For expert help planning your Antarctica vacation, call a travel specialist at 1-877-306-5595
| Antarctic Adventure - Active Exploration of the Peninsula
A 12-Day tour starting from $5,500
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Antarctica is the last wild, unspoiled place on earth, the largest, purest wilderness we know, the only continent that has been almost free of human contact since the beginning of time. It is a realm whose beauty is so spectacular and otherworldly that it often leaves visitors speechless.
And on the Antarctic Peninsula, a 700-mile-long finger of land pointing toward the tip of South America, it's not just the breathtaking scenery that beckons, it's also the spectacular display of wildlife─millions of penguins and numerous other seabirds such as petrels, skuas, and albatross. There is also an abundance of marine mammals in this region of Antarctica, including most of the world's great whale species and many kinds of seals.
Aboard a small, maneuverable expedition ship and in the company of a team of expert naturalist guides, you'll journey south to the "last continent" for an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that may change your life forever.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rates during the 2008-09 season include:
*Expert Leadership *Cabin accomodations and one night hotel in Ushuaia *Meals as noted in the ininerary *All activities during the cruise *Optional overnight camp on the ice *Services of crew, cruise staff and lecturers *Airport transfers in Ushuaia *Baggage porterage *Basic medical and evacuation insurance
Day 1 - Arrive in Ushuaia
Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina, and transfer to the hotel. Day 2 - Meet in Ushuaia, Argentina - Doard the expedition vessel, the Akademik Ioffe or Akademik Vavilov, depending on your departure. Begin the journey to Antarctica with a scenic sail through the Beagle Channel, then enter the waters of the Drake Passage. Day 3-4 - Drake Passage: Continue to motor across the 620 miles of the Drake Passage, passing over the Antarctic Convergence, where nutrient-rich waters attract many species of seabirds and whales. Days 5-9 - Antarctic Peninsula: Explore the islands, bays, and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula, with plenty of time for shore walks through penguin colonies and "ice cruises" by Zodiac for close-up inspection of towering bergs and creaking glaciers. Our itinerary focuses on scenic areas with large concentrations of wildlife, including Paulet and Cuverville Islands, the flooded caldera of Deception Island, Paradise Bay, and the Lemaire Channel, hemmed in by mountain walls rising thousands of feet straight out of the water (it's nicknamed "Kodak Alley"). We also usually visit one or more research stations. Deception Island Deception Island is one of the few volcanic calderas in the world that large ships may sail into and anchor. There are numerous anchorages within the caldera such as Whaler's Bay, where we can explore abandoned whaling station ruins, hike up volcanic slopes to view volcanic lakes, and even bathe in steaming thermal waters along the shore if the conditions are right. on the outside of Deception Island is Baily Head, where more than 100,000 chinstrap penguins make their home,sometimes nesting nearly to the top of the crater rim istelf. Because of the steep black sand beach, sea conditions must be just right for safe landings at Bailey Head. Paradise Bay Its name is appropriate. Here we can make a landing on the continent itself and enjoy panoramic views from the hill and have fun sliding back down. There is also great Zodiac cruising along the cliffs to see nesting seabirds and whales are often seen in the bay. Orne Harbor A steep climb to the summit of Orne Island, located on the east side of the Gerlache Strait, provides a 360 degree panoramic view of the strait of the surrounding islands and mountains. Some chinstrap penguins nest at the very top! Cuverville Island A large colony of gentoo penguins is resident on Curverville (a Scott Polar Institute research group monitored the impact of tourism on the penguins for three years; the study ended in February 1995. We can also cruise by Zodiac among the large bergs; we sometimes see humpback whales feeing just offshore, and curious leopard seals check us out in the Zodiacs. Lemaire Channel A cruise through a breathtaking narrow channel - often chocked with ice - with mountain walls rising thousands of feet straight out of the water (it's nicknamed "Kodak Alley") Minkes, humpbacks and orcas are occasionally spotted and leopard and crabeater seals sometimes frequent the ice floes. Paulet Island Home to hundreds of thousands of Adelie penguin pairs and their chicks; the site of the remains of the hut Captain Carl Anton Larsen of the Nordenskjold expedition, constructed in 1903 when the party lost its ship, the Antarctic, 25 miltes from the island. Twenty men wintered here, surviving on penguins and seals. Days 10-11 At sea: Crossing the Drake Passage and rounding Cape Horn en route to Ushuaia. Day 12 - Arrive in Ushuaia Fly home after breakfast on board the ship, transfer to airport and fly home. *Sea Kayaking Option is limited to 16 paddlers and is $695 per person.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience to the "last continent," the most remote destination on earth.
See spectacular wonderland of mountains, glaciers, and icebergs in a pristine environment Interactive Antarctica on an expedition-style ship—not from the deck of a huge cruise ship! Our voyage aboard the Akademik Ioffe features a small fleet of kayaks for paddling options (weather and ice conditions permitting). Most departures feature an optional night of camping on land (weather permitting). There is no extra cost for camping and the gear is provided. Prices are based on double occupancy. Share accommodations can be arranged upon request.
Main Deck Twin Cabin-Deck 3- $5,300 per person; $6,900 per person (Dec 27 and Feb 6 departures) Cabins have upper and lower bunk beds, desk and chair, sofa, wash basin with hot and cold water, porthole. Shared toilet and shower facilities. Upper Deck Twin Cabin-Deck 4- $5,600 per person; $7,300 per person (Dec 27 and Feb 6 departures) Cabins have one lower berth, sofa bed, desk and chair, wash basin with hot and cold water, window. Toilet and shower facilities shared with one adjacent cabin. Superior Twin Cabin-Deck 4 & 5- $6,400 per person; $8,300 per person (Dec 27 and Feb 6 departures) Cabins have one lower berth, sofa bed, desk and chair, wash basin with hot and cold water, window. Private toilet and shower facilities. These cabins are larger than the Twin Cabins Superior Plus Twin Cabin-Deck 6- $6,900 per person; $8,800 per person (Dec 27 and Feb 6 departures) Cabins have two lower berths, sofa, desk and chair, wash basin with hot and cold water, window. Private toilet and shower facilities. These cabins are newer than the Superior Cabins and on a higher deck. Suite-Decks 4 & 5- $7,300 per person; $9,400 per person (Dec 27 and Feb 6 departures) There are a variety of these cabins. There is a main room with a sofa bed and sitting area, window. Fridge, TV, VCR, writing desk. There is a seperate room witha double berth, upgraded bedding. Private toilet and shower facilities. They are considerably large than the cabins above. Cook Suite-Deck 5- $7,900 per person; $10,300 per person (Dec 27 and Feb 6 departures) This is the largest and most confortable cabin on the ship. There is a main room with a sofa bed and sitting area. Fridge, TV, VCR, writing desk. There is a separate room with a double berth, upgraded bedding. Private toilet, shower, and bath. This cabin is considerably larger than the other, with windows both forward and to the side. Weather The weather in Antarctica is unpredictable: there may be days of warm sunshine, but be prepared for wind, rain, and possible snow. Daytime temperatures along with the Peninsula are usually 20°-30°F. Stormy weather crossing the Drake Passage is inlikely, but always possible. We recommend you bring seasickness preventatives for this voyage. Please keep in mind this is an expeditionary cruise. Weather and ice conditions play an important role in this part of the world and the schedule is set daily by the expedition leader and captain according to weather, sea and icea conditions. The captain and his crew will do their best to accomodate our tentative itinerary, but safety is their primary concern. If ice conditions do not permit the planned itinerary to be followed, the expedition leader and captain will work out the most suitable alternative. They reserve the right to reverse or alter the itinerary if necessary. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||