iExplore Antarctica: Discovering the Peninsula 2010-11 Tour

Tour Overview

Many people think that Antarctica is the impossible destination- impossible to get to, impossible to afford, impossible to understand. They are mistaken. Antarctica has always been about possibilities- exciting, breathtaking possibilities.!

Antarctica is so vast that only a small portion of it can be explored during a two-week period. The Antarctic Peninsula, that part of the continent that points towards the tip of South America, is so long that it spans 12 degrees of latitude, approximately 800 miles!

For many, perhaps the most appealing aspect of Antarctica is its wildlife. Although there are only a few native species, those that have adapted to the harsh environment thrive in large numbers. Penguin populations are counted in the tens of thousands in some rookeries!

Antarctica is devoid of power lines, billboards, and highways. There are no designer coffee shops or cellular networks. When the engines are turned off, the only sounds you hear are natural- wildlife, water and the occasional boom of icebergs calving. If you listen closely, you can hear your heart beating with excitement!

Day by Day Itinerary

Adventures in comfort.
Traveling to the farthest reaches of the world doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable. Our Expedition Ships offer adventure combined with the service and many of the amenities of a classic passenger vessel. The outstanding cuisine may vie with the landscape and wildlife for your attention. You’re traveling in the wake of history’s greatest explorers, with steak in place of pemmican. These expeditions provide quality and value at a good price.

Classic Antarctica: Discovering the Peninsula.

Important Note: Due to International/Domestic Airline misconnects, we recommend arriving in Buenos Aires a day early. Your iExplore Adventure Consultant will be happy to assist you with these arrangements.

Day 1: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Ushuaia sits at the foot of the Andes, in a beautiful setting. Relax at a sidewalk café and soak up that “end of the world feeling” of this frontier town, before spending a night at our host hotel.

Day 2: Embarkation Day
Board the ship in the late afternoon for the voyage through the Beagle Channel to the Drake Passage.

Day 3-4: The Drake Passage
Among the many unforgettable experiences you’ll have on your journey, food will certainly be one of them. It may seem as if you are dining in one of the finer restaurants in the world, with one exception: other restaurants would never interrupt you with shouts of “whales ahead at 12 o’clock.”

You’ll be properly prepared for wildlife sightings, because our Expedition Team delivers an incomparable education program as you cross the Drake Passage en route to Antarctica.

Day 5-8*: Land, birds, seals, whales, volcanoes, ahoy!
You have arrived in Antarctica! The Expedition Team will attempt an average of two landings per day. Many factors influence the daily program, such as prevailing wind, ice, weather conditions, and wildlife behavior. During the voyage, our onboard fleet of Zodiacs will transfer you to penguin rookeries, where you are welcomed by a committee of chattering birds. There will be leisurely Zodiac sightseeing cruises past icebergs or wildlife on the rocky shoreline.

Discovering the White Continent.
During our four days exploring the Peninsula, you’ll make new friends over a game of cards in the lounge, or a beverage in the bar. Don your parka and join fellow travelers on the deck as you sail through the Gerlache Strait or along the Danco Coast, past towering glacier-covered mountains that shoot to the sky. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars. There may be seals sunning on an ice floe or a raft of penguins feeding as you sail past.

History, wildlife, scenery – Antarctica has it all.
During the in-depth education program, the historian will recount the development of the region, pointing out the remains of buildings where spies dwelled or a doctor went mad. The ornithologist will take you ashore and help you identify different species of birds. You could cruise with a glaciologist through a bay filled with fantastically colored icebergs.

Day 9-11: A reluctant farewell
Returning to Ushuaia across the Drake Passage, you know you are one of the people in the world that have visited Antarctica. The adventure will be with you forever. You may already be thinking of a return trip – as many have found before, the lure of Antarctica is a strong one.

Important Reminder: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a voyage.

About the itinerary
The itinerary descriptions included reflect the plans for each expedition and should be read as general guides only. These are expeditions to remote and rarely visited regions of the world, and flexibility is required. The exact program will vary based on local weather and ice conditions, availability of local permissions, and government orders.

Itinerary
The itinerary described is subject to change at the discretion of the ship’s master and Expedition Leader. This is an expedition to a remote part of the world, and we reserve the right to change the itinerary due to weather conditions, availability of anchorages, political conditions and other factors beyond our control without consulting the passengers. It is understood that such decisions will be made in the best interests of all passengers aboard and with regard to the safety of the vessel. Passengers have no right to any refund or other considerations in the event of these inevitable itinerary changes. Nothing in this itinerary is meant to signify the use of any specific design or model of helicopter. The images featured are inspirational in character and do not necessarily depict the exact people, animals, and places encountered by passengers.

*12 day itineraries have one additional day on the peninsula.