Day 1
A friendly welcome aboard Polar Pioneer precedes our sail down the Beagle Channel. Scientists from Ukraine and Poland, who will winter in Antarctica at Vernadsky and Arctowski Station, join us.

Days 2-3
Cape Petrels mesmerise us, but majestic Wandering Albatross take our breath away as we cross Drake Passage. Our naturalists reveal Antarctica’s natural history while environmental and safety briefings prepare us. Our photography education program commences, as we prepare ourselves for the adventure ahead.

Days 4-6
We drop anchor at Vernadsky Station; our southernmost point on this expedition; as our scientist shipmates disembark and prepare for a winter in Antarctica, we board Zodiacs and explore this historic and wildlife rich area. We make full use of daylight hours, taking every opportunity to explore the Peninsula’s wonders.

Days 7-8
Taking in the spectacular rugged coastline from Lemaire Channel to the Gerlache Strait, we make our way north to King George Island.

Days 9-10
As we drop anchor in front of Poland’s Arctowski Station, we are greeted by fur and elephant seals lounging on the shore line, while inquisitive adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins welcome us to their playground. As autumn begins, brilliant sunsets herald nightfall, patches of sea freeze, and the fortunate are treated to the captivating song and sensual dance of courting Leopard Seals – a spectacular surge of life before winter.

Day 11
Bidding farewell to Antarctica, we sail north towards the Falkland Islands – it’s a time of reflection, entertaining talks and a party or two.

Day 12
Stanley, the Falklands’ British capital, features an excellent war museum, welcoming shops and cosy pubs. 

Days 13-15
Our days in the Falklands’ will be spent exploring the seldom visited outer most islands. Our skilled captain manoeuvres Polar Pioneer down the Falkland Sound. The spectacular cliffs of the islands are home to an abundance of breeding birds; endemic Cobb’s wren, dark faced ground tyrants and tussac birds, striated cara-caras, southern giant petrels, ruddy headed geese, speckled teal and crested ducks. Making the most of our Zodiacs, we will explore the rich natural history of this remote archipelago by sea and land.

Day 16
Rising sharply from the sea, we reach Steeple Jason Island, the most remote of all the islands and undoubtedly one of the most dramatic in the archipelago. Home to the world’s largest black-browed albatross colony, we will explore this beautiful and pristine area with care and consideration before making our way to the Argentinean coastline.

Day 17
At sea steaming towards Atlantic Patagonia.

Day 18
Arriving early at the harbour of Punta Quilla, near the mouth of the Santa Cruz River, we board our Zodiacs and follow Darwin’s route, exploring the region’s abundant wildlife.

Day 19
At sea, our expert photography lecturers assist us to process, sort and store our images. There will be continual opportunity for further photography as we embrace the power of the ocean.

Day 20
Puerto Desaedo is a natural history lover’s paradise. We will Zodiac cruise up the Deseado River, a unique area where the dry river bed is washed by ocean waters as far as 42km inland, creating a unique and diverse biological environment and home to an abundance of bird life.

Day 21
At sea.

Day 22
Bahia Bustamante is located on the northern arch of San Jorge Gulf. Red rocks rises sharply from the deep blue sea; few places in the world have such a myriad of seabirds and marine mammals. Today is dedicated to discovering the remaining fossils of forests that existed in Patagonia 60 million years ago. View huge petrified tree trucks that have evolved into rock with their characteristic glow of opal, replacing the tree’s original organic matter.

Day 23
At sea.

Day 24
We may enjoy the spectacle of majestic orcas feeding on young sea lions congregating in the waters around Peninsula Valdes. Pods of these impressive mammals migrate along this stretch of coast throughout March and April. At high tide they may be seen emerging from the ocean with force as their powerful bodies hit the beach in search of vulnerable sea lions. We make our way to the northern side of the Peninsula to Punta Norte for the best possible opportunity to view this natural phenomenon.

Days 25-26
At sea.

Day 27
In the early hours of the morning we sail into the port town of Mar del Plata with just enough time for a final photo and an early breakfast before disembarking.