Sunday 21st December – Ushuaia

• Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, the largest in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. YPT can advise on the best way to get here and arrange pre-tour accommodation. If you arrive a few days early, we can also advice you on the best way to discover this incredible place. We strongly recommend arriving at least one day in advance.
• A mandatory luggage drop-off will be organized in the morning, between 8:30am and 11am.
• Between 4pm and 5pm, we will board the m/v Hondius from Tierra del Fuego
• For the rest of the day we will be sailing through the Beagle Channel, flanked by the southern reaches of the Andes Mountains. Those first hours at sea will be quite busy, as we settle in our cabins, learn about the safety rules on the ship, and attend the traditional welcome cocktail ceremony.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Monday 22nd December – At sea towards the Falklands

• As you sail southeast, a variety of seabirds accompany your journey, gliding effortlessly on the wind. Watch for majestic albatrosses, nimble storm petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels, each adapting masterfully to life at sea.
• During those first hours at sea, you’ll have our mandatory briefings about how to behave when we land on South Georgia, Antarctica and the other places we will visit. Our cruise follows IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) regulations to help preserve those fragile landscapes.
• Our ship offers good options for wildlife watching, both outside on the deck or in the comfort of our lounge. Watch out over the seas for several species of marine mammals (whales, orcas, dolphins…). Our expedition crew will help you recognize the animals and tell you everything you need to know about them.
• The naturalists on the ship will offer a program of lectures about various topics: Antarctica, icebergs, marine life, birds, the history of the region, famous explorers… Those lectures are not mandatory: you can pick those that interest you most!
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Tuesday 23rd December – Falkland Islands

• In early morning, you’ll get your first glance at the Falkland Islands. These remote isles, once the battleground of the 1982 war between the UK and Argentina, remain one of the world’s lesser-known gems. Along the rugged coastlines, you may spot Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins playing in the surf, while a wealth of birdlife fills the skies and shores.
• Today, depending on the conditions, you may explore the following remarkable sites:– Steeple Jason – Home to the world’s largest colony of black-browed albatrosses (approximately 113,000 pairs), this remote and windswept island is rarely visited due to challenging weather and sea conditions. If conditions permit, witnessing the sheer spectacle of these seabirds in their natural habitat is an unforgettable experience.
  – Carcass Island – Despite its rather ominous name, Carcass Island is a haven for birdlife, thanks to its rodent-free status. Here, you’ll find breeding Magellanic and gentoo penguins, alongside a variety of waders and passerines, including the endemic Cobb’s wren and the inquisitive tussock bird.
  – Saunders Island – This diverse wildlife hotspot offers a front-row seat to the sometimes-clumsy landings of black-browed albatrosses. The island also hosts breeding imperial shags and rockhopper penguins, while king penguins, Magellanic penguins, and gentoos can be found along its shores.

• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Wednesday 24th December – Port Stanley, Falklands Islands

• Today you’ll be visiting the heart of the Falklands, Port Stanley. The capital and cultural hub of the Falkland Islands exudes a distinct charm with its colourful houses, well-kept gardens, and English-style pubs. Strolling through town, you’ll find echoes of the past in the century-old clipper ships resting in the harbour, silent reminders of the hardships faced by 19th-century sailors. With a population of approximately 2,100, Port Stanley is a uniquely quaint and welcoming outpost.
• A visit to the small Falkland Islands Museum is highly recommended (museum admission included in tour cost). Its exhibits span the islands’ early settlement, maritime history, and the 1982 Falklands War.
• Christmas’ Eve Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Thursday 25th and Friday 26th December – the Antarctic Convergence

• En route to South Georgia, we will pass through the Antarctic Convergence, the border into Antarctica proper. Here, the temperature cools considerably within the space of a few hours, and nutritious water rises to the surface of the sea due to colliding water columns. This phenomenon attracts a multitude of seabirds near the ship, including several species of albatross, shearwaters, petrels, prions, and skuas.
• Lunches, dinners and overnights on the Hondius

Saturday 27th December – South Georgia

• For the next few days, we will be in South Georgia, part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands. These islands were first discovered in the late 17th century, but James Cook was the first to land, survey and map the area, as well as claiming it for the British Empire on January 17^th
• Our goal during the trip is to be off the vessel as much as possible. While our planned schedule and activities are always subject to change due to local conditions (ice, weather, wildlife spotting opportunities), a typical day involve a zodiac cruise and a landing in the morning, and another cruise and landing in the afternoon.
• Our plan today is to visit Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour. Salisbury Plain is the second largest king penguin colony in South Georgia and one of the largest in the world, with around 60,000 king penguin pairs comprising one very popular hangout. While this massive number of penguins will be the focus of many of your photographs, the place is also home to some of the world’s largest breeding beaches for southern elephant seals. This time of year marks the peak of the seals’ breeding cycle, offering a rare opportunity to witness the dramatic behaviours of the four-ton bulls as they fiercely defend territories where females have recently given birth or are about to deliver.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Sunday 28th December – South Georgia

• Today, the plan is to visit Fortuna Bay. This stunning outwash plain, shaped by the Fortuna Glacier, is a thriving hub for king penguins and seals. The picturesque setting offers the opportunity to trace the final leg of Ernest Shackleton’s legendary route to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness.
• The path winds through a mountain pass, crossing Shackleton’s Waterfall, and the terrain can be a bit challenging with swampy sections and small streams to navigate. Be prepared for a rugged yet rewarding adventure, immersed in both history and natural beauty.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Monday 29th December – South Georgia

• What’s better than a giant colony of penguins? Giant colonies of different penguins! Today we may visit Cooper Bay, where we can see large populations of chinstrap penguins, gentoo penguins and macaroni penguins. They get their name from their yellow crest that resembles a hairdo made of macaroni. Antarctic terns, white-chinned petrels, blue-eyed shags and light-mantled sooty albatrosses can be spotted here too.
• Drygalski Fjord offers spectacular landscapes as the ships sails the narrow fjord, with around 2-kilometre-high mountain peaks at a very close distance.
• Lunch on the ship
• In the afternoon we will stop by Moltke Harbour, a mile-wide bay with a giant king penguin colony. This waypoint in many of our Antarctic voyages was discovered by James Cook in 1775.

Tuesday 30th December – South Georgia

• This morning, we plan to check out the abandoned whaling station of Grytviken, where king penguins walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place – because they basically do! Formerly the largest settlement on the island, Grytviken closed in 1966 when dwindling whale stocks made it uneconomical. Here you can the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave. Sir Ernest Shackleton was one of the main figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, in the early 20^th He passed away in Grytviken in 1922.
• Lunch on the ship
• In the afternoon and depending on the conditions, we will start sailing southwards in the direction of the South Orkney Islands.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Wednesday 31st December – Sailing South

• As you head further south, you may encounter sea ice along the way. At the edge of the ice, keep an eye out for south polar skuas and snow petrels, which often join the other seabirds following the ship on its southern journey. Their stark white plumage contrasts beautifully against the icy backdrop, adding to the spectacle.
• New Year’s Eve dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Thursday 1st January – South Orkney Islands

• Depending on conditions, you may have the opportunity to visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine scientific station located on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Archipelago. The station’s personnel will warmly welcome you and offer a tour of the facility, where you can take in breathtaking views of the surrounding glaciers.
• If a visit to Orcadas isn’t possible, an alternative landing at Signy Island’s Shingle Cove offers its own unique beauty and wildlife, ensuring a memorable day in this remote and pristine part of the world.
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd January – To the Antarctic Peninsula

• As you sail deeper into Antarctic waters, the sight of icebergs will signal your approach to the White Continent. Keep a lookout for fin whales, which are often spotted in these waters. This stretch of the journey also offers your best opportunity to observe the striking Antarctic petrel, a true emblem of these icy latitudes.
• If conditions allow, we aim to begin Antarctic activities by the afternoon of 16th November, marking the start of an unforgettable exploration.

Sunday 4th January – The Weddell Sea and Antarctic Sound

• The last leg of our adventure, and arguably the most beautiful! Today, you’ll sail into the Weddell Sea, where colossal tabular icebergs signal your arrival on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Here, you may visit:
  – Paulet Island – Home to a bustling colony of Adélie penguins, this small volcanic island is also rich in history, as the site where members of the ill-fated 1903 Swedish Antarctic Expedition took refuge.
  – Brown Bluff – Situated in the ice-filled Antarctic Sound, this striking rust-colored volcanic headland offers a dramatic setting for a potential landing. If conditions allow, you may have the extraordinary chance to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself.
• If the ice proves too formidable to enter the Weddell Sea from the east, the ship will instead chart a course for Elephant Island, following the historic route of Shackleton’s crew, and then continue toward the Bransfield Strait, which separates the South Shetland Islands from the Antarctic Peninsula.

Monday 5th January – The Western Antarctic Peninsula and Beyond

• This voyage gives you the opportunity to push farther south along the icy coast of the western Antarctic Peninsula. Here, the peaks of the Gerlache Strait rise dramatically from the sea, while immense glaciers calve into the frigid waters.
• Wildlife sightings may include Gentoo penguins nesting along the rocky shores, Leopard seals and Weddell seals lounging on ice floes, and Humpback and minke whales, often spotted feeding in these nutrient-rich waters
• The journey through the Bransfield Strait continues to reveal breathtaking scenery, and if conditions allow, the ship may venture even farther south into the Gerlache Strait. As your time in Antarctica draws to a close, the weather conditions in the Drake Passage will determine the exact timing of your departure.

Tuesday 6th January – The Drake Passage

• Depending on the seas in the Drake Passage, we will be departing frozen Antarctica for the long voyage home
• Lunch on the ship
• Take our last proper Antarctic photos as the Hondius takes us away from the continent
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Wednesday 7th January – Heading home

• We’ll take the time to look out for seabirds and marine mammals and taking in the views and experience of the Antarctic seas as we head back to terrestrial life
• Lunch on the ship
• Enjoy the final evening on the ship with your newfound friends from the tour
• Dinner and overnight on the Hondius

Thursday 8th January – Ushuaia

• Our ship will arrive back at the end of the world at Tierra del Fuego where we disembark and say our goodbyes
• End of tour, YPT can assist with onward travel plans

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