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Off The Map: Antarctica, Southern Ocean & South Sandwich Islands

An epic voyage to some of the most captivating corners of the Southern Ocean, including the rarely visited South Sandwich Islands.

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Length

23 Days

Embark

Ushuaia

Disembark

Ushuaia

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Highlights

Witness the dramatic landscapes and encounter the charismatic wildlife of the Falkland Islands.
Discover the wildlife-packed beaches, historic sites, and Shackleton's legacy on South Georgia Island.
Venture to the rarely visited volcanic landscapes of the South Sandwich Islands, a true adventurer's paradise.

Embark on a thrilling 23-day Southern Ocean voyage to some of the most captivating and remote places on Earth. An expedition of epic proportions that takes you virtually off the map, this ultimate adventure is packed with endless highlights, landmarks, and attractions, where every day brings new discoveries and unforgettable experiences. Discover the rugged beauty of the Falkland Islands, where dramatic landscapes meet charismatic wildlife, get up close and personal with the amazing nature of South Georgia, from adorable penguins to majestic albatrosses, and experience the thrill of visiting the rarely seen South Sandwich Islands, where stunning scenery and rare wildlife await. And let’s not forget, the pristine, penguin peppered Antarctic Peninsula itself.

Departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, you’ll explore the quaint English architecture, pristine beaches, and encounter penguins, seals, and albatrosses of the Falklands, before visiting Shackleton’s final resting place and immersing yourself in the natural wonder of South Georgia, a paradise of wildlife-packed beaches, active research camps, and historic whaling stations. Your adventure then leads us to the seldom seen South Sandwich Islands, where awe-inspiring volcanic landscapes await, providing a truly unique experience, before the final fling to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, where penguin rookeries, research stations, and breathtaking lookouts await. With only a select few people ever having visited these remote realms, you’ll feel like a true adventurer.

Ships

No departures available at this time

Standard Activities

Lectures

Bird Watching

Photography Workshops

Zodiac Cruises

Itinerary Day to Day

Day 1

Arrival and Embarkation in Ushuaia

Arrive and embark in Ushuaia, Argentina – the world’s southernmost city. Explore bustling downtown, or the laid-back local countryside. Alternatively, consider a day trip off the beaten path into the raw, untamed nature of Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is a hiker’s paradise with rugged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, flower-filled meadows and ancient forests.

The modern expedition vessel Ocean Albatros awaits in port, and guests will embark the ship by mid-afternoon. The transfers from the city center to the ship are arranged . After being shown to your stateroom you will be given the mandatory safety briefing, while the captain gets ready to steer out into the South Atlantic Ocean.

Our journey begins as we navigate through the tranquil Beagle Channel, the strait marking the Chile-Argentina border in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago.

Ushuaia

Embarkation Point

Beagle Channel

Day 2

At Sea, approaching Falkland Islands

Days 3-4

Falkland Islands and Port Stanley

As we arrive in the Falkland Islands we will deploy our Zodiacs for the first landing of our voyage, landing in the sparsely inhabited and nature-rich western part of the archipelago.

On the following day we will cast anchor and Zodiac ashore in the sheltered natural harbor of Stanley, a quaint and very British outpost in the south Atlantic. The city is walkable, with colorful houses and cozy pubs lining the streets. This tiny capital has plenty on offer to visitors, from rugged scenery, local history and culture to excellent shopping and locally brewed beers. Wildlife watchers could encounter the endemic flightless steamer duck in the harbour, as well as the delicate dolphin gull, while fur seals are often found snoozing on our landing pier.

Falkland Islands

Port Stanley

Days 5-6

Crossing the Antarctic Convergence

Days 7-10

South Georgia, wildlife paradise of the South Atlantic

The forbidding glacier-clad peaks of South Georgia will be the setting for the next days of our expedition. Lying in the Southern Ocean below the Antarctic convergence, these frigid seas are teeming with life. The island, often referred to as “The Galapagos of the Poles”, can only be reached by ship. There is no permanent human settlement (other than visiting scientists and conservationists), but penguins, seabirds and seals breed in the millions. The difficulty of accessing this remote outposts and the regulations in place to protect the delicate environment makes South Georgia one of the least-visited tourist destinations in the world. Once a global whaling capital, today the island has been left to recover from human over-exploitation, and intensive conservation efforts have resulted in dramatic increases in whale, and bird populations. The itinerary and activities over the next couple of days are largely dependent on the weather and the sea conditions, which dictate all aspects of life here; your onboard team will work hard to ensure you can experience the best of South Georgia’s unparalleled nature.

