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Antarctica

Ultimate Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands

EXPERT-LED CRUISE

Start date	End date	Days	Prices from ex. flights	Boat
09/11/23	29/11/23	21 days	£18,295	Greg Mortimer	Reserve place
15/11/23	05/12/23	21 days	£18,695	Greg Mortimer	Reserve place
21/12/23	10/01/24	21 days	£18,295	Greg Mortimer	Reserve place

SEE ALL CRUISE DATES BELOW

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 or Sylvia Earle, the itinerary and duration of your trip may vary slightly, dependent on departure date.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Once in a Lifetime

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

Antarctic Explorers

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

900,000 King Penguins

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

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.

Map View List View

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.

Speak to our experts

JEWEL IN THE CROWN

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.

WONDERS OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC

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.

CAMP ON ICE, KAYAK TO ICEBERGS

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.

LIFE ON BOARD AN ANTARCTIC VESSEL

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?

Relevant SDGs

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.

Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals

Start planning your trip

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Both telephone and e-mail responses were excellent and all of Sue's expert advice was very much appreciated. She was prompt, supportive and engaging throughout and our expedition to Antarctica was spectacular.