Active Exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica is the last wild, unspoiled place on earth, the largest, purest wilderness we know, the only continent that has been almost free of human contact since the beginning of time. It is a realm whose beauty is so spectacular and otherworldly that it often leaves visitors speechless.

And on the Antarctic Peninsula, a 700-mile-long finger of land pointing toward the tip of South America, it's not just the breathtaking scenery that beckons, it's also the spectacular display of wildlife. Thousands of penguins and numerous other seabirds such as petrels, skuas, and albatross. There is also an abundance of marine mammals in this region of Antarctica, including most of the world's great whale species and many kinds of seals.

Aboard a small, maneuverable ice-class expedition ship and in the company of a team of expert naturalist guides, you'll journey south to the "last continent" for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that may change your life forever.

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Activities

Easy ship travel, optional walks and Zodiac rides. (Optional sea kayaking and camping on select departures.)

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• A once-in-a-lifetime experience to the "last continent," the most remote destination on earth
• See a spectacular wonderland of mountains, glaciers, and icebergs in a pristie environment
• Interactive Antarctica on an expedition-style ship - not from the deck of a huge cruise ship!

Duration: 11 days Start Location: Ushuaia End Location: Ushuaia

BRIEF Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Board ship and set sail

  Board your expedition vessel and begin the journey to Antarctica with a scenic sail through the Beagle Channel, then enter the waters of the Drake Passage.

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  Days 2 - 3 : At sea, crossing the Drake Passage

  Continue to motor across the 620 miles of the Drake Passage, passing over the Antarctic Convergence, where nutrient-rich waters attract many species of seabirds and whales.

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  Days 4 - 8 : Explore the islands, bays, and channels of the Anta...

  Explore the islands, bays, and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula, with plenty of time for shore walks through penguin colonies and "ice cruises" by Zodiac for close-up inspection of towering bergs and creaking glaciers. Our itinerary focuses on scenic areas with large concentrations of wildlife, including Paulet and Cuverville Islands, the flooded caldera of Deception Island, Paradise Bay, and the Lemaire Channel, hemmed in by mountain walls rising thousands of feet straight out of the water (it's nicknamed "Kodak Alley"). We also usually visit one or more research stations.

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  Days 9 - 10 : sea, crossing the Drake Passage

  At sea, crossing the Drake Passage and rounding Cape Horn en route to Ushuaia.

• Day 11 : Ushuaia – fly home

  We plan to arrive back in Ushuaia in the early morning. After breakfast on board the ship, transfer to the airport and fly home.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way. These trips are often led by:

• Aaron Lawton

  Aaron Lawton developed the Polar program for One Ocean Expeditions (our partner in the Polar Regions), bringing a strong commitment to conservation in the Polar Regions to his work in operations development. An avid paddler, Aaron has been paddling or rowing some form of human-powered boat for most of his life. His experience encompasses wilderness guiding and instruction by canoe and sea kayak, varsity rowing and most recently a passion for Hawaiian-style outrigger canoe racing. Thousands of miles on the water have given him an appreciation and awareness for the subtle changes in the ocean due to local weather and global climate patterns. Aaron is truly Canadian having lived in the mountains of the Yukon Territory, among the wheat fields of Manitoba, in the orchards of Southern Ontario and along the briny coast of Nova Scotia, all by the ripe old age of twelve. Continuing this passion for new places, Aaron has worked in the outdoor industry on six of the seven continents. Over the last decade, Aaron has been expedition leader or kayak guide on about a hundred trips to the Canadian Arctic, the Antarctic Peninsula and Svalbard. In 2001, Aaron and his wife Cathy embarked on a 10-night unassisted sea kayak expedition along the Antarctic Peninsula. Aaron holds a degree in forestry from the University of British Columbia. This has led to a real appreciation for and understanding of ecology and the connectivity of ecosystems.

• Andrew Prossin

  Andrew is the Managing Director of One Ocean Expeditions Inc. (our partner in the Polar Regions) and brings his passion for polar regions and their conservation into any discussion he can. An adventurer in his own right, Andrew is an accomplished ocean racing sailor. He led a team that won a race across the Atlantic Ocean in a 30-foot sailboat; he has sailed around Cape Horn in a Southern Ocean gale and competitively raced yachts and high performance dinghies all over the world. Andrew is also a published photographer and an avid snowboarder, spending his quiet time in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Andrew grew up on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada and has brought his East Coast sense of humor with him all along the way. After earning a degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, he played a strategic planning role for a major Canadian player in the transportation industry. With around five years in the corporate world under his belt but searching for a life of meaning, Andrew decided to "run away to sea". What started as a three-month commitment to manage a ship transformed itself into a very successful entrepreneurial career in expedition cruising where he could apply his experience and his passion. With a reputation for innovation and attention to detail, Andrew has become well known in the expedition cruise industry for the high quality expedition cruise programs he develops. He is also noted for his attention to vital areas of safety and his commitment to environmental protection.

photo credits: ©Christopher Bettencourt