Penguin Colonies, Icebergs, and Legends of Shackleton
Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands
Choose from a Variety of Ships
We offer several exciting voyages to Antarctica aboard a variety of ships. This is the general information for Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands. Please contact our Polar Specialists for details about each departure, itinerary and ship.
We offer several exciting voyages to Antarctica aboard a variety of ships. This is the general information for Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands. Please contact our Polar Specialists for details about each departure, itinerary and ship.
BOOKING DISCOUNT
Available on new bookings - Capacity is limited, please call for availability
- Sea Spirit: 25% off all cabins on Feb 26, 2025 departure for new bookings confirmed by April 30, 2024; 15% off Triple, Main Deck, Classic Suites and Single cabins or 20% off Superior, Deluxe, Premium and Owner's suites on all 2025-2026 departures
- Seaventure: 10% off all cabins on 2024-2025 departures. 20% off all cabins on 2025-2026 departures
- Greg Mortimer and Sylvia Earle: 10-20% off all cabins and $2,000 air credit on 2024-2025 departures
Available on new bookings - Capacity is limited, please call for availability
Overview
Experience the three epic destinations of the Southern Ocean on one amazing voyage: breathtaking South Georgia Island, with its stately king penguins that number in the hundreds of thousands, the celebrated Antarctic Peninsula, a dream world of massive icebergs and sheer-sided mountains, and the remote Falklands. Explore by Zodiac amid sculpted bergs, hike among elephant seals and chattering penguins, look for whales and albatrosses, and learn from expert naturalists who illuminate the wonder of the Antarctic for you. This is the ultimate way to explore the world's last frontier and see the best Antarctica has to offer—all in one epic adventure!
Arrive: Ushuaia, Argentina
Depart: Ushuaia, Argentina
Highlights
- Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, and the Falklands—all on one fantastic journey!
- Epic wildlife encounters including South Georgia's massive colonies of king penguins
- Expert Antarctic naturalists and historians enrich your experience
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
After an overnight in Ushuaia, voyage to the Falklands, home to breeding pairs of gentoo penguins, Magellanic penguins in their burrows, and rockhopper penguins. You'll also visit Port Stanley, the quaint British capital. On Days 6 and 7 at sea, watch for whales and albatrosses as you cross the Antarctic Convergence.
Rearing 10,000 feet out of the sea, South Georgia is one of the most spectacular islands in the world—it's the “showstopper” that sets this cruise apart! The route and exploration opportunities here are heavily dependent on weather and wildlife conditions. The experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best possible advantage will be taken of the circumstances presented by nature in this wild and remote corner of the world. Every safe opportunity is taken advantage of to go ashore in this amazing place as the main priority is to protect wildlife and travelers.
South Georgia is a scenic wilderness and has a phenomenal concentration of sub-Antarctic wildlife. The islands are said to host upwards of 100 million seabirds, including numerous species of albatross, penguins, prions, petrels, and terns. Your voyage may include visits to sites such as Salisbury Plain and Andrews Bay, where over 100,000 elephant seals and three million fur seals jostle for space among innumerable penguins including stately king penguins and sprightly macaroni penguins. The bountiful waters surrounding South Georgia are also inhabited by an increasing number of whales. The historical whaling station of Grytviken is now home to the excellent South Georgia Museum managed by the South Georgia Heritage Trust. Grytviken is also the final resting place of Ernest Shackleton, the legendary polar explorer.
South Georgia is a scenic wilderness and has a phenomenal concentration of sub-Antarctic wildlife. The islands are said to host upwards of 100 million seabirds, including numerous species of albatross, penguins, prions, petrels, and terns. Your voyage may include visits to sites such as Salisbury Plain and Andrews Bay, where over 100,000 elephant seals and three million fur seals jostle for space among innumerable penguins including stately king penguins and sprightly macaroni penguins. The bountiful waters surrounding South Georgia are also inhabited by an increasing number of whales. The historical whaling station of Grytviken is now home to the excellent South Georgia Museum managed by the South Georgia Heritage Trust. Grytviken is also the final resting place of Ernest Shackleton, the legendary polar explorer.
Cross to the wildlife-rich Antarctic Peninsula, where visits may include Paulet Island, with its stunning tabular icebergs, Deception Island, a sea-filled volcanic crater, and Lemaire Channel, a great place to spot whales. You’ll walk amid teeming penguin colonies, explore by Zodiac, perhaps visit a research station, and take a dip in the hot springs at Deception Island. Return to Ushuaia via the famed Drake Passage and depart on Day 21.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is rated Level 1+, Easy, according to our trip grading system. You need to be able to walk on uneven surfaces and feel comfortable on your feet for multiple hours a day. You must be able to complete on board safety drills and emergency evacuation procedures without the assistance of others.
Rolling seas and windy conditions require you to be stable on your feet, especially when walking on slippery decks or up and down steep gangways. Some agility is required for getting in and out of the Zodiac landing crafts. While a couple of Zodiac landings are dry, most will require that you step into calf-high water on rocky or sandy beaches to get ashore. your walks onshore will be over sandy or coarse gravel beaches or snow and often require hiking over uneven terrain without the benefit of a developed trail.
The Antarctic summer begins in November and ends in March—no tourist ships visit in the winter. December through February are the best times to visit as they bring long daylight hours and milder temperatures. You'll experience a variety of weather conditions including rain, snow, sleet, and sunny skies no matter when you visit. Temperatures can change quickly and range from the high 30s to below freezing, sometimes with a significant wind chill.
