ANTARCTIC PENINSULA ADVENTURE

Sailing in comfort aboard either the Akademik Ioffe or the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, we begin this 10 night expedition at the tip of South America. We chart a course through the Drake Passage and make visits along the way through the South Shetland Islands. When we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula, be prepared to be dazzled. Even our experienced crew members many of whom have visited the southern region a hundred times or more are still astonished by its pristine beauty. The abundance of wildlife here is truly extraordinary including five seal species, massive penguin rookeries of gentoo, Adelies and chinstraps as well as a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. It is nature you will experience up close and personal on frequent excursions inland.

Our journey will take us to Petermann Island or Wilhelmina Bay where we encounter colossal icebergs and, of course, the ice landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Hardy adventurers or those with a yen for history have the chance to camp out on the ice overnight and feel the thrill and audacity of early explorers who attempted to conquer this continent.

As with all of our expeditions, safety is our top priority. For that reason weather, ice or other conditions may require us to change our itinerary and shore excursions as we go but that is half the fun of Polar exploring. Predictability is a word that has no relevance in this environment.


Day By Day Expedition Itinerary

Day 1 / Ushuaia

Today is the first day of our adventure. As we board the vessel in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city at the tip of Argentina, and start to become familiar with 'our home' for the next 11 days we cannot help but wonder about the exciting journey ahead of us. In the early evening, we set sail and begin our voyage leaving behind Ushuaia and charting a course through the Beagle Channel.



Days 2 -3 / Drake Passage

Crossing the Drake Passage, there is so much excitement in the air as we make our way ever closer to the white continent. Guests eagerly soak up the friendly atmosphere onboard as our numerous Polar experts prepare us for our adventures with presentations on everything Antarctic, from wildlife to history. Eventually, we will cross the Antarctic Convergence where we will notice a distinct drop in temperature as we enter the waters of the Antarctic Ocean. Along the way, we will witness many spectacular sights from icebergs to an array of seabirds and even several whale species some of which are known on occasion to fully breach from the sea

Who can resist the lure of the great wandering albatross, that bird that soared to fame in the lines of "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner"? Perhaps a whale spout on the horizon will have us rushing to the rail. Whatever it is, keep your ears peeled and a warm jacket nearby so that you too can rush to the outer decks for a view.

Days 4 - 8 / Antarctic Peninsula

In the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, we will hope to make as much time as possible to explore by inflatable Zodiac boats and marvel up close at nature's glory. Planned excursions might include Neko Harbour, Wilhelmina Bay and even the southerly Petermann Island, where we will observe Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals, skuas and other seabirds as well as a shocking abundance of penguins including some very large colonies of the comical Adelie penguin.

At Half Moon Island we will observe a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags. We also hope to see the gentle humpback whale dining on krill in its feeding grounds and possibly have an opportunity to observe orcas and Minke whales as we go.

Days 9 - 10 / Drake Passage

As we leave this magical place and make our way north, heading again across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage before rounding Cape Horn, we have no doubt that time will be spent sharing and reflecting on the wonderful experiences of the last few days. Sailing down the Beagle Channel, we celebrate the conclusion of our Polar expedition at a special dinner.

Day 11 / Ushuaia

In the early morning, we will arrive back in Ushuaia. The mood will change as we awake this morning and plan our departure from the ship and the trans-continental or trans-ocean travel that will take us back to our homes and families. Returning home, we will find it easy to slip mentally back onto the decks of a ship rolling to the tempo of the Southern Ocean as we recount stories of our adventures to friends and families. This is truly an adventure to last a lifetime!

"Hi David!  Thank you SO much for taking me out on your tour this morning!  Although my pictures are by no means close to yours, they have improved tremendously!  I really love how some of them turned out. I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done for me on this vacation.  You made my vacation. I know I still have a long way to go, but I’m excited about the journey of learning more!  I have you to thank for that."

Pamela Powell, Chicago