Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands

Arrive in Argentina’s capital city. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy time at leisure.

With its wide boulevards and classical buildings, romantic and exciting Buenos Aires boasts a contagious energy. Today, explore its treasures with expert A&K local guides, choosing from a selection of included excursions. Opt to see Buenos Aires on a guided tour complete with a tango demonstration or dive into a burgeoning scene on a guided tour focused on the city’s street art. Tonight, join your fellow travellers and A&K staff for a welcome cocktail reception and briefing.

Fly to the port city of Ushuaia, located at the southern tip of South America. On arrival, enjoy lunch at the Arakur resort and, time and weather permitting, take a nature walk in the Cerro Alarken Nature Reserve, or simply relax with a cappuccino and views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. Later, board ‘Le Lyrial’ and settle into your stateroom, where you can take in views right from your own private balcony. Throughout your journey, benefit from immersive insight, with incomparable enrichment programs both aboard and on shore, and an Expedition Team that is second to none. Walk the decks and explore the common spaces as you familiarize yourself with your luxury cruiser, your home for the next 15 nights at sea. You may even want to toast to your journey in the bar with your fellow guests.

As you sail east toward the Falkland Islands, your Expedition Team begins an informal series of enlightening daily discussions on the flora and fauna, geology, and history of the region. These expert lectures span diverse topics, such as seabirds and penguins of the Southern Ocean, the formation of sea ice over thousands of years, and personal accounts of living and working in Antarctica. Photography enthusiasts especially enjoy time with A&K’s resident photo coach, who is on hand to share tips and answer questions. The cool waters in these parts are rich in krill, making them a favorite with local wildlife searching for food. Alongside your naturalist guides, spot various species of whales and seabirds from ‘Le Lyrial’s’ deck.

Arrive in the Falkland Islands and enjoy opportunities to explore. You may visit its remote western islands, home to Magellanic and rockhopper penguins as well as striking hourglass dolphin species, such as the Commerson and NB Peale.

As you approach South Georgia, deck-side sightings of whales and other wildlife become more frequent. Time spent cruising is once again filled with informative lectures and casual talks with your guides, leaving your knowledge of the region greatly enriched. Scan the seas to spot marine mammals and seabirds as the ship cruises the nutrient-rich waters past the islands of Shag Rocks.

South Georgia is a nearly submerged continuation of the Andes mountain range, and your days here are spent exploring its glacier-carved coves and rugged shores. Weather and ice conditions determine our schedule, which may include stops along the northeast coastline of the island and opportunities to see the nesting wandering albatross, as well as vast colonies of king penguins and Southern elephant seals. You may also visit iconic historic sites alongside your A&K historian, where you learn about the whaling era; the Heroic Age of polar exploration; and Antarctica’s greatest explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, who’s final resting place is right here on South Georgia Island at Grytviken.

During your time cruising the Scotia Sea — rich with marine mammals and fish — your enrichment specialists recap your adventures in South Georgia. During additional, enriching lectures, learn more about the Seventh Continent, from the terrain to the hardy wildlife that inhabits it. Ensuring your experience reaches far beyond that of everyday travellers, ongoing, informative discussions with your Expedition Team lend further context.

Gargantuan icebergs, mountains thrusting out of the ocean and glaciers curling from the tops of seaside cliffs — count these among Antarctica’s many magical displays. Arrive today at the shores of the incredible White Continent for exciting days of exploration. Conditions permitting, your itinerary includes the Antarctic Peninsula and a number of South Shetland Islands. Deeply familiar with the region, your A&K Expedition Team plots landings that offer the best opportunities to see the continent’s iconic wildlife, including gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins as well as a wide variety of whale and seal species. Serving as the backdrop for these amazing wildlife experiences, Antarctica’s spectacular geography reveals sherbet-colored glaciers, snowy mountain peaks, and iceberg-laden channels and bays. As you cruise, scan the coast and seas daily for more wildlife showings, all from the comfort of your private balcony and the outer decks of your ship.

Bid farewell to Antarctica as ‘Le Lyrial’ points north for Ushuaia. Enjoy more opportunities to observe wildlife while reflecting on an incredible journey.

After breakfast, disembark in Ushuaia. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires, where you connect to your flight home.