Antarctic Explorer: Weddell Sea & the Falkland Islands

Fly to King George Island in Antarctica

Meet with your trip mates and transfer to the airport for a two-hour flight across the Drake Passage. Arrive at the Antarctic base Frei Station on King George Island, then set off on Zodiac to the expedition ship. Settle into your cabins, explore the ship, and meet the expedition leaders. Cap off day one with dinner and a cocktail.

Explore the Antarctic Peninsula

Awaken to the towering peaks of the Antarctic continent as the real adventure begins. The next three days include a varied itinerary based on ever-changing Antarctic conditions. Explore the area with guided walks on shore, visits to penguin colonies, and Zodiac cruising among the ice with expert guides providing insight and interpretation. Visits to Paradise Harbour, Andvord Bay, or the Errera Channel are among many amazing opportunities. Wilhelmina Bay is another favorite location and one frequented by pods of humpback whales.

Discover the Gerlache Coast

Continue exploring the scenic coastline with the ship as your basecamp and the Zodiacs as your transportation to get ashore. Diverse possibilities include a cruise through the Lemaire Channel, visits to Pleneau Island, the Penola Strait, and Petermann Island, where Adelie and Gentoo penguins nest. Cultural possibilities include visits to an active climate-change research base and an old British Antarctic Survey hut.

Returning north, pass the massive granite sentinels of Mount Scott and Mount Shackleton. Marvel at a landscape of heavily glaciated mountains permanently covered in ice and snow.

Visit the South Shetland Islands

Weather permitting, have the opportunity to explore Deception Island. Sail into the middle of this dramatic volcanic caldera, where penguins gather on black sand beaches. Fur seals seek protection from the elements among the rusted relics and structures of an old whaling station. See the old aircraft hangar where an Australian explorer landed the very first flight into Antarctica. Take an active hike to 'Neptune's Window' — high up onto the rim of the crater. If the conditions are right, partake in the "polar plunge" in the thermal waters along the shore.

Enter the Antarctic Sound & Weddell Sea

Journey towards the Antarctic Sound and into the icy Weddell Sea. For the first time, take in the vastness and majesty of the Antarctic icecap. Notice the significant increase in the number of awe-inspiring tabular icebergs and the presence of sea ice. These massive icebergs break from the huge ice shelves to the south and drift north on the currents. This always makes for exciting navigation — and stunning photographic opportunities in the soft Antarctic twilight. This is wild and remote Antarctica and has a distinctly different feel from earlier locations.

Tour the Weddell Sea

Watch the Weddell Sea unfurl with its Adelie penguin rookeries of staggering size, some containing more than 100,000 birds. Such colonies dwarf the rookeries of earlier excursions. Weather permitting, visit sites like Hope Bay, Paulet Island and Brown Bluff. Keep an eye on the ice floes as the ship navigates through them, and watch for majestic emperor penguins. Those spotted in previous years are believed to be residents of the nearby colony.

Absorb the History of Exploration

Discover the incredibly rich history of exploration in this area. Remnants of Nordenskjöld's Swedish expedition of 1901-1904 are found in several locations, and the epic century-old story of Shackleton and the HMS Endurance expedition has strong links to the region. It was here that he and his men drifted north on the ice after their ship had been lost in ice months earlier. Enjoy gorgeous sunset views while musing on the bravery of these adventurers.

Sail to Elephant Island

Approach Elephant Island from the south, spotting more species of penguins and fur seals hauled out on the beaches. Shore landings at Point Wild on the north coast are notoriously difficult due to surging ocean currents and pounding surf on the rocky beach. But if conditions allow, land at this thrilling location where Shackleton and his men were encamped under their upturned lifeboats. This site is a major highlight for history buffs.

Journey to the Falkland Islands

While resting up on the comfortable expedition ship, take advantage of the onboard spa services and watch for wildlife from the deck of the ship. Enjoy interactive presentations and lectures from onboard polar experts who will recap the Weddell Sea adventures and will give insights into the days ahead.

Continue Overseas Journey

As the journey continues, scan the horizon in search of whales and other marine mammals. Spectacular seabirds, including several albatross and petrel species, are constant companions as they soar above the ship. Attend a lecture by the onboard historian and take time to review your photographs with the onboard photography expert.

Explore West Point & Saunders, Falkland Islands

Arrive at the Falkland Islands overnight, then explore West Point and Saunders. West Point Island is known for its sizeable rookeries of rockhopper penguins and nesting black browed albatross. Nearby Saunders Island's white sand beaches hosts no less than four penguin species. Look for gentoo, magellanic, rockhopper, and the ultimate goal for the Falkland Island visit — the impressive king penguin.

Depart from Port Stanley & Fly to Punta Arenas

Travel through the narrows in the early morning, then anchor in Port Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Punta Arenas (flight is included in the trip cost). Continue on to Santiago the same evening or other Chilean cities. Otherwise, enjoy a night in this delightful city, or venture further afield to explore the highlights of Patagonia.