Sail to distant Antarctica on this 12-day Antarctica cruise. View the abundant wildlife which call this frozen continent home. Cross the Drake Passage and explore the Antarctic peninsula from the comfort of the Sea Explorer.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Enjoy the Argentinean leather markets and succulent lamb dishes that make Patagonia famous as you explore the southernmost town in the world. Highlights of Ushuaia include an award-winning museum and trips to nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park and its popular “Train at the End of the World”.
Day 2: Embark
1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner
Arrive at the ship in the afternoon and be greeted by your Expedition Team and the ship's officers. Attend a safety and orientation briefing, followed by the Captain's welcome dinner. After dinner, relax and take in the mountainous scenery on your early evening sail down the Beagle Channel past Magellanic penguin, rock cormorant, and sea lion colonies.
Day 3-4: Drake Passage
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spot albatrosses, prions, and petrels as you sail south. Join the Expedition Team out on deck, in search of the whales and dolphins which may also be seen in the area. Informative and entertaining presentations on the wildlife, history, and geology of Antarctica are offered and led by onboard experts. Helpful briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety are also held in the ship's comfortable lounge. The length of the journey across the Drake Passage depends on sea conditions, but the ship should approach the South Shetland Islands of the Antarctic Peninsula by the evening of Day 4.
Day 5-9: Antarctic Peninsula
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Reach the land of superlatives: Antarctica! Your Expedition Leader and Captain create a flexible itinerary based on weather, ice, and opportunity. The route will stress the most scenic bays and channels of the Peninsula, stopping at penguin rookeries, seal wallows, bird colonies and whale feeding areas, as well as sites of historic and scientific interest. The trip may include picturesque Neko Harbor, sheltered Paradise Harbor, the humpback whale favored Wilhelmina Bay, the striking Lemaire Channel, the wildlife-filled Penola Channel, or the majestic Neumayer Channel.
You may also stop at an active scientific base, such as Poland’s Arctowksi or Ukraine’s Vernadskiy, as well as an historic base such as U.K.’s Port Lockroy or Wordie House. Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins abound, and Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals are often found hauled out to rest along with predatory leopard seals and the aggressive Antarctic fur seal. Minke and humpback whales are frequent visitors in the late season and orca sightings are also common.
Day 10-11: Drake Passage
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Continue your lecture series and wildlife spotting as you sail back to Ushuaia. Depending on sea conditions, you may have an opportunity to sail past the legendary Cape Horn. Arrive at the pier in Ushuaia in the early hours of day 12.
Day 12: Disembark in Ushuaia
1 Breakfast
Disembark in the morning for your continued journey home.
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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.