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Aboard the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica expedition, follow in the footsteps of the great explorers to the south. Along the way marvel at the magnificent flora and fauna that Darwin first documented on the islands of South Georgia and the Falklands. Passing through the Weddell Sea into the Antarctic Peninsula through spectacular channels and bays of icebergs, seals, penguins and more, you will be one of the few to set foot on the continent of Antarctica!

The itinerary travels east from Ushuaia to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, then turns south for the South Orkney Islands and three days on the Antarctic Peninsula. Finish your journey back in Ushuaia after crossing the famed Drake Passage. Your home base is either the 114-passenger M/V Plancius or the 120-passenger M/V Ortelius.

Day 1 - Ushuaia, Argentina

Arriving in Ushuaia the day before departure is highly recommended. We can assist with hotel arrangements if you need it. Transfer on your own to the dock. Boarding begins at 4pm from the southernmost city in the world nestled in the shadow of the Andes and right at the base of the Beagle Channel. We’ll sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - The Southern Ocean

At sea, the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - The Falkland Islands

In the Falkland Islands we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us views of Magellanic and Gentoo-penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and night herons. In addition, on Saunders Island we will be able to observe rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatrosses and king cormorants.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Stanley, Falklands

In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we can experience true Falkland culture, which has some South American characteristics as well as Victorian charm. In the surrounding area we can see a number of stranded clipper ships from a century ago. Especially for the birders, we will also offer a three hour excursion outside Port Stanley.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 5-6 - The Antarctic Convergence

At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship: several species of albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, prions and skuas.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 7-10 - South Georgia

In South Georgia we shall visit the bay of Elsehul, with its very active fur seal breeding beach, and then make our way to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbor and Cooper Bay to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife such as elephant seals, king and macaroni penguins. At Fortuna Bay we might try to follow in the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stømness Bay. There and at Grytviken we’ll see abandoned whaling villages, where king penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken we’ll also offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton´s grave. One of the highlights might be our visit to Prion Island, where we will witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11 - The Southern Ocean

At sea, we might encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we might have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like the Maccormick skua, snow petrel and the elusive emperor penguin.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12 - South Orkney Islands

We are aiming for a visit at Orcadas station, an Argentinean base located in the South Orkney Islands. The friendly base personnel will show us their facilities and we can enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: beakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 13 - Southern Ocean - Weddell Sea

At Sea, enjoy the relaxation and scenery.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 14-16 - Antarctic Peninsula

Sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of adelie penguins and the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition. At Brown Bluff we can put our feet on the continent of Antarctica!

At Deception Island, try to land at Baily Head, home to a colony of chinstrap penguins. Deception itself is a subducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. Here we find hot springs, and an abandoned whaling station. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune’s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. In the afternoon we may land at Half Moon Island, where we can observe elephant, weddell and fur seals as well as chinstrap penguins, blue-eyed shags, Wilson’s storm petrels, kelp gulls, snowy sheathbills, Antarctic terns and Antarctic brown skuas.

On our way west, sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula. It contains a large colony of gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of brown skuas. From there we sail to Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay and through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, with the chance of seeing whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Days 17-18 - The Drake Passage

The journey continues back across the Drake where we have time to reflect on what we have experienced, looking through our photos and talking with the naturalists about all the wildlife and history of Antarctica.

Accommodations: M/V Plancius or M/V Ortelius
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 19 - Ushuaia, Argentina

We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

Alternative Itinerary: In addition to the 19-day Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica expedition, there is a 20-day itinerary that spends one more day (days 14-17) on the Antarctic Peninsula. Please call for more detailed information about this voyage.

Itinerary Notes: Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife encountered. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission. The January 18, 2013 departure is a bilingual voyage in German and English.

Included: All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea; Free use of rubber boots aboard Plancius & Ortelius and snowshoes aboard Plancius; Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation); All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac; Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff; All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program; Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Exclusions: Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; pre- and post land arrangements; transfers to the vessel; passport and visa expenses; Government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance, including mandatory emergency evacuation insurance; excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).

If world fuel prices will reach or exceed US $120 per Barrel Brent 90 days prior to departure, we reserve the right to levy a fuel surcharge of US $25 per night per passenger, to be paid.

Room Configurations: Solo travelers willing to share can reserve a quadruple, triple or twin-shared cabin, where you will be matched with a person of the same gender. If the other cabin berth or berths goes unsold, you will not be penalized. For those who desire single occupancy, cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the twin rate.

Families & Children: Children under 16 years old in Superior, Family Triple and/or Family Quadruple cabins receive a 40% discount. Parents are entirely responsible for their children at all times, on land and on board; there is no onboard day care or nursery facility.

Arrival & Departure: The Antarctica, Falklands & South Georgia cruise begins and ends in Ushuaia, Agrentina. Embarkation time is between 4:00 - 5:00pm on day of departure. We strongly advise all passengers to arrive the night prior to departure and get a hotel in Ushuaia to avoid baggage and flight delays. The ship sails around 6:00pm on day of departure. Disembarkation is after breakfast on final day between 8:30 - 9:00am. Plan flights to depart Ushuaia anytime after noon on the final day. Get a free flight quote.

Payment & Cancellation: In order to confirm this trip, a 20% deposit is required at the time of booking. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
90 or more days - 20% of the total price
89 to 60 days - 50% of the total price
59 to 0 days - 100% of the total price

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $100,000 per person. Trip cancellation insurance is optional but highly recommended. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Activities: Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Various optional activities are available on the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica cruise, according to departure date/season. For the 2013/14 season, kayaking is available for $430 per person on the Dec 2, 2013 departure.

Qualifications: This Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica cruise will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health, has full mobility, and leads an active life. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although we spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join any off-vessel excursions, passengers must be able to navigate the steep, 30-stair, gang-way, un-assisted both down and up. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in zodiacs. Some landings are dry but many are "wet," requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist. You are traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition, or need daily medical treatment.


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