Expedition Antarctica The Great Penguin Adventure

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina

Our great Antarctic adventure starts in Ushuaia, beautifully surrounded by snow-covered mountains, where we stay one night at a centrally located hotel. This little town is also referred to as the “End of the World”.

Day 2: The expedition cruise begins

In the morning, you will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia on your own before meeting your guides and fellow travellers for lunch. In the afternoon, we board the Ocean Nova and sail out through the Beagle Channel – our great Antarctic expedition has begun! If we're lucky, we might even see penguins – keep an eye out for swimming Magellanic penguins in the Beagle Channel!

Day 3: At sea

We spend a day at sea, accompanied by seabirds such as petrels, fulmars and albatrosses that gracefully follow our ship. Whales and dolphins may also be seen in the surrounding waters, and our polar experts begin their exciting lecture program.

Day 4: West Falkland

Our plan is to explore the western islands of the archipelago, which are isolated and windswept but home to many seabirds and migratory birds, including the black-browed albatross. Weather permitting, we go ashore and explore Saunders Island, a penguin hotspot that is one of the few places on Earth where four penguin species nest side by side. Here we can find gentoo, rockhopper, king and Magellanic penguin rookeries as well as nesting black-browed albatross. You can sit on the white sand beach watching the penguins come and go while the striated caracaras patrol overhead.

Day 5: Stanley, East Falklands

We visit Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. Here, we wander through charming streets lined with small houses and learn how this quiet harbour was once a major port in the 19th century for ships attempting to round the waters of Cape Horn. We also make a stop at Stanley’s famed philatelic museum with its impressive collection of historic stamps.

Day 6 - 7: Southern Ocean

We sail southeast, bound for South Georgia. The anticipation grows, especially as we cross the Antarctic Convergence and notice a dramatic drop in temperature. Shipboard presentations will continue, featuring the fascinating history and abundant wildlife of South Georgia. Wildlife will guide us to the island – keep a lookout in the ocean for whales, seals, and penguins swimming and diving.

Day 8 - 11: South Georgia

Majestic mountains, mighty glaciers, and beaches full of king penguins greet us on the island of South Georgia. We arrive at the beginning of summer, when there are few ships in the vicinity, and the peaks of the dramatic mountain ranges are still snow-covered.

For wildlife enthusiasts, South Georgia is a true oasis. Hundreds of thousands of penguins gather at places like St. Andrew’s Bay and Salisbury Plain. Huge elephant seals lounge on sandy beaches, and at this time of year, we may witness dramatic fights for dominance among the males. The island is also home to several other penguin species, including macaroni, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins, along with the playful and feisty fur seals.

South Georgia played a significant role in Shackleton’s legendary expedition. After his ship Endurance sank, he and his crew crossed the treacherous ocean in an open lifeboat to reach the island. We hope to visit Shackleton’s grave at Grytviken, once an active whaling station, now home to a charming museum.

Day 12 - 14: At sea

We now set sail towards the world’s most remote continent – Antarctica, faithfully accompanied by many seabirds. Our polar experts continue to fill our minds with heroic stories of the early daredevils who explored Antarctica. We also keep our eyes open for the first iceberg, which could appear on the horizon at any time!

Day 15 - 18: The South Shetland Islands & the Antarctic Peninsula

This is a true Antarctic expedition cruise, and our exact route over the following days is subject to weather and ice conditions. Below are examples of places we may visit.

We hope to go ashore at Elephant Island, where we will learn more about the famous Antarctic adventures of Sir Ernest Shackleton. In 1916, Shackleton and his crew sought refuge on this island after their ship was crushed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea. Following the loss of their vessel, they reached Elephant Island after a harrowing ordeal on drifting ice floes. They established a camp at a location they named Point Wild, after Shackleton’s commander, Frank Wild. Today, this area is home to nesting chinstrap penguins.

We will spend some time cruising among the South Shetland Islands, just off the Antarctic Peninsula. Dazzling wildlife sightings await us on our excursions to some of the islands, including King George, Half Moon, Barrientos, or Livingston. Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins thrive here, along with several species of seals. Hopefully, we will also have the chance to visit the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island. Along the coastline of the South Shetlands, we keep our eyes open for humpback whales foraging for krill.

Continuing south along the Antarctic Peninsula, we navigate through vast expanses of pack ice covering large parts of the bays, watching as our experienced officers skilfully steer our ice-strengthened ship. We cruise through labyrinths of icebergs, some of which may be occupied by curious penguins. In good ice conditions, we hope to set foot on the Antarctic continent at Hope Bay or Paradise Harbour. The scenery here – from the colossal icebergs to the seemingly endless Antarctic ice sheet – is truly breathtaking.

Day 19 - 20: Drake Passage

As we leave this magical place and head across the Drake Passage, we spend time reflecting on the incredible experiences of the past days. As we approach the South American continent, it is possible to see whales, dolphins, and seals. We celebrate the conclusion of our Antarctic expedition with a farewell dinner on board.

Day 21: Ushuaia, Argentina

In the early morning, we disembark in Ushuaia and have time to explore this quaint little town at our own pace.

Please note: Our exact route will depend on ice and weather conditions. The planned itinerary will be updated throughout the voyage in order to take advantage of favourable conditions. Flexibility is the key to a successful expedition!

Pre and post cruise extension

For those of you who want to experience the bustling city of Buenos Aires we offer a pre and post cruise extension, including two hotel nights, sightseeing, dinner and flight Buenos Aires – Ushuaia with return. Please contact us for more information.