SOUTH GEORGIA AND ANTARCTIC PENINSULA – PENGUIN SAFARI
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SOUTH GEORGIA AND ANTARCTIC PENINSULA – PENGUIN SAFARI
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Explore the architecture and rich European heritage, spend the night in a hotel |
| Day 2 | Buenos Aires to Ushuaia | Fly to Ushuaia and embark in the late afternoon |
| Days 3 - 6 | At Sea | Attend expert-led onboard presentations, look for shags, prions and whales around Shag Rocks |
| Days 7 - 9 | South Georgia | Grytviken and Shackleton's grave, old whaling stations, hundreds of thousands of king penguin pairs, hundreds of elephant seals |
| Days 10 - 11 | At Sea | Education program continues, relax aboard the ship |
| Days 12 - 15 | Antarctic Peninsula | Calving glaciers, chinstrap, Adelie and gentoo penguins, Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals, keep an eye out for whales |
| Days 16 - 17 | At Sea | Cross the Drake Passage, reflect on your journey thus far |
| Day 18 | Ushuaia to Buenos Aires | Arrive into Ushuaia and disembark before flying back to Buenos Aires |
SHIPS OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
World Voyager
Launched in 2021, the World Voyager is a modern expedition ship. Taking 168 guests every cabin has a balcony. There are plenty of public areas to relax after a day filled with excursions including the presentation theater and Science Hub, embody the spirit of discovery. The health and wellness facilities include spa, sauna, swimming pool, Jacuzzis and outdoor running track.
Two Rolls-Royce hybrid-electric engines provide comfortable, fuel-efficient sailing experience as World Voyager navigates the Antarctic waters.
Day 1 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upon arriving in this cosmopolitan city, known for its architecture and rich European heritage, you will independently transfer to your group hotel (pre-expedition hotel night included as part of your Charter Flight and Hotel Package).
Day 2 Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to a central downtown location to have some time on your own to explore this quaint port town before making your way to the pier. After a late afternoon embarkation, you will sail along the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart—the next time you see land, you’ll be in the remote Antarctic wilderness.
Days 3 – 6 At Sea
There are many activities to keep you engaged while you are at sea. Learn to identify seabirds that glide alongside the ship, or attend dynamic presentations by your Expedition Team. You will be prepped on safety procedures for Zodiac cruises and shore landings, and also be given instructions for getting the most out of your optional sea kayaking adventures (extra cost), a truly intimate way to experience Antarctica. If conditions are right, the first indication that you are approaching South Georgia is the sight of birds around a group of rocky spires called Shag Rocks. Have your binoculars and cameras ready to capture these rocky spires rising out of the icy ocean waters. Shags and prions often rest here, and due to nutrient rich upwellings around the rocks it can be a good place to keep a lookout for whales.
Days 7 – 9 South Georgia
After enjoying South Georgia from a distance, you’ll head toward its numerous beaches to find a bay for your first excursion. Landing sites are varied, largely determined by the weather conditions of your voyage. The sites you visit will provide you with wildlife sightings unrivaled anywhere else on Earth. South Georgia is one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world for sub-Antarctic wildlife, with beaches blanketed with penguins and seals. It won’t take you long to realize that you are in a birder’s paradise, as burrowing seabirds, albatross and petrels can be seen in abundance. You’ll find that South Georgia, once a popular base for whalers and sealers, is also scattered with abandoned relics and evidence of human activity from centuries gone by. Your Expedition Team will help bring those days to life while you visit old whaling stations and enjoy presentations on the South Georgia of then and now. One of the most significant sites you will visit on the island is Grytviken. This settlement is one of the first whaling stations established in sub-Antarctic waters. Grytviken possesses a special appeal largely because it’s the site of the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, one of the most famous Antarctic explorers.
Days 10 – 11 At Sea
Say goodbye to the king penguins as you leave for your next destination: Antarctica. Your days at sea are filled with presentations and workshops led by your Expedition Team, who will prepare you for the wildlife and landscapes that will surround you upon your arrival on the 7th Continent.
Day 12 – 15 Antarctic Peninsula
The most common reaction upon reaching Antarctica is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is hard to put into words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will discover a land of extremes. One moment you’ll be overcome with a feeling of complete isolation and silence, and the next moment you’ll be inspired by nature as a calving glacier crashes into a brilliant blue sea or a curious penguin waddles by to observe you. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each excursion, whether you are Zodiac cruising, visiting a historical site or observing penguin colonies.
Chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins are found here, along with Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals. Keep a lookout for Antarctic whales, such as minkes, while on a Zodiac cruise. Each day and each excursion will present a new array of creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy. As exciting as the Zodiac excursions and landings are, perhaps you’ll treat yourself to an extra-special Antarctic experience by booking an optional paddling excursion (at an extra cost) or cast reason aside and jump into Antarctic waters for the Polar Plunge!
Day 16 – 17 At Sea
After more than a dozen days of unique wildlife sightings and remarkable landscapes, your journey home begins. Crossing the Drake is your unofficial rite of passage. Spend time on deck watching for seabirds and whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team, or simply relax and reminisce about your experiences.
Day 18 Ushuaia to Buenos Aires
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. Your Charter Flight and Hotel Package includes a transfer to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.