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Trip Details

Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia - Vast Colonies of King Penguins, Breathtaking Scenery, Historic sites - kayaking option, resident photographer
25 Days   |   Departure:  11/15/09, 2/9/10   |   From $18, 450

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

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Southwards, a magnificent Alpine country, illuminated by the rising sun, rose slowly from the sea; there were mighty fells with snowy crowns and with sharp, uncovered teeth, around the valleys through which enormous, broad rivers of ice came flowing to the sea.
J. Gunnar Andersson, 1902 - describing South Georgia

Highlights: One of the best trips to Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia. Expect great guides, enough time in destinations, underwater dive master, ROV & National Geographic partnership. This stylish ship was completely renovated in 2008.

Rates: $18,450 - $34,270
Above rates are per person, double occupancy.
Single Rate: from $24,480
Child Rate: $500 off per child (under 18)

Ship - National Geographic Explorer - Expedition Ship
Passengers: 148

Introduction

Antarctica is a wild, pristine place with unlimited photographic opportunities. Penguins by the thousands are of course the real stars here. Their comical antics are truly captivating. A visit to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands is the perfect complement for a voyage to Antarctica. The Falklands, whose windswept terrain is reminiscent of Scotland, are a wildlife-rich area with species not seen elsewhere. Visit one of the largest albatross colonies in the world, and see gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins.

Itinerary

Day 1: U.S. / Santiago, Chile
Depart Miami this evening on an overnight flight to Santiago. We've found that Miami is a convenient gateway for most, but other air alternatives are available.

Day 2: Santiago, Chile
Arrive in Santiago this morning. With the soaring Andes as a backdrop, Santiago makes a spectacular and welcoming first impression--as does your hotel, the Hyatt Santiago, located in a gracious residential neighborhood. In the afternoon, you have a panoramic overview of the city including a visit to the Pre-Columbian Museum. Return to the Hyatt for a relaxing dinner.

Day 3: Santiago, Chile / Ushuaia, Argentina / Embarkation
The morning's LAN Chile charter flight offers some rare views as you fly over the vividly rugged terrain of Patagonia before landing in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. Enjoy a traditional Argentinean barbecue for lunch and then board your ship.

Day 4: At Sea
You awake this morning well into your journey across the Drake Passage. Lying between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, the Drake holds a unique place in maritime lore. Sometimes misty and gray, other times calm and clear, crossing the legendary Drake Passage is unforgettable--a milestone in any adventurer's personal travel history.

Days 6-10: Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula
With nearly 24 hours of daylight at this time of year, you make the most of our five days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands. Your schedule is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of the unexpected. You’ll sail through the incomparable Lemaire Channel and land on the "White Continent."

Day 11: At Sea / Elephant Island
You pass the speck of land that is the legendary Elephant Island, an unforgettable part of the Shackleton story, where the crew of Endurance finally landed on April 24, 1916. From here, Shackleton and five men set sail for one of the most incredible stories of survival at sea: 700 miles across the Southern Ocean in a 22' long wooden sailboat.

Day 12: At Sea
This is a time to spend hours on the deck or the bridge watching the sky and the sea. The ever-changing light presents endless photographic possibilities.

Day 13: South Orkney Islands
Since they're so isolated and often icebound, the South Orkneys are rarely visited. As you enter the vicinity, the shapes and shades of ice are endless. Although it is such a cold and frozen world, the wildlife is surprisingly abundant. Penguins and Leopard seals float by on icebergs, and Snow and pintado petrels weave through the sky. The knowledge of your leaders make these islands once known as the "Inaccessible Islands," accessible to you. In their capable hands, you are able to experience the South Orkneys' remote and rugged beauty.

Days 14-17: South Georgia
Renowned for its beauty and vast colonies of king penguins, this is also the final resting place for the legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Teeming wildlife, breathtaking scenery and soaring cliffs filled with birdlife greet our ship. Hundreds of young Antarctic fur seals are on hand as our Zodiacs make landfall. At St. Andrew's Bay, you may come upon 100,000 king penguins.

Days 18-19: At Sea
These days at sea give you a chance to reflect on all that you have seen and experienced in South Georgia, and prepare for the exciting days ahead in the Falkland Islands. There'll be time to hear talks from our staff, read in the ship's cozy library, and search for whales from the Bridge. For the more indulgent, enjoy a rejuvenating massage with your licensed therapist, work out in the gym--or simply relax.

Day 20: Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
See the photogenic tin-roofed, Victorian-style houses of Port Stanley. Visit the Anglican Cathedral with its organic archway of whalebones and the Falkland Islands Museum.

Days 21-22: Falkland Islands
The Falklands boast the largest albatross colony in the world, irresistible Magellanic penguins in their burrows amid the green tussock grass and herds of enormous elephant seals.

Day 23: At Sea
Your last day at sea gives you one more opportunity to watch for marine life, and a chance to reflect on all you have seen and heard, hearing talks from your staff which provide perspective on the truly colossal scope of this voyage.


Day 24: Ushuaia, Argentina / Disembark / Santiago
You disembark in Ushuaia and have some time to explore before boarding your exclusively chartered LAN Chile flight to Santiago, and the subsequent overnight flight to the U.S.

Day 25: Arrive Miami
You land in Miami at sunrise, feeling inevitably that you are, as some guests describe it, re-entering the world. Then, board your respective connecting flights home.


Notes:
Reverse Itinerary: 11/15/2009, 2/9/2010

Photo Expeditions: All departures
The photo team, a National Geographic Photographer and a Lindblad Photo Specialist, will enhance your voyage by working with you on photo composition and exposure; helping you develop your own unique vision; showing you how professionals edit and store images while on the go; and sharing the stories behind some of their greatest images. Whether expert or interested beginner, you'll find added benefits such as walks ashore and Zodiac cruises dedicated to photography, presentations on the creative and technical aspects of photography, and one-on-one mentoring and coaching in the field.

Included:
Charter flights Santiago/Ushuaia, return Ushuaia/Santiago; accommodations; all meals aboard ship, some meals on land.

Not Included:
Round-trip airfare Miami/Santiago; passport and visa expenses; Chilean immigration fee; travel insurance; gratuities are left to the discretion of the passenger; items of a personal nature; fuel surcharge may apply.