WILD ANTARCTICA (FLY SOUTH)
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Day | Place | Highlights |
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Day 1 | Punta Arenas | Day at leisure |
Day 2 | King George Island | Fly from Punta Arenas to King George Island |
Days 3 - 9 | Antarctic Peninsula | Antarctic Sound, Weddell Sea, Antarctic Peninsula |
Days 10-11 | At Sea | Drake Passage. sea birds, educational program |
Day 12 | Ushuaia | Disembark |
The Greg Mortimer is a new purpose built, polar expedition vessel taking 120 guests. This vessel has been designed in close consultation with Antarctic expedition specialists and is the first expedition cruise ship designed with the ULSTEIN X-BOW hull. This cutting edge nautical technology allows for gentle travel and motion at sea, improved comfort and safety on-board, reduced vibrations, lower fuel consumption and emissions and ‘virtual anchoring’ which means the ship can float anchor-less while launching the Zodiacs without disturbing delicate sea floor areas. There are four sea-level launching platforms for fast and efficient access to and from Zodiacs.
This purpose built expedition vessel, honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle and is the sister ship to the revolutionary Greg Mortimer. Accommodating on average 126 guests for each voyage, those lucky enough to experience an Antarctic journey can be assured of comfort and luxury coinciding with exploration and adventure.
Arrive in Punta Arenas and transfer to the downtown hotel included in your itinerary. The rest of the afternoon is for you to spend at your leisure exploring this vibrant town on the Strait of Magellan.
Begin your expedition in the morning in the southern Chilean port city of Punta Arenas. You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for the two-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Antarctica (this flight is included in the price of your voyage).
Upon arrival at King George Island, you will board the ship via Zodiac. After settling in to your cabin you will meet the expedition team and fellow passengers. Enjoy your first meal onboard and the Antarctic scenery you can enjoy from the many viewing platforms.
As the ship sails along the Antarctic Sound, entrance to the mesmerising, ice-filled Weddell Sea, you will witness the incredible site of enormous tabular icebergs. Possible landings include penguin-rich Gourdin Island and Brown Bluff.
If the weather is favourable the ship will navigate through large iceberges on it’s way to the Weddell Sea, aiming for Seymour and James Ross islands’ fossil fields, and Paulet Islands. During the time spent on the ship the expedition team will run an educational program with interesting lectures on Antarctica’s history and wildlife.
Explore the Antarctic Peninsula’s west coast and enjoy excursions to Astrolabe or Enterprise Islands, Port Lockroy, and Paradise Harbour. You will see an abundance of wildlife including penguins and seals and hopefully a few curious whales will make an appearance.
As the ship navigates toward South America you will cross the fabled Drake Passage, surrounded by soaring albatross and flitting petrels. The expedition team will continue the educational program and a recap on your incredible voyage. Celebrate your extraordinary voyage while entering Beagle Channel.
In the early morning, you will arrive into Ushuaia, Argentina. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travellers. Guests will be transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home. It will be possible to connect to flights through to Buenos Aires or other destinations in South America. Otherwise enjoy a night in town or venture further afield to explore the highlights of Patagonia.
To make the most of your time in South America we can tailor a holiday to Patagonia to suit your voyage dates. If you have a bit more time we can create a tailor-made itinerary to some of the highlights of South America. Take a look at the Patagonia sample itineraries below and contact us to begin creating your perfect holiday.
18 Days
4 Days
5 Days