Antarctica Classic - Discovering the Antarctic Peninsula

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina

Antarctica is everything south of the Antarctic convergence, a biological boundary that fluctuates between 50° and 60° South. Travelers gather in Ushuaia in anticipation of their expedition to Antarctica. Overnight in Ushuaia.

Day 2: Embarkation Day

After embarkation in the late afternoon, the vessel will sail down the Beagle Channel. Travelers keep watch on deck for seabirds, penguins and rainbows.

Days 3 - 4: Crossing the Drake Passage

Prepare for rough water, but do not be disappointed if the crossing is smooth sailing. The Drake is always changing.

Days 5 - 8: South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

Many factors play a role in shaping the expedition's progress. We attempt to leave the ship to explore in a range of activity levels at least twice a day. Perhaps, travelers will feel salt spray on their face as the Zodiac weaves in and around grounded icebergs in Pleneau Bay. They could scramble to the top of a craggy hill for an unforgettable view of an icy chasm near Port Lockroy. They could sit quietly on a pebbled beach and wait for a curious penguin chick to approach, or strap on a harness for a polar plunge into the frigid waters of an Antarctic Bay.

Explore the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula with adventurers who enjoy camping, kayaking, cross–country skiing, mountaineering and other active pursuits. Over the course of the austral spring and summer, the sun lingers longer and longer, melting snow and ice. Wildlife abounds: chicks hatch and fledge, and pods of whales breach in a deep bay where a calving iceberg has churned up krill, the local delicacy.

The natural cycle of life ensures that every expedition is different. And that every expedition is full of surprises! In Antarctica, silence is so complete that interruptions become indelible memories: noisy penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, the boom and crack of a calving glacier near Petermann Island. Then there is the sound of breathing as arms pump and legs power up an incline on cross-country
skis. As travelers sail from island to shore to bay during four days in the Peninsula, the Expedition Team provides opportunities for contemplation, to test endurance and engage curiosity.

Day 9: Drake Passage to Ushuaia

Activities during the return voyage depend on the conditions of the Drake. A smooth crossing is a busy crossing.

Important reminder: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a voyage.