This 20-day/19-night voyage includes all the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic highlights in one voyage, with spectacular landing sites on the Falkland Islands and encounters with black-browed albatrosses and Rockhopper penguins. You will depart from the Argentine city of Ushuaia, the southernmost town in the world. From Ushuaia, the Plancius will first sail through the scenic Beagle Channel and then negotiate the Drake Passage: an infamous stretch of water between Ushuaia and the South Shetland Islands (this passage can be seen as the threshold of Antarctica because of its notoriously rough weather and heavy seas). On this 800 kilometer (500 mile) two-day crossing, numerous bird species can be observed, including Black-browed, Light-mantled Sootyand Grey-headed Albatrosses. Even the world's largest flying bird, the Wandering Albatross, is frequently met in the Drake Passage. This voyage includes also four days on South Georgia, probably the most beautiful place on earth. Be prepared for ten thousands of king penguins and their chicks, sea lions on the beaches, elephant seals, wandering albatrosses and Gentoo penguins and great historical sites including the trails of British Polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. We plan a visit to Orcadas station on South Orkney Islands and, if the ice permits, we will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound.
“Everything was wonderful but the highlight by far was the 5 days trekking in the Angamarca region with Marcial. The scenery and culture was astonishing, and Marcial was the perfect guide.”
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia (capital of Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina), the southernmost city in the world. We will later sail across the scenic Beagle Channel waterway for the rest of the evening.
Once at sea, the ship will be followed by several bird species, including Storm petrels, shearwaters, Diving petrels and albatrosses.
We plan on spending the entire day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago, in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Trekking along the shore of Carcass Island will give us views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl, Night herons and passerines. In addition, on Saunders Island, you will be able to observe four species of breeding penguins (Gentoo, King, Magellanic and Rockhopper), as well as Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.
In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, you can experience Falkland culture at its best, noting that it has both South American characteristics and Victorian charm. In Stanley and the surrounding area, you can observe a number of stranded clippers from a century ago. All passengers are free to wander around on their own. We recommend a visit to the local church and museum (admission fees not included).
We will cross the Antarctic Convergence on our way to South Georgia, with the temperature likely to drop significantly in the time span of only a few hours as we enter Antarctic waters. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship, including several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.
We will cross the Antarctic Convergence on our way to South Georgia, with the temperature likely to drop significantly in the time span of only a few hours as we enter Antarctic waters. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship, including several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.
We will reach our first landing site in South Georgia during the afternoon of Day 7. The plan is to visit Elsehul Bay, which is home to an active breeding beach of fur seals, and then set course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Godthul, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbor, Cooper Bay and Drygalski Fjord. These sites will give you a good chance to observe a wide range of landscapes and wildlife such as Elephant seals, Fur seals, and King and Macaroni Penguins.
A highlight should be a visit to Prion Island, where you can observe the breeding of huge Wandering Albatrosses and enjoy their courtship displays. At Fortuna Bay, we can attempt to follow in the footsteps of the famous British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike to Stromness Bay. There and at Grytviken, we will stop at an abandoned whaling village, where seals have taken over the buildings and King Penguins now walk the streets. At Grytviken you will also have a chance to visit the Whaling History Museum and Shackleton´s grave, which is close by. In the afternoon of day 10, we will leave out from South Georgia.
We will reach our first landing site in South Georgia during the afternoon of Day 7. The plan is to visit Elsehul Bay, which is home to an active breeding beach of fur seals, and then set course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Godthul, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbor, Cooper Bay and Drygalski Fjord. These sites will give you a good chance to observe a wide range of landscapes and wildlife such as Elephant seals, Fur seals, and King and Macaroni Penguins.
A highlight should be a visit to Prion Island, where you can observe the breeding of huge Wandering Albatrosses and enjoy their courtship displays. At Fortuna Bay, we can attempt to follow in the footsteps of the famous British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike to Stromness Bay. There and at Grytviken, we will stop at an abandoned whaling village, where seals have taken over the buildings and King Penguins now walk the streets. At Grytviken you will also have a chance to visit the Whaling History Museum and Shackleton´s grave, which is close by. In the afternoon of day 10, we will leave out from South Georgia.
