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Looking across the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia

The Great Austral Loop

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard L'Austral
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On this 15-day voyage, discover the undulating hills and verdant moors of the Falkland Islands. Cruise to South Georgia, home to imposing glaciers that tilt towards the sea and thousands of King Penguins at home on the island's black sandy beaches. Continue South to discover the Northern Antarctic Peninsula in all its unique beauty. Keep your eyes out for iridescent icebergs, floating ice fields, and extraordinary marine mammals.
A humpback whale lifts its fluke Gentoos on "The Neck", Saunders IslandAbandoned ship in GrytvikenThe sun sets over polar mountainsLooking across the Beagle Channel from Ushuaia
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires / Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark

Arrive in Buenos Aires and join your included charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Transfer to the port or join an optional excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park, including lunch. Board your ship, L'Austral this evening between 5 and 6 PM.

Day 2: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
As your ship sails the open oceans, settle in to your cabin and familiarize yourself with the ship and her crew - this is your new home for the next two weeks.

Day 3: New Island / Saunders, Falklands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
New Island is your first stop on this lengthy Antarctic voyage. Once used as a base for whaling and sheep farming, New Island is considered by some to be one of the most beautiful among the Falklands. Continue on to Saunders, the fourth largest of the Falkland Islands. With an area of just over 50 square miles, the island runs as a sheep farm today.

Day 4-5: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Leaving the Falklands, your ship sets out for your next stop on this Austral loop. As you cruise the open water, keep your eyes out for marine mammals or seabirds who play alongside the vessel.

Day 6: Salisbury Plain / Fortuna Bay, South Georgia

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Found on the north coast of South Georgia, Salisbury Plain is best known as a breeding site for King Penguins. At times there are as many as 500,000 penguins making their home here. Elephant seals and fur seals also come to visit this broad coastal plain.

Day 7: Grytviken / Baie de St Andrew, South Georgia

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Welcome to the world's most southerly territorial capital. Named by a Swedish surveyor in 1902, Grytviken translates as "Pot Bay" for the pots found on site once used to render seal oil.

Landing at the Baie de St Andrew brings you up close and personal with Mount Skittle. Here you also may encounter more King Penguins who gather in colonies of up to 100,000.

Day 8: Gold Harbor, South Georgia

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Located at the eastern end of South Georgia, Gold Harbour is named for the angle of morning and evening sunlight that illuminates the cliffs with a bright yellow light. The area is a breeding ground for King and Gentoo Penguins, as well as elephant seals. You may also see some Sooty Albatrosses flying overhead, as these infamous birds also breed in the harbor.

Day 9-10: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Rest up for the last leg of your voyage as your ship sails further south. Try to contain your excitement as you approach the great White Continent.

Day 11: Weddell Sea, Antarctica

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
A lengthy sail in the Weddell Sea will allow you to experience true silence, an extraordinary and enchanting atmosphere, and unrivalled calm. You will discover a secret reserve of preserved treasure: Fur Seals, penguin colonies, Wandering Albatross and other giant Petrels. Here the huge icebergs and the endless ice cap sculpt a landscape beyond compare. The lord of the manor is known as the Weddell Seal. It is a record breaker, able to remain submerged for more than an hour. Its pelage is dark grey and it has a spotted belly. To maintain its access to the sea and be able to fish, the Weddell Seal has special teeth allowing it to make a hole in the thick ice.

Day 12: Deception Island / Half Moon Island , Antarctica

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Nestled at the heart of the South Shetland Islands, in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula, Deception Island is easy to recognize for its horseshoe shape. On the black sand of the volcanic beaches, there are remains of abandoned huts that have been overrun by the extraordinary wildlife, part of the treasure that Nature offers us there. It is on these beaches of ash that the largest colony of Chinstrap Penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula has taken up residence. Excursions aboard our Zodiac dinghies allow you to set foot on this expanse of land where more than 100,000 pairs of penguins, Elephant Seals and Fur Seals live side by side.

Day 13-14: At Sea in the Drake Passage

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spend your last days on board the L'Austral reflecting on your once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Share memories and photos with your fellow travelers or simply relax and take advantage of your ship's amenities before returning home.

Day 15: Disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina

  • 1 Breakfast
Following breakfast on board, disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport to continue your travels.

Ship/Hotel

L'Austral

Enjoy a gourmet meal at the Gastronomic Restaurant.
Stunning views from the bar and lounge
Relax on the sun deck.

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$10,670
Superior Stateroom
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Superior Stateroom
8 cabins, 226 sq ft, located on Le Champollion Deck. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area and private bath.
Deluxe Stateroom
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Deluxe Stateroom
28 cabins, 200 sq ft with private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, private bath.
Prestige Stateroom
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Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
200 sq ft with 43 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, private bath.
Prestige Stateroom
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Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
200 sq ft with 43 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, private bath.
Prestige Stateroom
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Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
200 sq ft with 43 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, private bath.
Deluxe Suite
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Deluxe Suite
3 suites, 290 sq ft with 54 sq ft private balcony, located on the Le France Deck. A/C, king or twin beds, seating area, desk, minibar, private bath.
Prestige Suite
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Prestige Suite - Deck 5
398 sq ft with 86 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, communicating cabins available. Separate living area, private bath.
Prestige Suite
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Prestige Suite - Deck 6
398 sq ft with 86 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, communicating cabins available. Separate living area, private bath.
Owner's Suite
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Owners Suite
484 sq ft with 97 sq ft private balcony. A/C, king or twin beds, communicating cabins available. Separate living, dining areas, private bath with large tub and shower, minibar, 2 flat screen TVs, DVD, CD, and IPOD, Video on demand, Satellite phone

Notes

Please note:
Fares are based on double occupancy and are capacity controlled. Rates may increase at any time as the ship sells out and subject to change without notice.
Included
  • 11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 11 Dinners

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Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!
Justin Chappelle

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