Antarctica Wildlife Exploration Tour - Falklands & South
Georgia
Itinerary
Days 1 & 2: Ushuaia,
Argentina
Ushuaia, the most southerly town in the world, lies at the
bottom of the Andes. Tour Tierra del Fuego National Park and enjoy
an Argentine lunch of asado barbecue before boarding our ship,
specially designed for polar and oceanographic research.
Days 3 - 5: Falkland Islands
Sail northeast to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). This
windswept archipelago is a study in stone, sand and peat, with
rugged cliffs battered by the ocean. Its isolated shores are home
to marine mammals and prodigious birdlife. We may see flightless
steamer ducks, nesting black-browed albatross, blue-eyed shags and
several penguin species, including Magellanic, gentoo and
rockhopper.
Dolphins often ride our bow waves. Though the Falklands, a
British colony off the coast of Argentina, are still disputed
territory, culturally they are British through and through. English
and Scottish immigrants arrived in the 19th century, bringing sheep
in the late 1800’s, and wool is still produced. After tea at a
local farm, wander around the photogenic capital of Stanley, with
its tin-roofed houses, rose gardens, pubs and other emblems of the
Falklands’ colonial heritage.
Days 6 - 11: South Georgia
Our shipboard historian shares riveting stories of exploration
in the South Atlantic, including the saga of Sir Ernest
Shackleton’s shipwreck and heroic trek across South Georgia to
secure the rescue of his crew. The magnitude of this feat will only
be grasped when we catch our first glimpse of South Georgia, with
its spine of harsh mountain peaks rising precipitously from the
sea.
Over half of South Georgia is glaciated. J. Gunnar Anderson, who
encountered the island in 1902, described it as “mighty fells with
snowy crowns and sharp, uncovered teeth, around the valleys through
which enormous, broad rivers of ice came flowing to the sea.” Yet
the land, for all its ruggedness, is rich in animal life. By
Zodiac, we visit desolate beaches and glacier-carved fjords, while
curious fur seals approach our boats. Millions of king penguins
live here, in colonies stretching to the horizon.
South Georgia’s waters are home to blue, sperm, fin, sei and
southern right whales, though they were nearly wiped out in the
20th century, when whaling was still a commercial industry. At the
former whaling outpost of Grytviken, abandoned processing factories
lie derelict, and elephant seals have taken over the grounds. We
pay our respects at the grave of Shackleton, who died here in
1922.
Days 12 - 17: South Shetlands / Antarctic
Peninsula
We then sail by Elephant Island in the South Shetlands. In
the rare case that weather conditions allow, we’ll go ashore. The
crew of Shackleton’s Endurance took refuge here while he and five
men sailed nearly 800 miles across the South Atlantic in one of the
most heroic and improbable journeys ever recorded.
Frosty blue icebergs indicate our approach to the Antarctic
Peninsula, a grand and otherworldly kingdom of ice, rock, sea and
sky. Almost constant daylight provides ample opportunity to explore
this frozen white frontier, with the guidance of our seasoned
expedition team. We find a rich assortment of marine life,
including Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, and minke, humpback
and killer whales.
On shore landings we walk among noisy colonies of penguins,
while skyward, we find kelp gulls, cape petrels, snowy sheathbills
and Antarctic terns. As we sail through narrow Lemaire Channel, a
magnificent parade of icebergs bobs past.
Days 18 - 20: Drake Passage
On our return voyage across Drake Passage, wandering albatross,
cape petrels, whales and dolphins often escort us. Dock in Ushuaia
in time for breakfast before transferring to the airport for
flights home.
Please note: This itinerary is meant as a guideline and is
dependent on weather and ice conditions.
Quick links:
antarctica wildlife exploration tour -
introduction
antarctica wildlife exploration tour -
factfile
antarctica wildlife exploration tour -
map
antarctica wildlife exploration tour - dates
& prices
antarctica wildlife exploration tour -
booking enquiry
antarctica wildlife exploration tour -
before you go
Ref: Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia -
NH0009