HIGHLIGHTS
- Once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to possibly witness a solar eclipse in Antarctica
- Stand
among the world’s largest king penguin rookeries
- Witness
enormous elephant seals and their pups at their most charming
– moulting, scratching and belching
- Zodiac-cruise
through glassy waters, always on the lookout for sea ice seals having
pups on ice floes
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | Stateroom Triple | Stateroom Twin | Superior Stateroom Twin | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Superior Balcony Stateroom | Junior Suite | Captain's Suite |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
Start Date | End Date | (Starting from) Stateroom Triple | (Mid-range) Balcony Stateroom B | (High-end) Captain's Suite |
ITINERARY
Day
1 Arrival airport transfer and overnight in Ushuaia
Arrive
in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred to your group hotel. Upon arrival at your
included hotel, kindly remind hotel check-in staff to provide you with
Aurora Expeditions cabin tags. Please clearly label the tags with your
name and ship cabin number.
Day
2 Embarkation Day
This
morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags
clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Please take your
cabin luggage down to hotel reception by 8.00 AM. Your luggage will be
collected from your hotel and transferred directly to port for
clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board.
Keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day. Once
you have checked out of your hotel by 11.00 AM, you have free time
before meeting back in the hotel lobby at 2.00 PM to commence a tour of
Ushuaia. This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with
cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Please
take your cabin luggage down to hotel reception by 8.00 AM. Your
luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to
port for clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on
board. Keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the
day. Once you have checked out of your hotel by 11.00 AM, you have free
time before meeting back in the hotel lobby at 2.00 PM to commence a
tour of Ushuaia. Alternatively, enjoy time at leisure and make your own
way to Prison Museum carpark by 3.45 pm to rejoin the group and
transfer to the pier for embarkation.
Ushuaia,
capital of Tierra del Fuego is located at the shores of the Beagle
Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains giving you a unique
landscape in Argentina, which is the combination of mountains, sea,
glaciers and forests. On this introductory tour, you will visit
“La Mision” neighbourhood, the old Government
House, and the upper area of the city, which offers beautiful panoramic
views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. During the excursion you will
see the antique houses that belonged to the first families settled in
Ushuaia. The excursion ends with a visit to the Old Prison Museum
before transferring to the pier for embarkation at approximately 4.00
PM.
After
embarkation, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin
before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from
port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with
spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening, get
to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew
at a welcome dinner.
(Breakfast
and dinner included. Lunch is at own expense)
Day
3 Drake Passage Crossing
As
we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time
getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team
prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines
and biosecurity procedures, and start our lecture program to help you
learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and
environment.
Our
wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the
many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels
following in our wake. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents
created by the ship to gain momentum.
Day
4 Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands
Nearing
the tip of the South Shetland Islands on day four, the excitement is
palpable with everyone converging on the bridge watching for our first
iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below
the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of
floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting
is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Weather permitting, we may
attempt our first landing in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, by
late afternoon.
Day
5-6 Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea
It’s
almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica.
Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the
most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you
forever.
Once
we arrive, the South Shetland Islands and the area around the Antarctic
Sound and entrance to the Weddell Sea are ours to explore, and we have
a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will
experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as
busy as you wish.
Your
experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this
area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day,
choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice
conditions and wildlife opportunities.
We
generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day.
You’ll want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along
spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for
whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you
from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover
historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the
peninsula.
While
ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or
perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains
towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an
optional activity, you’ll have the option to do that whenever
conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the
chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions
permitting!
In
addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise
some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from
the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or
feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make
your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its
splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as
they carve their way from summit to sea, and take a quiet moment to
experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.
Central
to the story of where Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, the
Endurance became trapped in formidable sea ice, the Weddell Sea
certainly is high on the list for many polar adventurers. A small set
of islands standing off to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula
collectively form the Antarctic Sound – the gateway to the
Weddell Sea. With a well-deserved reputation as being an iceberg alley,
many large tabular bergs escape the Weddell Sea through the Antarctic
Sound, often making navigation difficult. However, the rewards can be
great. Fossils are a reminder of a more temperate era –
gastropods, large clams, and spiral-shaped ammonites, all turned to
stone.
Be
spoiled for wildlife encounters as the Weddell boasts a large
Adélie penguin colony just outside of the Antarctic Sound,
some of which breed on the rocky slopes of a small volcanic island,
where a large colony of Antarctic blue-eyed shags jostle for space with
nest-building Wilson’s storm petrels. On thrilling Zodiac
cruises or slicing a path through the maze of sea ice in your kayak,
keep watch for chinstrap and gentoo penguins in and out of the water,
as well as humpback, minke and orca whales. Your camera is sure to get
a solid workout during your time in the Weddell Sea.
