South Georgia, Antarctica and Falklands Explorer
Trip type
Falklands & S. Georgia
Trip length
21 Days
From
$19,795 -$41,485
Ship Comfort
Comfort & Adventure
South Georgia, Antarctica and Falklands Explorer - 21 Days - $19,795
Trip Summary and Itinerary Map
- 10 days ‘off ship’ exploring: The Falklands (2), South Georgia (4), Antarctica (4)
- The perfect amount of time spent at each destination
- This very comfortable ship’s state-of-the-art stabilisers and amazing guides really help make the difference
- Antarctic operational experience since 2012
- A low expedition staff to guest ratio of 1:7, which ensures a high level of personalisation
- Optional kayaking (additional charge)
- Wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner
- Complimentary pre-cruise stay in a 5* hotel in Ushuaia, with parka jacket and 500MB free Wi-Fi
Operator's Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive into Ushuaia
Arrive in Ushuaia anytime today. On arrival you have an included transfer to your hotel. Here you will enjoy a complimentary 2 night stay at Ushuaia's finest 5 star hotel, boasting spectacular views out across the Beagle Channel.
Please note that for voyages operating from November 2025 to March 2026, it will be a one night stay included in Ushuaia rather than two nights.
Day 2: Ushuaia
You have a free day to explore the trails, soak in the spa with the pool's incredible view, or jump on the shuttle into town for some culture at the local museum. Alternatively Swoop could arrange a tour for you, perhaps into the Tierra del Fuego National Park or to sample the local delicacy of king crab. The evening briefing is a great opportunity for you to ask questions and to meet some of your fellow travellers.
Please note that for voyages operating from November 2025-March 2026, this will be the first included night of your trip.
Day 3: Embarkation
Arriving at the ship in the afternoon, you will be greeted by our Expedition Team and ship's officers at a safety and orientation briefing followed by the Captain's welcome dinner. After dinner, relax and take in the mountainous scenery on our early evening sail down the Beagle Channel past Magellanic Penguin, Rock Cormorant, and Sea Lion colonies.
Day 4: Southern Ocean
Among the wildlife spotting opportunities as we sail south are the albatrosses, prions, and petrels that frequently follow the ship. Our Expedition Team will be out on deck as well, looking for the whales and dolphins that may also be seen in the area. Our experts will begin the presentations with informative and entertaining talks on the wildlife, history, and geology of the Falkland Islands and the Southern Ocean. Helpful briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety will also be held in the comfortable lounge.
Those interested in Citizen Science can take part in sea bird sighting surveys, or help collect salinity samples and weather data along the way. You're likely to witness some spectacular sights, from icebergs to an array of seabirds and whale species. If you're lucky, you may see some of them fully breach from the sea.
Day 5: West Falklands
The westernmost settled outposts in the Falklands are remote farms that have been family-owned for six and seven generations. The sheep graze alongside albatross colonies and rockhopper, king, and macaroni penguin rookeries while striated caracaras patrol overhead and upland geese graze at the water's edge. A visit to one of these homesteads often includes an invitation for cakes and a cup of tea.
Day 6: Stanley, Falkland Islands
Chosen for its sheltered harbour and access to abundant fresh water and peat for fuel, Stanley is easy to discover on foot as shops and most services are centred on the port. The museum, the post-office featuring first day covers, plenty of shops with locally made wool items and Stanley's lively pubs will all be available. It is possible to experience the wildlife of the Falklands from the town, including sea lions and dolphins in the harbour or bird life in nearby Gypsy Cove.
Days 7 & 8: Southern Ocean
There will be plenty of wildlife spotting as we make our way east across the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. Shipboard presentations will continue featuring the exciting history and abundant wildlife of South Georgia.
Days 9 to 12: South Georgia
South Georgia's unique position inside the Antarctic Convergence yet outside the limit of the yearly sea ice makes this 3,755 square kilometre island home to tens of millions of breeding penguins, seals and seabirds. Magnificent mountain scenery, glaciers galore, a rugged coastline punctuated with castellate and tabular icebergs, a rich historical tapestry, and an astounding array of wildlife are all available to us as we travel down South Georgia's leeward coast.
Landing sites feature huge Elephant seals, aggressive Fur seals, Macaroni penguins, Albatross, petrels, skuas, and gulls. King penguins from fuzzy little chicks to grown adults can be seen in the hundreds of thousands. We plan to visit historic Grytviken whaling station, home of the whaling museum, Norwegian seaman's church, the active British Antarctic Survey station plus the tiny graveyard where the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried.
Days 13 & 14: Scotia Sea
Heading farther south, we continue our informative presentations and wildlife watch as the icebergs become more and more plentiful.
Days 15 to 18: Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands
The land of superlatives, Antarctica! Our Expedition Leader and Captain will create a flexible itinerary based on weather, ice and opportunity. We will approach the Antarctic Peninsula from the east to cross the northern boundary of the Weddell Sea, where a large cold body of water rotates clockwise driving cold water and ice north towards South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands.
Large tabular icebergs born in the Weddell drift north into our path while the ocean currents drive nutrients from the deep, feeding countless species of marine animals. Large groups of whales are common, along with scores of seabirds thriving off the bounty the Weddell provides. Our route will stress the most scenic bays and channels of the Peninsula with stops at penguin rookeries, seal wallows, bird colonies and whale feeding areas as well as sites of historic and scientific interest.
Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins abound, and Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals are often found hauled out to rest along with predatory leopard seals and the aggressive Antarctic fur seal. Minke and humpback whales are frequent visitors in the late season and orca sightings are also common.
Days 19 & 20: Drake Passage
We will continue our lecture series and wildlife spotting as we sail back to Ushuaia and reflect on beautiful Antarctica and its fragile future. Sailing through the Beagle Channel, we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow.
Day 21: Ushuaia, Disembarkation
Morning disembarkation allows you to catch an afternoon flight to Buenos Aires or extend your stay in Ushuaia.
Please Note: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.
Why our customers love Swoop
Expert impartial advice at no extra cost
Choosing the right voyage is complicated, Swoop makes it easy. We offer no-nonsense advice on 1500 voyages across 30 ships to find you the right trip, cabin, price - and we don’t charge a fee.
The Antarctic Experts. No Compromises
Our team has visited Antarctica over 150 times and has 100 collective years of polar experience, so from which trip is right for you to what shoes to bring - there’s no question we can’t answer.
The only B Corp certified Antarctic specialist
We want to protect Antarctica for future generations - which is why we became a certified B Corp and set up our own conservation fund. So your adventures can be a force for good.
A full concierge service, unlike booking direct
We leave nothing to chance in delivering your perfect trip and have over 6500 happy travellers to show for it. With a dedicated Antarctic co-ordinator & support throughout - you’re in safe hands.
What our customers think of South Georgia, Antarctica and Falklands Explorer
South Georgia, Antarctica and Falklands Explorer trips scored 4.6/5 from 50 reviews
Review:
About The Ship
Your expedition vessel
Dining room
Relax in the bar
On deck
Onboard gym
Onboard sauna
Polar library
Your expedition vessel
Your expedition vessel
- An ice-strengthened hull and an impressive 1A super ice class rating
- Her speedy average cruising speed of 13.5 knots means less time at sea and more time exploring
- Plenty of space: takes up to 138 guests, even though she was originally built for 180
- Large picture windows in the dining room mean you can enjoy spectacular Antarctic views
- A variety of deck spaces to soak up the glorious landscape from every angle
This ship has so many strong attributes, but for me it’s Seaventure's wide expanse of windows in every social area. The wrap-around windows in the Panorama Lounge make for a perfect spot to defrost after a busy day exploring, without missing any of the jaw-dropping landscapes!
Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Antarctica
Prices, Departures and Inclusions
Prices quoted below are per person based on 2 people sharing. Cabin availability changes all the time so please contact us for up-to-date details and information on specific cabin availability.
* Note: Prices are per person. Paid in USD ($) - figure above is based on today's exchange rate. Actual cost $19795
Additional Notes
The 01-Nov-2024 voyage welcomes award-winning National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale on board. Guests will receive the opportunity to gain constructive feedback from Ami on images captured throughout the journey. There is no additional cost but places are limited, so please let us know if you would like to sign up when booking your trip.
Single Supplement And Child Policy
For those travelling solo who would like their own cabin, the single supplement is 1.7 times the cost of a single berth. Please contact us for details. There is no single supplement for solo passengers willing to share a cabin.
Children aged 12 years old or over are welcome. There isn't any concession on pricing.
Optional Adventure Activities
Enhance your trip with the following add ons. Limited places per activity.
Get in contact to check availability.
| Activity | Cost | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
Kayaking
|
$895 | An immersive full kayaking program for those who want to kayak multiple times (as often as weather and ice conditions allow) with a maximum of 10 fixed participants. Booking in advance is essential. |
|
Paddling
|
$250 | One-off discovery paddle session with a maximum of 14 participants per session. Available on select departures, subject to weather conditions. Previous kayaking experience is required. Booking in advance is strongly recommended. |
Includes
- All airport/ hotel/ ship transfers on Day 1
- For trips departing from October 2023 - March 24: all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages included (some super premium brands are excluded). For trips departing October 2024 - March 2025: beer/wine/soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner
- Complimentary parka jacket
- Daily international news service
- Post voyage digital log
- For trips operating from November 2024-March 2025, 2 pre-cruise hotel nights will be included in Ushuaia. For trips running from November 2025-March 2026, 1 pre-night will be included.
- Complimentary 500Mb of Wi-Fi (option to purchase more at additional cost)
- Voyage aboard the vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- Accommodation and meals during the voyage on full board
- All shore excursions and zodiac activities
- Educational lectures by expert onboard polar guides
- Access to an onboard doctor and basic medical services
- Loan of rubber boots for the voyage's duration
- Comprehensive pre-departure information
- Port taxes and any entry fees to historic landing sites
Excludes
- Any flights to and from points of embarkation/disembarkation
- Any additional pre/post land services, including meals
- Transfers not specified in the itinerary
- Optional non-complimentary adventure activities (e.g. kayaking)
- Visa, passport and any vaccination expenses
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Personal travel insurance
- Items of a personal nature, e.g. laundry, beverages and communication
- Customary staff gratuity at the end of the voyage
- Additional onboard purchases (i.e. gift shop)
