King Penguins, Beach, South Georgia Islands, Antarctica

Ultimate Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands

  • EXPERT-LED CRUISE
Start date End date Days
Prices from
ex. flights
Boat
13/03/24 02/04/24 21 days £18,695 Greg Mortimer Reserve place
24/10/24 13/11/24 21 days £22,299 Sylvia Earle Reserve place
01/11/24 21/11/24 21 days £19,499 MS Seaventure Reserve place

This in-depth exploration of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island and Antarctica is an extraordinary option for expedition cruising.

A memorable wildlife-centric sailing voyage that travels to some of the planet’s most isolated islands, as well as the coveted White Continent. Navigate between highly remote locations and witness little-seen ecosystems – welcome to “the most staggering wildlife show on Earth.”

Cruising on either the Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle or MS Seaventure the itinerary and duration of your trip may vary slightly, dependent on departure date.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Icebergs, Antarctica 1

Once in a Lifetime

This unparalleled journey combines history with the “jewel in the crown” South Georgia.

The grave of Shackleton 2

Antarctic Explorers

Visit Shackleton’s final resting place and learn about his fellow explorers.

King Penguins, Antarctica 3

900,000 King Penguins

Walk amongst the hundreds of thousands of king penguins that inhabit South Georgia.

Greg Mortimer, Antarctic 4

Low Energy Expeditionary Vessel

Small enough to venture where others simply can’t.

Explore our suggested itinerary

Have you always wanted to explore Antarctica? Talk to our experts about tailoring this trip for you.

  • Day 1

    Ushuaia

  • Day 2

    Embarkation

  • Days 3 - 4

    Drake Passage Crossing

  • Days 5 - 7

    South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

  • Day 8

    Elephant Island

  • Days 9 - 10

    Scotia Sea

  • Days 11 - 15

    South Georgia

  • Days 16 - 18

    At Sea

  • Day 19

    The Falkland Islands

  • Day 20

    At Sea

  • Day 21

    Ushuaia

Day 1

Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia. Situated on the southern shore of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia is the most southerly city in the world. Transfer to your accommodation.

Day 2

Embarkation

Spend the morning exploring Ushuaia before transferring to the pier to board your boat and set sail.

Days 3 - 4

Drake Passage Crossing

Head south across the Drake Passage, a true right of passage. Begin to spot wildlife as seabirds including albatross and giant petrels follow the boat. Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on the afternoon of day four, icebergs will begin to appear and time permitting a first landing may be attempted.

Days 5 - 7

South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

Arrive on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. The team will choose the best activities based on the weather, wildlife and ice conditions. Zodiac excursions will be twice daily, either landing ashore to explore on foot or joining the wildlife on the water.

Day 8

Elephant Island

Set course for Elephant Island and learn the story of Shackleton and his men. Weather permitting, attempt a notoriously challenging landing at Wild Point.

Days 9 - 10

Scotia Sea

Cross the Scotia Sea towards South Georgia, following the route that Shackleton and five of his men took.

Days 11 - 15

South Georgia

First sighted by Captain James Cook in 1775, the island attracts an astounding concentration of wildlife and is viewed by many as one of the most inspiring places on earth. Landings amongst thousands of king penguins, visiting historic whaling stations and historic sites.

Days 16 - 18

At Sea

Sail in the company of albatross, petrels and whales heading to the Falklands Malvinas.

Day 19

The Falkland Islands

Visit black browed albatross and Macaroni penguin colonies along with the quaint capital Stanley with its fascinating museum.

Day 20

At Sea

Sail towards Ushuaia.

Day 21

Ushuaia

Arrive back in Ushuaia for onward travel.

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

Elephant Seals, South Georgia
Elephant Seals, South Georgia

South Georgia Island

Despite its 3,000-metre towering mountains that are permanently covered in snow and ice, the real highlight of South Georgia Island is its wildlife – there are over 50 million seabirds, 5 million seals and 4 million penguin pairs. From rare rockhopper penguins and distinctive fur seals to lazing elephant seals and weaving skuas, there is no shortage of phenomenal wildlife thriving in this glacial region. The jewel in the crown of South Georgia’s biodiversity is the nearly million-strong population of king penguins that survive here in staggering abundance.

