Antarctica, Patagonia & Falklands Special

Your exciting itinerary will begin in Montevideo, the vibrant capital of Uruguay, where after having arrived independently you will make your way to your included hotel for an overnight stay. After a great night’s sleep, on day 2 you can enjoy an included sightseeing tour of this colourful and picturesque city before embarking the MS Midnatsol in the afternoon. After boarding and familiarising yourself with the ship you can enjoy a delicious welcome dinner and spend some time on deck as we sail towards Peninsula Valdez.

These 2 days will be spent at sea as we make our way south towards Puerto Madryn. Make sure to spend some time enjoying the sun on deck or in the observation lounge watching the myriad seabirds that follow the ship and looking out for whale sightings. Your programme of expert lectures and presentations will begin, covering everything from the environments and wildlife of the regions we will be exploring to historic polar exploration. As the excitement builds we will gather for talks and briefings preparing you for your time on land.

Today we will arrive in Puerto Madryn, the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Valdez Peninsula. This beautiful nature reserve overlooking the huge natural amphitheatre of Nuevo Gulf is one of the most vibrant cities in Patagonia and is home to some of the country's most dramatic wildlife habitats, with elephant seals, Magellan penguins, the southern right whale and a great variety of birds. We have a number of optional activities and excursions available today including horseback riding, snorkelling or kayaking with sea lions, whale watching or a visit to Estancia San Lorenzo where you will see wildlife including rheas (flightless, ostrich-like birds), guanacos (related to alpacas and llamas) and elephant seals.

As we make the short sea crossing towards the Falkland Islands your programme of expert presentations and lectures will continue along with bio-environmental briefings preparing you for your time on the islands. The Falklands are a haven for birdlife so keen birders will enjoy some time on deck or in the observation lounge. Your onboard photography expert may join you to offer some tip and hints on capturing the perfect pictures.

We arrive off the coast of the Falkland Islands on the morning of day 7 and prepare to make land to discover these remote and fascinating islands that are simply teeming with wonders of wildlife and nature. The Falkland Islands are home to fantastically clear blue skies, seamless horizons, vast open spaces and stunning white beaches, and we will spend 3 days here exploring some of what the islands have to offer. Stanley, the islands’ charming capital town, makes a wonderful starting point for the various excursions we offer in the area and we expect to visit some of the smaller islands to see immense colonies of albatross and rockhopper, king and macaroni penguins, as well as striated caracaras and upland geese, residing alongside the sheep grazing on the grasslands. The photographic opportunities here are endless, with curious penguins likely to approach you to take a closer look and beautiful scenery providing the perfect backdrop. Stanley itself is easy to explore on foot and you will have time to visit some of the shops, welcoming pubs and take a stroll along the harbour.

While we are here, you can join several optional excursions like history tours, bird watching tours, nature walks and even a scenic plane tour where you can discover the Falklands by air in a classic island-hopping aircraft. There will also be chances for hikes in the hills or along the coastline or kayaking in the clear waters surrounding the islands.

After our exciting time in the Falklands there is time for more adventure as we make our way across the famous Drake Passage towards Antarctica. Spend time on deck spotting our first sightings of icebergs and looking out for the seabirds and whales following the ship, or attend some of the interesting presentations on the history, wildlife and environment of Antarctica. We will cruise across the Antarctic Convergence and the temperatures will start to drop, raising the anticipation for the adventures that lie ahead.

Today we have reached one of the most remote areas on earth…Antarctica! A land of superlatives, Antarctica will without doubt take your breath away. We will spend our days here exploring by Zodiac and on foot to get up close to one of nature’s most remarkable areas. As you set foot on the endless expanse of snow and ice it is not uncommon to feel sense of euphoria as you discover a land where few have been and experience unforgettable scenery and wildlife encounters. Throughout your time here you are likely to see thousands of penguins along with numerous seals, whales and seabirds, all set amongst the most picture perfect landscapes you could imagine.

Any expedition to Antarctica requires an element of flexibility as ice and sea conditions can often dictate the routes taken, and your captain will choose each day the best route to take to ensure you experience everything that this amazing region has to offer, with each day offering a new and exciting experience. The first area we expect to visit will be the often mist-shrouded volcanic islands of the South Shetland Islands group, and make sure to have your cameras ready as we visit the staggeringly photogenic Half Moon Island, home to the most beautiful Antarctic scenery imaginable, and Yankee Harbour to visit its large colony of Gentoo penguins. As we sail to the Peninsula itself we will stop at Cuverville Island to see another of the largest known colonies of Gentoo penguins, the aptly named Paradise Bay and beautifully scenic Neko Harbour. For whale spotting we will visit Wilhelmina Bay, often called “Whale-mina Bay”, because of the large number of humpback whales that are often spotted here.

Each day will bring a new adventure and focus, with planned activities designed to ensure every moment is memorable. And the fun isn’t restricted to land, as your expert expedition crew will deliver activities and talks to suit a wide range of interests. Your onboard photography expert will offer hints and tips for capturing the perfect pictures and if you prefer to stay on board there will be excellent viewing opportunities from the deck or observation lounges.

From hiking across the snowscapes and optional kayaking excursions to wildlife Zodiac cruises and expert lectures and discussions, this may be the pinnacle of your trip of a lifetime.

After an in-depth exploration of these remarkable areas it’s time to head back towards civilisation as we sail through the Drake Passage towards Ushuaia. Spend some time on deck looking for more seabird sightings, relax in the welcoming lounge and share tales of your adventures or enjoy the final presentations and lectures. Whatever you choose to do with these last few days you can be sure that you will be filled with contentment as you dissolve the fact that you have just visited some of the most impressive and remote regions on the planet.

Sailing through the beautiful Beagle Channel towards Ushuaia it’s sadly time to bid a fond farewell to your expedition team as we disembark and take our included flight to Buenos Aires. If you’re itching for more adventure there are ample opportunities for extensions either in Ushuaia or Buenos Aires and we would be more than happy to help arrange these for you.