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Antarctica Expedition Cruise
The 10 day Classic Antarctica Expedition, run by G.A.P Adventures, is the ultimate introduction to the great 'White Continent'
and includes many of the wildlife and scenic highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula, Drake Passage and the
South Shetland Islands, home to some of the planet's most impressive wildlife and dramatic landscapes.
Birds, including large penguin rookeries, rub shoulders with seal colonies while orcas and whales are often
seen plying the icy waters. Throughout the voyage a team of lecturers and staff will share their knowledge of the remarkable
natural history of Antarctica, along with entertaining stories from its earliest and most notable expeditions.
It is also one of the last true wilderness areas left on earth, largely unchanged since early explorers and
whalers first landed on its inhospitable shores less than two centuries ago.
The continent itself is roughly circular with a spindly arm, called
the Antarctic Peninsula, reaching northwards towards Tierra del Fuego.
South America is the nearest landmass, some 600 miles away. Considerably
larger than either the United States or Europe, and twice the size
of Australia, Antarctica is surrounded by a frozen sea that varies
in area from one million square miles in summer to 7.3 million square
miles in winter.
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HIGHLIGHTS:
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- 9 nights aboard the 'Explorer'
- All meals included on board ship
- Drake's Passage
- South Shetland Islands
- Antarctic Peninsula
- 8 expedition and staff naturalists
- Visits to modern scientific research stations
- All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises in Antarctica
| Summary |
| Is is for me?: The Classic Antarctica voyage
is the ultimate introduction to the Great White Continent. Departing
from and finishing in the port of Ushuaia, Argentina, this tour
includes many of the wildlife and scenic highlights of the Antarctic
Peninsula, Drake Passage and the South Shetland Islands. Enjoy
wildlife viewing, visits to scientific bases and time to take
in the breathtaking scenery of icy waterways, glaciers, icebergs
and rugged mountains. Accommodation and Meals:: 9 nights on board ship in either quad / triple / twin share cabins or superior cabins or suites. All meals while on board ship are included, drinks are extra. The chef produces a hearty and varied international menu and there is a good selection of beer, wine and spirits. Trip profile:: Our adventure cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands takes in as much wildlife viewing as possible. Included are visits to scientific bases, evening lectures by experts in everything from whales to geology, superb dining and of course plenty of time to appreciate nature's pristine wilderness. Group size:: Max. 106 passengers + 8 expedition staff / naturalists and G.A.P. leader. Local payment::USD $300 . |
| Itinerary | |
| Day 1: | Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego, Argentina: Arrive in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the World. Transfer from the airport to the port for the afternoon embarkation on to the "Explorer". |
| Days 2-3: | Drake's Passage:
Our adventure begins with a 400-mile crossing of the passage that bears the name of the 16th-century English
explorer Sir Francis Drake. The "Explorer" is at home in this part of the Southern Ocean, known for
turbulent waters resulting from the Antarctic Convergence, a meeting of cold polar water flowing north and
warmer equatorial water moving in the opposite direction. This mixing pushes nutrient rich waters to the
surface attracting a variety of seabirds, whales and other species. Our ship is accompanied most of the way by an impressive variety of seabirds that fly in our wake. We have a good chance of spotting whales and many different species have been encountered in these waters. We'll also begin the lecture and information sessions to learn about the extraordinary human and natural history of the Antarctic region. |
| Days 4-7: | Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands:
This is what we've all been waiting for - a chance to step foot on the Great White Continent! Weather and ice
and time permitting we'll visit the South Shetland Islands, Paradise Harbour or nearby Neko Harbour, Wilhelmina Bay and the Lemaire Channel. The South Shetland Islands is an impressive group of islands lying roughly parallel to the Peninsula, a haven for wildlife. We visit vast penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and wallowing elephant seals. We also hope to visit one of the many research bases and look for Antarctica's two flowering plants that thrive here during the short austral summer. We'll normally attempt 2 excursions per day. Antarctic Peninsula: The Antarctic Peninsula is the most readily accessible part of the White Continent and has some of the best wildlife and scenery. There are enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills and Antarctic Terns are just some of the many birds found here in abundance. We are also likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, while orca, humpback whales and Minke whales are often encountered at close range. Sailing around the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula we hope to navigate the Antarctic Sound, or 'iceberg alley' as it is often called, where huge tabular icebergs drift north from the Antarctic continent. If we opt for this northerly route due to weather and ice conditions, we will hope to land on Paulet Island to see its vast Adélie Penguin rookery. If the southern route is chosen we will hope to visit aptly named Paradise Bay, or nearby Neko Harbour, where glaciers fill the calm waters with a mind-boggling vista of icebergs; this is where we hope to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself. Also on this route is Port Lockroy, home to thriving penguin colonies, and a possible visit to a former British scientific station that has recently been renovated to serve as one of the most isolated and intriguing museums in the world. The station also acts as a post office and we may have a unique opportunity to send postcards home. During the voyage we hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways in the world (if they are not choked with pack ice and icebergs). Two in particular, the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers that are so impressive they are a highlight of the trip for many people. On some voyages we sail south of the Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island where Adélie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags nest close to the landing site. |
| Days 8-9: | Drake's Passage: Today we leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage, back to Ushuaia. In between bird watching and whale watching, and enjoying some final lectures by our expedition staff, this is a chance to relax and review the adventures of the past week. |
| Day 10: | Ushuaia: We disembark after breakfast and transfer by bus to the Antarctic Unit office located at the entrance of the pier. |
Notes: Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and programme varies according to ice and weather conditions - as does the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Tour code: XVACS
NB. All costs are in GB pounds sterling.
Price per person in a main deck (yacht deck) double cabin
| Departure dates | Cruise price |
| 2007 | |
| 29 Nov | £2745 |
| 08 Dec | £3250 |
| 2008 | |
| 04 Jan | £3250 |
| 13 Jan | £3250 |
| 09 Feb | £3250 |
| 18 Feb | £3250 |
The cruise length is 10 days.
All tours start and finish in Ushuaia, Argentina.
All meals and excursions are included whilst on the cruise. An additional payment (currently US$300) has to be paid on embarkation. Transatlantic and internal flights are not included. Drinks on board the ship are not included. Please contact us for transatlantic flight prices.
Last Updated: Tuesday May 13 2008