South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula from Ushuaia

Welcome to Ushuaia, where your Antarctic adventure begins. Arrive into the city any time today and transfer to your pre-expedition accommodation. Spend the day getting to know this quirky little city – the southernmost in the world – before a pre-departure briefing this evening, usually at 6 pm.

After breakfast at the hotel, the morning is yours to explore further. Embarkation will take place later in the afternoon – further details will be given at your pre-departure meeting. After boarding and settling into your cabin, venture out on deck as your ship makes its way into the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. The channel takes its name from the HMS Beagle, which transported Charles Darwin through the region on his around-the-world voyage in 1833.

Your first days at sea will include plenty of time to relax, getting to know your fellow shipmates and learning about more about the opportunities that await. Your expert polar team will begin their educational lecture programme, presenting on wildlife such as seabirds and penguins, and providing an insight into the history of South Georgia Island. These few days also offer an opportunity to get comfortable with the motion of the sea.

If conditions are favourable, you will approach South Georgia this afternoon. Have your camera ready to capture shags, prions and albatross in the water around you, and revel in the excitement on board your vessel as shore landings and wildlife explorations are imminent.

Make your first potential landings this morning in the wildlife-filled South Georgia Island. Your polar team will set a course to maximise wildlife sighting opportunities and take into account the weather and sea conditions. Hopefully, you’ll stop by a protected bay of the island, which is one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world for sub-Antarctic wildlife. The island’s king penguin rookeries are some of the world’s largest, with populations sometimes numbering into the hundreds of thousands. South Georgia is scattered with abandoned relics and evidence of human activity from centuries past. Visit old whaling stations, including the settlement of Grytviken, which is home to the remains of the Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

As you leave South Georgia in your wake, Antarctica awaits. While at sea, enjoy free time to relax and enjoy the scenery. Your comprehensive lecture series will continue during this time, where you can learn more about the history and geology of Antarctica, plus learn tips on wildlife spotting and photography, to capture the best moments.

Enter another world as your ship approaches the mainland of the white continent. Weather permitting, head out on several Zodiac cruises in search for the wildest in wildlife and the most spectacular icy landscapes. Weather permitting, embark on multiple shore landings, which could include glacier hikes, visits to research bases or opportunities to encounter seals and penguins. You may be lucky enough to catch sight of a leopard seal during its hunt for food or meet a curious minke whale while out on a Zodiac cruise. You may also like to take part in an optional sea kayaking adventure or awaken your senses with a polar plunge into the southern oceans.

Begin your homeward journey as you traverse the renowned Drake Passage, named after the British navigator, Sir Francis Drake. Sail past icebergs and as always, stay on the lookout for new species of birdlife and whales. Weather conditions through the Drake can be temperamental, but your days at sea already will have been ideal preparation for any rough conditions, should they occur. On board your vessel, relive your special moments and continue learning with more presentations scheduled for your northbound voyage.

Arrive into Ushuaia in the morning after breakfast. Disembarkation will take place at approximately 9 am, and with no further activities planned today, you are free to leave the port at any time.