Polar Circle & Antarctic Peninsula 2010
11 nights / 12 days, Polar Circle & Antarctic Peninsula | Visiting Antarctica is often described as being temporarily united with the magical elements of the Polar wilderness, a powerful force that is beyond comprehension. A place where existence doesn't exist, where reality becomes unreal. Departing Antarctica leaves us temporarily confused, as it is hard to imagine that we have truly witnessed the colors, purity and movement of this fascinating region. Antarctica often evokes a longing to return, time after time, for every visit seems to be the first. Feelings that suggest that not much has really changed since scholars started to philosophize and man had the desire to explore, and to re-explore this continent. Only a few can resist the southerly attraction...
| Departure | 2010 MLT30 D, March 6th - March 17th MOL 30 D, March 12th - March 23rd PLA30 C, March 17th - March 28th D = Scuba-diving option C = Field camping option |
| Price | From $6,490 per person in Triple cabin MOL30 & MLT30 From $7,690 per person in Triple cabin PLA30 |
| Included | Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program Comprehensive pre-departure material |
| Not Included | Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights Pre and post land arrangements Transfers to / from the vessel Passport / visa expenses Government arrival and departure taxes Meals ashore Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended) Excess baggage charges / items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges Telecommunication charges The customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other personnel aboard ( information will be provided ) Service fee $25 |
| Please Note | All dates & rates are subject to change. All voyages will operate subject to a minimum of 25 participants (motor vessels), limited to about 50 passengers. All rates are quoted per person in US Dollar, based on twin occupancy. Twin non private and Twin private cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the share price US Dollar rates apply for all sales outside the area of the European Union. 5% discount will be granted for bookings for one or more consecutive voyages. Voyages MOL30, MLT30 and MLT31 also offer a fascinating scuba diving program for experienced dry-suit divers along sea ice and to explore the marine wildlife. |
Polar Circle Map
World Travel Award 2009
Day 1 EMBARK USHUAIA
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.
Day 2 - 3 DRAKE PASSAGE - SOUTH SHETLANDS
During these two days we will sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may meet Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black-browed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. If the winds are favorable we might do our first landing in Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins and southern Giant Petrels.
Day 4 - 9 DECEPTION ISLAND - ORNE ISLAND
We may start our first day in Antarctica with a landing at Hannah Point, where we will find a nice variety of Gentoo Penguins, Chinstraps and southern Giant Petrels, as well as Elephant Seals hauling out on the beach. At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune's Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. On our way further South we will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait or to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas We may start our first day in Antarctica with a landing at Hannah Point, where we will find a nice variety of Gentoo Penguins, Chinstraps and southern Giant Petrels, as well as Elephant Seals hauling out on the beach. At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune's Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. On our way further South we will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait or to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. In Neko Harbor and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island with Elephant Seals and fair chances to encounter Humpback, Minke and Fin Whales. We head south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, south of the polar circle. The landscape is very impressive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. At the Fish Islands we land at one of the southernmost Adelie Penguin and Blue-eyed Shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. A base visit will also be provided, to give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent. At Detaille Island, south of the Polar Circle, in Crystal Sound we reach probably our farthest south. Sailing north again through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.
Day 10 - 11 DRAKE PASSAGE
In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.
Day 12 DISEMBARK USHUAIA
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.