Wild Antarctica Fly Over the Drake Passage
Suggested Itinerary
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13 Days From £10,865
Overview
This 13-day fly-in and expedition cruise includes the best of the East and West side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Time is saved by flying to Antarctica and embarking on the cruise ship there, in order to allow time to sail to the Weddell Sea on the east coast.
Your first destination is Punta Arenas in Chile, where you will embark the short flight to King George Island in Antarctica. Your cruise begins here, taking you from the volcanic islands and penguin colonies of the Weddell Sea to ...
This 13-day fly-in and expedition cruise includes the best of the East and West side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Time is saved by flying to Antarctica and embarking on the cruise ship there, in order to allow time to sail to the Weddell Sea on the east coast.
Your first destination is Punta Arenas in Chile, where you will embark the short flight to King George Island in Antarctica. Your cruise begins here, taking you from the volcanic islands and penguin colonies of the Weddell Sea to the historic research centres and ethereal icescapes of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Get close to large colonies of penguins, kayak past Weddell seals resting on ice floes, listen to scientific lectures from experts in the field, photograph the incredible colours of volcanic islands and, of course, have the privilege of flying over the Drake Passage.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Fly over the Drake Passage, allowing more time to cruise in the Antarctic Peninsular
- Travel in March, when many marine mammals are present and there is 18 hours of daylight
- Enjoy a fully inclusive cruise, knowing everything is taken care of
- Send a postcard from the Penguin Post Office on Port Lockroy
- Zodiac cruise and kayak through the wildlife rich waters of Antarctica
Suggested Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.
DAY 1: PUNTA ARENAS
DAY 1: PUNTA ARENAS
Fly into Chile's southernmost city, Punta Arenas, a port city set upon the rolling hills above the barren, windswept steppe on the Straits of Magellan. This is a strange part of the world; the open spaces are immense and even the sky looks much bigger. You will be met and transferred to your downtown hotel to meet your fellow travellers and before being briefed on the journey ahead.
DAY 2: PUNTA ARENAS - KING GEORGE ISLAND
DAY 2: PUNTA ARENAS - KING GEORGE ISLAND
Rise early this morning for your flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island in Antarctica. The flight will take approximately an hour and a half and will take you over the renowned Drake Passage (time of flight is dependent on weather conditions). Once you land in Antarctica, you will embark on a zodiac ride to the Greg Mortimer, a luxury expedition cruise ship. After settling in, meet in the lounge area for your briefing before enjoying a welcome dinner in the dining room.
DAY 3: ANTARCTICA
DAY 3: ANTARCTICA
The plan is to sail through Antarctic Sound to the less visited, eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula to reach the Weddell Sea. Spend the next seven nights exploring the Peninsula in the hands of the experienced expedition crew and team who will provide lectures on board. The expedition leaders will show you all faces of Antarctica, hoping to tick off the several whale, penguin and seal species on the Antarctic checklist. Admire icebergs of all shapes, sizes and colours as you cruise along the narrow waterways. You will visit several research stations representing different countries and discover the science straight from source. The itinerary will depend on weather conditions and wildlife sightings but the aim is to go on two or three Zodiac excursions per day. There will be 18 to 20 hours of daylight at this time of year allowing for plenty of time to explore the ‘white continent’. For those that have booked the kayaking excursion, there is the chance to observe wildlife in an unobtrusive manner.
DAY 4: ANTARCTICA
DAY 4: ANTARCTICA
One of the sites of interest is Brown Bluff towers. Situated on the eastern side of Tabarin Peninsula, the outcrop towers over some 20,000 nesting pairs of Adélie penguins and hundreds of Gentoo penguins. Other nesting birds include skuas, snow petrels and pintados. The volcanic origins of the outcrop have created some fantastically shaped boulders that lie scattered across the ash beach which make interesting nesting sites for penguins.
DAY 5: ANTARCTICA
DAY 5: ANTARCTICA
Paulet Island is a nesting ground for over 100,000 pairs of Adélie penguins, as well as a haul out site for leopard and Weddell seals. There is human history here, as 22 men of Larsen's ship landed here after the ship sunk in 1903. Surviving on penguins and seals, the men eventually rowed back to safety on Erebus and Terror Gulf. We also aim to reach Devil Island, named for its two peaks that look like devil horns. Hopefully, you will be able to climb the west peak for fantastic views of the nesting penguins below and Terror Gulf.
DAY 6: ANTARCTICA
DAY 6: ANTARCTICA
Another island of interest is James Clark Ross Island, a geologist’s and photographer’s paradise of volcanic and sedimentary rock covered in brightly coloured lichen. A walk to Hidden Lake provides the chance to see the remains of deciduous trees and ferns. The zodiac cruise back to the ship often sees Weddell and Leopard seals resting on the ice floes surrounding the island.
DAY 7: ANTARCTICA
DAY 7: ANTARCTICA
A further day to encounter the unique wildlife and spectacular landscapes of the Great White Continent.
DAY 8: AT SEA
DAY 8: AT SEA
Attend informative lectures as you cruise towards the Antarctic Peninsula.
DAY 9: GOUDIER ISLAND
DAY 9: GOUDIER ISLAND
British Port Lockroy on Goudier Island is a sight made famous by the Post Office, often overrun by penguins. Originally a site used by the whaling industry in the first half of the 1900's, the site later became part of the British Operation Tabarin during World War II, and then a British Research Station. Now the site is protected under the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and operates as a museum, gift shop and Post Office for visitors from passing Antarctic expeditions. You can even send a postcard home from the Penguin Post Office, the world's most southern Post Office.
DAY 10: ANTARCTICA
DAY 10: ANTARCTICA
A further day to encounter the unique wildlife and spectacular landscapes of the Great White Continent.
DAY 11: ANTARCTICA
DAY 11: ANTARCTICA
A further day to encounter the unique wildlife and spectacular landscapes of the Great White Continent.
DAY 12: DRAKE PASSAGE
DAY 12: DRAKE PASSAGE
The Drake Passage separates the magic world you have discovered from the rest of the world. Use this time to refresh your memory and bid farewell to the birds and whales you now easily identify.
DAY 13: USHUAIA
DAY 13: USHUAIA
Morning disembarkation followed by a transfer to the airport, alternatively you can book an extension itinerary with Wild Frontiers. Ushuaia boasts Tierra del Fuego National Park and the beautiful landscapes of Beagle Bay, as well as flight options to Chile and the rest of Argentina.
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Rey Don Felipe, Punta Arenas
The Hotel Rey Don Felipe is a well located four star hotel just a couple of blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Punta Arenas. The hotel has 45 modern rooms and suites, each equipped with safety deposit box, cable television, air conditioning and heating, internet connection and mini-bar. There is also a restaurant serving regional and international cuisine, a bar, business centre and even a fitness centre. This is a modern hotel with spacious rooms and in an excellent location.
Greg Mortimer Cruise Ship, Punta Arenas
Launching in 2019, the Greg Mortimer will be an outstanding expedition cruise ship, travelling to both polar regions. A luxurious option, the ship will have 79 cabins, with all cabins featuring a balcony, 80% of which are private. The state of the art hull is being used to reduce air pollution emissions by maintaining speed through waves, allowing a lower fuel consumption. On board there will be a gym, two Jacuzzi’s, library, photography room and wellness centre, for the ultimate comfort in the most remote of locations. Choose from a twin or double Stateroom, Suite or Executive Suite, with most allowing a third guest on a sofa bed. Efficiency is key, and the four Zodiac loading decks allow easy disembarkation for numerous activities. There will also be kayaks on board that guests can book for an additional cost.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
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This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
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