Aurora Antarctic Odyssey & South Georgia 21D20N (Sail/Sail)

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy free time to explore Santiago at your own pace and city's excellent restaurants. Between 5.00-7.00 pm, meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation Briefing. Afterwards, there’s free time to enjoy the local cuisine at one of Ushuaia’s many restaurants. (Dinner not included).

Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego is located at the shores of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains giving you a unique landscape in Argentina, which is the combination of mountains, sea, glaciers and forests. On this brief introductory tour, you will visit “La Mision” neighbourhood, the old Government House, and the upper area of the city, which offers beautiful panoramic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. During the excursion you will see the antique houses that belonged to the first families settled in Ushuaia. The excursion ends with a visit to the Old Prison Museum before transferring to the pier for embarkation at approximately 4.00 pm.

After embarkation, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.

Commence the Drake Passage crossing and you make the most of your time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Your expedition team prepare you for your first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start your lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.

Enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following in our wake. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.

Nearing the tip of the South Shetland Islands on day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on the bridge watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.

It is time to explore the Antarctic Peninsula. Feel the crisp air in your lungs and the overwhelming power of Antarctica’s stunning landscape as you make landings.

Once you arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are yours to explore, and you have a host of choices available. Because you are so far south, you will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.

Rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping an eye out of whales, seals and penguins. Visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and stretch your legs on the pebbly beaches or snow-covered ridgelines offering spectacular vistas. Enjoy prechosen activities such as kayaking whenever the conditions permit and for the brave, take the polar plunge into the icy waters.

Onboard cruise some of the narrow and dramatic straits or linger scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. Enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its wonder.

Truly immerse yourself in one of the most spectacular regions of the world, that still few get to see.

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’ll learn the story of Shackleton and hear how his ship, the Endurance, was crushed in pack ice in the Weddell Sea, before him and his men climbed into three open boats, spending 16 months at sea, before finally making landfall on this tiny toe of rock and ice in the vastness of the Southern Ocean on 14 April, 1916.

We plan to sail past Cape Valentine to see the beach where the men first put ashore over 100 years ago. Weather permitting; we hope to follow the coastline six miles west to Point Wild, where the men eventually set up camp under two of their upturned open boats and some old tents. If weather permits, we’ll attempt to make a landing on historic Point Wild, Elephant Island.

En route for South Georgia you'll head across 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, to attempt this perilous journey to South Georgia, some 1290 km (802 miles) distant. Shackleton hoped to reach South Georgia in two weeks. There he would enlist the help of the whalers to return to Elephant Island and rescue the men who had been left behind. As excitement builds for South Georgia, catch up with fellow expeditioners in the bar, keep watch for wildlife alongside our naturalist from the open bridge, or learn more of the Shackleton story from our historian.

Attend informative lectures to learn about Antarctica as we sail across the Scotia Sea towards the white continent. Treat yourself to a massage in the wellness centre or stay active in the gym; the choice is yours on how you want to enjoy days at sea.

Marvel at the jagged mountain peaks and spectacular glaciated scenery as you make your approach of South Georgia. South Georgia is home to some of the world’s largest congregations of wildlife with incredible human history and land and seascapes to explore. Your experienced expedition team will choose the best options based on weather and wildlife opportunities each day to ensure you get the most of this enchanting island.

Enjoy two landings or Zodiac excursions a day (weather permitting) and explore one of the largest king penguin colonies on earth. Take guided walks amid fur seals, elephant seals and wander along pebbled streams, grassy glacial plains, and icy shores. Discover the remnants of South Georgia’s whale stations and pay your respects to Sir Ernest Shackleton. In addition, you may have the opportunity to ship cruise through fjords or into deep bays with dramatic glacier fronts to discover.

Between South Georgia and the Falklands~Malvinas, 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, you are usually travelling into the prevailing weather, so it is difficult to estimate your arrival time in the Falklands~Malvinas. Your lecture program will continue and highlight all the amazing sights we have witnessed over the past few days. You’ll have ample time to enjoy the rest of your time observing the sea birds, whale watching from the bridge, or simply relaxing in the bar with a book.

If time and weather conditions permit, you could pass close to Shag Rocks, a fascinating group of jagged rocky islets protruding from the sea, in the proximity of South Georgia.

The Falklands~Malvinas comprises two large islands (East and West Falkland), 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 islands are true wildlife havens, sheltering an impressive diversity of birdlife, including the largest black-browed albatross colony on earth. The cold, nutrient-rich waters surrounding the islands make this a prime location for spotting marine life.

We also aim to land in historic Stanley, the capital of the Falklands~Malvinas. This charming town has a distinctly British character, with terraced town houses, pioneer cottages and even an iconic red telephone box! Colourful buildings house cosy cafes, English pubs, souvenir shops, a post office and the fascinating Historic Dockyard Museum, with displays on the maritime history of the Falkland Islands, natural history and links to Antarctica.

With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. You may choose to spend free time editing photos, enjoying the onboard facilities, or listening to final lectures. Celebrate the end of an unforgettable voyage with newfound friends at a special Captain’s farewell dinner.

In the early morning, cruise up the Beagle Channel before docking in Ushuaia where you will be free to disembark. Farewell the expedition team and fellow passengers as you take your transfer to downtown Ushuaia or to the airport for your onwards journey.

NOTE: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.