Day
7 At sea
Marvel
at the ULSTEIN X-BOW’s ability to smooth our ride as we sail
the Southern Ocean towards the South Orkney Islands, admiring wandering
albatross in flight. Enjoy lectures and presentations from team of
experts as share their deep knowledge about wildlife, heroic tales of
polar exploration, and, central to this voyage, astronomy.
Day
8 South Orkney Islands, Solar Eclipse
According
to NASA, the optimum position to experience the solar eclipse is well
into the Weddell Sea. The eclipse is visible from the following
geographic regions: Antarctica, South Africa, south Atlantic, but the
full eclipse will only be visible in Antarctica, weather permitting.
The
instant of greatest eclipse takes place on 04 December, 2021 at
07:34:38 TD (Terrestrial Dynamical Time) or (07:33:28 UT1).
Historically,
early December would be considered too early to visit South Orkney
Islands because of extensive sea ice. However, conditions have been
changing every year and it may be possible to get into the South
Orkneys on 04 December, 2021 – the
unknown is part of what makes the experience even more thrilling.
The
eclipse belongs to Saros 152 and is number 13 of 70 eclipses in the
series. All eclipses in this series occur at the Moon’s
descending node. The total solar eclipse of 04 December, 2021 is
preceded two weeks earlier by a partial lunar eclipse on 19 November,
2021. These eclipses all take place during a single eclipse season - a
period during which the Sun appears close enough to one of the
Moon’s nodes to allow a solar eclipse to occur. Each season
lasts approximately 34 days and repeats at about 173-day intervals.
The
climate around the South Orkney Islands is rather harsh, with strong
winds, frequent rain and snow. The birdlife of the South Orkneys in
abundant. There are some large penguin rookeries that we may explore as
well as various seabirds that breed here. Scientists are drawn to the
South Orkneys to study the extensive areas of moss and grass, and one
of the islands is famous for is peat moss banks.
Day
9 At sea, Point Wild
Enjoy
an exciting day at sea, with more entertaining talks on exploration and
natural history. Spend time on deck photographing seabirds, keeping a
watch for whales or simply sharing stories with fellow adventurers.
Time
and weather permitting, we Zodiac cruise and perhaps land at Point Wild
on Elephant Wild, where Shackleton’s crew were stranded for
105 days while Shackleton and five others set off to seek help.
Days
10-11 Antarctic Peninsula
Back
at the Antarctic Peninsula, we continue our exploration of the small
islands, straits and bays around the tip of the white continent. Your
expedition team will again use their expertise and experience to create
experiences that will challenge you and push you (safely) beyond your
comfort zone and to create everlasting memories of your time in
Antarctica. Perhaps visit a scientific research station, witness fluffy
penguin chicks starting to hatch and running around colonies, while
predatory skuas pluck off easy prey. Humpback whales start arriving in
larger numbers to feed on plentiful krill, fur seal pups are being born
and raised and sea-ice seals are hauled up onto ice floes.
Zodiac-cruise among pristine sea ice and photograph glistening,
iridescent icebergs.
Days
12-13 At sea
En
route for South Georgia we'll head across the Scotia Sea, following the
route that Shackleton and five of his men took in order to find help
for the rest of their crew. On 24 April, 1916, they piled into the
James Caird, the most seaworthy of their open boats, to attempt this
perilous journey to South Georgia, some 1290 km (802 miles) distant.
Shackleton hoped to reach South Georgia in two weeks. There he would
enlist the help of the whalers to return to Elephant Island and rescue
the men who had been left behind. As excitement builds for South
Georgia, catch up with fellow expeditioners in the bar, keep watch for
wildlife alongside our naturalist from the open bridge, or learn more
of the Shackleton story from our historian.
“Nearly
always there were gales. So small was our boat and so great were the
seas that often our sail flapped idly in the calm between the crests of
two waves. Then we would climb the next slope and catch the full fury
of the gale where the wool-like whiteness of the breaking water surged
around us.”
-
Ernest Shackleton
Day
14 - 17 South Georgia
On
the afternoon of day 14 as you near the rugged island of South Georgia,
spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and
believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In
fact, it is a small island only 176 km (110 mi) long, but with a 3,000
m (9,842 ft) snow-capped mountain range, some of the world’s
largest congregations of wildlife and a truly fascinating human
history, South Georgia is an island of incredible riches.
On
approach, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often
spotted soaring around the ship. You’ll sail down the east
coast, taking in the spectacular glaciated scenery and enjoying a
little shelter from the prevailing westerly winds. This enchanting
coastline is yours to explore!
Your
experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this
area, will use their local knowledge to plan your voyage from day to
day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea
state and wildlife opportunities.
