Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia

This dream journey takes us to Antarctica, the fabled Terra Australis Incognita, and beyond, on a comprehensive cruise of the epic destinations of the Southern Ocean. Aboard a deluxe expedition ship, we explore the wildlife-rich oasis of the Falkland Islands, breathtaking South Georgia Island, with its enormous colonies of stately king penguins and haunting tales of Shackleton, and the celebrated Antarctic Peninsula itself, a land of towering peaks and glacier-lined fjords. Our “go-anywhere” Zodiacs grant us access to hidden bays full of drifting icebergs and to pebbled shores where we walk amid chattering penguins and their chicks, while a team of expert naturalists and historians illuminate the awesome world of Antarctica for us.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark

Arrive in Ushuaia, and the next day, board the ship and sail south along the narrow Beagle Channel in the wake of Fitzroy and Darwin.

Days 3-5
At Sea / Falkland Islands

Zodiacs zip us from ship to shore to hike where kelp geese graze and Magellanic penguins guard their burrows on the beach. The Falklands are home to incredible sub-Antarctic wildlife, including five breeding species of penguins (rockhopper, Magellanic, gentoo, king, and macaroni). We also visit the quaint Victorian capital, Port Stanley.

Days 6-7
At Sea

Enjoying lectures and presentations, we cross the remote Scotia Sea to South Georgia.

Days 8-10
South Georgia

Rising 10,000 feet out of the Scotia Sea and covered with glaciers, South Georgia is a breathtaking island whose grandeur and scale must be seen to be believed. Our Zodiacs take us to amazing places where elegant, yellow-plumaged king penguins number in the hundreds of thousands. We may also visit Elsehul, home to fur seals and macaroni penguins, and the Bay of Isles, where we find nesting sites of wandering albatross and breeding colonies of fur seals. At the ghost town of Grytviken, we visit the simple grave of legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Days 11-12
At Sea

We view wildlife as we sail the Scotia Sea.

Days 13-17
Antarctic Peninsula

Deception Island, Neko Harbour, Paradise Bay, and Gerlach Strait—these are the names that conjure up iconic images of the Antarctic Peninsula and its towering mountains. With four days to explore, we navigate Zodiacs amid blue-white icebergs, visit penguin colonies, listen for calving glaciers, visit research stations, and enjoy options for sea kayaking, conditions permitting.

Days 18-20
Drake Passage / Ushuaia

After crossing the Drake Passage, we fly home on Day 20 from Ushuaia.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 1, Easiest. It is appropriate for anyone in good health who is physically active. Some agility is required for getting in and out of the Zodiac landing crafts. There are daily shore excursions featuring walks.

Explanation of Trip Levels