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17 days

South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula 2013-14

South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula 2013-14

Trip rating

  • Overview

    This is a journey for wildlife lovers, particularly those with a passion for penguins. The wildlife paradise of South Georgia starts things off with four penguin species including hundreds of thousands of king penguins, then the Antarctic Peninsula offers up Adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins. You’ll also experience a great diversity of environments and landscapes, creating a special extended Antarctic experience.

    Note: Weather, ice and other mitigating factors may result in changes to our itinerary and alteration to certain shore excursions.

    Itinerary

    Day 1 - Ushuaia, Argentina

    The Tierra del Fuego archipelago is home to Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Patagonia. This scenic nature lover’s playground has plenty of hiking trails to explore if you need to escape from all the tasty treats on offer at the many bakeries, shops, cafes and restaurants in town. Arrival Transfers: Please note an arrival transfer from the airport is included in your voyage fare. Full details will be sent with your final joining instructions.

    Day 2 - Ushuaia - Embarkation Day

    This is a day for introductions and getting acquainted with your ship. Meet your fellow shipmates, be introduced to your Expedition Team and snap a few photographs of Ushuaia as you head to sea.
    Breakfast | Dinner

    Day 3-4 - At Sea

    Your Expedition Team will treat you to a number of fun and informative lectures during your time at sea. Reaching the Antarctic Convergence is your first taste of what makes polar travel special. Here, the cold Antarctic waters meet and mix with the warmer waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, creating the abundance of marine life that attracts whales and other species to this part of the world.
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 5-8 - South Georgia

    Once ruled by sealers and whalers, things have changed greatly on South Georgia. You’ll be happy to see that the once exploited and nearly vanquished seal and whale populations are now thriving. Penguins abound here as well, with four different species to be on the lookout for. Some are a bit elusive, but the king penguins are impossible to miss, as their rookeries here number into the hundreds of thousands! Often referred to as the Galapagos of the Poles, South Georgia contains an exceptional quantity of wildlife. Each landing you make on South Georgia will open your eyes to a new wonder of wildlife, including the odd elephant seal. One significant and historic site that will be of interest is the grave of the great explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. You can visit his grave at the settlement of Grytviken, which is also home to an old whaling station, museum and a small gift shop, church and scientific research station.
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 9-10 - At Sea

    Say goodbye to the king penguins and elephant seals, as your next destination is Antarctica! In between presentations on the wildlife, history and geology of Antarctica, you can spend time chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar. If conditions allow, we may attempt landfall on the South Orkney Islands, which are officially in Antarctica.
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 11-14 - South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

    Arriving in Antarctica is often a surprisingly emotional moment. Who knows how you’ll react, but the general reaction is a sense of reverence and awe. No other place on earth is like Antarctica, which is a land of extremes. Complete silence in the middle of the day is something we’re unaccustomed to in our busy lives, so Antarctica puts many people into a contemplative mood. But not for too long, as a calving glacier may break the silence or a penguin comes waddling by to inspect your footwear. Trekking up a glacier, visiting a research station or going on a Zodiac cruise amongst massive icebergs will become daily activities. It won’t take you long to tell the difference between Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals either, which are all found in this part of Antarctica. Curious whales, such as minkes, are often attracted to Zodiacs as well, giving you a chance to get close to these majestic animals. Every journey is full of surprises, even for our experienced Expedition Team, which means your journey will be unlike any before, or after it. This is untamed, unscripted nature at its best!
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 15-16 - Crossing the Drake Passage

    Wave goodbye to the penguins as the ship turns northward towards home. Crossing the Drake Passage is considered your unofficial rite of passage, completing your Antarctic adventure. Enjoy some final moments mingling with your fellow travelers or listening to the expedition recaps from your Expedition Team.
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 17 - Disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina

    After a final breakfast together, it is time to part ways. We will transfer you to the airport for your homeward flight. Important reminder: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a voyage. There are nearly 200 recognized sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands and the places mentioned above may be changed to others equally as interesting.
    Breakfast
    Download detailed trip notes

  • Details

    What to Know

    What's Included

      • One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas as indicated in the itinerary. (The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available)
      • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping.
      • All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage. (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals.)
      • All shore landings per the daily program.
      • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities.
      • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program.
      • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled.
      • Photographic Journal on DVD, documenting the voyage.
      • A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings.
      • An expeditions parka to keep.
      • Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock.
      • Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin.
      • Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader.
      • A group transfer upon disembarkation in Ushuaia from the ship to the local airport.
      • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
      • All luggage handling aboard ship.
      • Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $100,000 per person.
      • Group transfers in Ushuaia from the airport to any local hotel.
      • Group transfers from a designated location in Ushuaia to the ship on embarkation day.  


