Falklands (Malvinas), South Georgia & Antarctica

Day 1: Punta Arenas, Embarkation
This morning, make your way to Explorers House in Punta Arenas and enjoy the facilities. At 15:00 hrs., a group transfer will take you to the port for embarkation. As we sail along the Strait of Magellan, our Expedition Team will introduce the history of this fabled sea route.

Day 2: At Sea
Enjoy the ship’s hospitality as we make our way to the Falklands (Malvinas). Our engaging series of lectures and presentations begin.

Day 3: Saunders Island, West Point Island
We enjoy the long white-sand beach during a morning visit to Saunders Island. A wilderness experience, the main attractions are rockhopper penguins, nesting black-browed albatross, and sub-Antarctic gentoo penguins. In the afternoon, we visit West Point Island. There is an option for an easy hike to a nesting black-browed albatross colony, bird watching, and a typical Falklands tea experience.

Day 4: Port Stanley
Join our expedition team on guided walking tours of Port Stanley. Or explore on your own and absorb the atmosphere of this isolated outpost in the South Atlantic.

Day 5-6: At Sea
As we sail towards South Georgia, attend presentations on the history and fauna of the archipelago. In the company of expert guides, watch for wildlife from the lounge or from the outside decks. You may spot magnificent seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as different species of whales.

Day 7: Elsehul Bay
Depending on sea conditions over the previous days, arrival is planned for the afternoon. Provided we receive approval from the South Georgia government, we plan to do an evening Zodiac cruise at Elsehul Bay.

Day 8: Salisbury Plain, Possession Bay: 
Morning visit to Salisbury Plain to observe king penguins and stunning landscapes. In the afternoon, we will aim to do a zodiac cruise in the stunning Possesion Bay or to visit the nearby areas.

Day 9: Grytviken, Fortuna Bay / Stromness
Morning landing at Grytviken, where we clear customs and then visit the historical site with the museum and Ernest Shackleton’s grave. We land at Fortuna Bay / Stromness in the afternoon to see king penguins. Here we learn more about Shackleton and his expedition, and there is also an optional 2-3 hour “Shackleton walk” if snow and weather conditions allow. 

Day 10: St. Andrews Bay, Drygalsky Fjord
In the morning, we visit St. Andrews Bay, home to one of the largest king penguin colonies and impressive elephant seal bulls. If weather allows, we will perform a ship cruise across the Dryglasky Fjord in the afternoon.

Day 11-12: At Sea
Our education program continues as we make our way south to the Antarctic Peninsula. 

Day 13: Elephant Island 
In the afternoon, we explore Elephant Island. While a landing here is unlikely, we will see the island from the ship or, if sea conditions allow, from a Zodiac.

Day 14-17: Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands
We cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula and among the South Shetland Islands, visiting sites in the Antarctic Sound and the Gerlache Strait. The voyage may include visits to sites such as Gourdin Island, Brown Bluff, Half Moon Island, Deception Island, Wilhelmina Bay, the Lemaire Channel, Cuverville Island, the Melchior Islands, or other magnificent places.

Day 18-19: At Sea 
Attend lectures by the expedition staff and keep an eye out for albatross soaring around the ship as we make our way north across the Drake Passage. 

Day 20: Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
This morning, disembark the ship in Ushuaia. 

Please note the itinerary and route map are only tentative outlines of what you may experience. No specific itinerary, routing or landing sites can be guaranteed in advance. Where the ship actually sails will depend on a lot of factors including, but not limited to, the weather & ice conditions and the captain & expedition leader. Every trip is different, which adds to the excitement of expedition cruising in the polar regions.