Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia cruises
| country: | Antarctica, Falkland Islands |
| departures: | 2009: 1 Dec, 19 Dec, 28 Dec 2010: 20 Jan, 22 Jan, 24 Jan, 22 Feb, 16 Nov, 21 Nov, 25 Nov, 14 Dec, 22 Dec, 28 Dec 2011: 21 Jan, 22 Jan, 7 Feb, 18 Feb |
| price: | From £6440 - £11249 (23 days) excluding flights. |
| more info: | Price depends on departure date and cabin |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The journey begins sailing east to the Falklands with its large population of rockhopper and Magellanic penguins along with black-browed albatross. The historic side of the islands is also explored before the ship sails on to South Georgia. Ernest Shackelton - the greatest Antarctic Explorer - is buried here next to the spectacular ice-crowned mountains. The ship threads its way through magical fjords to Salisbury Plain and Gold Harbour, places so remote that they have evolved into astonishing wildlife havens boasting a 100,000-plus population of king penguins and chicks on their beaches - the greatest wildlife spectacle in earth.
The island also supports significant populations of elephant and fur seals. The voyage continues to the South Orkney Islands and then enters an enchanted world of icebergs and ice-covered mountains approaching the bays and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula. Anyone booking a Polar Expedition voyage by 31 December 2009 will receive a magnificent set of the acclaimed Opticron Countryman 8x42 binoculars. They come with a 10-year guarantee and are critical on any wildlife holiday. In the Poles they are as important as your passport!
The island also supports significant populations of elephant and fur seals. The voyage continues to the South Orkney Islands and then enters an enchanted world of icebergs and ice-covered mountains approaching the bays and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula. Anyone booking a Polar Expedition voyage by 31 December 2009 will receive a magnificent set of the acclaimed Opticron Countryman 8x42 binoculars. They come with a 10-year guarantee and are critical on any wildlife holiday. In the Poles they are as important as your passport!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly to Buenos Aires. |
| Day 2: | Arrive Buenos Aires; onward flight to Ushuaia; overnight in hotel. |
| Day 3: | Board the ship and sail along the Beagle Channel. |
| Day 4: | Sail east towards the Falkland Islands. |
| Days 5-6: | Falkland Islands. |
| Days 7-8: | At sea sailing towards South Georgia. |
| Days 9-12: | South Georgia. |
| Days 13-14: | South Orkney Islands (ice conditions permitting). |
| Day 15: | At sea sailing south to Antarctica. |
| Days 16-18: | Antarctic Peninsula. |
| Days 19-20: | Drake Passage, sailing north towards South America. |
| Day 21: | Disembark in Ushuaia, fly to Buenos Aires; overnight in Buenos Aires. |
| Day 22: | Morning free before afternoon flight back to London. |
| Day 23: | Arrive London. |
award winner
This tourism business won an award in our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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We take extremely seriously our responsibility to minimise our impact on these pristine areas. This operator is an Associate Member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and has agreed to abide by one of the tourism world's most conscientious codes of conduct. Our ship operator is also a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), which covers operations in Spitzbergen. However, perhaps the single most important thing any polar travel company can do, is educate their clients to travel sensitively and compassionately. Our expedition team on each ship takes this part of their role very seriously, and looks forward to explaining how everyone can play their part. We support various conservation initiatives:
Polar Bear Study: The polar bear’s migratory patterns have long been a mystery to conservationists. With money raised from expeditions and donations, we have made valuable contributions to the purchase of the expensive tracking collars – critical in monitoring their hunting and mating patterns. Albatross Campaign: Almost half a million US dollars has been raised through staff and passengers towards the ‘Get the Albatross off the Hook’ campaign, aimed at stopping the death of albatrosses by long-line fishing. Scott Polar Research Institute: We support the work of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge. The Institute is the oldest international centre for Polar Research within a university. Polar Ambassadors: Polar Ambassadors believe that the preservation and conservation of the polar regions is imperative. There are 10 simple things that you can do now that will make a difference. Our expedition team on each ship takes this very seriously, and look forward to explaining how everyone can become involved. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |