Penguins of the Far South: Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica

Your gateway for this expedition is Ushuaia, Argentina. Within the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Ushuaia has a small-town feel yet boasts many shops, museums, cafes and restaurants that you can enjoy before your voyage. If you’re feeling adventurous, the nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park and Martial Glacier offer plenty of outdoor activities, such as hiking.

As you embark, the anticipation grows. Trade your land legs for sea legs, meet and greet your fellow travellers and get acquainted with your ship. Since every Antarctic adventure presents new opportunities and experiences, embarkation day is just as exciting for your expedition team as it is for you. On board, your team is there both to ensure your comfort and safety as well as help make your wildlife dreams come true.

Your days at sea are filled with presentations led by your expedition team on photography, wildlife, glaciology, and history. In between presentations, spend time on deck looking for wildlife or chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar.

Upon your arrival, your camera gets its first real workout capturing the abundant wildlife and rugged feel of this sub-Antarctic region. The archipelago contains two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, which you explore on daily excursions. Stanley, also known as Port Stanley, is often a favoured landing site, as the town offers a unique British outpost feel, complete with eclectic charm. You’re free to explore, grab a pint at the local pub or visit the cathedral and museum. In terms of wildlife, the archipelago is home to Magellanic, gentoo and southern rockhopper penguins. If you’re lucky, you may even spot king penguins here too! Also expect to see black- browed albatross, plus two endemic bird species: the flightless Falkland steamer duck and, possibly, the elusive Cobb’s wren. Your expert education team enrich your understanding of the local flora and fauna, making the most out of your time in the Falklands.

Sailing southeast to South Georgia, you officially enter Antarctic waters once you cross the Antarctic Convergence, an invisible biological boundary encircling the continent. This meeting of oceans, where the cold Antarctic waters mix with the warmer waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, helps nourish the abundance of krill that attracts whales, seals and birdlife. Your expedition team will notify you when you cross this invisible yet important line and look for the seabirds and marine life that frequent this nutrient-rich area.

This remote, mountainous island was a popular stop for many historic Antarctic expeditions and was once known for whale- and seal-hunting. Today, island wildlife populations are rebounding, but you’ll still see remnants of old whaling stations and other abandoned outposts. One significant and historic site is the grave of the great explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. You can visit his grave at the settlement of Grytviken, which is also home to an old whaling station, plus a museum, gift shop, church and small research station. Although South Georgia’s history is an important attraction to the island, its incredible densities of wildlife make it truly memorable. Each landing you make on South Georgia, often referred to as the Galapagos of the Southern Sea, opens your eyes to the wondrous lives of new, enthralling creatures. One day, you may see colonies with hundreds of thousands of pairs of king penguins waddling on shore; the next, you may visit another beach inhabited by hundreds of fur or elephant seals. The grasses, mountains and beaches of South Georgia all play an important role in the breeding and survival of different species on the island. This fragile and interwoven relationship is something your Expedition Team will instil in you during your time here.

Say goodbye to the king penguins as you leave for your next destination: Antarctica! Your days at sea are filled with presentations, workshops and social activities led by your expedition team. If conditions allow, we may attempt landfall on the South Orkney Islands, our first official stop in Antarctica.