April 30, 2008 with ExpeditionTrips and become a Lindblad "Friend For Life," entitling you to: - 10% discount on all subsequent Lindblad trips - Exclusive values and special programs - Legacy Rights (privilege of lending to your family and handing down to your children and grandchildren the "Friend for Life" status) Applicable Dates: 1/5/2009, 1/16/2009, 1/27/2009
Highlights	One of the best overall programs to Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia. Expect great guides, enough time in key destinations, underwater dive master and ROV. Ship is currently being renovated and will be ready June 2008.
Trip Notes	Reverse Itinerary: 11/15/2009, 2/9/2010 Travel with National Geographic Adventurer: Jon Bowermaster (Dec 20, 2008) About Jon Bowermaster Jon Bowermaster has chronicled numerous adventures for many popular magazines and is the author of six books, including three collaborations with polar explorer Will Steger. His explorations include dogsled travels in the Arctic, Antarctica, Greenland, and the Northwest Territories and first-ever raft descents of the Futaleufu River in Chile and the Shuiluo River in China (read his story in the November 1996 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC). Included: Charter flights Santiago/Ushuaia, return Ushuaia/Santiago; accommodations; all meals aboard ship, some meals on land. Not Included: Round-trip airfare Miami/Santiago; passport and visa expenses; Chilean immigration fee; travel insurance; gratuities are left to the discretion of the passenger; items of a personal nature; fuel surcharge may apply.
Payment Policy	For 2008:he deposit amount required to confirm your reservation varies by itinerary (see trip brochure). Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.For 2009:The deposit amount required to confirm your reservation varies by itinerary (see trip brochure). For expeditions of eight nights or less, final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. For expeditions of nine nights or more, final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.** Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure for the following sailings: 1/5/2009, 1/16/2009, 1/27/2009.Payment MethodsCredit cards are accepted for both deposit and final payments (VISA, MC, AMEX, Discover).

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-12-20	2009-01-13	+
2009-01-21	2009-02-14	+
2009-11-15	2009-12-09	+
2010-02-09	2010-03-05	+

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