Day 1, Arrive in Ushuaia
No need to stress about missed connections or flight delays as you arrive in the southernmost city in the world with an extra day to unwind and enjoy Ushuaia’s finest luxury hotel, the Arakur Resort & Spa. Relax in the infinity pool, explore the hiking trails surrounding the resort, or head out and discover the southernmost city in the world.
Day 2, Explore Ushuaia
Explore the sights of Ushuaia, visit the museums and Argentinean leather markets, or continue relaxing at the hotel. Our evening briefing at the Arakur is your opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.
Day 3, All Aboard Seaventure
pend your morning exploring Ushuaia or unwinding at the resort until our mid-afternoon escort to the ship. Our Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and our Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!
Day 4–5, Drake Passage
Join our Polar Experts as they share their vast knowledge of Antarctica, from its enchanting wildlife to its bold history. Participate in our pioneering Citizen Science program, or sit back and take in this fabled journey while catching glimpses of rarely-seen wildlife. Keep your binoculars handy to identify the many seabirds that escort our ship as we cross the Antarctic Convergence into Antarctica’s waters and noticeably cooler temperatures, your cue to get ready for that first iceberg sighting, an unforgettable moment on every journey.
Day 6, South Shetland Islands
Over time, the volcanic activity of the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. Here, you can expect a spectacular display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife including Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins; and it’s not uncommon to share the water’s edge with Elephant and Fur seals. Whales are often spotted as well. So, we’ll settle into our Zodiacs and kayaks, and spend most of our day exploring. Whether on land or sea, in zodiac or kayak, be prepared for a fully immersive introduction to this incomparable part of the world.
Day 7-9, Antarctic Circle
Heading south across the Bransfield Strait, we begin to see the breathtaking outline of the Antarctic Peninsula. Wildlife sightings, including penguins, whales, and fur seals, become more frequent, as do dramatic ice sculptures. Should Antarctica’s unpredictable weather and ice permit, you will be among the lucky few to cross the Antarctic Circle, where the sun remains in the sky for 20 hours a day. Following a tradition first established by sailors crossing the equator, we’ll celebrate the occasion by… (Sorry, you just have to be there), before heading onward toward any number of historic and rarely visited British Survey bases, after which we turn back north.
Day 10-12, Antarctic Peninsula
Heading north into warmer climes, we’ll see less sea ice and more open channels, offering access to islands where we can anticipate any number of wildlife sightings, which could include a variety of seal species, as well as penguin rookeries where the locals will be taking advantage of the rocky shore to build their nesting sites. You can anticipate more whale sightings, as well, as Humpbacks feast on the plentiful krill in these warmer waters. As always, we will seek out opportunities to stop at several active scientific bases and historic landing sites along the way, as we leave no opportunity unseized-upon in our quest to explore the very best of this magical place.
Day 13-14, Drake Passage
We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again heading across the Antarctic Convergence and the 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 15, Ushuaia Disembarkation
With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.