Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of AE Expeditions and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to make your way to your hotel. 

Enjoy breakfast and take the chance to explore Ushuaia at leisure. Then head to the pier for embarkation. 

Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego is located at the shores of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains giving you a unique landscape in Argentina, which is the combination of mountains, sea, glaciers and forests. On this brief introductory tour, you will visit “La Mision” neighbourhood, the old Government House, and the upper area of the city, which offers beautiful panoramic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. During the excursion you will see the antique houses that belonged to the first families settled in Ushuaia. The excursion ends with a visit to the Old Prison Museum before transferring to the pier for embarkation at approximately 4.00 pm.  

On the way to the Falklands, enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following the vessel. On sea days, you may also enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, wellness centre or the relaxing in one of the observation lounges. 

The Falklands is a stunning archipelago consisting of two large islands, East and West Falkland, and over 700 islands off the coast. These islands are wildlife havens, with windswept coastlines, white sand beaches, and crystal-clear water. The cold, nutrient-rich waters make them ideal for spotting marine life, including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and penguins.

Between the Falklands and South Georgia, you will be enthralled by the ceaseless flight of the many seabirds that follow and circle the ship. You can also enjoy the many facilities on the ship, borrow a book from our well-stocked library or perhaps stay active in the fitness centre.   

As you near the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In fact, it is a small island only 176 km (110 mi) long, but with a 3,000 m (9,842 ft) snow-capped mountain range, some of the world’s largest congregations of wildlife and a truly fascinating human history, South Georgia is an island of incredible riches. On approach, jagged mountain peaks rise steeply, while seabirds are often spotted soaring around the ship. 

Remember to layer up before joining Zodiac cruises around craggy coves and along the rocky coastline in search of nesting penguins, seal haul-outs and bird cliffs. Remember to keep an eye out for South Georgia’s kelp forests as well - these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite mesmerising as their fronds sway back and forth on the water’s surface. 

Zodiacs will also shuttle you from ship to shore, where you can visit some of the largest king penguin colonies on the planet, take a guided walk among fur seals and elephant seals (making sure you listen to your guides and keep your distance!) and wander along pebbled streams and grassy glacial outwash plains. We also hope to visit the remnants of South Georgia’s thriving whaling stations and pay our respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose incredible voyage of survival is synonymous with this island. 

Attend informative lectures to learn about Antarctica as we sail across the Scotia Sea towards the white continent. You may want to relax in the sauna and jacuzzis or stay active in the gym; the choice is yours on how you want to enjoy days at sea. 

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the freshest, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. 

Once you arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are yours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. 

We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You’ll want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula. 

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea, and take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.

As you approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to farewell Antarctica and our amazing adventure before boarding the flight (approximately one hour forty-five minutes) to Punta Arenas, Chile. There is time for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced. On arrival at the Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to the hotel.

After breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow travellers as we continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature (breakfast included). A transfer to the airport is included in the voyage fare.

Secure your space today by calling one of our Travel Specialists on 0203 196 1000 or enquire here