The Antarctic Peninsula offers you the most dramatic scenery and biggest variety of wildlife in Antarctica. In the southern summer large ice-free areas provide breeding grounds for very large numbers of seabirds and seals. From King George Island and Penguin Island we will sail down to the beautiful Paradise Bay, where you can go ashore on the Antarctic mainland.
The narrow and spectacular Lemaire Channel is surrounded by mountains and glaciers and a popular passage for several species of whales journeying up and down the sheltered Antarctic Peninsula waterways. In the Antarctic Peninsula Minke Whales, the smallest of the rorqual whales, and ferocious-looking Leopard Seals are common.
Day 1: In the afternoon, we embark on board the M/V Plancius in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the picturesque southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through the Beagle Channel.
Day 2 & 3: During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may meet 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, we glimpse at the first icebergs.
Day 4 - 7: A typical itinerary in Antarctic Peninsula could be as follows. This is a sample only, the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.
We may start our first day with a landing on Half Moon Island, where we will find a variety of Chinstrap Penguins, Seals often haul out on the beach. Later on , we sail to Deception Island. Deception is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we 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.
On our way further South we will sail across the Gerlache Strait 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. In Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area we have good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island with Elephant Seals and fair chances to encounter Humpback, Minke and Fin Whales.
A visit to one of the scientific stations in Antarctica will give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent. Further south we may visit the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station, where we will receive a warm welcome from the station crew. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales. In the Neumayer Channel, we may visit the British research station and post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Close to Port Lockroy we can also offer a landing on Jougla Point with Gentoo Penguins and Imperial Shags.
Day 9 & 10: In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.
Day 11: We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
Rubber Boots - provided for all passengers free, the use of rubber boots, handed out on board. These rubber boots will be of high quality, perfect for the Antarctic conditions that we will encounter, to keep your feet dry, warm and comfortable for all landings.
Hiking - Hiking for everybody! Hiking always an option. 2–3 hours per landing in Antarctica (1x morning/1x afternoon), 2-3 different walks per landing (easy to challenging).
Snowshoes - On departures which offer hiking, each passenger can now also freely use snowshoes. This makes hiking in deep and slushy snow easier. Lightweight snowshoes will be provided by Oceanwide Expeditions and are available on board, free of charge for the duration of the voyage. Additional experience to walk with snowshoes is not necessary.
Field Camping - On all Antarctic M/V Plancius departures, exciting ‘open air’ camping will be optional. This will give an intensive experience of the Antarctic wilderness. Oceanwide Expeditions will provide special gear and field equipment which includes top quality wind and waterproof bivouac bags (lightweight alternative to tent system). This will keep you dry, warm and comfortable during the night in the open air of Antarctica. A polar sleeping bag to keep you warm will also be provided. The maximum number of participants for this camping option is 15 participants per night. Oceanwide Expeditions will provide 1 camping guide. Camping is always subject to weather, local site and environmental regulations. The price will be US$125 per person per night. Everybody can participate, no previous experience required.
