Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia & Falklands
Saturday 27th December 2008 to Sunday 18th January 2009
AA8042-02
We
are again including in our programme, cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic in
association with Oceanwide Expeditions. Oceanwide Expeditions have been
operating Arctic and Antarctic voyages for about 17 years. Using small,
ice-strengthened vessels allows safe circumnavigation through pack ice and
narrow channels and restricts capacity to around 50 passengers, which offers a
comfortable, friendly and intimate atmosphere.This cruise aboard the “Aleksey Maryshev” combines the Falkland Islands with the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia to make a superb voyage. In an environment that has 24 hours of daylight, we will experience awe-inspiring landscapes, fantastic ice formations and historic places as well as a marvellous
array of unusual and rare wildlife species – penguins, albatrosses, petrels, seals and cetaceans.
Sailing from Ushuaia – the southernmost city in Argentina, our route is via the Beagle Channel to the Falkland Islands, where we spend a whole day on the western side of the archipelago and the following day in Port Stanley.
Falklands: During our ocean journey to the Falklands, one can possibly see many shearwaters and albatrosses as well as Storm Petrels, Magellanic Penguins and Magellanic Diving Petrels. During our time ashore we will attempt to witness the spectacle of a Black-browed Albatross colony in an area they share with Rockhopper Penguins and we may see a number of other bird species, which are normally found only on the South American mainland. We will also visit Stanley – the Falkland Islands capital.
Then after two days at sea, and crossing the Antarctic Convergence we will arrive at the next venue in our voyage - South Georgia. On our journey we should have observed many new southern seabird species – prions, petrels, albatrosses & Skuas.
South Georgia: A place of beauty and famed from the voyage of Sir Ernest Shackleton, South Georgia is home to some awesome wildlife situations, including a colony of over 200,000 King Penguins and thousands of Fur Seals – indeed a sight to behold. We will visit Grytviken – an abandoned whaling village and King Edwards Point - with a British garrison and Shackleton’s grave. Other highlights of the South Georgia programme are Fortuna Bay and Bay of Isles with breeding Wandering Albatrosses and Salisbury Plain with its massive King Penguin colony. In order to experience a wide spectrum of wildlife and landscapes we may also visit Elsehul, Right Whale & Possession Bays, Gold Harbour and Drygalski Fjord. This will give us a chance of seeing: Elephant & Fur Seals, Gentoo & Macaroni Penguins, Grey-headed & Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Southern Giant Petrels, Dominican Gulls, Brown Skuas, Antarctic Terns, Snowy Sheathbills, and the endemic South Georgia Pintail.
Our cruise continues towards Antarctica, passing through the South Orkneys but planning to visit Laurie Island and Punta Cormorant, where we may have seen Southern Giant Petrel & Adelie Penguin colonies. At sea we may be lucky enough to spot Snow Petrel and Emperor Penguin.
Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland: Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands are some of the truly unspoilt regions of the world. The White Continent, with it’s multi-coloured icecaps, table icebergs, glaciers, towering snow-capped mountains and many historical sites, offers a fantastic experience and marvellous photographic opportunities. Weather and landing conditions permitting we will spend as much time ashore as possible and may include Paulet Island, where there are remains of 20th century polar expeditions and an enormous colony of Adelie Penguins and Brown Bluff, where there is a beautiful volcanic area. At Trinity Island, Charlotte Bay and the Gerlache Strait we hope to encounter: Gentoo Penguins, Crabeater & Fur Seals, Humpback & Minke Whales while at Bailey Head on Deception Island, we could be surrounded by up to 100,000 Chinstrap Penguins. It is intended to visit one of the best wildlife areas in the South Shetlands – Hannah Point, which has Cape Pigeons, Blue-eyed Shags, Macaroni, Gentoo & Chinstrap Penguins and Elephant Seals.
Our return route to Ushuaia is via Drake’s Passage.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Fly from UK to Buenos Aires, arriving on the morning of Day 2. (It may be possible to fly from UK regional airports)
Day 2: Arrive Buenos Aires, then connect with a domestic flight to Ushuaia for an overnight stay.
Days 3-20: Embark on the “Aleksey Maryshev” for our 18-nights cruise.
Day 21: This morning we disembark at Ushio for an overnight stay.
Day 22: A domestic flight to Buenos Aires to connect with our international flight to UK.