Fire and Ice: A Voyage from
Tierra Del Fuego to Antarctica

Itinerary

Day 1

Evening flight from Heathrow to Buenos Aires (Business Class upgrade available; the cruise may be taken without the flight at a reduced cost)

Day 2

Arrival in Buenos Aires. Morning arrival in Buenos Aires and transfer to the 5* Intercontinental Hotel. Afternoon city tour of Buenos Aires. Evening at leisure. Overnight Buenos Aires.

Day 3

Flight to Tierra del Fuego. Transfer to Buenos Aires Airport for morning flight to Ushuaia at Tierra del Fuego, the tip of South America. Transfer to Los Yamanos Hotel overlooking the Beagle Channel. Afternoon time for shopping in Ushuaia for last minute gear. Evening at leisure.

Day 4

Morning visit into the Tierra del Fuego National Park, with stunning scenery and wide-ranging bird life. After lunch, embark M/V Antarctic Dream to be greeted by the expedition leader and staff, and shown to the cabins. After settling in the ship will sail along the famous Beagle Channel for the Southern Ocean.

Day 5

Cross the Drake Passage. Wandering albatrosses, storm petrels and other sea birds escort the vessel as it sails south across this famous passage named after Sir Francis Drake, the 16th-century English navigator. The journey continues toward the Antarctic Convergence. The Expeditions’ naturalists will help identify the seabirds, including the different species of albatrosses which follow the ship.

Day 6

South Shetland Islands. Towards evening, the first sightings of icebergs and snowy mountains indicate the South Shetland Islands, a group islands first sighted in 1819 by Capt. Wm. Smith of the ‘Williams’ who described the South Shetland Islands as "barren and covered be snow, with seals in abundance".

Day 7

King George \ Aitcho Island. Aitcho Island, the biggest of the South Shetland, gives an taste of what the Antarctic really is, with a chance to disembark in Potter Bay. Afternoon landing at Aitcho Island. That night cross the Bransfield and Gerlanche Straits to enter Andvord Bay.

Day 8

Antarctic Peninsula and Neko Bay. Besides the magnificent scenery of snowy mountains and ice, there is a wide variety of wildlife on the Antarctic Peninsula. Birds include blue-eyed shags, gulls, petrels, skuas, snowy sheathbills, and Antarctic Terns. Marine mammals include Weddell crab-eater and leopard seals, orcas, humpback and minkie whales may be spotted at a close range. The first landing on the White Continent is Neko Bay followed by Port Lockroy on Gauidier Island. Scientific research here included the Antarctic’s first ionosphere measurements.

Day 9

Petermann Island – Pleaneau. Sail south through sheer, high cliffs of the narrow Lemaire Channel, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Visit Petermann Island the most southern land point of the expedition. Here is the most southerly colony of Gentoo penguins which nest near the landing spot. Also see a colony of skuas and blue-eyed shags and beautiful Adelei penguins.  At Pleneau there will be an opportunity to sail the zodiacs around impressive ice formations.

Day 10

Paradise Bay- Cuverville Island. During the morning if weather permits, we will disembark or sail the zodiacs in Paradise Bay. In the afternoon visit Cuverville Island. This rocky island is on the north side of the Errera Channel, between Ronge Island and the Arctowski Peninsula.  Beside its dramatic scenery, Cuverville Island is home to one of the largest colony of skuas and Gentoo penguins in the world.

Day 11

Deception Island – Whaler’s Bay- Pendulum Cove. Cruise north to the South Shetlands to Deception Island, the largest active volcano in the area. There will be a chance to disembark in Whaler’s Bay and Pendulum Cove, where some might enjoy the unique experience of swimming warm water. Afternoon disembarkation at Hannah Point on Livingstone Island. This is one of the best places to observe native fauna - giant petrels, Wilson petrels, skuas, blue-eyed shags, and Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins. There are also elephant seals.

Day 12 and 13

Drake Passage. The ship leaves the Antarctic and heads north across the Drake Passage.

Day 14

Return to Ushuaia. After an early breakfast, the ship reaches the harbour at 9:00 A.M. Disembark the Antarctic Dream. Transfer to the airport for flight to Buenos Aires with connecting flight to London.

Day 15

Afternoon arrival in London.

NOTE: The exact itinerary will depend on the weather and ice conditions at the time.

Tour Details

DATE:

22 February - 8 March 2013

PRICE:

From £6950 per person sharing

INCLUDES:

Airfare from London - a twin/double bedded Amundsen Cabi on board M/V Antarctic Dream (subject to flight price confirmation and can be joined without flight) - UK departure tax, transfers, full board throughout.

NOT INCLUDED:

Regional connecting flights if not departing from London, other airline taxes (UK passenger service charge, security tax, insurance, foreign departure tax, fuel surcharges), drinks, tips to drivers & local guides.

ACCOMMODATION:

This tour uses the best available 4-5* accommodation in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia with en-suite rooms throughout. On the Expedition Boat cabin upgrades are available.

The 83 metre ice class ship Antarctic Dream accommodates 78 passengers on 4 decks in comfortable suites and cabins. All cabins have private bathrooms, storage space and TV. Public areas include a lounge, bar, lecture room, library, infirmary (with a doctor on board), gym, sauna, and boutique. Views are excellent from the large, open decks and the navigation bridge, where guests are welcome. The chefs produce a varied menu and the bar is stocked with a good selection of wines. A Chilean crew, highly experienced in ice navigation, staffs the ship. The atmosphere aboard is informal, like a private expedition ship ought to be.

FITNESS LEVEL:

Moderate - We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Moderate. No long walks are required, however it is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchair users or those who routinely use a walking aid including crutches or a frame. If unsure, please check with us.

Note that the crossing to and from Antarctica through the Drake Passage can be quite rough. There are no medical facilities in Antarctica. Antarctic Dream has a sickbay with a fully trained doctor on board but care is limited to the equipment carried. A life-threatening medical problem will require evacuation to a country with advanced medical care such as Chile or Argentina. Since this may cost tens of thousands of dollars, be sure you have insurance to cover this before you depart.

Trip Lecturer

This tour is accompanied by Professor David Walton, has been a scientist with the British Antarctic Survey for more than 40 years and has visited most parts of Antarctica. He was accompanying scholar on our last Alumni tour of Antarctica and was much appreciated.

David has written and edited six books on research in Antarcitca and is editor in chief of the journal Antarctic Science. In 2006 he was the recipient of the SCAR (Scientific Comminity of Antarctic Research) Medal for International Scientific Coordination.

• Antarctic Science

Fast facts

• Sovereignty: Antartica is owned by no-one.
• Currency: Argentinian Peso on land or US$ on board
• Immunisations: None required. *Note this advice is intended to be a guide only, as we are not qualified to give out medical advice. Travellers should always consult their own GP before they travel to get up-to-date information which is relevant to their own circumstances.
• Visas: Visa not required by any nationality.
• Flying time: 16+ hours to Buenos Aires including change of planes in Madrid
• Will my phone work: In Argentina only, but you need a tri or quad-band phone (1900 or 850 MHz).

Extensions in South America

We recommend a three day extension to world-famous Iguassu Falls after your tour. Visit our tailor-made South America pages for inspiration on other exciting extensions which we can design to fit with the dates of this tour. After all, you're already there!