Description

 Your Fly, Stay & Cruise package includes: 

·      Business class flights from Sydney to Punta Arenas, returning from Buenos Aires

·      10 night Antarctic Explorer cruise onboard Polar Pioneer

-      Includes all meals and snacks, shore excursions & Zodiac cruises and much more

·      Economy class flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires

·      2 nights accommodation in Buenos Aires

·      Transfers throughout

·      Port charges, fees, and airline taxes

Departing 10 March 2019

Itinerary

Day 1 – Punta Arenas, Chile

One night’s hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas prior to boarding your expedition is included

Our voyage begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the southern-most city on Earth. Overlooking the Straits of

Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world's most historic trade routes. Today, Punta Arenas reflects

a great mix of cultures, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors, and it remains an utterly

fascinating testament to Chile's rich history.

On arrival into Punta Arenas, please make your own way to our joining hotel. This evening, meet your

fellow expeditioners for a briefing by an Aurora representative regarding the first leg of your expedition –

a flight to Antarctica! Is a group dinner included? If not, it should be.

Day 2 – Punta Arenas to King George Island

This morning, a private vehicle will be transfer our group to Punta Arenas airport for an early morning

charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica. The flight will take approximately two-and-a-half hours.

On arrival into King George Island, the Aurora Expeditions team is on hand to greet you and provide you

with gumboots for the short walk to board Polar Pioneer. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before

important briefings, followed by your first meal on board as the crew set our course for our first landing

in Antarctica!

NOTE: King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula. This is one of the

most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required in order for the plane to take

off and land safely. We apologise in advance if you experience any delays.

Our team have developed contingency plans should your voyage be affected by lengthy weather delays

on King George Island. Please rest assured in the knowledge that our team work tirelessly to ensure that

all our expeditions run to schedule. We apologise in advance if you experience any delays during the

voyage. If you have any concerns please contact Aurora Expeditions Travel Services on +61 2 9252 1033

Days 3-5 – Eastern Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea

Depending on the weather, we will first approach Antarctica to the north of King George Island or in

narrow channels between the South Shetland Islands. From there we will head through Antarctic Sound

to the eastern side of the Peninsula.

A host of choices are open to us, and depending on the ice and weather conditions, the eastern side of

the Antarctic Peninsula is ours to explore. Our experienced expedition team, who have made countless

journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design our voyage from day to day. This allows us to

make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

Because we are so far south, you will experience approximately 18-20 hours' daylight and the days will

be as busy as you wish. We will generally make landings or Zodiac excursions two to three times a day;

cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales that are feeding near the surface and landing on

the continent and its off-shore islands to visit penguin rookies, seal haul outs, historic huts and a few of

our other favourite spots along the peninsula. There is plenty of time for sleep when you get home!

The Weddell Sea is well known for its colossal icebergs, large penguin colonies, and fossil-rich islands,

and there are many exciting places we can choose to visit. A sample of some of the places where we

may land, hike, photograph or view spectacular wildlife follows:

Brown Bluff

Situated on the eastern side of Tabarin Peninsula, the spectacular 745-metre promontory of Brown Bluff

towers over some 20,000 nesting pairs of Adelie penguins and hundreds of gentoo penguins. Nesting

skuas, snow petrels, and pintados inhabit the upper slopes and kelp gulls screech overhead. Brown

Bluff's volcanic origins have created some fantastically-shaped boulders that lie scattered across the ash

beach and make colourful nesting sites for some of the penguins.

Paulet Island

This tiny volcanic island forms the nesting grounds of some 120,000 pairs of Adelie penguins, and the

surrounding seas literally teem with penguins!

There is also a blue-eyed shag colony situated at one end of Paulet's long beach front. Leopard seals are

often seen cruising offshore, hoping to pick up a penguin snack.

Weddell seals sometimes haul out here for a quiet nap on the beach. Apart from its plentiful wildlife,

Paulet is also rich in the history of Antarctic exploration, for it was here that the 22 men of Larsen's ship

Antarctic arrived on 28 February, 1903, after their ship sank. The men spent the winter on Paulet, living

on penguins and seals, until eventually Larsen and five of the men rowed across Erebus and Terror Gulf

to be reunited with members of Otto Nordenskjold's geological exploration party.

James Clark Ross Island

Separated from Trinity Peninsula by Prince Gustav Channel, the beaches and rocks of this mighty island

are a mix of volcanic and sedimentary; creating a geologists’ paradise. The beaches are populated with

kelp gulls while Antarctic terns and skuas nest on the island's higher slopes. Many of the island's rocks

are decorated with bright red and orange lichens, presenting fantastic photographic opportunities. Ice

floes in the surrounding waters provide temporary floating homes for Weddell and leopard seals. We

may walk up to Hidden Lake, following a stream rich in fossilised remains of deciduous trees, ferns, and

even clamshells. If ice conditions and time permit, we may also circumnavigate this fantastic island; a

rarely-accomplished feat.

