Travel Dates
Departing 14th Jan 2019
Package Provider: Aurora Expeditions
Package Type: Package
Region:
Duration: 19 Nights
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 night accommodation in Ushuaia
· 17 night South Georgia & Antarctic Odyssey onboard Polar Pioneer
- Includes all meals and snacks, shore excursions & Zodiac cruises and much more
· Transfers throughout
· Port charges, fees, and airline taxes
Departing 14 January 2019
Itinerary
Day 1 – Embark Ushuaia
In Ushuaia, you can independently explore the bustling community that lays claim to being the world’s
most southerly town. The town itself sits beneath the spectacular mountains of Tierra del Fuego on the
edge of the Beagle Channel. You may choose to enjoy a trip to the Lapataia National Park by train or
bus, or visit the small museum, which has informative displays about the original inhabitants and the
current population of Tierra del Fuego.
Ushuaia is a duty-free port with a reputation for its delicious Argentinian chocolates, cheap alcohol and
leather goods, and is a great place to buy souvenirs and presents. There are a host of excellent
restaurants available, so whether you are looking for a quick coffee, an excellent meal of king crab, or
an Argentine barbecue, you are spoiled for choice.
This morning, your luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to port for
clearance and loading onto the ship. You’ll have the day at leisure before making your own way to port in
the late afternoon to meet your expedition team and commence boarding at 16:00. (As Polar Pioneer
pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over
Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.
Transfer of your luggage from your Ushuaia hotel to the ship is included. Detailed instructions will be
available in your final documentation.
Days 2 to 3 – Drake Passage
As we commence our Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with
the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife
guidelines and biosecurity procedures, and start our lecture program to help you learn more about
Antarctica’s history, wildlife, and environment.
Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds including
majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following in our wake. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents
created by the ship to gain momentum.
Nearing the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula towards the end of day three, the excitement is palpable with
everyone converging on the bridge watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new
perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence
of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a
lifetime.
Days 4-7 – Antarctic Peninsula
A peek out of the porthole very early this morning should confirm that we have reached Antarctica.
Once we arrive in the calmer waters of the Bransfield and Gerlache Straits, we will generally make
landings or Zodiac excursions two to three times a day. Days will be spent 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. Our experienced leaders will use their expertise to design our voyage from day to day.
This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather and ice
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:
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.
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. Inside 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 a
swim, 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 – a tiny toe of land that is literally alive with wildlife. Here
we will find two species of penguins breeding - chinstrap and gentoo penguins. It is not uncommon to
find wallows of elephant seals that are 40 beasts strong. Giant petrels nest on the ridgeline. The
vegetation consists of mosses, lichens and a grass species that grows only in Antarctica -Descampia
Antarctica. All this is set against a stunning backdrop of mountains and glaciers of the surrounding
islands.
Day 8 – Elephant Island
Today, if weather permits, we set course for Elephant Island, a half-submerged mountain cloaked with
an ice sheet at the outer limits of the South Shetlands. We’ll learn the story of Shackleton and hear how
his ship, the Endurance, was crushed in pack ice in the Weddell Sea, before him and his men climbed
into three open boats, spending 16 months at sea, before finally making landfall on this tiny toe of rock
and ice in the vastness of the Southern Ocean on 14 April, 1916.
We plan to sail past Cape Valentine to see the beach where the men first put ashore over 100 years ago.
Weather permitting, we hope to follow the coastline six miles west to Point Wild, where the men
eventually set up camp under two of their upturned open boats and some old tents. If weather permits,
we’ll attempt to make at least one landing on historic Elephant Island.
Days 9-10 – Scotia Sea bound for South Georgia
On the journey for South Georgia we'll head across the Scotia Sea, following the route that Shackleton
and five of his men took in order to find help for the rest of their crew. On 24 April, 1916, they piled into
the James Caird, the most seaworthy of their open boats, to attempt this perilous journey to South
Georgia, some 1290 km distant. Shackleton hoped to reach South Georgia in two weeks. There he would
enlist the help of the whalers to return to Elephant Island and rescue the men who had been left behind.
As excitement builds for South Georgia, catch up with fellow expeditioners in the bar, keep watch for
wildlife alongside our naturalist from the open bridge, or learn more of the Shackleton story from our
historian.
“Nearly always there were gales. So small was our boat and so great were the seas that often
our sail flapped idly in the calm between the crests of two waves. Then we would climb the
next slope and catch the full fury of the gale where the wool-like whiteness of the breaking
water surged around us.” - Ernest Shackleton
Days 11-15 – South Georgia
South Georgia is one of the world’s most amazing natural environments. Just a speck in the vastness of
the South Atlantic Ocean, and lying wholly within the Antarctic Convergence, South Georgia and
the South Sandwich Islands are a life-sustaining haven to some of the world’s largest congregations of
wildlife. The surrounding sea is one of the most productive areas on Earth and supports the life of
millions of seals, whales, penguins and other seabirds.
A 3,000-metre mountain range forms the spine of this long, narrow island. Between the mountains,
shattered glaciers carve their way through tussock grass to the deeply indented coastline – a landscape
that is synonymous with the epic expedition of survival by Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean. Abandoned
rusting whaling stations and remnants of explorers reflect a time of long ago, while summer workers
conduct scientific and regeneration projects.
Politically speaking, South Georgia lies north of 60° South latitude and is therefore not part of the
Antarctic treaty. It is a wholly British possession, claimed and named for King George III on 16 January,
1775 by Captain James Cook.
Cook recorded in his journal:
"The wild rocks raised their lofty summits till they were lost in the clouds and the valleys lay
buried in everlasting snow. Not a tree or a shrub was to be seen, no, not even big enough to
make a toothpick. I landed in three different places, displayed our colours and took possession
of the country in His Majesty's name under a discharge of small arms."
