Earth’s Greatest Wildlife Destination
South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula
15 polar specialist guides for
only 100 participants
Experience the vibrant spring of South Georgia Island and the early season of the Antarctic Peninsula with this trip organized by our partner, specialist of ecological safaris. Beneath the towering, snow-blanketed mountains of South Georgia Island, observe and photograph special wildlife behaviors seldom seen.
Ce fantastique voyage est organisé par notre partenaire américain, spécialisé dans les safaris écologiques, et sera guidé par une équipe professionnelle de spécialistes et naturalistes. La langue utilisée est l’anglais, et c’est pourquoi nous présentons ici ce voyage dans cette langue, comme pour la plupart de nos croisières et expéditions en Antarctique.
This time of year is the only time you can find southern elephant seal bulls fight for territories while females nurse young, distinctly marked gray-headed albatross attending to their cliffside nests, and awkward wandering albatross young attempting first flight. You’ll stand amongst vast colonies of king penguins and watch macaroni penguins launching into the ocean.
This time of year, the Antarctic Peninsula is in the beginnings of its spring season when the ice in the Weddell Sea can open up, allowing opportunities for lone emperor penguins to wander on ice floes. At penguin colonies, you’ll find penguins courting, setting up nests, and perhaps laying eggs. Through over twenty-five years of experience in the Antarctic, we offer the most in-depth exploration of one of the densest wildlife spectacles found anywhere in the world, and with only 100 passengers, you’ll have ample opportunities to experience this spectacle during every landing and Zodiac cruise.
When ?
October 20 to November 11, 2022
October 19 to November 10, 2023
The itinerary in brief
October 20
Travel to Chile
Make your way to Chile and Punta Arenas. We will organise your flights accordingly.
October 21
Punta Arenas
Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile from from home our from your pre-trip.
October 22
Falkland Island
Fly to Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands. Board the ship from the flight or from our Falkland Islands extension. Explore Stanley for some time then board the ship. Welcome on board !
October 23-24
Sailing
Sail to South Georgia Island. Stay busy by joining lectures on photography, wildlife, and ecology, familiarizing yourself on all aspects of ship life, preparing for what to expect on South Georgia, and enjoying views from the ship.
October 25-30
South Georgia Island
Spend six full days landing at our favorite sites in South Georgia, one of the most remote islands in the world. You arrive during the peak of southern elephant seal breeding.
Oct 31 - Nov 1
Sailing
Sail from South Georgia to the Antarctic Peninsula. Your route to Antarctica will be packed with watching wildlife from the ship’s deck and attending informative lectures and photo workshops. The waters between South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula are rich with fin whales
November 2-7
Antarctic Peninsula
Spend six full days landing and Zodiac cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. During the early season, it is an exciting time in the Antarctic Peninsula. Ice is beginning to recede, allowing passage to some of our favorite landing sites. You may have a chance of getting in to search for lone emperor penguins and hopefully land at Adélie penguin colonies.
November 8-9
Sailing the Drake
Named after the 16th Century English seaman, Sir Francis Drake, this waterway of about 600mi separates the southernmost tip of South America from Antarctica. It is a particularly good area for royal albatross and blue petrel. Stay on the lookout for pods of sperm whales and other whales.
November 10
Ushuaia
Disembark in Ushuaia and continue on an extension trip in Argentina or fly homeward.
What it costs
- Quadruple
Quadruple occupancy, two upper and two lower twin-sized beds, one porthole, and private bath. Deck 2. USD 15’950.- - Triple
Triple occupancy, one upper and two lower twin-sized beds, one porthole, and private bath. Deck 2. USD 17’950.- - Twin Porthole
Double occupancy, two lower twin-sized beds, one porthole, and private bath. Deck 3. USD 19’395.- - Twin Window
Double occupancy, two lower twin-sized beds, one window, and private bath. Deck 4. USD 20’395.- - Twin Deluxe
Double occupancy, two lower twin-sized beds, two windows, and private bath. Deck 4. USD 21’950.- - Superior
Double occupancy, one double-sized bed, two windows, sofa bed, refrigerator, and private bath. Decks 4, 5, and 6. USD 23’950.-
2023 departure prices, add USD 100.- to the above
Costs are per person depending on cabin type and occupancy, not including airfare, singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
We reserve the right to charge for cost increases that occur between when we set trip prices and the date of travel, for example, changes due to the cost of lodging and transportation. If you are a single traveler and you desire, we will find a roommate for you. If we cannot find you a roommate, we will not charge you a single supplement. If space is available, some cabins can be booked for a single occupant by adding 70% over the listed cabin cost. Single rooms are subject to availability.
Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific cabin number. If changes occur, we will do everything in our power to assign a cabin of equal or greater value as the cabin type specified in your reservation. Deck plan, cabin arrangements, and cabin amenities are subject to change by ship operator.
