South Georgia, Falklands and Antarctic Odyssey

Upon your arrival in Ushuaia, you will be greeted by an Aurora Expeditions representative and taken to your pre-booked hotel, where check-in is possible from 3:00 PM. In the afternoon, you can collect your luggage tags at the Aurora Expeditions guest counter at Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort and receive the final information about your trip.

After breakfast and check-out, you leave your tagged luggage at the reception, where it will be stored until the transfer to the port. You can spend the morning freely in Ushuaia. In the afternoon, you have the choice of either participating in a catamaran trip on the Beagle Channel or going directly to the hotel for embarkation. Afterwards, dinner is served on board to officially begin your expedition.

As you cross the Drake Passage, you get used to the movements of the sea. The expedition team prepares you for the first landing and explains important regulations for wildlife protection. You can observe albatrosses and petrels. On board, you have time to use the gym, sauna, or whirlpools. On the fourth day, you arrive at the South Shetland Islands. Excitement rises when the first iceberg comes into view. With a bit of luck, you can make your first landing in Antarctica in the afternoon.

The feeling of arriving in Antarctica and seeing the first iceberg while breathing in the clear air deeply remains unforgettable. The expedition team adapts the routes daily to the weather and ice conditions to explore the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. There are two excursions daily, where you either go ashore or explore the surroundings by Zodiac boat. You experience penguin colonies, historical sites, and impressive ice landscapes – always on the lookout for whales, seals, and penguins.

As you cross the Scotia Sea, you follow the route that Shackleton and five of his men took when they set out in their sturdiest boat, the James Caird, on the dangerous journey to South Georgia to seek help. The island was 1,290 kilometers away. As you get closer to South Georgia, the excitement grows. You can interact with other expedition participants, look out for wildlife with the naturalist, or learn more about Shackleton’s adventure from a historian.

As you approach the rugged island of South Georgia, think of Captain James Cook. He landed here in 1775 and thought the island was the northern tip of a large southern continent. Although South Georgia is only 176 km long, it has a lot to offer. With snow-covered mountains, some of the world’s largest wildlife gatherings, and a fascinating history, there is incredibly much to discover here. On your approach, you see steeply rising mountain peaks while seabirds circle the ship. You sail along the coast and enjoy the spectacular, glaciated landscape. The enchanting coast is open for you to explore, and you find some shelter from the strong westerly winds.

During the voyage to the Falkland Islands, you have many opportunities for activities on board. You can attend lectures by the expedition team, who share their extensive knowledge about wildlife, history, and nature. You can also observe seabirds from the stern of the ship, look out for whales and other marine animals, or simply use the ship’s various facilities.

The arrival time at the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) depends on sea and weather conditions. The islands consist of two large main islands, East and West Falkland, as well as over 700 other scattered islands, of which only seven are inhabited. These barren but beautiful islands offer unique habitats for an impressive variety of bird species. Here you find the world’s largest colony of black-browed albatrosses, and the cold, nutrient-rich waters are ideal for observing marine life.

At sea

In the early morning hours, the ship sails up the Beagle Channel and docks in the port of Ushuaia. Passengers can disembark from 8:00 AM.