HIGHLIGHTS
Hiking
on St. Helena
Explore
one of Earth’s most far-off islands the old-fashioned way: by
foot
Visited
places on St. Helena
Visit
the Tristan Rockhoppers
Nightingale
Island
A
remote and uninhabited island in the South Atlantic Ocean, Nightingale
Island is situated roughly midway between South America and South Africa
Shore-Based
Walking
Explore
the last true wilderness of our planet on foot, and absorb the beauty
of the polar regions at your own pace
Bird
Watching
Enjoy
birding together with fellow birders and visit remote places with rare
bird-species.
Napoleon's
house on St. Helena
The
island exile where one of history’s greatest tacticians spent
his final years
Bird
species on St. Helena
Though
lacking most of its endemic species, this remote island offers an
abundance of photogenic birdlife
Albatrosses
of Nightingale Island
The
far-flying birds of a far-flung island
Tristan
da Cunha Culture
King
Penguin
Second
in size only to the emperor penguin, these colorful divers look so
different than their own chicks that they were once thought to be a
different species
Macaroni
Penguin
Named
for their orange plume feathers, these shallow-nesting hoppers are the
largest of the crested penguins
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | QUAD | TRIPLE PORTHOLE | TWIN PORTHOLE | TWIN WINDOW | TWIN DELUXE | SUPERIOR |
|---|
| Apr 01, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | 9,050 | 11,350 | 11,350 | 11,850 | 12,850 | 13,750 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
QUAD | (Mid-range)
TWIN WINDOW | (High-end)
SUPERIOR |
|---|
| Apr 01, 2026 | Apr 24, 2026 | 9,050 | 11,850 | 13,750 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: End of the world, start of a journey
Your
voyage begins where the world drops off: Ushuaia, Argentina, said to be
the southernmost city on the planet, located on the far southern tip of
South America. Starting in the afternoon, we embark from this small
resort town on Tierra del Fuego (nicknamed “The End of the
World”) and sail the mountainous Beagle Channel for the rest
of the evening.
Day
2 – 4: Sea route to South Georgia
Today
we are en route to South Georgia. After passing the Antarctic
Convergence, which is a natural boundary formed when north-flowing cold
waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic waters, we enter the
circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change,
the bird life changes, too: A variety of albatrosses and petrels show
up, along with Cape pigeons and southern fulmars.
Day
5 – 7: South Georgia sights
Our
aim today is to visit some of the world’s top king penguin
rookeries. This time of year you have a good chance of seeing these
animals nesting on eggs, with their chicks nearby. The rookeries are
sometimes overflowing, with penguins traveling to and from the beach.
Possible
visits in this region include:
Salisbury
Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour
– Here you can see not only the massive king penguin colony,
but also elephant seals and limitless fur seal pups playing in the surf.
Grytviken
– We also have the opportunity to check out this abandoned
whaling station, where king penguins walk the streets and elephant
seals lie around like they own the place – because they
basically do! You might also see the South Georgia Museum as well as
Shackleton’s grave here.
Cooper
Bay
– This is a fine place for a Zodiac cruise, and this bay also
houses a rookery of macaroni penguins. King penguins, pintails, and
giant petrels may also appear here.
Moltke
Harbour
– Located in Royal Bay, this scenic spot gives you the chance
to see the huge king penguin colony that lives here.
Day
8– 12: Once more to the sea
A
pleasant tailwind often accompanies the vessel through the westerlies,
and on both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, you might see large
numbers of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.
Day
13: The quest continues at the great Gough Island
Today
we plan to approach Gough Island for a Zodiac cruise in Quest Bay, if
the weather permits. Here you might see northern rockhopper penguins
and sub-Antarctic fur seals. In previous years, it has been possible
for us to circumnavigate most of Gough Island’s 33-mile
circumference, taking in this area’s splendid scenery and
abundant wildlife.
Day
14 – 17: Tristan da Cunha and all the pretty birds
The
remote islands of Tristan da Cunha are famed for their plentiful bird
populations, which include rockhopper penguins, several species of
albatross, petrels, skuas, terns, and many others. Our goal during this
stage of our voyage is to visit the small settlement on the west side
of the main island, but we might also land at Seal Bay on the south
side of Tristan da Cunha or at Sandy Point on the east side.
In
these stunning locations, you could encounter such exotic wildlife as
yellow-nosed albatrosses and sub-Antarctic fur seals, all while
exploring a rarely visited spot. We also intend to land at Nightingale
Island and Inaccessible Island, both of which offer great views of
beautiful seabirds ranging from yellow-nosed albatrosses to brown
noddies.
Two
days are reserved at Tristan da Cunha in case of bad weather, but
please remember that nature determines our itineraries here: Since
beginning the Atlantic Odyssey cruise in 1998, adverse weather led to
the cancellation of 35% of Tristan da Cunha landings. If we have to
divert for safety reasons, we will find good alternatives.
Day
18 – 21: Subtropical seas and seabirds
Seabirds
and dolphins indigenous to this region often follow the vessel.
Day
22 – 24: St. Highlights of Saint Helena
After
we land at Jamestown on Saint Helena Island, you will have the
opportunity to enjoy the area’s local culture, pleasant
climate, and endemic bird life. You can pay a visit to Longwood House,
where Napoleon died in exile; walk the 699-step Jacob’s
Ladder, if you’re feeling ambitious; or snorkel the shallows
offshore, seeing multitudes of tropical and subtropical fish.
Please
note: You have
the option to disembark and fly home from Jamestown, if flights are
available. In the evening, we will depart for Ascension Island and
Praia, Cape Verde, where you can also disembark. Make sure to book
voyage PLA33-26 if you want to fly out from Praia.
Plancius (Expedition, 108-guests)
MV Plancius offers a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering full panorama view. The vessel has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 4), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the
itinerary
- All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including
snacks, coffee and tea.
- All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage
by Zodiac.
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by
experienced expedition staff.
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the
day of embarkation, in Ushuaia.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout
the programme.
- Comprehensive pre-departure material.
Excluded
from this voyage
- Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights
- Pre- and post- land arrangements.
- Passport and visa expenses.
- Government arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals ashore.
- Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is
strongly recommended).
- Excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature
such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for
stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be
provided).
