Antarctica - Polar Circle - Deep South Discovery Voyage

This is a 14-day expedition to Antarctica, where you will experience stunning scenery and wildlife, including penguins, seals, and whales. You will visit Cuverville Island, Neko Harbour, the Lemaire Channel, Crystal Sound, and Petermann & Pléneau Islands. Highlights include seeing a large colony of gentoo penguins, taking a Zodiac cruise through mammoth glaciers, sailing through a narrow but picturesque channel, exploring a region with countless ice floes and humpback whale sightings, and seeing Adélie penguins and other birdlife. This is an incredible journey that will create memories that will last a lifetime.

14 Day Antarctica Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia & Beagle Channel

Where the world ends, your journey begins. Ushuaia in Argentina is reputedly the end of the world. The city of Adelaide, Australia is the most southernmost point on Earth. South America. You depart from the small resort in the late afternoon. Visit Tierra del Fuego (the "End of the World") and take a boat tour. The rest of the night, you can enjoy the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel.

Day 2 & 3: Drake Passage & Antarctic Convergence

Enjoy some of these same experiences over the next two days as you cruise the Drake Passage. The great polar explorations that first charted the arctic regions were a series of experiences. Regions: rolling waves, cool breezes of salt, and maybe a fin-whale spouting. sea spray. The Antarctic Convergence is the natural convergence of Antarctica. You are now in the circumAntarctic Upwelling Zone, which is formed by cold north-flowing waters colliding with subAntarctic warmer seas. It is not only that The marine and avian worlds change together. Albatrosses that wander. Grey-headed albatrosses are also known as black-brown albatrosses and light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses. Albatrosses are also called cape pigeons. Wilson's Storm Petrels and blue albatrosses. Petrels and Antarctic petrels may be seen.

Day 4 & 5: Antarctica: Cuverville Island, Neko Harbour & Paradise Bay

The landscape is a mix of ice and snow; towering peaks of blue-white broken ice and a variety wildlife. The first thing you pass is the Schollaert Channel and snow-capped Melchior Islands, before sailing between Brabant Island and Anvers Islands. Your Antarctic journey will include:

Cuverville Island - Cuverville is a small island that lies between Ronge and the Antarctic Peninsula. It houses an extensive colony of Gentoo Penguins, as well as breeding pairs of Brown Skuas.

Neko Harbour - Neko Harbour is a spectacular landscape with mammoth icebergs and wind-carved mountains. It offers a Zodiac ride and landing to see the alpine peaks in the distance.

Paradise Bay - Take a Zodiac Cruise in the ice-flecked, vast waters of these expansive waters. Then sail to Lemaire Channel.

Day 6, 7 & 8: The Gullet, Lemaire Channel , Pourquoi Pas Island, Horseshoe Island, Stonington Island & Hanusse Bay

You wake up in the morning amongst many islands to the south of Lemaire Channel after a pleasant night's sailing. Now you are nearing the Antarctic Circle. If the ice doesn't get too thick, you can travel through Gullet – a picturesque but narrow channel that connects Adelaide Island to the Antarctic Continent. This area can be explored from the front of the ship, allowing you to get the closest contact possible with the polar landscape as you move southward. You can enjoy these visits along the way:

Pourquoi Pas Island - This island is named for the vessel of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, a famous French explorer. The location is famous for its fjords that are narrow and steep, as well as the mountains that have many glaciers.

Horseshoe Island - The former British Base Y is located here. It is a relic of the 1950s, now abandoned but still with all of its technology.

Stonington Island - This island is the most southern landing point of your trip, at 68 degrees south. If landing is not possible here, the road will turn north through Gunnel Channel.

Hanusse Bay - Take in the landscape of Hanusse Bay, where you can see whales and icebergs.

Day 9, 10 & 11: Crystal Sound, Fish Islands, Petermann & Pleneau islands & Drake Passage

As you cut north, Crystal Sound is filled with ice floes. You're nearing the Antarctic Circle. You are more likely to see humpback whales, as you approach the Antarctic Circle. The Fish Islands offer the option of Zodiac Cruises or landing. The views are unmatched in this region. It is possible that there are more. Adelie Penguins gathered among the nearby bergs. Petermann & Pleneau islands offer a wide variety of birds, as well as opportunities for Zodiac Cruises. Leopard and crabeater Seals love to hang out on icebergs. Here you can find gentoo and minke penguins as well as humpbacks. The conditions on Drake Passage will determine the precise time for departure.

Day 12 & 13: Familiar seas, familiar friends

You're not alone on your return journey. You'll see the same seabirds you saw on the way south as you cross the Drake. They are still there You and they seem to be a bit more familiar now.

Day 14: There and back again

No matter how great the adventure may be, it must end. Now it's time to leave Ushuaia but you will carry with you the memories. Wherever your next adventure takes you.

14 Day Antarctica Itinerary Includes

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.

Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).

All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.

AECO fees and governmental taxes.

Comprehensive pre-departure material.

14 Day Antarctica Itinerary Does not Include

Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post- land arrangements.

Transfers to the vessel in Ushuaia and Ascension and from the vessel in Ascension and Praia; 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).

14 Day Antarctica Itinerary Highlights

Seeing Adélie penguins and other birdlife on Petermann & Pléneau Islands.

Exploring Crystal Sound, a region with countless ice floes and humpback whale sightings.

Visiting Cuverville Island to see a large colony of gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of brown skuas.

14 Day Antarctica cruise activities

Under full instruction from your sea kayaking guide, experience true tranquillity as you paddle through clinking ice floes and realise the enormity of the surrounding scenery. Look out for breaching whales, lounging seals and penguins zipping alongside your kayak. Some experience is required.

Camp out on the ice and experience the silence which blankets the continent by night. This is your chance to completely connect with this ethereal ice world – wrap up warm and embrace the Antarctic elements.

Get a spring in your step when you slip on a pair of snowshoes in Antarctica. Enabling you to easily scale gentle slopes, this unique activity allows you to access hard to reach places and seek out the most impressive views.

Learn to capture wildlife and landscape shots in a small group photography program, including critiquing sessions and editing classes. Plus, Explorer Boat excursions with a dedicated photography expert on landings.

Achieve the best views and photographs from a forward facing Explorer Boats. They allow you to sit comfortably and securely while crackling through the ice-strewn waters. Look out for wildlife such as penguins, seals and whales as you cruise.

It doesn’t get more serene than complimentary yoga classes to the tune of glacial scenery. Join the most unique exercise setting in the world after a day of exploration. Classes are regular but are dependent on weather conditions and swell.