Uncharted Antarctica & South Georgia Odyssey

Day 1: Arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina, and embarkation

Your voyage begins in Ushuaia, the most southerly city in the world and the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province. Located at the foot of South America, this destination is often referred to as the “End of the World”. This is where you’ll embark on your ship in the late afternoon and sail across the mountain-shrouded Beagle Channel for the rest of the evening. 

Please arrive in Ushuaia the day before Day 1 to allow for smooth embarkation. At Swoop, we would be delighted to assist with any hotel and excursion bookings in Ushuaia. 

Days 2 & 3: En route to South Georgia 

During these days at sea, your vessel will cross the Antarctic Convergence, where the temperature dips within just a few hours. Colliding columns of water push nutrients to the surface, attracting many species of seabirds – from albatrosses and shearwaters to petrels, prions and skuas. This will give you a small taste of what is to come on South Georgia, a remote island known as the “Serengeti of the South” because of its sheer concentration of incredible wildlife. 

Days 4 to 6: South Georgia journey

As you enter one of Earth’s largest swathes of protected waters, you’ll pass Shag Rocks, which thousands of South Georgia shags call home. Look out for larger marine mammals such as humpback whales here too, drawn to the rich feeding grounds of the shallow South Georgia Ridge. 

Next on the agenda are some of South Georgia’s iconic sites, which could include Fortuna Bay. This scenic plain, washed out by the Fortuna Glacier, teems with king penguins and seals. Here, if conditions allow, you might have the opportunity to trace the finale of legendary polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s route to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness. As this path slices across the mountain pass beyond Shackleton’s Waterfall, and has swampy terrain, be prepared to walk through a handful of small streams.

Other potential stop-off points on South Georgia include Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour. These sites are home to the three biggest king penguin colonies on the island and also lay claim to the world’s largest breeding beaches for Antarctic fur seals. Millions breed here in high season, and by the time February rolls around, adorable young fur seals splash through the surf while huge elephant seals haul out to moult. 

At the rusting remnants of Grytviken, one of the island’s best-preserved whaling stations, you may stop to peruse the thought-provoking maritime exhibition in the South Georgia Museum. You may also head to the nearby cemetery to visit Shackleton’s grave, to pay a whisky tributes to ‘The Boss,’ as he was affectionately called by his crew. 

As Day 6 ends, weather permitting, your ship will begin to sail towards the South Sandwich Islands.

Please note that the ship’s helicopters aren't allowed to fly in or around South Georgia. 

Days 7 & 8: Sea days

Just like Shackleton in December 1914 on his notorious Endurance Expedition, you’ll depart South Georgia and set off towards the Weddell Sea.

Potential sea ice encounters mean that these waters can be challenging to navigate. Yet the journey will be far from lonely. Keep your eyes peeled for south polar skuas and snow petrels joining the flock of seabirds trailing the ship as you venture further south.

Day 9: South Sandwich Islands

While you can't leave the ship and explore on shore here, a zodiac cruise amid the mesmerising landscape will be planned.

There will be a high chance of encountering humpback and minke whales in these rich feeding grounds. As you watch out for marine mammals, let yourself be distracted now and again by brown skuas and grey-headed, black-browed or even wandering albatrosses soaring through the skies. You might also spot chinstrap or Adelie penguins as you near land. 

Days 10 to 12: Heading south 

During these few days, your ship will sail toward the extremely remote Queen Maud Land and Neuschwabenland (New Swabia) on the Antarctic continent, the northeast side of the Weddell Sea. Make the most of the vessel’s program of educational lectures led by the Antarctic experts in the expedition team and spend time out on deck looking for wildlife as you sail. 

Days 13 & 14: Neuschwabenland (New Swabia)

New Swabia will be your first planned destination in Antarctica, an area explored by Germany’s Third Reich on the cusp of the Second World War. While attempting to claim the region during this dark time in history, foot soldiers placed Nazi flags on the sea ice while survey flights airdropped swastika-covered aluminium arrows. This area of Antarctica is extremely remote and very rarely visited by expedition ships. 

Days 15 to 23: Deep inside the Weddell Sea 

As your ship plunges further into the enormous wilderness of the Weddell Sea, you might catch a glimpse of crabeater, leopard or Weddell seals. Humpback and minke whales also call this area home, and if luck is on your side, you may even spot a lonely emperor penguin out on the ice edge.  Please note that opportunities for onshore landings are likely to be extremely limited in this part of the expedition due to the high density of sea ice and ice shelves, so the ship and its sturdy fleet of zodiacs will be your launchpad for exploring. 

Your vessel will chart a circular path toward the Brunt Ice Shelf and along the Luitpold Coast. If conditions are kind, you’ll take a zodiac cruise and attempt to land on an ice floe. 

Next, you’ll head west toward the Filchner–Ronne Ice Shelf before switching north, tracing the coast along the Antarctic Peninsula's eastern side and the Larsen Ice Shelf. Here, you’ll be in the approximate area where Shackleton’s Endurance ship became stuck in the pack ice during his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. It is not possible to visit the location where the wreck was discovered in 2022, at a depth of 9,800 feet (3000m), as this is well protected within a Conservation Management Plan, prohibiting any access. 

As you reach the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula, you’ll enter the region of Erebus and Terror Gulf. If conditions allow you may land on James Ross Island for yet more onshore exploration.

Please note: If the conditions allow, the ship will be looking for opportunities to safely use its helicopters to let you reach otherwise inaccessible locations.  The helicopters may land on the sea ice itself or on land. Due to the ever-changing and challenging operating conditions in Antarctica, the use of the helicopters is not guaranteed. 

Day 24: Exploring the Antarctic Sound

As you head into the beautiful landscapes of the Antarctic Sound, you might stop off at one of the most scenic destinations on this side of the Antarctic Continent. An enormous Adelie penguin colony, along with gentoo penguins and nesting snow petrels, are also to be found in this area. 

Photographers will delight in the challenge of capturing Brown Bluff’s impossibly steep canyon walls, haphazard boulders and ice-capped scenery. Kinnes Cove, where you can admire the light-red shades of the Madder Cliffs, also sits just across the Antarctic Sound. 

Day 25: Legendary Elephant Island

History buffs will be pleased to approach the point where Shackleton left to seek rescue for his 22 men, stranded after his Endurance ship sank in the Weddell Sea. In a tiny lifeboat, he and five others set sail for South Georgia and then hiked for 36 hours to the busy whaling station at Stromness. From start to end, it took 4.5 months to complete this legendary rescue.

It’s extremely difficult to safely land on Elephant Island as the coastline consists of vertical rock and highly exposed ice cliffs, making the Endurance crew’s survival even more impressive. However, if conditions allow it, you’ll take a zodiac to view Point Wild, where the deserted members of Shackleton’s expedition waited for rescue. 

Days 26 & 27: Sea days 

While crossing the Drake Passage, you might spot some of the same wildlife seen at the beginning of your trip: albatrosses, petrels and perhaps even the distant blows of passing whales. 

This is the perfect time to reflect on your adventures and sort through photos, as well as continuing the educational program laid on by your expedition team.  

Day 28: Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina 

On this final day, your epic voyage comes to a close. After breakfast, it’s time to disembark in Ushuaia and continue your journey, whether you’re extending your time in the region or heading home.