The Great Adventure

Day 1: Overnight in Buenos Aires

Welcome to Buenos Aires! Make your way to your hotel, where you can check in from late morning. Your afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Days 2: Fly to Ushuaia & Embark

An early morning breakfast will be served before leaving to the airport for your flight Buenos Aires – Ushuaia. Your flight will take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes and upon arrival to Ushuaia you will be greeted by a representative. Before embarkation you have 2 options in Ushuaia:

Transfer to a restaurant for lunch

OR

Optional excursion to visit Tierra del Fuego National Park (extra cost, please request before departure). If you decide to do so, please note that immediately upon arrival at Ushuaia airport, you will leave towards the Park where you will have lunch before starting the tour.

Created in 1960, the park which covers 63 000 hectares (155 670 acres) is located in the south west of the Tierra del Fuego Province on the Beagle Canal. One of his entries stands slightly over 6 miles from Ushuaia. Mountainous landscapes, lagoons, bogs, and rivers draw a picturesque scenery reinforced by the southern position of the park itself. The Darwin Mountains, which represent the southern part of the Andes Mountains are mainly responsible for such landscape. The Park is only partly accessible to the public and this tour will provide you with the opportunity to discover the local flora and sub-Antarctic landscapes. If you get lucky, you may encounter beavers, dams, birds, wild orchids, etc… This is a true paradise for Nature Lovers!

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant within the Park.

(Please note that the Tierra del Fuego excursion is subject to a minimum of participants: if this number is not reached, our operator will not be able to guarantee the departure – In this case, you will be given the option to join the “Lunch in Ushuaia” programme.)

At the end of your visit, you will return to Ushuaia and the port, for embarkation on your vessel.

The ship departs at 6pm tonight.

Day 3-4: At Sea

You will spend the next two days at sea crossing the infamous Drake Passage. During this time you may have the opportunity to see an array of wildlife including albatross and whales so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Days 5-7: Antarctic Peninsula

Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.

Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest Zodiac® outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.

Day 8-9: At Sea

The following two days will see you cruising across to South Georgia. Sit back, relax and enjoy the next two days at sea.

Day 10-12: South Georgia

Aboard your ship, discover South Georgia, a region formed by an underwater mountain chain that extends from the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula. All the wildlife of the Far South can be found there: king and Gentoo penguins, elephant seals, fur seals… You might get the chance to discover the majestic glaciers of Gold Harbour and the vast plains of Fortuna Bay. If you are fortunate enough to land at Salisbury Plain, you can expect a wonderful spectacle: more than 300,000 king penguins, which you will recognise by the bright orange mark on their head and neck, have taken up residence there.

Days 13-16: At Sea

Over the next few days you will make your way back to mainland South America.

Day 17: Montevideo

Perched on the far southern tip of Uruguay, Montevideo is a white city, and one of the loveliest capital cities of South America. Come and admire the beautiful historical remains dating from Spanish rule; you'll find the most interesting within the Cuidad Vieja, formerly fortified, its old town dates from the 18th century. The best preserved are the cathedral and the former governmental palace of the Cabildo, both listed historical monuments. In the crook of a vast blue bay, the city is also blessed with beautiful beaches. Disembarkation in Montevideo will begin in the early morning.

• One overnight stay in Buenos Aires
• Charter flight (Buenos Aires / Ushuaia) & airport taxes
• Transfers as per the itinerary
• Bilingual French/English expedition team
• Activities/shore excursions as specified 
• Lectures and presentations by expedition leaders and naturalist staff 
• Complimentary polar parka for you to keep
• Waterproof boots on loan 
• All meals during the voyage 
• Captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages - house wine, champagne and beer
• Park entry fees into protected areas
• Port charges

• International airfares 
• Transfer from Buenos Aires airport to hotel on day 1
• Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable 
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities
• Any items not mentioned as included

*Please note voyages are subject to ice and weather conditions. The itineraries described for expedition voyages illustrate possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed.
 
*Water sports activities (except scuba diving) are included in the tour price, using the ship’s equipment, when permitted by local authorities and confirmed by shipmaster according to safety and sea conditions on-site