Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - M/V Greg Mortimer

21 days
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Small Group Tour
We start our journey from the Southern tip of Argentina in Ushuaia. From here we set sail across the Beagle Channel into the infamous Drake Passage, before reaching the calm shores of the Antarctic peninsula. We will follow in the wake of Shackleton, heading towards the wildlife haven of South Georgia. Often described as the gem of the Southern Ocean, the spl...
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$31,463
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • Sail to the Falkland Islands - explore this magnificent archipelago
    • Follow in the footsteps of Shackleton - to South Georgia
    • Enjoy full daylight hours - soak up the near endless summer daylight
    • On-board lecture programme - enjoy informative lectures from expert naturalists and guides

What's this trip about?

    We start our journey from the Southern tip of Argentina in Ushuaia. From here we set sail across the Beagle Channel into the infamous Drake Passage, before reaching the calm shores of the Antarctic peninsula. We will follow in the wake of Shackleton, heading towards the wildlife haven of South Georgia. Often described as the gem of the Southern Ocean, the splendour of South Georgia is hard to describe - stunning snow-capped mountain landscapes, deep fjords, tousled tussock grasses and wild beaches all combine to provide superb stunning photo opportunities. Here is the most important colony of king penguins, fur seals and elephant seals and it is estimated that over 10 million sea birds visit South Georgia each year. Our wildlife -rich journey continues as we set sail to the Falkland Islands. This archipelago of over 400 islands, is an important breeding ground for penguins, elephant seals and sea lions and we will have plenty of time to explore and admire its delightful offerings. Sail to the Falkland Islands - explore this magnificent archipelago Follow in the footsteps of Shackleton - to South Georgia Enjoy full daylight hours - soak up the near endless summer daylight in Antarctica On-board lecture programme - enjoy informative lectures from expert naturalists and guides

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityUshuaia
End CityUshuaia

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

  • South America
  • Argentina
  • Asia
  • Antarctica

Attractions

  • Antarctic Peninsula
  • Georgia
  • Shetland Islands
  • South Shetland Islands
  • Ushuaia

Activities

  • Hiking

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia (USH), where you will be met by a representative and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, we ask you to make your way to your hotel. Check-in is from 3pm. Upon arrival, please v...

Day 2 Embark the M/V Greg Mortimer

This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred...

Day 3 Drake Passage

As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. The expedition team prepare you for your first landings, with important wildlife guidelines and they will also start their informative lecture prog...

Day 4 Drake Passage

Nearing the tip of the South Shetland Islands, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on the bridge, keeping a look out for the first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence, and we are surrounded by...

Day 5 Antarctic Peninsula

It's almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. Once we arrive, the western side of the ...

Day 6 Antarctic Peninsula

We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from th...

Day 7 Antarctic Peninsula

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to marvel at sculptural icebergs and photograph spectacular scenery. This is a great tim...

Day 8 Elephant Island

Today, if weather permits, we set course for Elephant Island, a half-submerged mountain cloaked with an ice sheet at the outer limits of the South Shetlands. We will learn the story of Shackleton and hear how his ship Endurance was crushed in pack ice in the Weddell S...

Day 9 Scotia Sea

As we make our way to South Georgia we will cross the Scotia Sea, following the route that Shackleton and five of his men took in order to find help for the rest of their crew. On 24 April, 1916, they piled into the James Caird, the most seaworthy of their open boats,...

Day 10 Scotia Sea

As excitement builds on our approach to South Georgia, catch up with fellow expeditioners in the bar, keep watch for wildlife alongside our naturalist from the various observation areas, or learn more of the Shackleton story from our historian. „ Nearly always th...

Day 11 South Georgia

As you near the rugged island of South Georgia, spare a thought for Captain James Cook, who arrived here in 1775 and believed it to be the northern tip of a great southern continent! In fact, it is a small island only 176 km long, but with a 3,000 m snow-capped mounta...

Day 12 South Georgia

South Georgia is one of the world's most amazing natural environments. Just a speck in the vastness of the South Atlantic Ocean, and lying wholly within the Antarctic Convergence, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are a life-sustaining haven to some of the ...

Day 13 South Georgia

Zodiac cruise around craggy coves and along the rocky coastline in search of penguins, seal haul-outs and bird cliffs. Remember to keep an eye out for South Georgia's kelp forests\emdash these remarkable underwater ecosystems are quite mesmerising as their fronds sway...

Day 14 South Georgia

We will explore the King Penguin rookeries that this area is renowned for, where hundreds and hundreds of penguins dot the landscape. Lose yourself amongst these gracious-looking creatures and ensure cameras are fully charged for this incredible wildlife spectacle - an absolute highlight of South Georgia.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 15 South Georgia

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship-cruise through fjords with towering cliffs of ancient stone, or into deeply indented bays towards dramatic glacier fronts. This is a great time to find a comfy spot in the observation lounge to enjoy uninterrupted views of South Georgia's majestic coast.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 16 At Sea

Between South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, you will be entranced by the ceaseless flight of the many seabirds that follow our wake, skilfully using the air currents created by the ship to gain momentum. On this leg, we are usually travelling into the prevailing w...

Day 17 At Sea

If time and weather conditions permit, we could pass close to Shag Rocks, a fascinating group of jagged rocky islets protruding from the sea, in the proximity of South Georgia. We continue to cross the Scotia Sea and edge closer to the Falkland Islands.

Meals Provided : Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 18 Falkland Islands

The Falklands~Malvinas comprises two large islands - East and West Falklands - with over 700 islands scattered off the coast. All but seven of these are uninhabited, with windswept coastlines, white sand beaches and crystal-clear water. These beautifully barren island...

Day 19 Falkland Islands

Even though we are north of the Antarctic Convergence it can be quite chilly here, so always remember to layer up before joining Zodiac cruises into rocky coves or along sea cliffs, keeping watch for seals, sea lions, dolphins and porpoising penguins. If conditions al...

Day 20 At Sea

With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the South Atlantic Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced...

Day 21 Disembark in Ushuaia

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where you will be free to disembark around 8 am. Bid farewell to your expedition team and fellow passengers, before you continue on with your onward journey. A transfer is included to either downtown Ushuaia or to the airport, depending on your onward arrangements.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $25,580
Price per day$1,218
Last Updated: 4/24/2024

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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Transportation & Flights

M/V Greg Mortimer, Zodiac,

Transportation & flights

M/V Greg Mortimer, Zodiac
Guides
Expedition Crew, Naturalist(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure. USA (If flights transit): you will need to apply for an ESTA if you are transiting the USA as you will have to disembark and clear immigration before re-boarding for the onward flight. Citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and passport holders from several EU countries can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - where you apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), which applies if you enter the country by sea or by air. This must be done on line - https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov no later than 72 hours prior to travel. Travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely be refused boarding. When completing an application for transit you should enter the words 'In Transit' with your final destination location in the address line You must have an electronic passport with a digital chip containing biometric information about the passport owner. UK passports which are biometric feature a small gold symbol (camera) at the bottom of the front cover. If you have visited Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan in the past five years or are dual nationals of these countries, you cannot travel under the Visa Waiver Programme. Instead you will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. If you are unable to provide a valid visa before boarding flights to the US, or entering via another method, you may not be permitted to travel. For further information please check out the US embassy website. Visa applications - http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/apply.html
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 19
  • Dinner : 19
  • Lunch : 18
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
Trip ID
explore-GMFS

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