Voyage options: All South Georgia voyages have similar itineraries. On Voyages 1 and 3, we fly from Santiago to join the ship in Stanley. Voyage 2 boards in Ushuaia and operates in the reverse direction to Voyages 1 and 3. Voyage 1 includes a night in Stanley, while Voyage 3 spends an extra day on South Georgia.

Day 1

Fly from Santiago, Chile, to Stanley, for a fascinating tour of the Falkland Islands capital, before transferring to our group hotel.

Day 2

We visit colonies of king, magellenic and gentoo penguins, a museum depicting island life and the Falklands war, and a traditional ‘camp’ or working sheep farm. At 1745 we meet at the Jetty Visitors Centre for a Zodiac ride to our ship. After a warm welcome, we set sail for South Georgia.

Days 3-4

Cruising the Scotia Sea affords us time to settle in, meet fellow expeditioners and some of our Russian crew. The wildlife, geology and history of the subantarctic islands come alive in illustrated talks by our expedition staff. Environmental and Zodiac briefings prepare us for landings, and because the Scotia Sea is one of the richest ecosystems in the Southern Ocean, we should see plenty of seabirds and seals, whales and icebergs.

Days 5-8

Surrounded by krill-rich waters, South Georgia is one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife oases. During the brief summer, the islands’ beaches are packed with elephant seals, fur seals and penguins hurrying to raise their young. Snow-capped peaks and glaciers dominate the skyline, while broad expanses of tussock grass harbour albatross nests, and burrows of petrels and prions. We plan to land as often as prevailing conditions allow, take extended hikes, or sit quietly enjoying busy beach activity. At Grytviken we pay homage to Shackleton and tour the whaling museum.

Day 9

We sail southwest on the next leg of our grand adventure, a time to relax, reflect on our South Georgia experiences and gear up for our next landings.

Day 10

If pack ice allows, we visit the dramatic South Orkney Islands, where Adélie penguins adorn jade icebergs, and lichen-covered rocks sport autumn hues. A warm welcome awaits if we reach the Argentine base of Orcadas.

Day 11

South Orkneys and Elephant Island. Weather Blue whales feed in the waters between the and ice permitting, we Zodiac cruise along Point Wild, hoping to land where Shackleton’s men spent a winter under upturned boats.

Day 12-14

From the South Shetland Islands, through spectacular Gerlache Strait, we explore the ice-draped west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Highlights include gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguin rookeries, and historic sites. We hope to make a continental landing, hike to glorious vantage points, maybe even bumslide back down. Our Zodiacs provide magic rides amongst exquisite icebergs, per- haps close encounters with whales and seals.

Day 15-16

We head north to cross Drake Passage, where prions, petrels and majestic albatross frequently circle the ship. Time to relax, tune into the sea and recap our many experiences.

Day 17

In the wee hours we sail up the Beagle Channel to dock in Ushuaia