Description

 Your Fly, Stay & Cruise package includes: 

·      Business class flights from Sydney to Buenos Aires, returning from Santiago

·      1 night accommodation in Buenos Aires

·      Economy class flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

·      1 nights accommodation in Ushuaia

·      17 night Antarctic cruise onboard Polar Pioneer

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

·      1 night accommodation in Santiago

·      Transfers throughout

·      Port charges, fees, and airline taxes

 Departing 18 March 2019

Itinerary

Day 1 – Ushuaia

Step aboard Polar Pioneer in the late afternoon to a warm welcome, and set sail along the Beagle Channel bound for Antarctica. Additional Information: We recommend you arrive into Ushuaia at least one day prior to your expedition start date. A luggage transfer from your Ushuaia hotel to the ship is included today. Ushuaia port is a short walking distance from town; you are required to make your own way to port for boarding this afternoon.

Days 2 to 3 – Drake Passage

As we cross the Drake Passage, we keep watch for giant petrels, wandering and black-browed albatross. Our on-board historian introduces us to Shackleton, while our expedition guides prepare us for our first landing in the South Shetland Islands.

Days 4 to 6 – Antarctica Peninsula, Weddell Sea

An autumn dawn greets us in spectacular Antarctic Sound where we may make a continental landing at towering Brown Bluff before pushing on into the Weddell Sea. Amidst shifting pack ice and tabular icebergs the Endurance story comes alive. If ice conditions allow, we visit world-renowned fossil beds on Seymour, Vega or James Ross islands, perhaps even Nordenskjold’s Hut on Snow Hill Island – and learn of a survival story nearly equal to Shackleton’s.

Day 7 – Elephant Island

Point Wild on Elephant Island is so exposed it’s hard to imagine Shackleton’s men landing three lifeboats there, let alone surviving four dark winter months before rescue. If conditions allow we hope to take our Zodiacs as close as possible, perhaps even stepping ashore.

Days 8 to 9 – Scotia Sea

Retracing James Caird’s epic voyage to South Georgia, we traverse some of the most productive waters in the world, keeping watch for fin, sei and possibly even blue whales. We have time to reflect on our journey so far, and learn more about Shackleton’s life-saving crossing to South Georgia.

Day 10 – South Georgia

Entering King Haakon Bay, if conditions allow, we land in tiny Cave Cove to fully appreciate the skills of Worsely, Shackleton’s skipper and navigator, then continue to near Peggotty Bluff, where Shackleton, Worsely and Crean set off to cross the island. It is from here where our crossing party alights to tackle the 50km trek.

Days 11 to 15 – South Georgia

While our South Georgia ‘Crossers' negotiate the rugged interior, we delight in one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles – king penguin rookeries half-million strong, chinstrap, gentoo and macaroni penguin colonies, wandering albatross on nests, beaches thick with elephant and fur seals. We hope to join our mountaineers on the final leg of the Shackleton Crossing – the Shackleton Walk – from Fortuna Bay to Stromness, before visiting 'The Boss’s' grave and the whaling museum in Grytviken.

Days 16 to 17 – Scotia Sea

We’re entertained by whales, dolphins and seabirds as we cross the Scotia Sea to the Falkland Islands. At sea, our final days are a flurry of shared photos, memories and a farewell drink with the Captain.

Day 18 – Falkland Islands to Santiago (or Punta Arenas)

After an early breakfast, we bid farewell to Polar Pioneer and transfer to Stanley airport for our onward flight to Santiago or Punta Arenas, Chile. Or choose to stay on in the Falkland Islands to continue your adventure. Additional Information: Please note that flights departing Stanley to Santiago (via Punta Arenas) only depart once a week, on a Saturday. Please advise if you wish to end your flight in Punta Arenas; refunds are not available for unused flight sectors.