Antarctica Pictures | Antarctica Cruise | Facts | History | Ugg Sale | Store | Clothes | Whales | Book, DVD etc. | Schools | Boots | Forum | Site Map | FIDS

Trip Details

Antarctica Cruise - The Peninsula - South Shetland Islands, Lemaire Channel, Paradise Bay, Port Lockroy
11 Days   |   Departure:  11/24/08, 12/4/08, 12/7/08, 12/14/08, 1/4/09, 1/14/09, 2/4/09, 2/14/09, 3/14/09    |   From $4 890

Locations:  Antarctic Peninsula | South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands | South Shetland Islands | Falkland Islands

Tell me more about a trip to Antarctica!

Testimonials  |   Ship types

Trip Highlights: Five days exploring the wildlife abundant Peninsula. Fairly active program aboard basic Russian research vessel with good guides and lectures.

Rates: $4,890 - $9,790
Single Rate: 1.8 -  2 times double occupancy rate (twin cabins)
Fuel surcharge: $20 per person, per night

Ship Name: Professor Molchanov / Multanovskiy - Research Vessel
Passengers: 52

Introduction

The White Continent, with its multi-colored ice-caps, glaciers and towering snow-capped mountains, offers attractive scenery and photographic opportunities. The Antarctic Peninsula in particular offers the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica. Sailing from Ushuaia, the southernmost city in Argentina, you cross the Drake Passage and make your first landing in Antarctic waters at Aitcho or Penguin Island, which both offer a good variety of flora and fauna. Over the next five days, weather and landing conditions permitting, you will spend as much time ashore as possible, hiking and Zodiac exploring.

Day 1: Ushuaia / Embarkation
In the afternoon, embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located in the shadow of the Andes and right at the Beagle Channel shore. Sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.

Days 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage
During these two days you sail across the Drake Passage. When you cross the Antarctic Convergence, you arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area you may see Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black- browed Albatrosses, Light- mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, you glimpse at the first icebergs. If the winds are favourable you may land in the evening of the third day at Aitcho Island or Penguin Island at the South Shetlands. These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins and southern giant petrels.

Day 4: Deception Island
At Deception Island, you may land at Baily Head with a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception Island is a huge volcano of which the crater opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here you find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.

Day 5: Orne Islands / Cuverville Island / Paradise Bay
You will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait. Later, continue to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. From there, you sail through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large whales. You will have opportunities for Zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Day 6: Lemaire Channel
Sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island where you can find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. You also try to land at Pleneau Island home to Elephant Seals. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales.

Day 7: Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait / Charlotte Bay
Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait you arrive at Charlotte Bay with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for Zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where you may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and Minke Whales.

Day 8: Half Moon Island
Half Moon Island is a beautiful volcanic island with Chinstrap Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, sheathbills and Brown Skuas. Weddell Seals and Elephant Seals may also be spotted. The crew of the Argentine station is very hospitable. You may also choose to land at Hannah Point, which has a very rich wildlife featuring Elephant Seals, Cape Pigeons, Southern Giant Petrels, Macaroni Penguins and Gentoo Penguins.

Days 9-10: Crossing the Drake Passage
In the Drake Passage you have again a chance of seeing many seabirds and to take advantage of the knowledge of your lecture team.

Day 11: Ushuaia / Disembarkation
Arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark the ship.


Notes:

This voyage operates aboard the Professor Multanovskiy on the following departures: 3/22/2008, 12/7/2008, 1/4/2009, 1/14/2009, 2/4/2009, 2/14/2009, 3/14/2009.

Included:
Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary; All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac; Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff;); All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme; Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Not Included:
Any airfare; pre- and post land arrangements; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance ( which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; all gear such as boots and jackets; customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).