The Plancius anchors in Antarctica | Scott Pinnegar
The Plancius anchors in Antarctica  | Scott Pinnegar
Kayaking through the pristine Antarctic waters  | Caroline Mongrain
Visiting the Argentinian research centre in Antarctica  | Pam Drummond
Seals relaxing in the Antarctic sun  | Peter Walton
Curious Gentoo penguins running around on the ice  | Pam Drummond
The Plancius  | Scott Pinnegar
Humpback Whales can put on spectacular displays of acrobatics  | Goran Ehlme, Oceanwide Expeditions
Majestic scenery abounds in the Antarctic Peninsula  | Eve Ollington

Antarctica - Elephant Island, Weddell Sea & Polar Circle

Attempt to cross the Antarctic Circle

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 1 review

15 Days from

$ USD

Trip Code: OPC
View dates to BookEssential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Duration

  • 15 Days

Activities

  • 14 days cruising plus optional kayaking

Accommodation

  • 14 nights aboard Plancius

Meals

  • 14 Dinners
  • 12 Lunches
  • 14 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

1 / 10

Discovery and Cruising

Trip highlights

  • Visit Elephant Island
  • The most wildlife-rich part of Antarctica - penguins, whales, seals, sea birds
  • Narrow sheltered waterways and fjords
  • Spectacular mountains rising directly out of the sea
  • Historic sites
  • Active scientific stations
  • Great variety of terrain over short distances
  • Icebergs and active glaciers
  • Kayaking through Antarctic waters (optional)

Overview

This expansive expedition takes you into the Antarctic Circle, combining the rich animal life of the Weddell Sea with the surreal shores and islands of the Antarctic Peninsula. Such key landing sites as the legendary Elephant Island and Crystal Sound make this voyage truly exceptional. Join us as we venture towards the circle and discover a whole new world of rarely explored bays and coves - a treasure trove of exciting and remote new places, where only a few are fortunate enough to visit. Our voyage is timed late in the season in order to maximise whale watching opportunities, passing through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. Whether enjoying the surreal landscapes or participating in the activities on offer, the wonder of the Antarctic is yours to discover.

Itinerary

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You will be warmly greeted by the crew and expedition staff as you embark Plancius in the afternoon. Sailing down the Beagle Channel, we will settle into shipboard life and enjoy our first meal on board.

Meals: L,D

During these two days, we will sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we will arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may see Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black-browed Albatrosses, Light- mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, we will glimpse at the first icebergs. The Master of the vessel may decide to sail the narrow English Strait, between Robert Island and Greenwich Island, if the conditions are favourable. We will then be in sight of Aitcho Island at the South Shetlands in the late evening of the third day. If the conditions do not allow us to manoeuvre through the English Strait, then we will continue sailing south of Livingston. These volcanic islands or the South Shetlands, are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna; such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins and southern Giant Petrels.

Meals: B,L,D

We will arrive early to the famous Point Wild, Elephant Island, where Shackleton’s crew made their first landing after the loss of their ship, Endurance. This inhospitable spit of land is a favourite among our guests, and if conditions permit, we will offer activities around the point before setting off for the Weddell Sea.

Meals: B,D

Today you enter the wondrous Weddell Sea, a relatively unvisited area in which we hope to carry out activities in Erebus and Terror Gulf. We may also visit such places such as Beak Island and Devil Island, which boast some stunning scenery as well as the pack ice for which the Weddell Sea is famous.

Meals: B,L,D

As we continue to explore the area of Erebus and Terror Gulf, we look for new opportunities for activities. You may also visit Vega Island, experiencing the wilderness of Antarctica in its most remote places.

Meals: B,L,D

Sail down the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, entering the Orleans Strait. Here we hope to see humpback and orca whales as we sail toward Mikklesen Harbor for our afternoon activities.

Meals: B,L,D

Passing the Lemaire Channel, you next arrive in the area of Port Charcot, where there is a cairn that was erected by the French Antarctic Expedition of 1903 – 05. In the afternoon, we head to Petermann Island to see a great variety of birdlife. You might also enjoy Zodiac cruises among icebergs that are highly popular with leopard seals and crabeater seals. Minke whales, humpbacks, and gentoo penguins can also be found here.

Meals: B,D

Today we reach Crystal Sound, viewing the area’s beautiful ice formations and wildlife before landing at Detaille Island. This remote island was once home to a British research station that is now an historic monument.

Meals: B,L,D

Next you arrive at the Yalour Islands, a small archipelago composed mostly of isolated rocks and one principal island that offers us a rewarding landing. Home to Adélie penguins and some of the most southerly gentoos in the world, Yalour also has small patches of bearded and crustose lichen, including xanthoria, buellia, caloplaca, and usnea. Extensive moss beds and some Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) can be seen as well.

Meals: B,L,D

We have our farewell to Antarctica in the Melchior Islands for our final activities before heading towards the Drake Passage.

Meals: B,L,D

In the Drake Passage, we will have again a chance of seeing many seabirds, and to take advantage of the knowledge of our lecture team.

Meals: B,L,D

During the early morning we will cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia. It is a busy time, with people saying farewell to our crew and others who have shared the intensity of being in a magnificent white wilderness. We will head off in our different directions, hopefully with a new found sense of the power of natural forces.

Meals: B

Ready to start your adventure?

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What’s included?

Included

  • 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 14 dinners
  • Comfortable cabin accommodation and use of all public areas on cruise
  • Specialist expedition staff
  • All shore excursions from the ship including the use of Zodiacs
  • Lectures, videos, slide and film shows and guide services
  • Medical services (there is a resident medical officer and infirmary on board)
  • Port taxes and port charges imposed by government authorities
  • Pre-departure information
  • Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).

Not included

  • Air transport and transfers before and after the cruises (except for pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia, directly after disembarkation).
  • Passport and vaccination charges, reciprocity fees and airport departure taxes
  • Accommodation and meals or other services not included in the ship cruise itinerary
  • Laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, travel insurance and items of a personal nature such as bar charges, wine and phone calls
  • Emergency evacuation charges
  • Customary end of voyage tips

Adventure Highlighted Video

Antarctic Peninsula | World Expeditions

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