Potential landing sites include Salisbury Plain, home to one of the largest king penguin colonies on the island, estimated to number up to half a million birds. At this time of the year the beaches will also be crowded with plenty of young and very curious Antarctic fur seals as well as hulking southern elephant seals.

Another possible landing site is Prion Island, a reserve for the wandering albatross. The site is closed until the end of January to protect the breeding birds, and visiting late in the season allows us unique access. This is one of the few sites where one can observe these gentle giants (with the largest wingspan of any bird) up close. Gentoo penguins, giant petrels and Antarctic prions also breed on the island.

The British administration at Grytviken is also a popular stop. Once a Norwegian whaling station specializing in industrialized slaughter, Grytviken now serves as the hub of island conservation, and the preserved ruins of the whaling station and the excellent South Georgia Museum offer a unique glimpse into the island’s industrial past. Legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton (whose heroism is synonymous with the island) is buried in the small graveyard – a fence keeps out the ever-present penguins and seals. The endemic South Georgia pipit and South Georgia pintail may be seen around the buildings; once almost eradicated, these birds have benefitted hugely from the eradication of rats on the island, and these endemic birds are now once again a common sight.

South Georgia

Salisbury Plain

Prion Island

Grytviken

Day 11

At Sea, approaching South Sandwich Islands

Days 12-14

South Sandwich Islands

Arriving at the South Sandwich Islands, we are now truly off the edge of the map. This string of active volcanoes is one of the most remote and seldom visited parts of the South Atlantic, some islands going years between visits by ships of any type. The South Sandwich Islands are exposed to the raw fury of the Southern Ocean, and wind, sea and ice conditions will dictate the exact itinerary of our time in these islands.

The South Sandwich Islands exist at the edge of the tectonic plate underlying the Drake Passage; here, Earth’s surface crumples, producing this string of active volcanos, punching out of the ocean in an arc. Plumes of ash and smoke are commonly seen from these boiling rocks, and the ash-striated glaciers and tortured rocks of the volcanoes form the backdrop to our days exploring.

Conditions on the islands are frequently challenging, but your skilled Captain and Expedition Leader will work hard to maximise your opportunities to explore these isolated outposts. Exploration possibilities include witnessing the largest penguin colony outside Antarctica on the shores of Zavodovski Island, seeing ice boulders and ash-marbles glaciers on Saunders Island, or watching vast seal colonies cavort in the ruins of the wartime Argentine station on Thule Island.

Everywhere on the South Sandwich Islands, wildlife abounds; the islands hold the majority of the world’s chinstrap penguins, vast numbers of other bird species and huge seal colonies. From the southern end of the island chain, we will strike out southwest towards the Antarctic continent.

South Sandwich Islands

Zavodovski Island

Saunders Island

Thule Island

Days 15-16

At Sea, approaching Antarctica

Days 17-20

Antarctic Sound, Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

Over the coming days, we will begin our exciting Antarctic experience at the very tip of the Continent. The itinerary and activities over the next few days will depend on weather and ice conditions. The route and shore landings will be determined by the Captain and Expedition Leader and communicated to the guests through regularly scheduled briefings.

Wildlife abounds on the Antarctic Peninsula: leopard, fur, crabeater and Weddell seals are common throughout the peninsula; humpback whales come to feed in the rich waters of the Gerlache Strait; penguin colonies cling to rocky outcrops warmed by the sun, and orcas hunt for prey in the frigid depths. Our program in Antarctica will aim to include a mixture of sites to give guests the best possible range of experiences; these may include historical sites, wildlife colonies, or areas with particularly spectacular scenery.

Antarctic Sound

Antarctic Peninsula

Days 21-22

At Sea, approaching Ushuaia

Day 23

Arrival in Ushuaia and Disembarkation

Route Map

There are 16 main destinations visited

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Off The Map: Antarctica, Southern Ocean & South Sandwich Islands

Highlights

Ships

Standard Activities

About the Off The Map: Antarctica, Southern Ocean & South Sandwich Islands

Itinerary Day to Day

Arrival and Embarkation in Ushuaia

At Sea, approaching Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands and Port Stanley

Crossing the Antarctic Convergence

South Georgia, wildlife paradise of the South Atlantic

At Sea, approaching South Sandwich Islands

South Sandwich Islands

At Sea, approaching Antarctica

Antarctic Sound, Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

At Sea, approaching Ushuaia

Arrival in Ushuaia and Disembarkation

Route Map

Departure Dates