Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands Cruise

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.



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



Cruise dates and boats for 2009/10

Small Expeditionary
Antarctic Dream
07th - 17th Nov (11 days)
17th - 27th Nov (11 days)
27th Nov - 07th Dec (11 days)
07th - 17th Dec (11 days)
18th - 28th Dec (11 days)
28th Dec - 07th Jan (11 days)
07th - 17th Jan (11 days)
17th - 27th Jan (11 days)
28th Jan - 08th Feb (11 days)
08th - 18th Feb (11 days)
18th - 28th Feb (11 days)
28th Feb - 10th March (11 days)
10th - 20th March (11 days)

Professor Molchanov
23rd Jan - 2nd Feb (11 days)
2nd - 12th Feb (11 days)
2nd - 12th March (11 days)

Professor Multanovskiy
14th - 24th Feb (11 days)

Small Adventure
Polar Pioneer
27th Nov - 7th Dec (11 days)
7th - 18th Dec (12 Days)*
18th Dec - 28th Dec (11 days)
28th Dec - 7th Jan (11 days)
25th Jan - 5th Feb** (12 Days)
5th - 16th Feb (12 Days)
16th - 27th Feb (12 Days)
* Specialist climbing & kayaking departure
** Weddell Sea and Antarctic Pennisula departure

Medium Expeditionary
Ocean Nova
20th Nov - 1st Dec (11 days)
30th Nov - 11th Dec (11 days)
10th - 21st Dec (11 days)
20th - 31st Dec (11 days)
30th Dec - 10th Jan (11 days)

Clipper Adventurer
19th - 29th Dec (10 days)
15th - 25th Jan (10 days)
24th Jan - 3rd Feb (10 days)
11th - 22nd Feb (11 days)
21st feb - 4th Mar (11 Days)

Plancius
26th Jan - 5th Feb* (11 days)
23rd Feb - 7th March (13 days)
7th - 17th March (11 days)
* bilingual departure

M/V Orlova
10th - 21st Nov (11 days)
20th Nov - 1st Dec (11 days)
30th Nov - 11th Dec (11 days)
10th - 20th Dec (10 days)
6th - 16th Jan (10 days)
15th - 25th Jan (10 days)
11th - 21st Feb (10 days)
20th Feb - 3rd March (11 days)

Medium Adventure
Akademik Sergey Vavilov
30th Nov - 10th Dec (11 days)
10th - 20th Dec (11 days)
12th - 22nd Mar (11 days)

Akademik Ioffe
16th - 26th Jan 2010 (11 days)
26th Jan - 5th Feb 2010 (11 days)
7th - 17th March 2010 (11 days)

Please refer to the 'Antarctic Boats' section for full details of all these boats.

Guide Price for 2009/10

Cabin Type(from guide price quoted per person)	Ant Dream	Clipper	Vavilov		Ocean Nova
Triple cabin (*with/ without bathroom)	-	£4,430	£4,720		£5,450
Twin cabin with shared bathroom	-	-	£5,295	£5,530
Twin cabin with semi-shared bathroom	-	-	£5,475		-
Twin with Private Bathroom	£5,295	£5,330	£6,055		£7,050
Superior	£5,995	£6,290	£6,345		-
Deluxe	-	£6,770	-	-	-
Suite	£7,160	£7,395	£6,635		-
Single dedicated cabin	-	-	-		£9,250

Notes
The above prices are a guide price only based on shoulder season rates and on 2 people sharing a cabin. Please note that these prices increase quite considerably during the peak Antarctic season, Christmas to end of February.

Please note that these prices are a guide only and are subject to exchange rate fluctuations and possible fuel surcharges.

*All cabins on board the Clipper Adventurer, Antarctic Dream & Ocean Nova have their own private en suite bathroom, including the Triple cabins

Single Supplement
For those solo travellers preferring their own cabin, typically a multiplier of 1.7/ 1.8 on the cost of a single berth is used to calculate the single supplement on those ships without dedicated single cabins. Please contact the office for a quotation.

Includes

• All flights


• Accommodation in Argentina


• Airport/ hotel transfers in Buenos Aires


• Antarctic cruise based on full board


• All guided excursions, landings & lectures on board ship

Excludes

• Any additional accommodation, services or excursions not mentioned in the itinerary


• Travel insurance & vaccinations


• Visas & gratuities


• Items of a personal nature, including laundry & drinks


• Any additional Fuel Surcharge, if levied by the boat's operator

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.