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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. Visits to research stations
depend on final permission.
Day
1 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
This
expedition is perfect for travelers eager to push the envelope
while acquainting themselves with the Antarctic Peninsula.
Overnight in Ushuaia.
Day 2 Embarkation Day
After embarkation in the late afternoon, you will sail down
the Beagle Channel. Keep watch on deck for seabirds, penguins
and rainbows.
Days
3 & 4 Crossing the Drake Passage
Prepare
for rough water, but do not be disappointed if your crossing
is smooth sailing. The Drake is always changing.
Days
5-9: South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
Many
factors play a role in shaping the expedition's progress.
We attempt to leave the ship to explore at least twice a day.
Perhaps, you'll feel salt spray on your face as the Zodiac
weaves in and around grounded icebergs in Pleneau Bay. You
could scramble to the top of a craggy hill for an unforgettable
view of an icy chasm near Port Lockroy. Strap on a harness
for a polar plunge into the frigid waters of Neko Harbour.
Over the course of the austral spring and summer, the sun
lingers longer and longer, melting snow and ice. Wildlife
abounds: chicks hatch and fledge, and pods of whales breach
in a deep bay where a calving iceberg has churned up krill,
the local delicacy. The natural cycle of life ensures that
every expedition is different. And that every expedition is
different. And that every expedition is full of surprises!
In Antarctica, silence is so complete that interruptions become
indelible memories: noisy penguins squabbling over prized
pebbles, the boom and crack of a calving glacier near Petermann
Island. Then there is the sound of breathing as your arms
pump and your legs power you up an incline on cross-country
skis. As you sail from island to shore to bay during four
days in the Peninsula, the Expedition Team provides opportunities
to test your endurance and engage your curiosity.
Days 10-12 Drake Passage to Ushuaia
Activities
during the return voyage depend on the conditions of the Drake.
A smooth crossing is a busy crossing.
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