Highlight - seeing the first iceberg. And another one - kayaking through the brash ice. Landscapes - ethereal / mind blowing. Wildlife - we hoped for more whales up close ... but we did see some, including orcas. Although smelly, the penguins were delightful. Seals were everywhere! The Expedition Team was outstanding. We were relieved that the Kayaking was so well managed and we coped. Reaching the Polar Circle and landing on the Peninsula were magical - pinch yourself moments.

It was awe inspiring and enhanced our appreciation of the forces of nature and man’s relationship to the natural world. Yes.

Maybe

We were appreciative of Swoop’s expertise and our confidence in your guidance was justified by our experiences. Each leg of our trip exceeded our expectations. Going to Antarctica without visiting South Georgia would be a significant deficiency - so the voyage ticked all our boxes. Our cabin location was fantastic - we saw an orca from our windows with unimpeded views across the bow. Swoop was very responsive to our questions. You listened carefully and responded quickly. Very minor issue, but the sequences after leaving Ushuaia might have been streamlined to reduce some backtracking.

See previous: Great Yes - definitely Yes - it included everything, and was very comfortable Keep it up!

Yes! Quiet kayaking in a huge amphitheatre of icebergs and glaciers - breathtaking Yes - depending on fitness levels Safety excellent - guides excellent Because we are inexperienced kayakers, we were anxious about how we might cope. However, the activity was extremely well managed and we felt safe and within our capabilities at all times

Logistics were reliable. Accommodation was just what we asked for - a mixture of local (Punta Arenas was great) and luxurious. Barocco Lodge was fantastic with a family feel and the Heli Touring was ESSENTIAL to appreciate the landscape and the local people and their lifestyles (but I could do without dogs at the meal table). Local agents were efficient and check in that we were OK. SWOOP’s Quality Control visits to the accommodations are a great investment.

Organised efficiently and staff were mindful of individual needs. Briefings were comprehensive. Background and weather information was valuable. Sometimes the zodiac cruises were a bit long while waiting for our landing turn. Some zodiac drivers were excellent, but some were sparse with their information and comments related to that excursion. We were disappointed that the final polar landing on the continent was so rushed and there was not enough time to enjoy the achievement. Seeing and mingling with hundreds of thousands of penguins on a beach was mind-blowing.

We were very sea-sick on the first day, but the medication provided by the Expedition doctor had us up and about in a few hours. We had consider a fly-in fly-out option, but (despite the sea sickness), the breadth of our trip including the wildlife and history of South Georgia and Shackleton, and the open ocean, made this the Ultimate way to see Antarctica. I’m glad we chose our more extensive voyage.

Have already enjoyed Patagonia’s with Swoop.