We travel further south along the Antarctic mainland than most other expeditions, witnessing sea birds and mammals in abundance, and awe-inspiring ice formations as we push to the Antarctic Circle. Temperatures drop noticeably and excitement is high on this truly exploratory voyage.
We begin in Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of the continent. We set sail across the swells of the Drake Passage bound for Antarctica, in the company of a team of naturalists who will lead seminars on wildlife and photography. Our route will be decided by our expedition leader and the ship’s captain and we may start by sailing as far south as possible and then working our way back towards the South Shetland Islands or this order may be reversed.
Our aim on this voyage is to make the crossing of the Antarctic Circle and to reach our most southerly point at Detaille Island, just south of the Circle. Enroute we’ll navigate through some of the world’s most scenic waterways – many littered with colossal icebergs – and experience some of the most dramatic scenery the continent has to offer. At Paradise Harbour the spectacular bay is ringed with overhanging cliffs and filled with icebergs of the most exquisite blues and turquoises – a photographer’s paradise indeed.
We will visit many of the Shetland Islands, possibly including the flooded caldera of Deception Island, a recently active volcanic crater island, and witness steam rising in places along its shores. At crescent-shaped Half Moon Island, we’ll observe a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags, while at Livingston Island we’ll discover more wildlife, such as Weddell and elephant seals, giant petrels, Antarctic terns and more.
