Trip Highlights: South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, Lemaire Channel, Paradise Bay, Port Lockroy

Activities: Birding, Lectures, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing, Zodiac Tours

All meals will be taken onboard the vessel.)

Days: 12

Ship Name: Akademik Shokalskiy

In addition to breathtaking scenery of glaciers, icebergs, and rugged mountains, travelers on this cruise can expect the pleasure of whale watching in the Antarctic! On this journey through the famous Drake Passage and the beautiful Antarctic Peninsula, you will have a chance to observe orcas, humpbacks and Minke whales -- and often at a close range!

Introduction: This well-established expedition cruise offers you the ideal introduction to Antarctica. Departing and finishing in the port of Ushuaia in Argentina, the itinerary visits prime sites along the Antarctic Peninsula and the neighboring South Shetland Islands. This program will emphasize wildlife viewing, possible visits to scientific bases, and the breathtaking scenery with narrow waterways, glaciers, icebergs and rugged mountains.

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Itinerary:

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Arrive in Ushuaia and transfer independently to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 2: Ushuaia
Today you are free to explore Ushuaia, often referred to as the southernmost town in the world. Located on the shores of the famous Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia boasts a spectacular setting among snow-capped mountains and dense forests of southern beech trees. Embark in the afternoon on your expedition ship, and sail east through the Beagle Channel for Antarctica.

Days 3-5: Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands
Your journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, is an experience in itself. Your ship is accompanied most of the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering Albatross - along with an impressive variety of other seabirds. You have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins and many different species have been encountered in these rich waters over the years. You also cross the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zones.

When land is sighted for the first time in two days (usually late afternoon on Day 4) you know you have reached the South Shetland Islands. This impressive group of islands, lying to the north and roughly parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, is a haven for wildlife. You visit vast penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe wallowing southern elephant seals. You also hope to visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago and look for Antarctica's only two flowering plants which thrive here during the short southern summer. A highlight of our visit to the South Shetlands will be sailing through a narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island.

Days 6-9: Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula is the most easily accessible part of the ‘White Continent,’ but it also has some of the most awe-inspiring scenery and a rich variety of wildlife. This voyage offers ample time to experience the special magic of this wilderness region. Among the places you may visit are aptly named Paradise Harbor, where glaciers fill the calm waters with a vista of icebergs sculpted by wind and weather. Here, you may set foot on the ‘White Continent’ itself. At Port Lockroy, you will find thriving colonies of penguins and shags and a former British scientific station that has recently been renovated and serves as a fascinating museum. Cuverville Island and Rongé Island, with their dramatic location, are home to a large colony of nearly 5,000 pairs of gentoo penguins. Many visitors find the Antarctic scenery as rewarding as the wildlife, and you will be enchanted by such beautiful waterways as the Neumayer and Lemaire channels. Located south of the spectacular Lemaire Channel and separated from the mainland of the Antarctic Peninsula by Penola Strait is Petermann Island, on which we plan to land. Adélie and gentoo penguins, skuas and blue-eyed shags nest close to the landing site.

Days 10-11: Drake Passage
Today, we leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. Now is the chance to relax and review the adventures of the past week as well as enjoy some final lectures from the expedition staff as you return to Ushuaia.

Day 12: Ushuaia
After breakfast, you disembark and transfer by complimentary bus to the exit of the port, which is centrally located in town. Continue independently to the airport for your flight* home. *Airfare is not included in the program. Please note: Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition.

Notes: Prices per person, double occupancy.

Included:
Cabin accommodations; all meals aboard the vessel; one night pre-cruise hotel accommodation with breakfast; all shore excursions; program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff; transfers and baggage handling between hotel and the ship; detailed post-expedition log, and all service taxes and port charges.

Not Included:
Airfare; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; trip insurance; items of a personal nature and gratuity to the ship's crew is at your discretion.