We will reach our first landing site in South Georgia during the afternoon of Day 7. The plan is to visit Elsehul Bay, which is home to an active breeding beach of fur seals, and then set course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Godthul, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbor, Cooper Bay and Drygalski Fjord. These sites will give you a good chance to observe a wide range of landscapes and wildlife such as Elephant seals, Fur seals, and King and Macaroni Penguins.
A highlight should be a visit to Prion Island, where you can observe the breeding of huge Wandering Albatrosses and enjoy their courtship displays. At Fortuna Bay, we can attempt to follow in the footsteps of the famous British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike to Stromness Bay. There and at Grytviken, we will stop at an abandoned whaling village, where seals have taken over the buildings and King Penguins now walk the streets. At Grytviken you will also have a chance to visit the Whaling History Museum and Shackleton´s grave, which is close by. In the afternoon of day 10, we will leave out from South Georgia.
We will reach our first landing site in South Georgia during the afternoon of Day 7. The plan is to visit Elsehul Bay, which is home to an active breeding beach of fur seals, and then set course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Godthul, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbor, Cooper Bay and Drygalski Fjord. These sites will give you a good chance to observe a wide range of landscapes and wildlife such as Elephant seals, Fur seals, and King and Macaroni Penguins.
A highlight should be a visit to Prion Island, where you can observe the breeding of huge Wandering Albatrosses and enjoy their courtship displays. At Fortuna Bay, we can attempt to follow in the footsteps of the famous British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike to Stromness Bay. There and at Grytviken, we will stop at an abandoned whaling village, where seals have taken over the buildings and King Penguins now walk the streets. At Grytviken you will also have a chance to visit the Whaling History Museum and Shackleton´s grave, which is close by. In the afternoon of day 10, we will leave out from South Georgia.
As we hit the high sea, the ship will once again be followed by a host of seabirds. On the way, we might encounter sea-ice on which there is a good chance of seeing high-Antarctic species like the McCormick Skua and Snow Petrel along the edges of the ice.
Our plan includes a visit to an Argentinean base (Orcadas Station), located in the South Orkney Islands. The friendly personnel at the base will give us a tour of the facility and point out the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.
Ice conditions permitting, we will sail through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound into the Weddell Sea. We will pass enormous tabular icebergs as we reach the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Our plan is to visit Brown Bluff, where you may set foot on the White Continent. Depending on the sailing conditions, we may decide to extend our time in the Weddell Sea.
Ice conditions permitting, we will sail through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound into the Weddell Sea. We will pass enormous tabular icebergs as we reach the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Our plan is to visit Brown Bluff, where you may set foot on the White Continent. Depending on the sailing conditions, we may decide to extend our time in the Weddell Sea.
Ice conditions permitting, we will sail through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound into the Weddell Sea. We will pass enormous tabular icebergs as we reach the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Our plan is to visit Brown Bluff, where you may set foot on the White Continent. Depending on the sailing conditions, we may decide to extend our time in the Weddell Sea.
On our way north, we will again be followed by a wide variety of seabirds as we cross the Drake Passage.
On our way north, we will again be followed by a wide variety of seabirds as we cross the Drake Passage.
Arrive back in in Ushuaia in the morning, we will disembark.
Days | ||||||
Deluxe | Porthole | Superior | Window | |||
Double | Double | Triple | Quadruple | Double | Double | |
19 | US$ 18,300 PP | US$ 16,200 PP | US$ 15,000 PP | US$ 14,000 PP | US$ 19,500 PP | US$ 18,000 PP |
Interested in more information about any particular South American destination or trip?
Simply let us know your interests or question, and one of our travel experts will be more than happy to assist you -- at no charge, of course!
“I want to thank you for arranging a perfect tour for me. I know you did not have control over who the other people would be, but it all, on all fronts, was perfect. The itinerary was sensational and the boat fabulous.”