Emerors & Kings: Snow Hill & South Georgia (2009)

Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina

Special guests Robert Bateman and Birgit Freybe Bateman will join the expedition in Ushuaia, our staging point for this exclusive voyage. All guests will spend the night at a well-located hotel in the frontier community.

Day 2: Ushuaia / Embarkation

At the beginning of what is arguably the ultimate penguin expedition, travelers will be introduced to the Expedition Team, Hospitality Team and the Batemans at the Welcome Briefing.

Days 3-4: Crossing the Drake Passage

Prepare for rough water, but do not be disappointed if this crossing of the Drake Passage is smooth sailing. The Drake is always changing.

Day 5: South Shetland Islands

Emperors and Kings are the stars of this expedition, but they are not the only penguins you will encounter. During landings in the South Shetland Islands you could visit Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguin rookeries.

Days 6-8: Emperor Penguin Rookery

A guest who visited the rookery near Snow Hill Island wrote, "I never thought that I would be sitting on the ice and have the penguins within an arms reach." The Captain and Expedition Leader consult charts, weather bulletins and satellite images to determine where to park the icebreaker for efficient helicopter flights to the rookery. From the landing zone, you will walk about 2.4 km (1.5 miles) to the rookery, through a sculpture garden of ice. This route is taken each time you visit the rookery during the three days allotted.

Days 9-11: South Orkney Islands and Southern Ocean

While at sea, the Batemans will deliver one of two presentations about their life as activists and artists. Their presentations supplement the in-depth education program delivered by the Expedition Team.

Days 12-16: South Georgia

Wildlife landings on South Georgia will include visits to King Penguin rookeries. King Penguins breed all year round, so you will encounter the meter (3 feet) tall birds in all stages of growth. Elephant and fur seals, albatross and other penguin species inhabit the island, which is now a nature preserve.

Days 17-18: At Sea

These days are spent at sea as you sail towards the Falkland Islands.

Days 19-20: Exploring the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

When you reach the Falklands (Malvinas) you are no longer in Antarctica, yet you will add three more species of penguins to your life list--Rockhopper, Macaroni and Magellanic Penguins.

Day 21: Fly from Stanley to Santiago, Chile

If weather and ice conditions permit, during this expedition you will have seen eight different species of penguin in the wild. Only polar-class icebreaker expedition makes this possible.

Day 22: Depart

Today, depart for home.

Trip Details

Ship	Kapitan Khlebnikov
Highlights	Emperor penguin rookeries at Snow Hill, five days exploring South Georgia, incredible kind penguin rookeries, and travel aboard a sturdy icebreaker.
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. Special Guests: Robert Bateman and Birgit Freybe Bateman Robert Bateman is an internationally acclaimed wildlife artist and activist. Birgit Freybe Bateman is a professional artist and photographer whose images have appeared in books and magazines. The couple shares a deep concern for the conservation and preservation of our natural and human heritage. They will deliver two presentations about their lifetime's work on this expedition. Included: One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast as indicated in the itinerary. (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 breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your 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; Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities; Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled; Photographic Album on DVD; A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings; Hair dryer in every cabin; A Quark Expeditions parka; Coffee, tea, cocoa and bottled water available around the clock; Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader; 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; Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum of $100,000 per person; All helicopter transfers and aerial sightseeing according to each day’s program. Not Included: Any airfare, however, for economy seats on the charter flight from Santiago to Stanley must be purchased in conjunction with the expedition ($699 per person); 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 medical travel insurance; Excess baggage charges; Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges; Telecommunications charges.
Payment Policy	Antarctica 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).Antarctica 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) 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.Arctic 2009:A deposit of $2,000 per person is required to confirm a reservation on Kapitan Khlebnikov and 50 Years of Victory. To confirm reservations on Akademik Shokalskiy, Akademik Ioffe, and Akademik Sergey Vavilov, a deposit of $1,000 per person is required. 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
2009-11-15	2009-12-06	+

Browse Similar Trips

• Arctic Cruise - Spitsbergen - Stockholm
• Arctic Cruise: Northeast Passage
• Cape Horn to the Cape of Good Hope

• Lake Districts of Patagonia and Beyond the Antarctic Circle
• Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia
• Land of the Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration of Arctic Svalbard

• Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands (2009/2010)
• Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falklands
• Antarctica Cruise - Crossing the Circle

• Antarctica Cruise - Great Antarctic Explorers - Ross Sea
• South Georgia & Antarctica: In the Footsteps of Shackleton
• Antarctica Cruise - The Peninsula

• Home
• International Airfare
• Hotels
• Hostels
• Community
• RTW Guide
• Travel Blogs
• Adventure Trips
• Travel Gear
• Travel Insurance
• Eurail