Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland Islands 2022

Day 1: Puerto Madryn

Located in the Patagonian province of Chubut, Puerto Madryn is a popular resort destination for wildlife excursions, and is known as the best place in Argentina to see Southern Right whales. Attend the optional evening briefing for the opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow travellers.

Day 2: Embarkation

Arriving at the ship in the afternoon, you will be greeted by our Expedition Team and ship staff at a safety and orientation briefing followed by the Captain’s welcome dinner. Then, watch the city lights fade in the fresh night air as we sail seaward.

Day 3-4: Southern Ocean

As we sail south, important briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety are held, and you won’t want to miss our experts as they begin their informative and entertaining talks about the wildlife, history, and geology of the area.

Day 5: West Falkland

We’ll be exploring some of the westernmost settled outposts in the Falklands/Malvinas, where you can take in the beautiful countryside and look for Black-Browed albatross or Rockhopper, King, and Magellanic penguin rookeries.

Day 6: Stanley, East Falkland

Stanley is a lively hub of activity nestled in a sheltered harbour. Head out on foot to explore the museum, shops and services centered on the port, or look for sea lions, dolphins, and bird life along the shores.

Day 7-8: Southern Ocean

Things really start to ramp up with plenty of wildlife identifying to do as we make our way east across the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. Shipboard presentations continue, featuring topics such as the captivating history and abundant wildlife of South Georgia.

Day 9-12: South Georgia

South Georgia is often referred to as the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’ and it’s easy to see why as you take in tens of millions of breeding penguins, seals, and seabirds. Magnificent mountain scenery, glaciers galore, icebergs, a rich historical tapestry, and an incredible array of wildlife will astound you as we travel down South Georgia's leeward coast. We’ll also visit historic Grytviken whaling station, featuring the tiny graveyard where the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried.

Day 13-14: Scotia Sea

Heading farther south, we’ll continue our informative presentations and wildlife spotting as the icebergs become bigger and more plentiful.

Day 15-18: Antarctica

Here we’ll explore any number of picturesque bays and famed harbours, manoeuvring through majestic channels as we travel the wildlife-rich waters. There are great opportunities to stop at several active scientific bases and historic landing sites as we spot numerous species of penguins, seals, and whales along the rugged coastlines and in the sea.

Day 19-20: Drake Passage

We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage. We have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and a final meal together.

Day 21: Ushuaia Disembarkation

With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning and transfer to the beautiful Arakur Resort and Spa in Ushuaia. Here you can unwind at the resort, relax in the spa, or hit the streets of Ushuaia to explore more sights.

Day 22: Ushuaia

Saying goodbye to the lovely Arakur, our Antarctic adventure officially comes to an end. As you continue on, homeward bound or perhaps to another destination, you’ll take with you the unforgettable memories of exploring the last wild place on earth.

Please note: Our exact route will depend on wildlife and weather conditions. The planned itinerary will be updated throughout the voyage in order to take advantage of favourable conditions. Flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

PolarQuest sells berths upon request on this departure. The trip operator is Polar Latitudes.

WHAT MAKES SOUTH GEORGIA SO SPECIAL?

In the middle of the Southern Ocean lies South Georgia. With nearly 3000-meter-high mountain peaks, impressive glaciers and sandy beaches the island invites its visitors to some of the world’s most magnificent sceneries. The wildlife here is truly extraordinary. Everywhere, on the beaches and rocks, in the water and the air, the wildlife is teeming. The sound of hundreds of thousands of king penguins is very powerful! It is an incredible experience to stand among all these curious individuals. Here, we also have chance to meet the huge elephant seals, which can weigh as much as four tons and have over 200 females in one single harem! The new-born seal pups have just started to explore the world and are keen on getting acquainted. Their immense, black eyes win every visitor’s heart! With no land based predators on the island, the wild life here have no fear of humans. This creates a truly magical setting to encounter the animals and watch them go about their day undisturbed.