South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula: Penguin Safari

Your journey begins in Ushuaia, a small but lively port at the southern tip of South America. This place is the perfect gateway to explore the southern part of Patagonia and prepare for your upcoming adventure. You can discover Patagonia’s mountain world, enjoy handmade chocolate, or look forward to the start of your journey in one of the city’s cafés.

Embarkation takes place in the late afternoon, after which your ship sails through the historic Beagle Channel, which crosses Tierra del Fuego at the southernmost tip of South America. Departing from Ushuaia is a moment with an incredible atmosphere of anticipation!

During the sea days on the way to South Georgia, there are numerous activities to entertain you. You learn to recognize the seabirds gliding alongside the ship or participate in presentations by your expedition team. You will be briefed on safety procedures for Zodiac cruises and landings and receive instructions to make the most of your optional sea kayaking adventures (at additional cost). When conditions are right, the first hint that you are approaching South Georgia is the sight of birds around a group of rocky peaks known as Shag Rocks. Keep your binoculars and cameras ready to capture these rock needles jutting out of the icy ocean waters. Birds often rest here, and due to the nutrient-rich upwellings around the rocks, this is a good place to look out for whales.

After enjoying South Georgia from afar, you head to numerous beaches to find a bay for your first landing. Landing sites vary and largely depend on the weather conditions of your trip. The places you visit offer you animal encounters that are unparalleled on Earth. South Georgia is one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world for subantarctic animals, with beaches full of penguins and seals. You will quickly find that you are in a birdwatcher’s paradise, as breeding seabirds, albatrosses, and petrels can be seen in abundance. You will also discover that South Georgia, once a popular base for whalers and sealers, is dotted with abandoned relics and evidence of human activity from past centuries. Your expedition team will bring these days to life as you visit old whaling stations and enjoy presentations about South Georgia’s past and present. One of the most significant places you will visit on the island is Grytviken. It is one of the first whaling stations established in subantarctic waters. Grytviken also has a special appeal because it is the site of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s grave, one of the most famous Antarctic explorers.

You say goodbye to the king penguins of South Georgia as you make your way to your next destination: Antarctica! Your days at sea are filled with presentations and workshops led by your expedition team. They prepare you for the animals and landscapes that will surround you upon arrival on the 7th continent.

Awe and wonder is the most common reaction after arriving on the Antarctic Peninsula. It’s hard to put into words, as few places are as pristine and special as Antarctica. You discover a continent of extremes. In one moment, you will be overwhelmed by a sense of complete isolation and silence; in the next, you will be swept away by nature as a calving glacier plunges into a brilliantly blue sea or a curious penguin waddles by and observes you. Your expedition team will take care of you on every excursion, whether you’re taking a Zodiac ride, visiting a historic site, or observing penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie, and Gentoo penguins can be found on the peninsula, as well as Weddell, Fur, Crabeater, and Leopard seals. Keep an eye out for Antarctic whales on a Zodiac cruise. Each day and each excursion brings new creatures to discover that will excite you and keep your camera busy. As exciting as the Zodiac excursions and landings are, you might treat yourself to a very special Antarctic experience by booking an optional sea kayaking excursion (at additional cost) or throwing caution to the wind and jumping into Antarctic waters during the Polar Plunge!

After more than a dozen days of unique animal encounters and remarkable landscapes, your journey home begins. Crossing the Drake Passage is your unofficial rite of passage. You spend time on deck looking out for seabirds and whales, enjoy presentations by your expedition team, or simply relax and reminisce about your Antarctic experiences.

In the morning, you arrive in Ushuaia, where you can continue your adventure or catch your return flight.