One of the most important parts of any expedition is the food! Whatever adventures the day holds, you will be fueled with hearty meals and delicious morning/afternoon teas cooked by our onboard chefs.
All meals will be taken on board. All ships we offer have the capacity to seat everyone at a single, open seating in the main dining room. In some cases outdoor buffet breakfast and lunch options are also available. Most dietary requests can be accommodated such as low salt, gluten-free, and low cholesterol, and vegetarian, meat, and fish options are available on all of the menus.
Meals are a great time to soak up the expedition camaraderie in our open seating dining area. Share stories with your fellow travelers and ask our expedition team questions that may have come up during the day.
Meals are a great time to soak up the expedition camaraderie in our open seating dining area. Share stories with your fellow travelers and ask our expedition team questions that may have come up during the day.
Having the right clothing and gear is vital to the enjoyment of your trip to Antarctica, layered breathable clothing is best with a fully waterproof jacket and waterproof over-pants (required). Note that ponchos are NOT recommended as wind makes them less useful. A polar jacket is included on most voyages; waterproof boots are available to borrow on all cruises.
Visit wildernesstravel.newheadings.com to begin shopping. Be sure to check out our Get Ready Packages, which features 3 Polar Packages that provide excellent value for the gear necessary to keep you warm and dry. Polar gear is available to rent or buy and it may be possible that rental gear can be delivered to your hotel in South America prior to your cruise.
Antarctica is an extremely remote and isolated region of the world. In the case of serious illness or injury, medical attention and swift evacuation are not always available. Once you sail from Ushuaia, you are far away from towns and medical facilities. In the case of serious illness or injury, the cruise ship will make every effort to reach medical facilities as soon as possible, but be aware that it may take several days to get you to a hospital. If you have health or medical issues of concern, please discuss them with your physician before considering this trip.
Due to the remoteness, emergency evacuation insurance is required for all voyages to Antarctica.
Client Testimonials
"This trip was way better than we imagined it could be!"
Anik C.
Victoriaville, Quebec
"The entire expedition staff was awesome!"
Bernd B.
Reno, NV
"It was surreal—like being on another planet."
Charles A.
Berkeley, CA
"This truly was the trip of a lifetime!! The ship was very luxurious and comfortable. The Expedition Team could not have been better...a wealth of experience and knowledge. We were so fortunate to make every planned landing due to excellent weather. The wildlife and scenery were amazing!!"
Christina S.
Lawrenceville, GA
"Truly amazing—the trip of a lifetime!"
Jim and Chris W.
Portland, OR
"It was the thrill of a lifetime to visit the Falklands and South Georgia in addition to Antarctica. The Zodiac rides were great and the staff was always making every effort for us to see and do everything."
Joanne G.
Denver, CO
"An amazing trip from beginning to end. Great itinerary, wonderful ship and expedition staff."
Leslie N.
Allyn, WA
"All the expedition guides were exceptional; the trip was flawless and great fun. The accommodations were beautiful and clean and the staff was very pleasant and always accommodating. I hated to leave the ship!"
Sandy M.
Buffalo, NY
"This trip is unique—there is nothing comparable. The expedition director was superb, and the procedures for getting ashore were well organized. There was a rich variety of lectures that expanded the experience and our knowledge."
Stuart G.
Golden, CO
"This was the “trip of a lifetime.” I enjoyed every minute of it!"
Susan D.
Hartland, WI
FAQs
October, November, Early December (late spring - early summer)
The pack ice begins to break up, creating new landscapes of sculpted ice and pristine icebergs with plenty of fresh snow. It's mating season for the penguins and other birds with whole colonies in spectacular displays of courtship rituals. You're also likely to witness nest building and egg tending. Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins and other seabirds return to their breeding sites.
Elephant seals and fur seals are mating, and King Penguins are laying their eggs on South Georgia. Parents can be seen "carrying" eggs on their feet so that one parent can shuffle around the colony while the other adult goes out to sea to feed. Antarctica is never crowded, but in the early season there are far fewer ships and the vastness and purity of the region is even more pronounced. Spring wildflowers are also blooming on the Falklands and South Georgia Islands.
Mid December - January (full summer)
These are usually Antarctica's warmest months-the height of the Austral Summer when the sun is up 18 to 20 hours a day. Longer days create great light conditions for fabulous photo opportunities. Wildlife in full swing as temperatures warm and activity levels rise. Penguin chicks are hatching, and you'll likely see them chasing after any adult penguin that is carrying food. Whale sightings of baleen and toothed whales along the Antarctic Peninsula increase and seal pups can be sighted on the beaches. Some 30 days after hatching, penguin chicks can be found in "crèches," resembling a nursery of sorts, which leaves both of their tired and hungry parents free to rest and hunt for food.
February - March (late summer)
Whale sightings are at their peak. Fur seals are increasingly common along the Peninsula and offshore islands; young fur seals are also quite playful in South Georgia. Penguin colonies are very active as the penguin chicks begin to fledge, losing their fuzzy down and developing their adult plumage. By now, Falklands' chicks are leaving the nest - parents have abandoned any remaining chicks, and have gone out to sea to feed and fatten up for their own molting stage.
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
Submit the form below to download itinerary
Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.