We
generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Make sure you
layer up before joining Zodiac cruises around craggy coves and along
the rocky coastline in search of nesting penguins, seal haul outs and
bird cliffs. Remember to keep an eye out for South Georgia’s
kelp forests as well - these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite
mesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on the
water’s surface.
Zodiacs
will also transport you from ship to shore, where you can visit some of
the largest king penguin colonies on earth, take a guided walk among
fur seals and elephant seals (making sure you listen to your guides and
keep your distance!) and wander along pebbled streams and grassy
glacial outwash plains. We also hope to visit the remnants of South
Georgia’s thriving whaling stations and pay our respects to
Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible voyage of survival is
synonymous with this island. If you have chosen an optional activity,
you’ll have the option to do that whenever conditions allow.
In
addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise
through fjords with towering cliffs of ancient stone, or into deeply
indented bays towards dramatic glacier fronts. This is a great time to
find a comfy spot in the observation lounge or make your way to the
bridge to enjoy uninterrupted views of South Georgia’s
majestic coast.
Days
18-19 At sea
Between
South Georgia and the Falklands~Malvinas, you will be entranced by the
ceaseless flight of the many seabirds that follow our wake, skilfully
using the air currents created by the ship to gain momentum. On this
leg, we are usually travelling into the prevailing weather, so it is
difficult to estimate our arrival time in the Falklands~Malvinas. Our
lecture program will continue and highlight all of the amazing sights
we have witnessed over the past few days. We’ll have ample
time to enjoy the rest of our time observing the sea birds, whale
watching from the bridge, or simply relaxing in the bar with a book.
If
time and weather conditions permit, we could pass close to Shag Rocks,
a fascinating group of jagged rocky islets protruding from the sea, in
the proximity of South Georgia.
Day
20 Falklands~Malvinas
The
Falklands~Malvinas comprises two large islands (East and West
Falkland), with over 700 islands scattered off the coast. All but seven
of these are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white sand beaches
and crystal-clear water. These beautifully barren islands are true
wildlife havens, sheltering an impressive diversity of birdlife,
including the largest black-browed albatross colony on earth. The cold,
nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location
for spotting marine life.
There
are many beautiful areas to explore across the Falklands~Malvinas, each
offering a unique perspective on this magnificent archipelago. Your
experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this
area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day,
choosing the best options based on the prevailing winds, weather and
wildlife opportunities.
We
generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Even though
we’re north of the Antarctic Convergence it can be quite
chilly here, so you’ll want to layer up before joining Zodiac
cruises into rocky coves or along sea cliffs, keeping watch for seals,
sea lions, dolphins and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also
transport you from the ship to land, where you may be able to visit
albatross colonies, penguin rookeries and perhaps even have a
traditional English ‘tea and scones’ at a local
cottage.
We
also aim to land in historic Stanley, the capital of the
Falklands~Malvinas. This charming town has a distinctly British
character, with terraced town houses, pioneer cottages and even an
iconic red telephone box! Colourful buildings house cosy cafes, English
pubs, souvenir shops, a post office and the fascinating Historic
Dockyard Museum, with displays on the maritime history of the Falkland
Islands, natural history and links to Antarctica.
Day
21 At sea
You
may choose to spend the sea days returning to Ushuaia editing your
photos, enjoying the onboard facilities, or listening to an informative
lecture. Celebrate the end of an unforgettable voyage with newfound
friends at a special Captain’s farewell dinner.
Day
22 Disembark in Ushuaia
During
the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly
slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark
around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as
we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of
the immense power of nature. A transfer to downtown Ushuaia before
continuing to the airport is included in the cost of the voyage.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Arrival
transfer from airport to hotel on Day 1
- One
night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia on Day 1
- City
tour in Ushuaia on Day 2 (lunch not included)
- Luggage
transfer from your hotel in Ushuaia to ship on Day 2
- Transfer
from pier to downtown Ushuaia or to airport on Day 16
- On-board
accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
- All
meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage
- Beer,
house wine and soft drinks with dinner
- Captain’s
Welcome and Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house
cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages
- All
shore excursions and Zodiac cruises
- Educational
lectures and guiding services from expedition team
- Free
access to our onboard doctor for consultations relating to
sea-sickness. A standard fee of US $60.00 (reclaimable through your
travel insurance provider) applies for medical consultations not
related to sea-sickness
- A
3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket
- Complimentary
use of muck boots during the voyage
- Comprehensive
pre-departure information
- Port
surcharges, permits and landing fees
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Sea
Kayaking: USD 1,470
- Snowshoeing:
USD 370
- Ski/Snowboarding:
USD 1,470
- Shackleton
Crossing on Foot:
USD 2,220
- Photography:
Free