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Trip Details

Epic Semi-Circumnavigation of Antarctica - Ice-Breaker, Weddell Sea, Amundsen Sea, Ross Ice Shelf, Scott and Shackleton's Huts, Spectacular Scenery - rarely visited regions
31 Days   |   Departures: 11/13/08  |   From $19,900

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

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Trip Highlights: Least visited regions of Antarctica, Weddell Sea, Cape Norvegia, Atka Bay Emperor Penguin rookery, Proclamation Island & Mawson Coast.

Rates: $19,900 - $36,900
Triple from: $19,900 twins from: $26,500

Ship Name: - Kapitan Khlebnikov - Icebreaker
Passengers: 108

Introduction

This immense wilderness is a fabulous and virtually pristine paradise for wildlife with an incomparable scenery of mountains, snow and ice. It is a privilege to visit this awe-inspiring continent and to experience the special magic that has lured explorers, adventurers and scientists for more than two centuries and - most recently - world travelers. This 31-day epic voyage explores the South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, McMurdo Station, islands rich in wildlife and natural beauty, and concludes in Lyttelton, New Zealand.

Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Arrive in the world’s southernmost city, where you’ll spend the night at a conveniently located hotel.

Day 2: Embarkation Day
In the late afternoon, you will board the icebreaker for the voyage down the Beagle Channel into the Drake Passage.

Days 3-5: South Shetland Islands
Seabirds accompany the ship across the Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands, your first landfall in Antarctica. Visit penguin rookeries and deploy Zodiacs to cruise through ice floes where seals lounge in the Antarctic summer sun.

Days 6-8: The Antarctic Peninsula
Pushing ever southward, we cross the Antarctic Circle, entering a world where daylight is continuous. Explore bays ringed by glaciers, and islands where penguins and seals co-exist in relative harmony. From Marguerite Bay, you’ll enter the Bellingshausen Sea.

Days 9-10: The Phantom Coast
As you follow the Phantom Coast, plan to visit Peter I Island. In 2006, the last time the ship landed successfully, the historian noted that only 800 people in all human history have been known to visit the fog enshrouded island.

Days 11-16: Amundsen Sea
Look forward to several adventurous days of breaking through the Amundsen Sea pack ice. The crew will deploy the helicopters so you can witness the power of the icebreaker from the air. Make sure you take your camera when the call to board the helicopters is made.

Your Expedition Team will deliver a series of illustrated presentations about the history and geology of the region. Your naturalists will explain the natural life cycles of the penguins and seals you may encounter en route.

Days 17-18: Ross Ice Shelf
Excitement builds as you approach the immense Ross Ice Shelf. If conditions permit the helicopters will land atop the floating ice barrier. Be on the alert for Emperor Penguins. The water around the Ross Ice Shelf is known to be the habitat of Emperors.

Days 19-21: Ross Island and McMurdo Sound
Ross Island is home to the US research base McMurdo Station and Scott Base, New Zealand’s research station. Nearby is Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery Hut (1901-04) The historic building is slowly deteriorating under the onslaught of a century of ice, snow and wind. Conservation efforts are underway. Your planned visit is carefully controlled to ensure that the impact of your exploration is negligible. Environmentally responsible tourism is the hallmark of a Quark Expeditions voyage.

Your crew will deploy the helicopters to travel over the fast ice into the Dry Valleys. Virtually no precipitation has fallen there for millions of years. The sole vegetation is lichen that grow inside rocks. If conditions permit, you’ll encounter unusual granite formations eroded by the winds and mountain glaciers colored by the sand and rock blown into the ice.

Days 22-24: Cape Royds and Cape Evans
At Cape Royds, visit Ernest Shackleton’s Nimrod Hut (1907-09). At Cape Evans, visit a hut associated with Shackleton and Scott. A century after its construction, the Cape Evans hut is considered one of the ten most endangered monuments in the world. The Antarctic Heritage Trusts are raising funds for its restoration. This shipping company supports the project through onboard charity auctions, and visitor admission fees.

Days 25-28: Southern Ocean and Campbell Island
Heading north, you pause to visit Campbell Island, a nature preserve where Royal Albatross nest. You’ll follow boardwalks through lush greenery to observation points. from which you can photograph the wildlife.

Days 29-31: Enderby Island to Lyttelton, New Zealand
Yellow-eyed Penguins, Royal Albatross and New Zealand sea lions share Enderby Island with Red-crowned Parakeets. If the conditions are right, you’ll go ashore to explore the protected environment, before disembarking your epic adventure in Lyttelton, New Zealand. A group transfer to Christchurch Airport from the vessel completes the journey.

Important Reminder: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy and excitement of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that you can achieve everything your staff and crew sets out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of you are encouraged to bring to the voyage.


Notes:

Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife you encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition.

Mandatory Travel Insurance: Passengers travelling on this expedition are required to be covered by a travel insurance policy that includes emergency evacuation coverage. As this voyage travels to remote regions of the world, we recommend that the policy’s emergency evacuation benefit be higher than minimum.

Included:
One pre-cruise night hotel night with breakfast (The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travellers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel.); Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping; All meals on board throughout voyage (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.); All shore landings and Zodiac excursions per the daily program; Formal and informal presentations by Expedition Team and guest speakers; Photographic Journal on DVD; A pair of rubber expedition boots on loan for shore landings. (So you don’t have to pack any.); Hair dryer in every cabin; Expedition parka to keep; 24-hour coffee, tea, cocoa, and bottled water; Comprehensive pre-departure materials; Group transfers from the hotel to the ship at the embarkation port, and from the ship to the local airport on disembarkation – plus all baggage handling aboard ship; All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; Polar Arts Program featuring an artist-in-residence who gives presentations and may conduct workshops in digital photography or traditional media (e.g. pastel, watercolour, oils, pens and ink); All helicopter transfers and aerial sightseeing according to each day’s program on the icebreaker.

Not Included:
All airfare; Passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel before embarkation; Baggage, cancellation and travel insurance (please note that emergency medical insurance is mandatory); Excess baggage charges; laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges; Telecommunications charges; Customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel (guidelines will be provided); Any possible helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group will be charged at an hourly rate to be announced on board.