Day 1 - Tuesday - Feb 20, 2024
| Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile |
|
|
Depart on an overnight flight to Santiago. Check into the Mandarin Oriental Santiago (or similar) before our guided overview of this vibrant city backed by the inspiring Andes. Discover sites like the Plaza de Armas and get a feel for the mix of old and new that makes this city so great. In the early evening, we gather for an informal reception and a drink at the hotel.
Day 2 - Wednesday - Feb 21, 2024
| Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile |
|
|
Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Enjoy lunch on a catamaran cruise of the Beagle Channel before embarking. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Thursday - Feb 22, 2024
Settle into shipboard life as we sail to the Falkland Islands. Keep a lookout for albatross that glide alongside the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Friday - Feb 23, 2024
| Falkland Islands, Falkland Islands |
|
|
Everything we love about expedition travel seems to come together in the western Falkland Islands. Where else can you land on a beach tucked into a rocky cove, hike out across a rolling green pasture, and suddenly find yourself at the crest of a sea cliff looking out over the South Atlantic surf? Just a few steps further and you're standing at the edge of a breeding colony of black-browed albatross, so close that you can hear the wind on their wings as they swoop into land beside you. Check out the thousands of irresistible gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins congregate here, along with magnificent albatross and fur seals. Stanley, the bright, pretty capital of the Falkland Islands, is a wonderfully unexpected place: a charming outpost of British culture tucked into a small bay on the shore of these windswept islands in the far South Atlantic. Many Falkland Islanders still live in very traditional ways, and we'll have a chance to visit a small farm to see some expert sheep shearing and learn about the best techniques for cutting blocks of peat for the fire. The rocky hills and white-sand beaches outside town offer some excellent hikes, and afterwards a cup of tea or a pint at the Globe Tavern goes down very nicely. (B,L,D Daily)
Day 5 - Saturday - Feb 24, 2024
| Falkland Islands, Falkland Islands |
|
|
Day 6 - Sunday - Feb 25, 2024
| Falkland Islands, Falkland Islands |
|
|
Day 7 - Monday - Feb 26, 2024
Whales beneath, birds above, as you continue on. Our naturalists will prepare us for the exciting days ahead with presentations on the wildlife of South Georgia, and, of course, the inspiring story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance. (B,L,D)
Day 8 - Tuesday - Feb 27, 2024
Day 9 - Wednesday - Feb 28, 2024
Simply put, there is nowhere else in the world like South Georgia. King penguins, the second-largest species in the world, are unquestionably the most iconic wildlife of South Georgia. Exact numbers are not known, but the largest single colony on the island may have as many as 500,000 of these amazing birds. Half a million birds! Nesting together on a single two-mile-long beach! Explore the spectacular coastline of South Georgia Island. In keeping with the nature of an expedition, our schedule is flexible with opportunities for walking, hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac excursions. Sailing along the coast, we plan to offer activities every day including visits to Grytviken, the final resting place of Shackleton, and Stromness Harbour, where Ernest Shackleton, Tom Crean, and Frank Worsley finally reached aid at a whaling station. The island is also home to huge elephant seals and thousands of king penguins. South Georgia is sometimes called the "Serengeti of the Southern Ocean", but that doesn't really even come close-this lonely island is unique in the world, so rich and so beautiful that it defies any comparison. (B,L,D Daily)
Day 10 - Thursday - Feb 29, 2024
Day 11 - Friday - Mar 1, 2024
Day 12 - Saturday - Mar 2, 2024
Day 13 - Sunday - Mar 3, 2024
Day 14 - Monday - Mar 4, 2024
As we voyage, head up to the Bridge to watch for icebergs and observe expert navigation at work as our skilled captain and officers sail these historic waters. There'll also be time to enjoy a massage in the wellness center, workout in the gym, and browse in the library. Each day, onboard naturalists offer talks that add depth to your experience. (B,L,D Daily)
Day 15 - Tuesday - Mar 5, 2024
Day 16 - Wednesday - Mar 6, 2024
| Cruising Antarctica, Antarctica |
|
|
With long hours of daylight at this time of year, we have ample opportunities to explore. Our schedule is flexible, allowing us to take advantage of the unexpected, whether we're watching whales at play off the bow of our ship, hiking alongside penguin highways, or enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise amid porpoising penguins. While wildlife is magnificent, ice defines the Antarctic. You'll get to know ice up close and personal - from icebergs the size of islands, bergy bits, and near-vertical glaciers, to the fragile, nearly invisible layers that have just begun to freeze. One day, we might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level; embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed shags; or walk amid thousands of Adelie and gentoo penguins. The next, we might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. Everywhere we go in Antarctica we're surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images. Along the way your expert expedition team will enrich our experiences. (B,L,D Daily)
Day 17 - Thursday - Mar 7, 2024
| Cruising Antarctica, Antarctica |
|
|
Day 18 - Friday - Mar 8, 2024
| Cruising Antarctica, Antarctica |
|
|
Day 19 - Saturday - Mar 9, 2024
| Cruising Antarctica, Antarctica |
|
|
Day 20 - Sunday - Mar 10, 2024
This 500-mile-wide strait between the Antarctic Peninsula and South America is one of the most famous bodies of water in the world. Sometimes ferocious, sometimes flat calm, the Drake is always a fascinating place in its own right. This part of the journey is our best opportunity to see gorgeous seabirds like the wandering albatross, and we might be lucky enough to encounter orca whales or rare species of dolphins. Visit the Bridge (a great place to spot wildlife), have a relaxing massage, attend a talk about the biology of the penguins you've just seen soon, or settle into a comfy chair in the observation lounge, look out over the waves, and reflect on your incredible journey. Toast our epic voyage at a festive farewell dinner. (B,L,D Daily)
Day 21 - Monday - Mar 11, 2024
Day 22 - Tuesday - Mar 12, 2024
| Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile |
|
|
Disembark in Ushuaia. Fly by charter to Santiago and connect with your overnight flight home. (Day 23: B,L)
