Ultimate New Years: Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Circle

After a friendly welcome at the airport and a transfer to the luxurious Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, take some time to unwind or explore the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. (In the unlikely event that you can’t be accommodated at the Arakur, you’ll unwind at another of Ushuaia’s top luxury hotels.)

Our optional evening briefing is your opportunity to ask questions and meet some of your fellow explorers.

Spend your morning relaxing at the hotel, visiting a museum, or exploring the shops in Ushuaia, before our mid-afternoon escort to the ship. Our Expedition Team and ship staff will welcome you on board and get you settled in, followed by a safety and orientation briefing and our Captain’s welcome dinner. We’re on our way to Antarctica!

As we sail south, important briefings on environmental regulations and expedition safety are held, and you won’t want to miss our scientific and environmental experts as they begin their deeply knowledgeable, and always entertaining talks about the wildlife, history, and geology of the areas we will soon be exploring.

Welcome to a wildlife lover’s dream. As you approach this ruggedly beautiful archipelago, keep the camera ready to capture the abundant wildlife and breathtaking scenery of this fascinating part of the world. Here, you’ll find the largest black-browed albatross colony in the world and five species of breeding penguin. Bird lovers, stay on the lookout for kelp gulls, dolphin gulls, blackcrowned night herons, red-backed hawks, peregrine falcons, and turkey vultures. East and West Falklands provide a rare opportunity to witness the biological diversity, extraordinarily diverse landscapes, and rich history of the southern islands. Weather permitting, we’ll explore Saunders Island, the second-largest island in the Falklands, and The Neck, a narrow peninsula with sandy beaches and subtle cliff faces, where the mighty black-browed albatross build their nesting colonies.

Things continue ramping up with plenty of birdlife sightings as we make our way east across the Antarctic Convergence and officially enter Antarctic waters. See if you can identify the world’s largest bird, the Wandering albatross. From soaring giants like the Southern Giant petrel to the tiny Wilson’s Storm petrel, a range of impressive bird species will be hitching a ride on the updrafts created by ocean swells and waves. And be on the lookout for whale blows and our very first iceberg sighting.

South Georgia is often referred to as the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’ and it’s easy to see why as you take in tens of thousands (not a typo!) of breeding penguins, seals, and seabirds. Breathtaking mountain scenery, majestically sculpted icebergs, glaciers in every direction, and a rich historical tapestry are all here to complement the incredible array of wildlife on view as we travel down South Georgia’s leeward coast. We’ll also visit the historic Grytviken whaling station, featuring the tiny graveyard where the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried.

Heading farther south, we’ll continue our informative presentations and wildlife spotting as the icebergs become bigger and more plentiful.

With twice-daily outing as our goal, we’ll explore any number of picturesque bays and famed landing sites, maneuvering through iceberg-rich channels as we travel alongside an array of wildlife. There are opportunities to stop at several active scientific bases and historic landing sites as we take in the wide range of penguin species, seals, and whales along the rugged coastlines and in the sea. Four days give us plenty of time to explore, discover, and be forever changed by the power of the last wild place on earth.

Venturing to the ends of the earth is a moment to cherish, as not all expeditions venture this far south. We’ll take our time gliding through the famed Lemaire channel, accompanied by icebergs of every dazzling shape and size, with the anticipation of reaching latitude 66°33’S. Along the way, you’ll marvel at one of our planets most spectacular 360 landscapes, ushering you towards to the legendary Antarctic Circle. Together we’ll quietly marvel the sheer rawness of the surroundings and revel in the moment. A toast and celebration awaits should the Circle welcome us. While not a typical landing, the crossing of the Antarctic Circle will leave you breathless, and with one of life’s greatest memories.

Test your newfound penguin expertise and sharpen your wildlife-spotting skills as you identify fur, leopard, and Weddell seals. Zodiac cruises and shore landings will continue, offering ample opportunities to encounter the peninsula’s diverse wildlife and capture stunning photographs of your adventure

We leave this magical place and make our way north, once again crossing the legendary Drake Passage. We have one last hurrah as we celebrate the conclusion of our expedition with a special slideshow and a final meal together.

With huge smiles on weary, content faces, we disembark in the morning, letting you catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more sights and adventure.