Antarctic cruises

Explorer's Quest

Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia

20 day voyages

Aboard the Ocean Nova and Sea Spirit.

The Explorers' Cruises take you to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands to view abundant Antarctic wildlife. Visit scientific bases and enjoy breathtaking scenery - icy waterways, glaciers, icebergs, and rugged mountains. Depending on the itinerary, you embark and disembark in the ports of Ushuaia or Puerto Madryn in Argentina.

As with our Classic Antarctica voyages, no two Explorers' Cruises are exactly alike. The Captain and Expedition Leader continually assess daily weather conditions and wildlife opportunities to take full advantage of the extended daylight in order to maximize time ashore. We can guarantee an engaging adventure and memories that last a lifetime.

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). Our lecture series begins.

Day 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.

Day 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.

Day 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.

Day 12-13: At sea
As the ship heads for Antarctica, our naturalists introduce the wildlife and natural wonders that lie ahead.

Day 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 awe inspiring 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 it, you may dip your toes in the thermal waters of Pendulum Cove.

Day 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.

* Airfare is not included in the program.

Please note: Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Prices and departure dates

Departures:
11 November 2011 aboard the Ocean Nova
23 November 2011 aboard the Sea Spirit
13 January 2012 aboard the Sea Spirit

Price: From £9,840 per person based on two sharing. For more information, or to make a reservation, please enquire.