St Helena and Antarctica

Day 1

Ushuaia

Embark on the Plancius in Ushuaia, Argentina's most southerly city in Tierra del Fuego.

Days 2-3

Drake Passage

Cross the Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands where the first icebergs will come into sight. The South Shetland Islands comprise a collection of 11 major islands including King George Island, Deception Island, Livingston Island and Elephant Island together with a number of minor ones.

The South Shetlands are located around 60 miles northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula. Amongst the wildlife, there are colonies of chinstrap penguins, elephant seals breed on the beaches and humpback whales feed in the rich, protected waters.

Days 4-7

Antarctic Peninsula

The north-western tip of the Antractic Peninsula is ice-free for most of the year, making it the most accessible part of Antarctica, attracting vast colonies of penguins and seals and forming the feeding waters for whales. The Gerlache Strait is the centre-piece for most journeys into the western Antarctic Peninsula with stunningly beautiful scenery and an abundant richness of wildlife: minke and humpback whales, penguins, seals, skuas, vast glaciers, impressive icebergs and ice-speckled water. There are many opportunities to explore in kayaks and zodiacs.

Days 8-10

Drake Passage to Ushuaia

Return across the Drake Passage to reach Tierra del Fuego and the Beagle Channel.

Additional passengers may embark at Ushuaia on Day 10.

Days 11-14

Travel to South Georgia

South Georgia is 860 miles east-southeast of the Falkland Islands, the greatest breeding and feeding grounds for warm-blooded marine life.

Days 15-17

South Georgia

The island supports some 5 million fur seals, 100 million sea birds, around half the planet’s elephant seals and millions of penguins. The beach at Salisbury Plain alone is the breeding ground for half a million king penguins. Famously, after leaving his men at Elephant Island, Sir Ernest Shakleton reached South Georgia in a dramatic journey in an open lifeboat and returned to rescue them. He is buried at Grytviken.

Days 18-22

At Sea

Day 23

Gough Island

Gough is the second largest of the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago, located 220 miles South-South-East of Tristan da Cunha.

Subantarctic fur seals and Northern rockhopper penguins are often sighted here and it may be possible to disembark to explore Quest Bay by zodiac. In previous years it has been possible to circumnavigate all but 4 miles of the 33-mile circumference of the island.

Days 24-27

Tristan da Cunha

Tristan has an average diameter of 7.5 miles and a circumference of about 25 miles. Tristan da Cunha is the main island in the Tristan group, and home to its only settlement, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas with a population of around 290. Wildlfe includes rockhopper penguins, petrels and various species of albatross. Landings at Nightingale Island (25 miles south of Tristan) and at Inaccessible Island (25 miles south-west of Tristan) are subject to weather conditions.

Days 28-31

At Sea

Days 32-33

St Helena

St Helena is 1243 miles north of Tristan da Cunha.

After landing at Jamestown, you have many opportunities to enjoy the local culture, pleasant climate, and endemic birds of this remote island. We recommend you visit Longwood House, where Napoleon died in exile.

Day 34

Depart St Helena

The itinerary is scheduled to coincide with the regular flight from St Helena to Johannesburg (not included). Please contact us for details and extensions.