Puerto Williams, a Chilean town on the island of Navarino, is "the southernmost town in the world" due to its small size. With around 2500 inhabitants, it boasts a picturesque landscape and the dramatic backdrop of the "Dientes de Navarino". Established in 1953 as a naval base, Puerto Williams originally protected territorial possessions and fishing rights, but has since become a base for scientific and tourist trips to the Antarctic region. The small village atmosphere and rustic buildings make this a peaceful retreat.

Today you will cruise towards the Falkland Islands and its also the perfect opportunity to explore all the facilities your ship has to offer. Perhaps enjoy a spa treatment, lecture from one of the on-board expedition team or just sit in the observation lounge and look out for birds and wildlife.

The next 2 days will be your first days making landings in the zodiac boats and exploring this amazing region. The Falkland Islands are a British territory and home to rolling landscapes, a huge variety of wildlife and a dramatic history. Planned visiting points include West Point Island, Saunders Island and the capital of the islands, Stanley. You will hopefully get to see Black-browned Albatross, feisty Rockhopper Penguins, Magellanic Cormorants and perhaps even a cup of tea and slice of cake in town!

It takes 2 days at sea to transit towards South Georgia. Enjoy the facilities of the ship along the way and keep your eye out for wildlife. Your expedition team will also continue with their programme of lectures including ones on the early Antarctic explorers. The place you are heading to next is home to one of the most famous.

South Georgia is a breathtaking destination of towering snow-covered mountains, mighty glaciers, and low-lying grasslands that attract an astounding concentration of wildlife. It is possible to find Southern fur seals, Southern elephant seals and a variety of albatross species including Black-browed, Light-mantled Sooty, Grey-headed and the spectacular Wandering Albatross. However one of the stars of the show has to be the colonies of thousands of King Penguins. It is a spectacular site with penguins as far as the eye can see and well worth your efforts in getting to this amazing destination. South Georgia also has links to the early Antarctic explorers and is where the British explorer Ernest Shackleton is buried, there may be an opportunity to visit his grave and pay homage to one of the most famous (and perhaps unsuccessful) Antarctic explorers. We are often asked, is South Georgia worth the extra time and cost? Our answer is that if South Georgia is on your list, you will not be disappointed! 

After moving on from South Georgia there are a further 2 days of sailing to get to the Antarctic Peninsula. The excitement will build along the way as you get ever nearer the 7th continent and you prepare for your first sightings of the amazing icebergs.

Elephant Island is home to several Chinstrap Penguin rookeries, as well as 2,000-year-old moss colonies. Weddell seals and Macaroni Penguins can also be spotted. In 1916, when Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance was crushed in pack ice in the Weddell Sea, his crew was stranded there for more than 4 months finding shelter under two upturned lifeboats on the spit of land Shackleton’s men named ‘Point Wild’. 

Today is the day you have been waiting for as you will get your first experiences of Antarctica. Your time exploring the continent will normally begin at the top of the Antarctic Peninsula, venturing into Antarctic Sound and its magnificent array of tabular icebergs, historical sites and Adelie and Gentoo Penguin rookeries. Depending on weather and ice conditions your ship may go on to visit Brown Bluff, Hope Bay and cruise the Antarctic Sound.

Antarctica is irresistible for its spectacular iceberg sculptures, calving glaciers and for the possibility of up-close encounters with marine mammals and the iconic penguins. Remote and otherworldly, there is nowhere else like it on the planet. You will spend these couple of days exploring some of the amazing sites which your captain and expedition leader will decide upon based on the environment. The Antarctic Peninsula also has a human history of almost 200 years, with explorers, sealers, whalers, and scientists who have come to work in this pristine and remote wilderness.

Your last visits to Antarctica will be made in the area of Deception Island which is a huge sunken caldera (volcano) which can be reached from the sea. From whaling to scientific studies, the Island’s history is very interesting, and you can discover more of the unique volcanic features during a hike.

The time has come for you to return towards the mainland and the next 2 days will be spent navigating the return across the Drake Passage. During the last afternoon, the onboard photographer will show the Voyage DVD.

After breakfast, its time to disembark the ship.

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