Departure dates:
20 November - 08 December, 2011
(19 days) Ushuaia - Ushuaia
28 December 2011 - 15 January, 2012
(19 days) Ushuaia - Ushuaia
06 February - 24 February, 2012
(19 days) Ushuaia - Ushuaia
aboard Akademik Ioffe
You may feel, as we do, that if you make the journey to the bottom of the world you may as well stay awhile. On this far-reaching expedition to the islands of the South Atlantic Ocean and the Antarctic mainland, you will revel in 18 eye-popping days of exploration. Busybody penguins in rookeries by the thousands, behemoth icebergs reflecting startling greens and blues, humpback whales feeding on krill and of course the continent-sized sweeping ice sheet of Antarctica.
This is Our most extensive Antarctic expedition. We depart from Ushuaia and make our first stop in the Falkland Islands. Here, we will find a relatively warm climate where an abundance of unusual wildlife thrives. Sixty species of migratory birds and the rare rockhopper penguin inhabit these islands.
Our voyage on the well-appointed Akademic Ioffe, continues through the Antarctic convergence to the pristine island of South Georgia. Towering glacier-covered mountains are merely the backdrop to spectacular wildlife sightings including rookeries of the pompous king penguin, several seal species and the laughable macaroni penguin. We hope to see the South Orkney Islands, often cloaked in mist, as we make our way to the South Shetland Archipelago and Antarctica.
We all experience a deep sense of awe when we first glimpse the much-anticipated continent. Even our One Ocean Expeditions’ leaders, who have led more than a hundred expeditions, are still overcome by its formidable beauty. We are greeted by thousands of icebergs that look like modern art sculptures lining the bays of Paradise Harbour or Hope Bay. Meanwhile an overwhelming profusion of wildlife is on display from penguins torpedoing through the water to predatory leopard seals staking their claim on ice floes. We hope to stand on the mainland of the White Continent itself. From this vantage point, it is easy to understand why legendary explorers such as Roald Amundsen and Sir Ernest Shackleton were so captivated by this haunting region.
As with all our expeditions, safety is our top priority. For that reason weather, ice or other conditions may require us to change our itinerary and shore excursions as we go but that is half the fun of Polar exploring. Predictability is a word that has no relevance in this environment.
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.
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Prices per person
2011
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Departure Date
20 Nov 2011
Ushuaia - Ushuaia |
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Triple Share | £ 7,350 |
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Twin Semi-Private | £ 8,210 |
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Twin Private | £ 9,280 |
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Superior | £ 9,710 |
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Shackleton Suite | £ 10,210 |
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One Ocean Suite | £ 11,635 |
Prices per person
2011 - 2012
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Departure Dates
28 Dec 2011
Ushuaia - Ushuaia
06 Feb 2012
Ushuaia - Ushuaia |
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Triple Share | £ 8,350 |
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Twin Semi-Private | £ 9,925 |
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Twin Private | £ 10,995 |
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Superior | £ 11,565 |
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Shackleton Suite | £ 12,065 |
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One Ocean Suite | £ 13,565 |
Deposit: |
£ 1,500 per person |
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 flight UK/Ushuaia return, fuel surcharges, any necessary accommodation in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, travel insurance, meals ashore, optional tips to leaders and crew, drinks, and other personal expenses.
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: Please enquire for details.
Leaders: Guides from One Ocean Expeditions
Due to the uncertainty of flight schedules in 2012, we cannot give precise details of departure and arrival dates and flights to and from the UK. The schedules may mean extra days before an after the cruise. The costs are given for the cruise only.
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