Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands Cruise: Photography & Exploration

Arrive in Argentina’s capital and transfer to your hotel.

Explore Buenos Aires with your local guides, choosing from excursions that include a guided tour with a tango demonstration or a tour of the city’s vibrant street art scene. In the evening, join your fellow guests and A&K staff for a welcome cocktail reception. Meet some of your expert expedition staff members, including National Geographic photographer Michael Melford.

Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Take a guided trek in the Cerro Alarken Nature Reserve before boarding your luxurious expedition cruiser for the next 15 days of adventure. Watch from the comfort of your private balcony as ‘Le Lyrial’ heads out to sea.

As you sail east toward the Falkland Islands, A&K’s Expedition Team begins its exciting lecture series, covering everything from penguins to the formation of sea ice to thrilling personal accounts of living in Antarctica. Photography enthusiasts especially enjoy time with Michael Melford and your A&K photo team, who are on hand to exhibit extraordinary images, share tips and answer questions. The cool waters 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.

Today, ‘Le Lyrial’ arrives in the remote Falkland Islands. Conditions permitting, you may visit the tiny capital of Stanley, strolling its charming streets and exploring its surrounding wilderness areas, or land at the southeast Falkland Islands of Sea Lion and Bleaker, home to unspoiled wildlife habitats.

As you head toward South Georgia, 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. The open ocean is a treasure chest bursting with life — scan the seas to spot marine mammals and seabirds as the ship cruises the nutrient-rich waters past the Shag Rocks islands.

Explore South Georgia, the Southern Ocean’s crown jewel of wildlife. South Georgia is a nearly submerged continuation of the Andes Mountains, and your days here are spent exploring its glacier-carved coves and rugged shores — ideal for exploring with your naturalist guides on Zodiacs (sturdy inflatable boats). Weather and ice conditions permitting, excursions over the next three days include stops along the northeast coastline of the island, where we hope to visit vast colonies of king penguins and southern elephant seals. You may also explore iconic historic sites with your A&K historian, who shares tales of the whaling era and the heroic age of exploration. You also learn about the life and exploits of Antarctica’s greatest explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose final resting place is right here on South Georgia Island, at Grytviken. A photographer’s paradise, South Georgia is a locale where you’re sure to capture some of your very best shots.

Cruise the Scotia Sea while your expert lecturers recap your adventures in South Georgia and hint at what’s to come in Antarctica. Prepare for your Antarctic arrival by learning more about the Seventh Continent from the experts who know it best, from its awe-inspiring terrain to the hardy wildlife that inhabits it.

Conditions permitting, your itinerary calls for landings on the Antarctic Peninsula and a number of South Shetland Islands. Your expedition team takes advantage of the best opportunities to set out on Zodiacs and explore the continent’s iconic shores, which teem with gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins. Antarctica’s stunning geography enhances the excitement of your experience here as dramatic snow-capped mountains, shimmering glaciers and icebergstrewn channels compete for your attention. At the evening’s recap, you might look through your photos with Michael Melford and his team as they make suggestions for how to improve your framing and techniques.

Bid farewell to Antarctica as ‘Le Lyrial’ points north for her return to Ushuaia. Enjoy more opportunities to observe birds and marine life while reflecting on an incredible journey with fellow guests and new friends.

After breakfast, disembark ‘Le Lyrial.’ Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires, where you board your flight home or join your Ushuaia post-tour extension.