WEDDELL SEA – BASE CAMP
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WEDDELL SEA – BASE CAMP
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Ushuaia, Argentina | Set Sail, meet the expedition team |
| Days 2 & 3 | At Sea | Crossing the Drake Passage |
| Days 4 - 10 | Weddell Sea | Iceberg sculptures, carving glaciers, marine mammals, snowshoeing, camping and kayaking |
| Days 11 & 12 | At Sea | Cross the Drake Passage |
| Day 13 | Ushuaia, Argentina | After breakfast disembark for your onward journey |
SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Hondius
The Hondius (176 guests) launched in June 2019. She has an Ice class rating of 6, the most advanced to date. The Hondius offers deluxe accommodation for a total 176 guests. One deck has been entirely reserved for lectures and presentations in one large observation lounge. The ship’s main focus remains discovery, taking advantage of wildlife opportunities and the related shore activities. Efficient zodiac embarkation is guaranteed with two separate gangways and in addition a zodiac embarkation indoor-platform which can also be used for special activities such as kayaking.
BASECAMP
The Weddell Sea Basecamp voyage offers you many ways to explore and enjoy the wildlife-rich Weddell Sea. During this expedition in one of the most remote regions of the world, we will do all kinds of activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing, hiking, a photography workshop and if conditions allow even camp out under the Southern Polar skies.
This trip is a true expedition for the real adventurers.
Day 1 Ushuaia, Argentina
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark the Ortelius from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Days 2-3 The Drake Passage
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you will enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray.
After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the Antarctic circumpolar current upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the bird life changes too.
Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
Days 4 – 10 Weddell Sea
The great Weddell Sea features massive tabular icebergs, wildly dramatic landscapes, and fascinating historical sites. It is also one of the best places in Antarctica for viewing iconic wildlife like whales, seals, and rarely seen seabirds.
We may visit the following locations, depending on local conditions:
Antarctic Sound – Antarctic Sound is nicknamed “Iceberg Alley,” as we often see enormous tabular icebergs here.
Brown Bluff – Possibly the most scenic location in the northern Antarctic Continent, Brown Bluff is characterized by sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, and beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice.
Herbert Sound – We will focus our attention on the visually impressive areas of Naze Peninsula and Comb Ridge.
Devil Island – This island offers a magnificent vantage point for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met.
Erebus and Terror Gulf – Here we look for new activity opportunities and may visit Vega Island, experiencing the wilderness of Antarctica in its most remote places.
Days 11-12 Drake Passage Return
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
Day 13 Ushuaia, Argentina
Following breakfast you will disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Please note: All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. The on-board expedition leader determines the final itinerary. Itineraries may mention places that require permission to land, which must be granted by the relevant national authorities. Such permission is not granted prior to the publishing of these itineraries. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.