South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula

Wildlife riches of the Sub-Antarctic



PLA24
17 December, 2011 - 01 January, 2012
(16 days)



aboard Plancius

A wonderful introduction to the amazing scenery and wildlife of Antarctica and the beautiful sub-Antarctic islands and oceans.



Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic Islands are some of the last truly unspoilt regions of the world. The mysterious White Continent, with its multi-coloured ice caps, glistening glaciers and towering snow-capped mountains, offers unparalleled scenery and photographic opportunities. Enormous numbers of penguins, whales, seals and seabirds congregate in the food-rich waters along the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic shores. The future of Antarctica is crucial to the climate and ecology of the world and on most of our cruises we have an opportunity to visit one of the many scientific bases.

Our small, specially designed expedition ship journeys south, taking full advantage of the 24 hours of daylight during the austral summer. Ice-strengthened hulls and state-of-the-art equipment allow us to navigate safely through the pack ice and narrow waterways. Our zodiac excursions, guided by foremost Antarctic experts, offer the freedom to explore remote locations and observe Antarctica’s abundant wildlife.

South Georgia has more than 160 glaciers coming down to the sea and is home to millions of seabirds including the beautiful King Penguins and the enormous Wandering Albatrosses. Abandoned whaling stations bear testimony to a less environmentally conscious era, but now Elephant Seals and Fur Seals can be seen on many beaches. Sir Ernest Shackleton was buried at Grytviken in 1922.

In the Antarctic Peninsula, you can land on Paulet Island where tens of thousands of Adelie Penguins nest. At Hope Bay or Brown Bluff you can set foot on the Antarctic mainland and, depending on ice and weather, as always, we will sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel, where large numbers of whales seek the shelter of the protected waterways. In the South Shetlands, we will land at some of the many famous sites including Deception Island and Hannah Point, which have wonderful wildlife.

Please note that 10% of the cost of this tour will be donated to the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) to support UKOTCF's work in support of nature conservation in UK's Overseas Territories.



UK Overseas Territories Conservation



Prices per person: 2011 PLA 24

Quadruple en suite £ 7,850
Twin en suite with porthole £ 9,190
Twin en suite with window £ 9,650
Twin deluxe en suite £ 10,190
Superior en suite £ 11,290
Deposit: 10% of cost


Please enquire for single supplements.

The prices are per person, and are fully inclusive of the cruise, meals during the voyage, shore excursions by Zodiac and activities throughout the voyage, lectures and leadership by expedition staff, taxes and port charges and pre–departure information.

The prices exclude return flights UK/Santiago – Ushuaia/UK (please allow approximately £1500.00), fuel surcharges, overnight accommodation in Ushuaia, transfers in Ushuaia, travel insurance, meals ashore, optional tips to leaders and crew, drinks, and other personal expenses.

Please note: the one way charter flight from Santiago de Chile to the Falkland Islands is included in the ship’s passage price

Please allow two days either side of the cruise dates for travel and an overnight at each end of the cruise in case of any delays.

Please note that we can arrange optional extensions in Ushuaia (see our Patagonia itinerary for details), or anywhere else in Argentina. You can also opt to leave the UK a day earlier and spend a day in Buenos Aires to break the long journey south.

Accommodation:
Cabins as described in the full itinerary subject to availability.

Travel: We can arrange flights and overnight accommodation for you if necessary. Please contact us for prices and availability.

Leaders: Guides from Oceanwide Expeditions

Please note that the full itinerary is for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises.


Click here for a full, printable itinerary