At the time of your booking, we will send you the payment schedule and all other relevant information.
Inclusions
Included
- All leaders, transport, landing fees, permits, port taxes, and passenger fees, including the IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) passenger fee, for all activities unless described as optional.
- Accommodations (double occupancy, unless booked cabin as a single) for the night of October 21 in Punta Arenas, Chile.
- Nineteen nights on board the Plancius.
- Meals from breakfast on October 22 through breakfast on November 10.
- Transfers from Punta Arenas Airport to Hotel Cabo de Hornos, regardless of arrival day; from Hotel Cabo de Hornos to the Punta Arenas Airport on October 22; from the Mount Pleasant Airport to the ship; and from the ship to the Ushuaia airport or your hotel on November 10.
- Coffee and tea throughout the voyage.
- Trip Materials – information about flights, packing, entry and departure requirements, airport transfers, gratuities, etc.
- Expedition Log – after your voyage, you’ll receive a color booklet of the expedition.
- Rubber boots on loan while on board.
- Onboard lectures during sea days.
- USB drive with daily schedules.
Not Included
- All airfare, airport and departure taxes, and excess baggage fees. Airfare to Santiago and Punta Arenas and from Ushuaia back depend on origin. Please consult us. Approximately $640 from Punta Arenas, Chile to Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands.
- Passport and visa fees.
- We can arrange divergent airport transfers and extra hotel nights for an extra cost.
- Gratuities – tipping is always discretionary. However, we suggest budgeting about $10 to $15 per participant per day for October 22 to November 10 with our ship crew (about $200 to $300 total per participant).
- Optional day trips in Punta Arenas.
- Mandatory emergency medical and evacuation insurance.
- Optional trip cancellation insurance.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, alcoholic and other beverages, items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Reservation Form.
The guides
On such expeditions, guides are what make a trip unique and exceptional. For a limited number of 100 participants, 15 specialist trip leaders will transform your adventure to Antarctica into a mind-blowing experience. They’ll enthusiastically share their vast knowledge and unlimited passion with you. You’ll interact with biologists, professional photographers, marine and ecology specialists, adventure guides, naturalists and conservationists, specialist birders, sea mammals scholars, geologists, environmentalists, etc. More than guiding you, they are researchers and scientists doing and sharing their job with you during this Antarctic ecology safari !
Photos
All photos featured on this page are the work of Ron Niebrugge and Scott Davis. All Rights Reserved.
Highlights
- Spend six full days on South Georgia Island and six full days in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands with maximum shore time and Zodiac cruising.
- See five penguin species (possibly 6)! Plus, many species of whales, seals, albatross, and seabirds.
- Hear the cacophony of and smell king penguins as you walk near colonies of up to 300,000 birds.
- See gentoo, macaroni, chinstrap, and Adélie penguins as they start their breeding cycles.
- Marvel at dramatic snow-capped mountains descending into valleys and glacier-fed rivers emptying into the ocean.
- Watch southern elephant seal bulls defend their territories from competing bulls and females nursing pups during their peak breeding season.
- See wandering albatross chicks and endangered gray-headed albatross on nests, only possible this time of year.
- Hike or snowshoe on South Georgia Island. Take shorter walks in the Antarctic Peninsula.
- With only 100 participants, everyone can land and/or Zodiac cruise at once, rather than in separate groups.
- Our 15 leaders are polar specialists, photographers, and naturalists who will provide lectures, workshops, and guided excursions.
About the ship
The Plancius was built specifically for oceanographic voyages and is modern, comfortable, and ice-strengthened. She has large open deck spaces, providing excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. While inside, you will enjoy views from the restaurant/lecture room, and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) with large windows, offering full panoramic views. She carries a maximum of 116 guests (we are taking a maximum of 100 guests), allowing true, small-ship expedition cruising. This is particularly important in South Georgia and Antarctica where restrictions limit the number of passengers landing simultaneously to 100, maximizing your time ashore.
Les options
- Nous pouvons organiser toutes sortes de séjours et de découvertes, soit au Chili avant cette croisière, soit en Argentine après le voyage.
- Commencez tôt votre voyage sur une extension des îles Malouines du 13 au 22 octobre 2022. Visitez trois îles, le meilleur de la Patagonie et de l’Antarctique combiné en un seul voyage, pour voir les pingouins, les albatros, les phoques, et plus encore.
Antarctic Peninsula
You can’t travel in October, you can’t afford the cost or the length of this expedition ? Don’t worry, we have this other « Fantarctic » safari for you :
Antarctic Peninsula, February 20 to March 9, 2023
Starting / ending in Ushuaia, Argentina, this trip includes 14 nights on the Plancius with 9 full days of landings and Zodiac cruising along the western Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.
Prices range from USD 13’450.- to USD 21’450.- depending on the cabin type (same as above), with the same inclusions / exclusions, adapted to this trip.
