Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands

Why Join This Cruise

• Explore one of the world's last pristine wilderness regions, an extraordinary winter wonderland that very few people will ever have the chance to experience


• Travel aboard a small (max. 48) ice-strengthened vessel, renowned for their excellent guides, expeditionary feel, ease of logistics on landings, and a very personalised overall experience


• Unique wildlife opportunities - penguins, whales and seals, as well impressive birdlife as you cross The Drake Passage


• Exciting adventure options are available on specific departures (camping, kayaking, skiing, ice climbing)

Trip Overview
For those travellers looking for a very good introduction to Antarctica, incorporating the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula with the widest choice of boat and departure dates from which to choose, this classic 12-day trip is the best option to consider. Optional adventure activities available on some departures, including camping on the white continent itself, kayaking, ice climbing and cross-country skiing.


Daily Itinerary

Day 1 London Heathrow/Buenos Aires
Depart London Heathrow for Buenos Aires, flying overnight.

Day 2 Buenos Aires
Arrival in Buenos Aires early morning where you will be met by a local guide. Rest of day to explore independently or simply relax.

Day 3 Buenos Aires/ Ushuaia
Early transfer to the domestic airport for the flight down to Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), the southernmost city in the world. Afternoon to explore the historic and bustling town and harbour independently.

Day 4 Ushuaia/ Drake Passage
Morning at leisure with option to explore the nearby Lapataia National Park before embarking on your expeditionary boat in the afternoon. Plan to be on deck as you set sail on the scenic Beagle Channel heading east towards Antarctica.

Days 5 to 7 Crossing the Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands
Wandering Albatross, Storm Petrels and other seabirds accompany the ship as you sail south across this famous passage named after Sir Francis Drake, the 16th-century English navigator. Continue towards the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zones. Depending on weather conditions we plan to approach the South Shetland Islands during the late afternoon of Day six.

Days 8 to 11 Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula is the most easily accessible part of The White Continent, but it also has some of the most intimate and awe-inspiring scenery, as well as a rich variety of wildlife. This voyage offers travellers ample opportunity to experience all of the most interesting points along the north-western part of the peninsula.

Besides the magnificent scenery of mountains, snow and ice, you can expect to see a wide variety of the native wildlife, particularly Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, which occur in rookeries ranging from a few pairs to thousands (Baily Head = 250,000 chinstraps!). Marine mammals that you are likely to see include Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, while orcas, humpback and Minke whales may be spotted at close range. This area is also of substantial historical interest.

Daily itinerary will be uninfluenced by weather and local ice conditions but will include the following key places of interest:

Paradise bay, Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, Paulet Island, Port Lockroy, Cuverville & Petermann Islands.

Days 12 and 13 Drake Passage
Today you leave Antarctica and head north back across the Drake Passage.

Day 14 Ushuaia/ Buenos Aires
After breakfast disembark with the morning at leisure in Ushuaia before catching the early afternoon flight back to Buenos Aires. Overnight in Buenos Aires.

Day 15 Buenos Aires/ Heathrow
Depart Buenos Aires for Heathrow, flying overnight.


Optional Adventure Activities

• Kayaking


• Camping on Antarctic Continent


• Cross country skiing


• Ice climbing

**Please note that all add-on adventure activities except for the camping carry a supplementary cost



The Boats
The following boats are available for this cruise, please refer to the 'Antarctic Boats' section for full details:

Professor Molchanov
Professor Multanovskiy
Aleksey Maryshev
Grigoriy Mikheev
Akademik Shokalskiy
Ocean Nova
Lyubov Orlova
Clipper Adventurer
Akademik Ioffe
Akademik Sergey Vavilov
Orion

Cruise dates for 2008/09
Frequent departures from October to March throughout the Austral summer.

**Please note that availability on these expeditions is now limited, please contact our office for a full availability update

Cruise dates for 2009/10

Akademik Shokalskiy
- All 12 day voyages
21st Nov - 2nd Dec
19th - 30th Dec
11th - 22nd Jan
8th - 19th Jan
18th Feb - 1st March
28th Feb - 11th March

Akademik Sergey Vavilov - All 12 day voyages
1st - 12th Nov
11th - 22nd Nov
27th Dec - 7th Jan
19th - 30th Jan
1st - 12th March

Ocean Nova
- All 12 day voyages
20th Nov - 1st Dec
30th Nov - 11th Dec
10th - 21st Dec
20th - 31st Dec
30th Dec - 10th Jan

Lyubov Orlova
10th - 21st Nov (12 day)
20th Nov - 1st Dec (12 day)
30th Nov - 11th Dec (12 day)
10th - 20th Dec (11 day)
6th - 16th Jan (11 day)
15th - 25th Jan (11 day)
11th - 21st Feb (11 day)
20th Feb - 3rd March (12 day)
2nd - 13th March (12 day)

Clipper Adventurer
4th - 15th Nov (12 day)
14th - 24th Nov (11 day)
23rd Nov - 2nd Dec (10 day)
19th - 29th Dec (11 day)
15th - 25th Jan (11 day)
24th Jan - 3rd Feb (11 day)
2nd - 12th Feb (11 day)
11th - 22nd Feb (12 day)

Professor Molchanov - all 12 day voyages
23rd Jan - 2nd Feb
2nd - 12th Feb
2nd - 12th March
23rd March - 2nd April

Professor Multanovskiy
- all 12 day voyages
19th - 30th Nov
4th - 14th Feb
14th - 24th Feb
24th Feb - 6th March
28th March - 7th April

Plancius
26th Jan - 5th Feb (12 days)
23rd Feb - 7th March (14 days)
7th - 17th March (12 days)

Guide Price
(based on trips from UK to UK)

	Prices from:
Sharing triple cabin without private facilities	£4,165pp*
Sharing twin cabin without private facilities	£4,575pp*
Sharing twin cabin with private facilities	£4,950pp*
Sharing superior cabin with private facilities	£5,535pp*
Sharing suite with private facilities	£5,930pp*

Single Supplements on board
Single supplements are typically 1.5 times the cost of twin berth. Please ring for a quote.

To discuss this trip, for further details or to check boat availability, please either:

Call 01285 880981
Email voyages@steppestravel.co.uk

Steppes Travel cruise destinations include: Alaska, Amazon, Antarctica, Arctic, Baja Mexico, Galapagos.