EMBLEMATIC ANTARCTICA

1. Arrive

2. Day 1 Embarkation, Ushuaia

   Arrive into Ushuaia, the capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, located at the country's southernmost tip. Known as the 'End of the World', Ushuaia is a depictive scene; a mass of colourful and simple buildings which sit at the foot of the Martial mountains. After boarding your ship Le Boreal or Le Lyrial and listening to the all-important safety briefing it's time to relax and explore your base for the next 11 days. With space for only 200 passengers on polar departures, this is an elegant, cosy and supremely comfortable cruising journey.

   Overnight: PONANT Le Boreal or Le Lyrial

3. Day 2 - 3 Drake Passage

   These two days are spent at sea.  Time to wrap up and head out on deck to admire the multitude of wildlife surrounding you; from waved albatross, also known as Galapagos albatross, foraging for food just below the surface, to whales slowly drifting by. When it’s time to sit down with a warm drink, head to the ship’s theatre for one of many exciting and informative lectures from one of the world’s top naturalist guides. 

   Overnight: PONANT Le Boreal or Le Lyrial

4. Day 4 Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay

   Neko Harbour is without doubt one of the most beautiful sites on the Antarctic Peninsula, discovered by Belgian navigator Adrien de Gerlache during his 1897-1899 expedition.  A sublime 360˚ panoramic scene of colossal ice mountains and reflective waters - motionless bar the odd splinter of ice; and a host of wildlife including Weddell and fur seals often seen on the beach to the gentoo penguins nesting in the hill above. From Paradise Bay, a detour to discover the old Argentine base Almirante Brown is highly recommended. 

   Overnight: PONANT Le Boreal or Le Lyrial

5. Day 5 Pléneau Island and Port Charcot

   Measuring 1 1/2 km long by 500m wide, Pléneau Island is home to thousands of gentoo penguins, elephant seals and fur seals. A chance to explore the island on foot (crouch down low as the gentoo are not intimated by height and will often come quite close to say hello) or surrounding waters in a zodiac.  Continue to Port Charcot, a natural harbour located in Salpêtrière Bay, discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, where you will find another colony of gentoo penguins. 

   Overnight: PONANT Le Boreal or Le Lyrial

6. Day 6 Port Lockroy

   Also discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot in 1903, Port Lockroy is a spectacular natural harbour and currently one of the most frequented in Antarctica.  For many years it provided a stopover for whaling ships, a British military base and later a research station. While you’re here, a visit to the pocket-size museum to experience life on the island in the 1950s and the chance to send a post card home from the southernmost post office in the world, is a must. 

   Overnight: PONANT Le Boreal or Le Lyrial

7. Day 7 Deception Island

   Easily recognisable by its almost-enclosed horse-shoe shape, Deception Island sits just above the northern tip of the Antarctica peninsula.  Accessed via a tricky 230m wide gap in the volcano’s wall, the island still bears traces of its past as a long-time hub of the whaling industry, with relics of abandoned sheds lining the black sand of its volcanic beaches.  It is also home to some spectacular wildlife, including the Antarctic Peninsula’s largest colony of chinstrap penguins, as well as elephant seals and fur seals.

   Overnight: PONANT Le Boreal or Le Lyrial

8. Day 8 Weddell Sea

   Amid the bewildering stillness of the Weddell Sea, enjoy a day snaking through a maze of table icebergs; vast ice platforms sculpting the landscape like no other.  The primary home to the formidable Weddell seal (who can swim under the water without a breath for up to an hour), as well as orcas, minke whales, fur seals, penguins, wandering albatross and other magnificent seabirds. 

   Overnight: PONANT Le Boreal or Le Lyrial

9. Day 9 - 10 Drake Passage

   Set sail across the Drake Passage, back to Ushuaia, in the comfort aboard this superb expedition vessel.  With a ratio of less than 2 guests to 1 member of staff, delicious French-inspired food and indulgent spa; these last two days are designed to sit back, relax and be spoilt.  Spend time on deck observing and enjoying the various seabirds; elegant albatross dive bombing alongside and sooty shearwaters and white-chinned petrels soaring above the ship's rooftop. 

   Overnight: PONANT Le Boreal or Le Lyrial

10. Day 11 Disembark, Ushuaia

    Arrive into port in Ushuaia, Argentina and disembark.

11. Depart

THE IMPORTANT DETAILS

Expedition programs include activities such as Zodiac® (inflatable rib) outings (often with wet landings), moderate walks to more active hikes; all accompanied by a team of naturalist guides. Calls, landings and zodiac trips will always depend on weather conditions, position of ice, winds and the state of the sea. These can force a change to the scheduled plans at any time.

Taking into consideration the unusual and exceptional character of expedition itineraries, the calls shown are an indication only. The final route will be confirmed by the captain and expedition leader, who will consider the touristic quality of the sites and above all, the safety of the passengers. Their decision will be subject to that of local authorities and the expert pilots present on board during the navigation in polar and/or isolated zones.

Travelling to polar/isolated regions is an exhilarating experience. The raw beauty and untouched wilderness offer an unusual chance to experience a place where there is little evidence of human presence. Inevitably, there are some consequences that come with such remoteness: please remember that you are far from modern hospitals with full medical facilities, thus evacuation is highly expensive. Without the necessary medical coverage, all expenses will have to be immediately paid for with your personal funds. We urge you to subscribe a full coverage insurance, choose your insurance company very carefully and be extremely vigilant and ensure your insurance is fully comprehensive.