Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falklands

Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Arrive in the southernmost city in the world. Explore this 'frontier town' on your own and transfer independently to the Hotel Los Nires or similar hotel.

Day 2: Ushuaia

Enjoy a guided excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Following a traditional Argentine BBQ asado lunch, you have some free time before transferring to the ship for embarkation.

Day 3: At Sea

Get to know the expedition team as the ship heads toward the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Your lecture series begins.

Days 4-5: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Explore some of the privately owned outer islands that are home to great concentrations of wildlife - including several species found nowhere else in the world. Flightless Steamer Ducks, Magellanic Penguins and Gentoo Penguins occupy Carcass Island. Nearby New Island boasts fantastic Rockhopper Penguin rookeries as well as nesting Black-browed Albatrosses and Blue-eyed Shags. Peale's and Commerson's dolphins are often seen along the coasts of these islands and frequently bow-ride and play alongside the Zodiacs. Explore Stanley, the charming capital of the archipelago.

Days 6-7: At Sea

Spot pelagic birds from the deck, as the vessel sails towards South Georgia. The shipboard historian offers captivating presentations on the exploration of the southern ocean.

Days 8-11: South Georgia

South Georgia has an astonishing concentration of wildlife as well as awe-inspiring scenery ranging from 7,000-foot mountains and mighty glaciers to deep fjords and low-lying grassland. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on Earth. Thousands of King Penguins greet us at Salisbury Plain. Wandering Albatrosses nest and thousands of fur seals breed at Prion Island. Huge southern elephant seals and a substantial number of King and Gentoo Penguins crowd the beaches at places such as Gold Harbor. The island also played a significant role in Ernest Shackleton's epic journey after the sinking of his ship, the Endurance. At Grytviken, once an active whaling station, you visit Shackleton's grave.

Days 12-13: At Sea

As the ship heads for Antarctica, our naturalists introduce the wildlife and natural wonders that lie ahead.

Days 14-17: South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

The Antarctic Peninsula, the most readily accessible part of the White Continent, has some of the best wildlife and scenery. You have plenty of time to experience the special magic of this aweinspiring wilderness of snow, ice, and mountains. Expect to see enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins. Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills, and Antarctic Terns are also abundant. You may also encounter Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, as well as orcas, humpback, and Minke whales. Your first landfall could be Elephant Island, where Ernest Shackleton's men found refuge during the epic "Endurance" expedition, or Paulet Island with its vast Adélie Penguin rookery. Ice conditions permitting, the expedition then navigates the Antarctic Sound, or "iceberg alley", where huge tabular icebergs drift north from the Antarctic continent. Our exploration of the Antarctic continent often begins with a visit to the aptly named Paradise Bay, or to nearby Neko Harbor. Glaciers fill the calm waters with an amazing vista of icebergs, as you set foot on the Antarctic continent itself. If pack ice and icebergs allow, you navigate some of the most beautiful waterways in the world. Two in particular, the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are impressive narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. During the voyage we plan to visit one of the many Antarctic research bases, perhaps stopping at Port Lockroy, a former British scientific station that now houses a museum and a post office. On some departures, the ship sails through the narrow passage leading into the sunken caldera of Deception Island. Here, if the tide allows, you may dip your toes in the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.

Days 18-19: Drake Passage

Your journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, is an experience in itself. The ship is accompanied most of the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering Albatross - along with an impressive variety of other seabirds such as Giant and Cape Petrels. You have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins. Meanwhile, the program of lectures continues.

Day 20: Ushuaia

Disembark after breakfast and transfer by bus to the Antarctic Unit office located at the entrance to the pier. If you are departing on the morning flight, the transfer continues to the airport.

Trip Details

Ship	Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Highlights	Larger Russian vessel with basic cabins. A very active trip with kayaking options.
Trip Notes	Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife you encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition.Sea Kayaking: $695 per person (minimum age 16 years) Mandatory Travel Insurance: Passengers traveling on this expedition are required to be covered by a travel insurance policy that includes emergency evacuation coverage. As this voyage travels to remote regions of the world, we recommend that the policy’s emergency evacuation benefit be higher than minimum. Included: One pre-cruise night hotel night with breakfast (The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel.); Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping; All meals on board throughout voyage (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.); All shore landings and Zodiac excursions per the daily program; Formal and informal presentations by Expedition Team and guest speakers; Photographic Journal on DVD; A pair of rubber expedition boots on loan for shore landings. (So you don’t have to pack any.); Hair dryer in every cabin; Expedition parka to keep; 24-hour coffee, tea, cocoa, and bottled water; Comprehensive pre-departure materials; Group transfers from the hotel to the ship at the embarkation port, and from the ship to the local airport on disembarkation – plus all baggage handling aboard ship; All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program. Not Included: All airfare; fuel surcharge, $58 per person per night aboard ship (2/15/2009); Passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel before embarkation; Baggage, cancellation and travel insurance (please note that emergency medical insurance is mandatory); Excess baggage charges; laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges; Telecommunications charges; Customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel (guidelines will be provided).
Payment Policy	2008/2009 Season:A deposit of $1000 per person (11-15 day Antarctica expeditions and Arctic Adventure ships); $1500 per person (20 day Antarctica expeditions); or $2000 per person (on board the Kapitan Khlebnikov and Arctic Icebreaker Adventures) is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.* Payment Methods: Deposit: credit cards are accepted (VISA, MC, AMEX, Discover). Final payment: check or wire.WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR FINAL PAYMENT.* Final payment due 120 days prior to departure for the following sailings: 12/30/2008 (Ocean Nova), 1/5/2009, 1/14/2009 (Orlova), 1/24/2009 (Clipper Adventurer), 2/2/2009, (Ioffe).2009/2010 Season:A deposit of $1000 per person (11-15 day Antarctica expeditions and Arctic Adventure ships); $1500 per person (20 day Antarctica expeditions); or $2000 per person (on board the Kapitan Khlebnikov and Arctic Icebreaker Adventures) is required to confirm your reservation. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment Methods: Deposit: credit cards are accepted (VISA, MC, AMEX, Discover). Final payment: check or wire.WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS FOR FINAL PAYMENT.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2009-02-15	2009-03-06	+

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