Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica in Focus

Included travel arrangements prior to embarkation:

The date of Day 1 for each voyage reflects the date that you will embark on your ship. However, the price of your trip also includes additional services pre-voyage to ensure a hassle-free experience on arrival into Argentina. Once you have landed in Buenos Aires (on the day before your embarkation date) you will be met and transferred to your included 4-5* city centre hotel, where you will spend the night. 

Please see the final paragraph of this itinerary for the included arrangements once you have disembarked.

Day 1: Embarkation in Ushuaia

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in Buenos Aires for your included charter flight to Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina. Flanking the foothills of the snow-covered Martial Range, this port destination’s eclectic architecture tumbles down to the edges of the Beagle Channel. Known as the world’s most southerly city, it serves as a scenic start to your trip. 

Upon arrival in Ushuaia, embark on your beautifully designed ship and begin journeying towards one of the most spectacular regions on the planet. 

Day 2: At sea

As you sail towards your first destination – the Falkland Islands – relax and familiarise yourself with your home for this epic expedition. The spacious observation decks on your vessel will afford you with sweeping vistas of the passing sea. You will also have the chance to meet other guests, peruse the Antarctic reference books in the ship’s polar library and get to know your onboard guides.

Engaging lectures are planned by the highly knowledgeable expedition team, who will share their expertise on the flora and fauna you will encounter along the way. Professional photographers are also on hand to offer tips on capturing the stunning scenery ahead. 

Day 3: West Point Island and Saunders Island, Falklands Islands

Spectacular birdlife is the main lure on these two verdant sheep-grazed islands, where rams and ewes roam and intermingle with more exotic wildlife. Established by British explorers in 1765, the Falklands brims with distinctive landscapes, including a coastline littered by rockhopper, gentoo and even small king penguin rookeries. Keep an eye out for the pillar-shaped nests of black browed albatrosses too, as well as nine of the archipelago’s 14 endemic plants, such as silvery buttercup and hairy daisy. 

These remote islands have such a minuscule human population – penguins outnumber people here! The Falklands are also a haven for fur seals, Commerson’s dolphins and imperial cormorants. Spot the latter nesting along the cliffs as you trek past mossy landscapes revealing vibrant wildflowers, such as the pink-petalled Felton's.

Day 4: Touring Port Stanley, Falklands Islands

Port Stanley, the quaint capital of the Falkland Islands on East Falkland, is compact enough to explore by foot. If you are acquainted with the United Kingdom, you might recognise the classic red post boxes in this British outpost. 

The quirky Historic Dockyard Museum provides a fascinating glimpse into maritime history and exploration. If you visit nearby Gypsy Cove dolphins cruising through the turquoise waters, while yellow gorse offsets the white sand of the beach below.

Days 5 & 6: At sea

Days at sea are the ideal opportunity to rest and indulge in the ship’s facilities – from the well-equipped gym to the serene spa. Alternatively, spend time out on deck bird and whale spotting or curl up with a novel in your spacious cabin. These sea days are a relaxing counterbalance to busy periods spent navigating on land. However, there’s still plenty to do as the educational program of lectures will continue, preparing you for arrival at jaw-dropping South Georgia. 

Days 7 to 9: South Georgia 

Often referred to as the 'Galapagos of the Southern Ocean', South Georgia is a wildlife paradise. It boasts several landing sites home to up to 500,000 king penguins and three million breeding pairs of macaroni penguins. The region is also renowned for its enormous elephant seal colonies, where the huge creatures can often be seen lounging in the surf and maintaining their territories. Feisty fur seals also litter the beaches, with opportunistic scavenger birds such as snowy sheathbills and skuas adding to the melee. 

History is also part and parcel of a trip to South Georgia, though it can sometimes be quite haunting as you learn of the damage wrought by decades of sealing and whaling.  One of the island’s most notable sites is Grytviken, the iconic whaling station where legendary British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is laid to rest.

Your time exploring South Georgia will be heavily dictated by the weather conditions influencing this notoriously windy island. Wildlife can also cause plans to change, as sometimes the beaches are so heavily laden with seals and penguins that it’s impossible to land! Your expedition team will make the most of the opportunities to get you off the ship and you may enjoy shoreline safaris by zodiac, which gives you a great water-level angle for your wildlife photography. 

Days 10 & 11: At sea towards the Antarctic Peninsula

As you head south towards Antarctica your days at sea will be filled with engaging educational briefings and presentations covering topics such as Antarctic wildlife, history and geology. There will also be opportunities to venture out on deck to witness the majestic albatrosses and giant petrels soaring by. You may be able to participate in citizen science activities, including bird species counts and cloud surveys for a NASA observation project. 

Days 12 to 15: Navigating the Antarctic Peninsula

With its heavily crevassed and seemingly endless glaciers, towering icebergs and snow-laden islands, the Antarctic Peninsula offers the iconic polar experience. This accessible region lays claim to active scientific research bases and awe-inspiring landscapes. As you head on shore, the penguins you encounter will be more petite than the kings you’ve met in South Georgia, but arguably more comical with their energetic waddling to and from their rookeries. Zodiac cruises will have you gliding amongst the sculptural icebergs, on the lookout for whales and seals. 

Days 16 & 17: At sea

These last days at sea can be spent immersing yourself in the facilities of your chic ship. Attend a lecture from the onboard experts or simply soak up the ocean views from the deck accompanied by more gliding seabirds. It’s also a great time to reflect on your adventure and start to sort through your hundreds of photos! 

Day 18: Disembarkation in Ushuaia

Today, you will end your journey back in the port city at the southernmost tip of South America, where your Antarctic cruise began. Here, you will be taken to the airport for your charter flight back up to Buenos Aires, and from there, you can make arrangements for onward travel home. 

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.