      In addition to the above inclusions, voyages on the Sea Spirit include:

      • A four star hotel in Ushuaia for the pre-expedition night.
      • A five star hotel for guests in Deluxe, Premium and Owner suites class cabins for the pre-expedition night. 
      • Fine dining and an “open bar” offering unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
      • A 10MB card providing internet access via the ship’s wireless connection.

    Not Included

    • • Any airfare unless otherwise specified in the itinerary. • Passport and visa expenses. • Government arrival and departure taxes. • Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel before embarkation and lunch on specified Fly and Cruise programs. • Baggage, cancellation and medical travel insurance. • Excess baggage charges. • Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges unless specified. • Telecommunications charges. • The voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew. • Massage services on the Ocean Diamond are available for onboard purchase.

    Safety Information

    Safety is paramount on a Peregrine voyage. Due to new International Security Regulations, you will not be able to approach the ship on your own. You will have to arrive with the rest of the group, accompanied by a Peregrine representative. Full details of embarkation/disembarkation procedures will be supplied with your final documentation. On board you will be asked to participate in the obligatory lifeboat drill. We will also conduct important briefings on landing procedures and Zodiac operations.

  • Map

    Map Itinerary

  • Ships

    Our Ships

    Sea Spirit

    Sea Spirit
    Sail aboard the luxurious Sea Spirit and you'll experience Antarctica in grand style. Built in 1991 and refurbished to a very high standard in 2010 she carries a maximum of 112 passengers; this outstanding vessel is equipped with rubber inflatable boats (Zodiacs) for shore transfers and cruising. You have a choice of one king size bed or two twin beds, in the most spacious cabins on the Sea Spirit. All cabins have facilities en suite and exterior views. Deluxe cabins, suites and the Owner's Suite have private balconies for viewing the extraordinary Antarctic icescape.

    Departure Dates for the Sea Spirit

    • 02 Dec 2013 - 18 Dec 2013

  • Stories

    From our Blog

    Image of the week: Antarctica

    by kellie.bright on 4 Oct 2012

    White noise

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    Inside knowledge: A travel expert tells all

    by kellie.bright on 13 Aug 2012

    Glenyce Johnson is the Managing Director of Peregrine, and she's also one of our most passionate travellers. Glenyce has been to over 100 countries, and her next big challenge will be to tackle the Camino Trail in Spain next year.

    I sat down to chat with Glenyce and was swept up in her world of...

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    Rituals of the whales

    by andrew.bain on 25 Jul 2012

    Argentina's Peninsula Valdes is renowned as one of the world's finest whale-watching destinations. For about six months of each year - from June to December - southern right whales crowd its protected bays, providing local tour boats with guaranteed sightings.

    But outside the whale-...

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    Get the albatross off the hook

    by kellie.bright on 29 Apr 2012

    Here's ten things you didn't know about albatrosses. Pay particular attention to number ten and find out what you can do to help...

    Albatrosses mate for life and take many years to find a new mate if their partner is killed – if they find a new partner at all Most birds lay...Read on...

    My Antarctic adventure

    by erin.aldersea on 1 Mar 2012

    Graeme Bruce is a very lucky man. In 2009 one of his lifelong dreams came true when he won a Peregrine trip to Antarctica. Here's Graeme's story...

    From when I was a boy, I always wanted to go to Antarctica - it held a strange fascination for me. Over the years, my impatience grew, as I...

    Read on...
From US $14995.00
*Per Person, Twin Share

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Trip at a glance

Trip Code PPSGA
Start City: Ushuaia
End City: Ushuaia

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