Antarctica and South Georgia Sail & Fly Cruise

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to make your way to your hotel. Check-in is from 3.00 pm. The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.

Your morning is at leisure to explore Ushuaia. An afternoon catamaran cruise on the Beagle Channel is available. Transfer to the pier at 3:45 pm for embarkation. Once onboard, you'll have time to settle into your cabin before important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, gather on the deck to commence the adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

As you commence your trip across the South Atlantic Ocean toward the Falklands~Malvinas, make the most of your time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. The expedition team prepares you for your first landing with important wildlife guidelines, biosecurity procedures, and start the lecture program to help you learn more about the region's history, wildlife, and environment. Your wildlife experiences begin as you enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following the vessel. They rise and fall skillfully, using air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.

The Falklands~Malvinas comprises two large islands (East and West Falkland), with over 700 islands scattered off the coast. All but seven of these are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white-sand beaches, and crystal-clear water. These beautifully barren islands are true wildlife havens, sheltering an impressive diversity of birdlife, including the largest black-browed albatross colony on earth. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location for spotting marine life.

There are many beautiful areas to explore across the Falklands~Malvinas, each offering a unique perspective on this magnificent archipelago. Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing winds, weather and wildlife opportunities.

Generally, landings or Zodiac excursions are made twice a day. Even though you are north of the Antarctic Convergence it can be quite chilly here, so you will want to layer up before joining Zodiac cruises into rocky coves or along sea cliffs, keeping watch for seals, sea lions, dolphins, and penguins. Zodiacs will also shuttle you from the ship to land, where you may visit albatross colonies, penguin rookeries, and perhaps even have a traditional English tea and scones at a local cottage.

Conditions permitting, land in historic Stanley, the capital of the Falklands~Malvinas. This charming town has a distinctly British character, with terraced town houses, pioneer cottages, and even an iconic red telephone box! Colorful buildings house cozy cafes, English pubs, souvenir shops, a post office, and the fascinating Historic Dockyard Museum, with displays on the maritime history of the Falkland Islands, natural history, and links to Antarctica.

If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course, keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters—conditions permitting!

Between the Falklands~Malvinas and South Georgia, you will be enthralled by the ceaseless flight of the many seabirds that follow and circle the ship. The onboard lecture program will continue with presentations from the team of experts. You can also enjoy the many facilities on the ship, borrow a book from our well-stocked library, or perhaps stay active in the fitness center.

As you near the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In fact, it is a small island, only 110 miles long, but with a 9,842-foot snow-capped mountain range, some of the world's largest congregations of wildlife, and a truly fascinating human history, South Georgia is an island of incredible riches.

On approach, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship. The ship sails down the coast, taking in the spectacular glaciated scenery. This enchanting coastline is yours to explore! If time and weather conditions permit, en route you could pass close to Shag Rocks, a fascinating group of jagged rocky islets protruding from the sea, in the proximity of South Georgia.

Your experienced expedition team will use their local knowledge to plan your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, sea state, and wildlife opportunities.Remember to layer up before joining Zodiac excursions that may zip into craggy coves and along the rocky coastline in search of nesting penguins, seal haul-outs, and bird cliffs. Remember to keep an eye out for South Georgia's kelp forests as well—these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite mesmerizing as their fronds sway back and forth on the water's surface.

Zodiacs will also transport ashore, where you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies on Earth, take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals (making sure you listen to your guides and keep your distance!), and wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains. We also hope to visit the remnants of South Georgia's thriving whaling stations and pay respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible voyage of survival is synonymous with this island. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever conditions allow.

In addition to Zodiac excursions and shore excursions, you may ship cruise through fjords with towering cliffs of ancient stone, or into deeply indented bays toward dramatic glacier fronts. This is a great time to find a comfy spot in the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the Captain's discretion) to enjoy uninterrupted views of South Georgia's majestic coast.

Attend informative lectures to learn about Antarctica as you sail across the Scotia Sea toward the white continent. You can enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, sauna, and Jacuzzis, or relax in one of the observation lounges; the choice is yours on how you want to enjoy days at sea.

En route to the Peninsula, if time and weather permits, the ship may attempt to follow the coastline of Elephant Island, a half-submerged mountain cloaked with an ice sheet at the outer limits of the South Shetland Islands.

It's almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Upon arrival, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are yours to explore, and there are a host of choices available to you. Because you are so far south, you will experience nearly 24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.

Rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals, and porpoising penguins. Trusty Zodiacs will also shuttle you ashore, where you may visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts, and explore some favorite spots along the peninsula. While ashore you can stretch your legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below.

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, the ship may cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales traveling or feeding. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into the sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.

As you approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to bid farewell to Antarctica and your amazing adventure before boarding the flight (approximately one hour, forty-five minutes) to Punta Arenas, Chile. There is time for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced. It is the hope that you will become ambassadors for Antarctica, telling your family, friends, and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.

On arrival at the Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to the group hotel.

Note: King George Island is located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. We apologize in advance for any possible delays.

Accommodation: Hotel Cabo de Hornos or Hotel Dreams