From Argentina to Antarctica

Venture to some of the world’s most remote lands to discover an astounding variety of polar wildlife with this expedition cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. The cruise includes a free photography programme to help enhance your camera skills under expert guidance. Please note: Itinerary, landings and all other activities during the cruise depend strongly on ice and weather conditions and are subject to the decisions of the expedition leader and the captain of the vessel. Encounters with any mentioned wildlife cannot be guaranteed.   PERFECT FOR Close encounters with a wide variety of wildlife species including albatross and penguin rookeries in the Falkland Islands and king penguins in South Georgia, plus many species of penguins and marine mammals in the Antarctic Peninsula.

This epic adventure is ideal for celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary.

 

IN THE KNOW

Those with an extremely adventurous spirit can pre-book to camp on the Antarctic Peninsula - sure to be a highlight of your icy odyssey.

Itinerary details

2 NIGHTS BUENOS AIRES

Your adventure begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s vibrant capital, where you’ll have a couple of days to discover the city’s feisty culture, explore secret foodie spots and perhaps take in a tango show. You will spend two nights at Legado Mitico, a stylish boutique bolthole in the cosmopolitan Palermo Viejo district.

1 NIGHT MONTEVIDEO

Today you will fly on to Uruguay, where you’ll overnight in the southerly capital of Montevideo before embarking on your cruise the following day. Please note that some sailings may depart from Ushuaia or Puerto Madryn – your travel expert will provide the specific itinerary for your preferred departure date.

1 NIGHT EMBARK IN MONTEVIDEO

This afternoon, you’ll be transferred to the pier to board your luxury expedition ship, Sea Spirit. Settle in to your cabin and get to know the ship as it sets sail from Montevideo this evening. Head out on deck to watch the scenery of the Uruguay coastline pass by.

3 NIGHTS SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

Navigating northeast toward the Falkland Islands, keep your eyes peeled for marine mammals including dolphins and whales. Presentations and workshops led by the experts onboard will keep you entertained and whet your appetite for the adventures that await. In the event of unsettled seas, the ship’s stabilisers will help to keep Sea Spirit steady.

2 NIGHTS FALKLAND ISLANDS

After reaching the windswept Falkland Islands, the final frontier of the British Empire, you will spend time exploring the archipelago’s wide open spaces and meeting its native residents, including the endemic Falkland steamerduck, plus 80 percent of the world’s black-browed albatrosses. Your route will be defined by the weather conditions at the time, but will potentially include visits to the secluded outer islands, where intimate encounters with large colonies of penguins and albatrosses are possible. Take an exhilarating walk along the sandy beaches, where you’ll come across fur seals, sea lions and elephant seals, and explore Stanley, the Islands’ quintessentially British capital, where you can visit the Historic Dockyard Museum and cathedral.

2 NIGHTS SOUTHERN OCEAN

Heading east from the Falkland Islands, you will spend two more days crossing the Southern Ocean, passing Shag Rocks’ seabird colonies en route. As you cross the Antarctic Convergence and approach South Georgia, onboard briefings and lectures will prepare you for your arrival.

5 NIGHTS SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND

Enormous colonies of king penguins stretching as far as the eye can see will be waiting to welcome your arrival to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, which is only visited by a very small number of ships each year. The epic landscapes of untouched snow-covered mountains are a haven for seabirds, while the beaches of Salisbury Plain and St Andrews Bay offer incredible scenes of elephant seals and fur seals lolling around. Your time spent exploring will be planned by the experienced ship captain and expedition leader in accordance to the local weather conditions, but you can be certain that every opportunity will be taken to offer the best possible wildlife viewing ashore. You could also visit the whaling station of Grytviken, the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton. If conditions are favourable, you may have the chance to kayak here, to discover the abundant wildlife from a unique perspective.

2 NIGHTS SOUTHERN OCEAN

Bid farewell to South Georgia as you proceed further south to the Antarctic Peninsula across the wild waters of the Southern Ocean, accompanied by pelagic seabirds including albatross soaring overhead. The algae-rich waters attract Atlantic krill during the summer months, a popular snack for whales, so keep a lookout for feasting wildlife.

4 NIGHTS SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS & THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA

Threading through a sea of icebergs, we defy you not to feel awestruck as you approach the South Shetland Islands, likely to be the first sight of land in the Great White Continent. Among the landing sites here is Elephant Island, where Shackleton’s Endurance expedition stopped for the winter. You will spend several days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, the coldest place on Earth, where the eerie silence is only pierced by glacial peaks crashing into the sea and a chorus of squawking penguins - there are many species to meet including Chinstrap, Gentoo and Adelie, and due to the lack of human presence here, the wildlife has no fear of visitors and will happily interact as you venture ashore. The sprawling Gerlache Strait offers several sheltered bays and easy access to the abundant wildlife, along with striking scenes of towering blue icebergs and snowy mountains. Zodiac and kayak excursions provide close encounters with a variety of whale species and many types of seal. During your time in the Antarctic Peninsula, you may like to spend a night under canvas, in a tent specially adapted to keep you cosy in the polar climate.

2 NIGHTS DRAKE PASSAGE

Leaving Antarctica, the ship will navigate north through the Drake Passage, bound for the southern tip of Argentina. Spend time enjoying the range of facilities on offer and attend presentations and workshops led by the expert team onboard, before enjoying a farewell dinner with fellow passengers. Cruising through the famous Beagle Channel, head out on deck to watch the scenery of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago pass by.

1 NIGHT BUENOS AIRES

As the ship arrives into dock in Ushuaia, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward journey to Buenos Aires, where you will spend a night at an airport hotel before flying home the following day. If you wish to continue your adventure, speak to a travel expert about the possibilities – why not head north and discover the mighty Iguazu Falls? Please note that some sailings may arrive into Montevideo or Puerto Madryn – your travel expert will provide the specific itinerary for your preferred departure date.