Oceanwide Expeditions: Voted World's Leading Polar Expedition Operator at the World Travel Awards 2009. This is the second time this prestigious award was presented by the World Travel Awards Committee, the first time being in 2005, when Oceanwide was also the winner.
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 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: At Deception Island, we will try to 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 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.
Day 5: We will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait. Later we 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 we sail through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
Day 6: We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We 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: Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait we arrive at Charlotte Bay with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and Minke Whales.
Day 8: 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. We 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.
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.
Kayaking - The kayak option can be booked on m/v Plancius 26 January departure only. Oceanwide will provide a basic thick neoprene wetsuit, neoprene shoes, neoprene gloves, neoprene hood and kayak. There is a 15 person maximum number of participants for this kayak option. One kayak guide will be provided. Up to 4 kayak days out! Kayaking is subject to weather and prevailing ice conditions. The price will be US$750 per person. Basic kayak experience required, physical fitness essential.
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 2009/10 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$100 per person per night. Everybody can participate, no previous experience required.
