South Georgia and The Antarctic Peninsula

OCTOBER 19- NOVEMBER 10, 2023

Itinerary:  

OCT 19: Travel To Punta Arenas, Chile 

OCT 20: Arrive In Punta Arenas, Chile. 

OCT 21: Fly To Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands. Pick up your packed lunch at the hotel before you are transferred to the airport to take the once-weekly flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands (not included in the trip cost). When you arrive in the early afternoon, you will be transferred to the ship in Stanley, You will have time to walk through town and explore this small corner of the British Empire that appears as if time has forgotten it. Stanley is an attractive town and the last center of human population you will see before your arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina at the voyage’s end. You will be welcomed by our Captain and our fine staff and crew, as well as enjoy your first dinner aboard the ship before departing for South Georgia! Sail To South Georgia Island 

OCT 22–23: By morning you’ll be far from the Falklands, heading southeast with albatross and other seabirds following the ship. You’ll stay busy by joining lectures on photography, wildlife, and ecology, familiarizing yourself on all aspects of ship life, preparing for what to expect on South Georgia, and enjoying views from the ship. You’ll cross the Polar Front (aka the Antarctic Convergence) where two bodies of water meet, and as the salty, cold Antarctic water mixes alongside warmer, fresher water from the north, the water temperatures plummet from about 39 to 43°F (4 to 6°C) to 32°F (0°C) in about eight cruising hours, creating nutrient-rich waters for birds, fur seals, and whales. Watch and photograph birds on the wing; wandering and black-browed albatross, plus a few southern or northern royal albatross should be following the ship. On previous expeditions, we have found almost a dozen species of petrels (including three storm-petrel and common diving-petrel species), six species of albatross, thousands of Antarctic prions, southern fulmars, greater and sooty shearwaters, and sometimes snow petrels. Whales you may encounter include fin, Antarctic minke, and southern right whales. During this time at sea, you’ll cross about 730 nautical miles with the prevailing current in our direction.Six Full Landing Days In South Georgia 

OCT 24–29: Arrival time at South Georgia will depend on weather conditions and currents. We spend six full landing days on South Georgia, one of the most remote islands in the world, in this wild landscape of penguins, albatrosses, and seals. The mountainous rugged interior, a geologic continuation of the Andes chain, is carved by more than 150 glaciers into spectacular fjords and ringed by islands. Our timing in this voyage is carefully chosen to experience South Georgia in a seldom seen but extremely vibrant time. You’ll arrive before the peak of fur seal breeding (usually in November and December), when males stake out territories at densities so high that travel ashore becomes both dangerous and disruptive. Instead, you arrive during the peak of southern elephant seal breeding. Many large male ‘beachmasters’ seek to own a stretch of beach and are willing to fight in great tonnages of seal jousting because here lie their best hopes for breeding. The male elephant seal puts so much into his territorial defense that his life expectancy is less than half of a female’s. But, if he is a successful ‘beachmaster’, this short life is one of great glory! In the northeast of the island, you’ll land at some of the special sites that become very difficult to impossible to land on once fur seals are in the height of their breeding, and then you will travel south to experience the scale and density of penguin breeding colonies in St. Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour, absorbing the great richness and variety offered by South Georgia to voyagers so fortunate as ourselves. Here are some of the landing sites we hope to reach, though we will not be able to visit them all.

*note: Due to the expeditionary nature of our voyage, specific stops cannot be guaranteed. Flexibility is paramount in expedition travel and our itinerary entirely depends on the conditions we encounter at the time. We strive to land often and stay as long as possible, abiding by the Guidelines for Responsible Ecotourism from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

Western Antarctic Peninsula - The Danco Coast, Neumeyer Channel, and Lemaire Channel

Oct 30 - Nov 1: Sail To The Antarctic Peninsula.Your route to Antarctica will be packed with watching wildlife from the ship’s deck and attending informative lectures. The waters between South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula are rich with fin whales; in good conditions we have seen as many as a hundred in a day! You may also be on the lookout for Antarctic petrel, Kerguelen petrel, and one of the most beautiful birds of the Southern Ocean, the snow petrel. Our lectures are designed to add depth and knowledge to your expedition, and our workshops will focus on photographic techniques and critiques to enhance your photos. En route to the Peninsula, you’ll hopefully have a chance to stop at Elephant Island where Shackleton's men waited four months while never giving up hope of rescue, creating an epic story of the Heroic Age of Exploration. Spend Six Full Days Landing And Zodiac Cruising Along The Antarctic Peninsula And South Shetland Islands

NOV 2–6: During the early season, it is an exciting time in the Antarctic Peninsula. Ice is beginning to recede, allowing passage to some of our favorite landing sites, and in recent years the Weddell Sea has been more open in the early season, closing back up by December. This means you may have a chance of getting in to search for lone emperor penguins and hopefully land at Adélie penguin colonies if the conditions are right. It’s also when penguin colonies are re-forming with penguins courting, setting up nests, and some laying eggs. We’re very excited to share the Antarctic’s early season with you!

The South Shetland Islands

These are a string of volcanic islands, some still active, that run parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula across the Bransfield Strait. Fondly known as the “Banana Belt of Antarctica,” these islands boast the richest concentrations of terrestrial wildlife in the Antarctic because of their proximity to the rich upwelling waters from the great Circumpolar Current. Even with our luxuriously in-depth itinerary, we will have to choose between many very compelling sites.

NOV 7–8: Cross The Drake Passage To Ushuaia, ArgentNamed after the 16th Century English seaman, Sir Francis Drake, this waterway of about 600mi separates the southernmost tip of South America from Antarctica. You cross the Polar Front approximately halfway across Drake Passage. Those on watch may sight several species of albatross and petrel following the ship; it is a particularly good area for royal albatross and blue petrel. Stay on the lookout for pods of sperm whales and other whales. Almost 500mi north of the South Shetlands, you will near Cape Horn, with a distant view before turning northeast toward the Beagle Channel. The offshore area is as rich as seawaters can be and seabirds are usually present in huge numbers, especially sooty shearwaters and black-browed albatross if the sea is calm. Sometimes you may see Peale’s dolphins in schools of hundreds. This evening you’ll navigate back up the Beagle Channel to dock in Ushuaia.

NOV 9: Disembark And Fly Homeward. This morning you will be reluctant to say goodbye to your spirited shipmates and leaders! After an early breakfast and clearing customs, disembark the ship to transfer to the airport, into Ushuaia to wander before transferring to the airport, or directly to your hotel. You may continue your journey on our Patagonia trip.

NOV 10: Arrive Home

The Cheeseman Experience

“The Cheeseman Experience,” as many of their travelmates have come to call it, is defined by delivering top value and maximum time in nature observing wildlife with unsurpassed leadership. Delivering this experience is their top priority. Their leaders are experts in finding and identifying wildlife; they help you observe and photograph as much as you want, often from dawn to dusk and even at night. During the past 35 years, Cheesemans’ listened and learned from their travelers and knowledgeable guides to develop the most in-depth itineraries to the unique regions on Earth.