The day-to-day itinerary of this voyage is dependent on weather and ice conditions prevailing in the vicinity of the mighty Riser Larsen Iceshelf. Having traveled through the iceberg canyons of Antarctic Sound, we enter the Northern Weddell Sea. Nestled amongst ice floes is the little-known Seymour Island whose fossil rich rocks conceal the story of the disappearance of the dinosaurs and the collapse of the mythical Gondwana. Explore these fossil beds under the watchful eye of Dr. Paul Willis, as well as to enjoy the wildlife treasure chest of the northern Weddell Sea. We also hope to follow the incredible, compelling story of Swedish explorer Otto Nordenskjold and his men (1901 - 1903). We will travel in Zodiacs around the icebergs an wildlife havens of this lesser known part of the Antarctic Peninsula, and spend a few days on the west coast.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Embark in Ushuaia.
Board our ship Polar Pioneer in the afternoon. Set sail along the Beagle Channel on the way to Antarctica.
Day 2: Drake Passage
Crossing the Drake Passage, the temperature begins to fall. The day is spent listening to lectures and safety briefings in preparation for our first landing.
Day 3: En route to South Shetland Islands
By mid-afternoon we should be in iceberg waters. If all goes well we may encounter our first penguin on one of the South Shetland Islands.
Day 4: Antarctic Sound
In the early hours of the morning we hope to be among the towering corridors of icebergs in Antarctic Sound. A narrow passage, filled with penguins, guards the entrance to the Weddell Sea.
Days 5-7: Weddell Sea
Three days of exploring the wildlife of the Weddell Sea, where our activities will be controlled by the movement of ice. Keep an eye out for whales and seals, who enjoy these waters. Huge glaciers pour down between the mountains from the polar plateau, and the surface of the ocean is covered with plates of ice the size of city blocks. One of our aims is to visit the fossil-rich shores of Seymour Island.
Days 8-9: Antarctic Peninsula
We plan to visit the western flanks of the Antarctic Peninsula, exploring the Gerlache Strait, Neumayer Channel, and Paradise Harbour area.
Days 10-11: Drake Passage
Cross the Drake Passage with magnificent albatrosses in our wake. The last shipboard lectures give us time to polish our Antarctic education before making a ceremonial rounding of Cape Horn.
Day 12: Disembark in Ushuaia
Cruise up the Beagle Channel in the early morning before docking in Ushuaia. After transferring to a city hotel there is time to explore the central town area, or perhaps visit the nearby Tierra del Fuego Mountains.
Departure Dates: Jan 25, 2008 (Ship: Polar Pioneer)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
-Kayaking Options: US$725 ($925 for Nov 9 departure)
-Diving Options: US$700
-Alpine Crossing Options: US$700
-Climbing Options: US$200
-Camping Option: There is no supplementary charge for this option. Participation will be confirmed at booking on a first come, first served basis.
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Single costs are 1.7 times the twin rate
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Also see tour packages in:
Antarctica
Antarctica
Boating and Sailing
Glacier Tours
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