On 20 May 1916, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Tom Crean and Frank Worsley stumbled into the busy whaling
station at Stromness; hungry, exhausted and covered in grime. They had just made the first ever
crossing of the mountains of South Georgia, from King Haakon Bay, to find help for their three
exhausted companions left at Cave Cove and to rescue the men they had left on Elephant Island. They
had sailed in the James Caird for 16 days under horrendous conditions and finally found safety in the
tiny entrance of Cave Cove. This epic story of survival began with the sinking of his ship, the
Endurance, in the Weddell Sea, six months earlier. As we explore South Georgia, we will have the
opportunity to reflect on Shackleton’s epic journey.
If conditions permit, we plan to follow in Shackleton, Worsley, and Crean’s footsteps and complete the
final leg of their walk from Fortuna Bay to Stromness.
Some of the destinations we may visit in South Georgia are:
Grytviken
Originally a Norwegian sealing and whaling station, it was finally closed in 1965. Now it is the
administrative centre and a hub of activity in South Georgia. The former whaling station stands as a
solemn testament of the whaling days, but the museum offers much more than a whaling past. It has
many of the local animals on display as well as the island’s history of exploration.
As we wander around the site, skirting the ruins of factory buildings, peering into the past, we must be
careful to avoid sleeping Elephant Seals or disturbing small groups of King Penguins as we imagine what
it was like when whale processing was in full swing. Abandoned ships lie sunken alongside hundred-yearold
wharves, while pitted concrete walls remind us of the more recent Falkland's War, which started
here.
Sir Ernest Shackleton died from a heart attack during his final expedition on board the Quest on 6 May,
1922. His body was laid to rest at Grytviken. We pay our respects at his grave and possibly visit the cross
his men erected in his memory looking out across beautiful Cumberland Bay.
St Andrews Bay
The long black sandy beach fronts a broad valley that stretches well back from the sea. This valley
shelters the largest king penguin colony on South Georgia. Toward the landing beach on the north end of
the bay, the beach is a resting place for hundreds of elephant seals that haul out on the shore to moult.
Behind the beach and as you move along to the south, the sight and sound (and smell) of over 200,000
pairs of king penguins at different stages of their breeding cycle will be overwhelming.
Eventually the colony is so dense that the penguins prevent even the seals from using the beach! The
glacial river that runs into the sea here will be alive with penguin chicks and elephant seal pups testing
their skills. If we lift our gaze from the wildlife for a moment, we will glimpse the snow-capped peaks of
some of the world's most spectacular mountains.
Godthul
Imagine indented bays lined with bleached whalebones, teeming with fur seals and penguins just
‘hanging about’. In Godthul, you have the opportunity to clamber through the tussock to a spectacular
plateau offering magnificent views across the island and the waters beyond. A careful descent leads us
to a magnificent Macaroni Penguin rookery.
Prion Island
Prion Island is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to visit wandering albatross sitting
on their nest – and if we are lucky, witness the magnificent courting rituals of the younger birds forming
life-long pairings. We must take great care with the albatross on the island and remain on a boardwalk.
Despite these restrictions, the photographic opportunities are excellent. Prion Island is also one of the
best places to find the unique endemic, the South Georgia Pipit.
Salisbury Plains
Salisbury Plain has one of the largest King Penguin colonies on South Georgia. With about 100,000 pairs,
the shore and beach are simply covered with penguins. Along the beach you will also find fur seals and
elephant seals amongst the mix of penguins. There is a tremendous scope for walking and exploring on
your own during this landing, allowing you to enjoy some personal time amongst the kings.
Fortuna Bay & Stromness
Fortuna Bay is surrounded by high mountains with glaciers dropping out of the high country to terminate
in the open valley that is home to a small king penguin colony. This is where Shackleton, Worsley, and
Crean came down off the treacherous glaciers of the interior on their way to Stromness whaling station.
If conditions allow, we can walk in the footsteps of Shackleton and follow their track over the last
mountain pass. It’s a moderately difficult 6km walk over a 300-metre pass, and is well worth the
experience for those that are fit and able. The Polar Pioneer will meet us as we stagger into Stromness
Bay just as Shackleton and his men did 100 years ago.
Days 16-17 – Scotia Sea
Between South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, you will be entranced by the ceaseless flight of the
many seabirds that follow our wake, skilfully using the air currents created by the ship to gain
momentum. On this leg, we are usually travelling into the prevailing weather so it is difficult to estimate
our arrival time in the Falklands. Our lecture program will continue and highlight all of the amazing sights
we have witnessed over the past few days. You’ll have ample time to enjoy observing the sea birds,
whale watching from the bridge, or simply relaxing in the bar with a book.
If time and weather conditions permit, we could pass close to Shag Rocks, a fascinating group of jagged
rocky islets protruding from the sea.
Day 18 – Flight Stanley, Falkland Islands to Santiago, Chile (or Punta Arenas, Chile)
Polar Pioneer will glide into Port Stanley for an early morning arrival. You have the choice of finishing
your voyage here and extending your stay in this very British outpost, or board the once-per-week
scheduled flight back to Santiago or Punta Arenas. Should you choose to fly today, you will be greeted
by our local Falkland Islands guide who will assist you with the transfer to Mount Pleasant airport for the
afternoon flight.
Conditions apply. Subject to availability and change without notice. Full supplier conditions apply. Valid for new bookings only. Prices valid at the time of publication. Prices are per person based on twin share occupancy unless otherwise stated and displayed in AU$. Member savings are calculated using the original advertised price.