Devil Island

This very rarely-visited island was named for its two striking peaks or 'horns'. It is the nesting site for

some 10,000 pairs of Adelie penguins. If weather conditions permit, we may walk up a scree slope to the

top of the island's western peak. A few hundred metres in height, the summit provides superb views into

Erebus and Terror Gulf. On the upper slopes, you may even see nesting snow petrels and Wilson's storm

petrels. For those who are less active, the continuous commute of penguins on the beach and the

accompanying skua population provide endless fascination. We may also cruise in our Zodiacs amongst

the large numbers of icebergs that are often grounded offshore.

Days 6-8 – Western Antarctic Peninsula

As we round the northern tip and sail along the Western flanks of the Antarctic Peninsula, we’ll have the

chance to continue exploring and landing on some of the more well-known sites along the peninsula. A

sample of some of the places where we may land, hike, photograph, or view spectacular wildlife include:

Livingston Island

A unique landing place on the Peninsula – tiny toes of land that are literally alive with wildlife. Here we will

find two species of penguins breeding, Chinstrap and Gentoo. It is not uncommon to find wallows of

elephant seals that are 60 beasts strong. Giant petrels nest on the ridgeline. The vegetation consists of

mosses, lichens, and a grass species Deschampsia Antarctica. All this is set against a stunning backdrop

underneath long black scree slopes at the foot of the mountains and glaciers of Livingston Island.

Paradise Harbour

A protected bay surrounded by magnificent peaks and spectacular glaciers, the rocky cliffs of this

unforgettable piece of heaven provide perfect nesting sites for blue-eyed shags, terns, and gulls. The

serenity of Paradise Harbour envelops us once the sound of the dropping anchor fades from our ears.

This is a haven for whales and we keep our eyes open for humpbacks, orcas and minkes, as well as

crabeater seals, as we explore the bay in Zodiacs. Imagine being so close to a whale that when it

surfaces to blow, the fishy spray of his exhalation momentarily blurs your vision – a truly rare experience.

Hydrurga Rocks

This group of low-lying unprotected granitic rocks protrude from the sea, swept by ocean swells. At first

these rocks appear uninteresting, but on closer investigation, calm channels lead to a hidden interior

where Weddell seals are hauled out on protected snow beds and noisy chinstrap penguins raise their

families on rocky platforms. Hydrurga is Latin for leopard seal, and on occasions we see some skulking in

the shallows. There are many places to simply sit and watch the rise and fall of clear green water and

listen to the magic sounds and calls of the wildlife.

Half Moon Island

This wildlife-rich island is tucked into a neat bay at the eastern end of Livingston Island. On a clear day,

the glaciers and mountains of Livingston Island dominate the vista. There is a large chinstrap penguin

rookery tucked in between basaltic turrets coloured by yellow and orange lichens. Gulls nest on these

turrets and there are often fur seals and elephant seals hauled out on the pebble beaches. At one

extremity of the island there is a large colony of nesting blue-eyed shags. At the other end lies a small

Argentine station that is sometimes occupied by scientists conducting research on the penguin colony

and surrounding waterways.

Lemaire Channel

If ice conditions allow, standing on the bow of Polar Pioneer and quietly moving through the narrow

Lemaire Channel could be one of the highlights of our voyage. Cliffs tower 700 metres directly above the

ship. The water can be so still that perfect reflections are mirrored on the surface. Gigantic icebergs may

clog the channel, creating navigational challenges for our captain and crew; occasionally they may even

obstruct our passage.

Port Lockroy

Located on Goudier Island, British Port Lockroy is an important site for both scientific research and

visitors to the Antarctic continent. Designated a historic site in 1994 and opened to the Antarctic tourism

industry in 1996, it was discovered in 1904 and used by the whaling industry in the first half of the

1900’s, was part of the British Operation Tabarin during World War II, and was later used as a British

Research Station. Today, Pork Lockroy is manned by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and operates as a

museum and gift shop for visitors from passing Antarctic expeditions. You can even send a post card

home from the Penguin Post Office, the world’s most southern Post Office!

Deception Island

Visiting Deception Island is like making a journey to the moon. We sail through the narrow opening of

Neptune's Bellows to enter the flooded volcanic crater. The inside of the crater is an unworldly scene,

virtually devoid of life. Glaciers flow down from the edge of the crater, littered by black volcanic ash.

We can explore the lifeless remains of a derelict whaling station and a vacant British base, or climb to

the rim of the crater. Steam rises from the shore indicating that the water is actually warm enough for

swimming - for those who dare. Outside the crater, if conditions allow, we might land at Bailey Head to

explore the enormous Chinstrap Penguin rookery that featured in David Attenborough's Life in the

Freezer series.

Robert Point

A fine example of the South Shetland Islands – tiny toes of land that are literally alive with wildlife. Here

we will find two species of penguins breeding - chinstrap and gentoo. It is not uncommon to find wallows

of elephant seals that are 60 beasts strong. Giant petrels nest on the ridgeline

Days 9-10 – Drake Passage

Today, our landings come to an end as we turn north to commence our Drake Passage crossing back

towards South America. With lectures and videos to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still

plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for

reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced, and the impact this voyage has had

on our attitude to life.

As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather

and time permitting.

Day 11 – Beagle Channel, Ushuaia

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia,

where we will be free to disembark at approximately 08:00. Farewell your expedition team and fellow

travellers as we all head off on our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immensity

and power of nature.