Macaroni Penguins, Falkland Islands
Macaroni Penguins, Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

These windswept and isolated islands are home to over 60 species of breeding birds, including the great numbers of rock hopper penguins and black browed albatross whose colonies are easily accessible. The surrounding waters are home to Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins, along with Orca. After visiting the church and museum, sip a tipple in a colourful English pub in the Falkland’s capital of Stanley.

Walking with Penguins, Antarctica
Walking with Penguins, Antarctica

Walk on the White Continent

Off-ship, days are spent cruising ice-clogged channels by zodiac on the lookout for seals, whales and interesting icebergs. Landings are also a major part of the experience and, for many, setting foot on the white content is the ultimate travel experience. It is also possible to camp out on the ice, kayak to icebergs and see abandoned whaling stations and modern-day research stations. Visit the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station; receive a warm welcome from the station crew and toast to Antarctica.

Birding, Antarctica
Albatross
Iceberg, Antarctica
Iceberg, Antarctica

Days at Sea

Time spent on the high seas is spent whale-spotting, trying to capture photographs of abundant pelagic birdlife that follow the ship and simply revelling in the remarkable and seemingly endless scenery. In addition, a variety of informal lectures given by the expert expedition staff cover subjects such as polar exploration, photography, marine biology and environmental issues. After following the path of the great polar explorers through the notorious Drake Passage, you will be able to experience the real thrill of expedition cruising.

How does this holiday make a positive impact?

Travel is a great educator. Get hands on with the Citizen Science Program supporting research facilities and providing invaluable data to the scientific community. This could be anything from counting penguins and taking ocean samples to cloud mapping or taking photo identification images for the whale data bank. An enriching experience offering a new perspective to your travels.

The Greg Mortimer features an innovative X-BOW® design enabling it to pierce waves with more stability than a traditional shaped bow. As well as resulting in a smoother voyage this technology also means the Greg Mortimer has a higher transit speed thus producing fewer emissions and overall lower fuel consumption.

The Sylvia Earle, is named after the renowned marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle, with each of the vessel’s public decks bearing the names of  six other pioneering female conservationists. Leading the way in global conservation initiatives this deck theming aims to educate guests on these extraordinary women who work tirelessly to make the world a better place.

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Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we have recommended for this journey.

Sylvia Earle £££££

Named after legendary marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer and author, the Sylvia Earle pays tribute to its namesake’s long standing commitment to conservation and the protection of ocean wildlife. At the cutting edge of nautical technology, the Sylvia Earle is a robust and powerful vessel with an Ulstein X-BOW that adds extra stability and makes for a quicker transit through the waves. A glass atrium lounge inside the bow boasts views to the front of the ship and a state-of-the-art lecture theatre allows you to hear experts talk about culture, biology and wildlife.

View Boat

Greg Mortimer £££££

  • Antarctica

Launched in October 2019, the Greg Mortimer is a purpose-built expedition vessel that features a revolutionary X-Bow design. One of the most dynamic and state of the art ships on the seas, it is designed to slice through the water rather than riding over the waves making for comfortable and fast travels through the polar seas. Four sea-level zodiac launching platforms allow for a quick transition from the ship to the zodiacs, minimising waiting times and maximising excursion time. Its 79 twin and double cabins are spread over four decks and each features private facilities, ample storage, power outlets and daily cabin service.

View Boat

MS Seaventure £££££

  • Antarctica

The Seaventure has capacity for a maximum of 139 passengers in five different cabin categories. She carries a fleet of 14 zodiacs and has 16 highly experienced expedition staff. All of the outside cabins are well designed with ample storage, a seating area and in cabin TV on which you can stream or record lectures. For when the weather is inclement there is a large forward observation lounge, two dining rooms and an outside café. There is also a gym, sauna, outdoor saltwater pool and a certified physician and clinic onboard.

View Boat

Other available dates

For further information about any of these tours please call 01285 880 980

Start date End date Days
Prices from
ex. flights
Boat
13/03/24 02/04/24 21 days £18,695 Greg Mortimer Reserve place
24/10/24 13/11/24 21 days £22,299 Sylvia Earle Reserve place
01/11/24 21/11/24 21 days £19,499 MS Seaventure Reserve place
28/12/24 17/01/25 21 days £21,499 MS Seaventure Reserve place
26/02/25 18/03/25 21 days £19,499 MS Seaventure Reserve place

Why Choose Steppes?

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