Itinerary

Day 1 - Ushuaia, Argentina

Begin your Antarctic adventure with an overnight stay in Ushuaia – capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, and southernmost city in the world.

Day 2 - Embarkation Day

Today you join your ship and begin your tour by cruising through the beautiful Beagle Channel.  Named for the British ship HMS Beagle, the channel is particularly rich with birdlife, and you may sight penguins, cormorants, petrels, and Black-browed Albatross.

Day 3 - At sea

There’s lots to do at sea!  Your Expedition Team may include expert ornithologists, marine biologists, historians, geologists and more. When conditions permit, we’ll fill these days with onboard presentations, preparing you for the adventures to come.

Day 4-5 - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

The Falklands, known as les Islas Malvinas in Spanish-speaking Argentina, are a treasure-trove of bird life, particularly Kelp Geese and both Rockhopper and Magellanic Penguins.  Shore landings allow you to hike the rocky beachheads, and socialize with friendly local residents.

Day 6-7 - At Sea

More shipboard presentations prepare you for upcoming shore landings and Zodiac cruises along the coast of South Georgia.  You’ll know you’re in bona fide Antarctic waters when you cross the “Antarctic Convergence” – the biological boundary dividing Antarctica from the rest of the Southern seas

Day 8-11 - South Georgia

Your first sight of this remote snow-capped wonderland may leave you breathless.  Jagged mountains erupt from the sea, reaching straight for the clouds. Once ashore, you’ll marvel at the strange music of barking seals and squawking penguins.

Planned activities include a series of landings at King Penguin rookeries, abandoned whaling stations and the lonely gravesite of Sir Ernest Shackleton. (Don’t know Shackleton’s story?  Watch our South Georgia video guide.)  Here’s a sample of other potential activities:

    * Zodiac cruising along beaches densely packed with fur seals
    * Visits to a tiny but excellent whaling museum
    * Hiking rocky beaches, sometimes home to 1,000-lb elephant seals
    * Optional kayaking in romantic bays

Keep your eye out for Wandering Albatross and Giant Petrels, and don’t be surprised if you spot the odd reindeer.  Although Antarctica has no native land mammals, reindeer were introduced here early in the 20th century by Norwegian whalers.

Day 12-13 - At sea

Heading south again, spend a few more education-filled days at sea en route for the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula

Day 14-17 - The Antarctic Peninsula

Changing conditions mean each expedition is different, and your Expedition Team will make sure you have an unforgettable visit.  Here are just a few of the things you might find yourself doing:

    * Sitting quietly on a pebbled-beach, waiting for a curious penguin chick to approach
    * Taking a "polar plunge" in the icy waters of Paradise Bay
    * Listening to the boom and crack of a calving glacier near Danco Island
    * Optional kayaking withp ods of whales or sleek fur seals
    * Choose the mountaineering option to scale icy inclines
    * Zodiac cruising among majestic icebergs
    * Scrambling to the top of a craggy hill for an unforgettable view of Port Lockroy

Day 18-19 - The Drake Passage

Prepare for rough seas as you begin your homeward journey, but don’t be disappointed if you experience smooth sailing across this legendary waterway.  The 500-mile-wide passage separates the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula from the bottom of South America, and was named for famed English explorer (or pirate, depending on who’s telling the story) Sir Frances Drake

Day 20 - Ushuaia

After a shipboard breakfast, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

More information from Quark Expeditions:

• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips