The Falkland Islands and South Georgia, in combination with the Antarctica Peninsula, make an unparalleled travel experience!

We sail from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Falkland Islands - home to a collection of flora and fauna dependent on the surrounding sea, and scene of the 1982 Falkland Islands Conflict between Great Britain and Argentina. We then move on to South Georgia where we spend four days. During our unforgettable landings, we experience its unique concentration of wildlife (imagine penguins and reindeer side-by-side), marvel at the awe-inspiring landscape, and examine the remnants of the whaling industry from a bygone era. When we leave South Georgia, we head southwest to the Antarctic Peninsula where we spend another four days immersed in the "White Continent," before returning to South America through the Drake Passage.

We board the ship and depart Ushuaia at 1600, sailing through the Beagle Channel. Then we turn northeast, accompanied by an abundance of seabirds and with good chances of spotting whales.

When we arrive at the Falkland Islands we make a landing on New Island or one of the other magnificent landing sites in the western part of this archipelago of over 200 islands. New Island is notable for its historic association with early whaling and sealing activities. A birder's paradise, tens of thousands of penguins, albatrosses, and huge flocks of smaller seabirds can be studied, and we can expect to encounter sea lions and possibly elephant seals, whales, and dolphins. On day four we pay a visit to Port Stanley, the largest population center of the Falklands, and home to a war memorial in honor of the 1982 Conflict. Then we say our farewell to the Falklands and take a southeasterly course.

Large oceanic birds follow the ship as we prepare ourselves for South Georgia through slide-illustrated lectures given by our on-board naturalists and historians.

We cross the Antarctic Convergence and enter into truly polar waters. Weather permitting, we make an afternoon landing on the north side of the island.

About 120 miles / 200 km long South Georgia is dominated by alpine mountains - up to 9,000 feet / 3,000 meters high, massive glaciers, scenic fjords, and numerous surrounding islands. The abundant wildlife includes many species of penguins and albatrosses. The beautiful King Penguin breeds in large numbers and, because of its breeding cycle, there are always chicks to be found in the rookery. Antarctic fur seals and elephant seals populate the shoreline.

We explore the coast and make landings once or twice a day to experience and enjoy the magnificent landscape, varied wildlife, and historic remains of the whaling industry. We also pay tribute to Sir Ernest Shackleton, who is buried on South Georgia. When his ship, Endurance, was crushed in the ice in 1915, his heroic leadership saved the entire crew and continues to be one of the most inspiring stories of courage in the face of insurmountable odds. On day eleven, we leave South Georgia to make our way westward to the Antarctic continent.

Our days at sea are filled with lectures and presentations that set the stage for our first glimpse of Antarctica. When out on deck we divide our time between splendid seabirds and impressive icebergs. On the evening of day 13, we reach the South Shetland Islands where we plan to make our first Antarctic landing.

We experience the dramatic world of the high ice-capped mountains and beautiful ice-filled fjords of the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands. Our plans include one or two Zodiac landings a day. Some of the possible areas of exploration include: Deception Island, with thousands of Chinstrap Penguins, and the possibility of an Antarctic swim in the volcanically heated hot springs of Pendulum Cove; King George Island, home to scientific bases from many different countries; the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel, and the Lemaire Channel, where we have the possibility of having whales swim alongside our ship as we gaze in awe at the breathtaking scenery.

On the Antarctic Peninsula itself, we plan to make landings at places like Paradise Bay, aptly named for its singular beauty. Among other possible landing sites are Paulet, Melchior, and Petermann Islands, each a treasure trove of wildlife and densely populated with penguins, petrels, and seals. On day 17 we leave Antarctica for the Drake Passage.

With our minds now teeming with unforgettable experiences and poignant moments, we turn towards the conclusion of this program taking time to recap and debrief. Our last evening onboard, we gather for the farewell reception and Captain’s dinner.

We sail through the Beagle Channel in the early morning and depart the ship after breakfast, in Ushuaia.

November 2nd, 2010 Departure leaves from Puerto Madryn instead of Ushuaia.