Antarctica - Off the Beaten Track 12 nights / 13 days 2013/2014 - Ioffe Nov 08 - Nov 20 2013 Overview Sailing in comfort we begin this 12 night, 13 day expedition at the tip of South America onboard Antarctica’s mobile wilderness/adventure lodge. We chart a course through the Drake Passage and might make landfall in the South Shetland Islands prior to reaching the Antarctic Peninsula. When we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula, be prepared to be dazzled. Even our experienced staff members many of whom have visited the southern region a hundred times or more are still astonished by its pristine beauty. The abundance of wildlife is truly extraordinary including five seal species, massive penguin rookeries of gentoo, adélie and chinstrap as well as a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. It is nature you will experience up close and personal on frequent specialized excursions inland and on water.  Our journey will take us south of the Lemaire Channel to the Northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, or reverse depending on ice and weather conditions. Our goal is to enter Antarctic waters prepared to undertake extraordinary outdoor pursuits that will excite, awe and inspire people who revel in the outdoors.  For those enrolled in our traditional sea kayaking program, there will be an optional opportunity to participate in an overnight sea kayak camping excursion led by our kayak guides. For others interested in camping but not of the small boat variety, we endeavour to camp on the ice amidst the Polar landscape sometime in the coming days.  Ideal weather and just the right campsite make this experience a life changing memory.  There are numerous areas within the peninsula and surrounding archipelago that offer extraordinary climbing and ski touring opportunities.  Experienced skiers with ski touring experience will climb up into the beauty and remote wilderness of Antarctica as they approach their chosen stream of decent led by our ski touring guides.  We also offer a more gradual approach for people interested in hiking and snowshoeing on this voyage. There are a handful of preferred landing sites where we enjoy these activities, which allow us to appreciate varied terrain amidst Antarctic snow pack.  Our hiking options range depending on the landing sites we visit. Remember it is your choice whether to be the contemplative wanderer amidst the rocky shore, or the long distance hiker to the outer limits.  Just let us know. For keen photographers interested in field photography of either adventure pursuits or landscape, join our expedition team and special photographers in residence for an extended shore excursion aimed at capturing these subjects with a remarkable backdrop. It is our priority to combine preferable weather conditions with all of our outdoor pursuits to achieve both awe-inspiring outdoor experiences, paired with outdoor education and learned information on Antarctica and its protected environment.   As with all of our One Ocean Expeditions voyages, safety is our top priority. For that reason weather, ice or other conditions may require us to change our itinerary and shore excursions as we go but that is half the fun of Polar exploration. Predictability is a word that has no relevance in this environment.  Day By Day Expedition Itinerary Day 1 / Ushuaia Today is the first day of our adventure. As we board the vessel, in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city at the tip of Argentina, and start to become familiar with ‘our home’ for the next 13 days we cannot help but wonder about the exciting journey ahead of us. In the early evening, we set sail and begin our voyage leaving behind Ushuaia and charting a course through the Beagle Channel. Days 2-3 / Drake Passage Crossing the Drake Passage, there is so much excitement in the air as we make our way ever closer to the white continent. Guests eagerly soak up the friendly atmosphere onboard, as our numerous Polar experts and educational professionals prepare us for our adventures with presentations and courses on everything Antarctic, from wildlife and history, to first aid and snow safety. Eventually, we will cross the Antarctic Convergence where we notice a distinct drop in temperature as we enter the waters of the Antarctic Ocean. Along the way, we will witness many spectacular sights from icebergs to an array of seabirds and even several whale species some of which are known on occasion to breach from the sea. Days 4-10  / Antarctic Peninsula In the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, we make as much time as possible to explore by inflatable Zodiacs to incorporate our expedition goals and marvel up close at nature’s glory. Planned excursions may include Neko Harbour, Wilhelmina Bay and the southerly Petermann Island, where we will observe Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals, skuas and other seabirds as well as a shocking abundance of penguins including some very large colonies of the comical Adélie penguin. Amongst these varied landing sites and extraordinary bays for cruising, we find ourselves delving into our expedition field photography program as well as our hiking, snow shoeing, sea kayaking, and ski touring.  Using the weather as our guide, we endeavour to extend ourselves beyond the standard limits of expedition cruising itineraries.  With a flexible hospitality team we are able to spend more time onshore in our chosen environment to meet all of our expeditionary goals. Once alongside the peninsula we plan to launch our overnight kayaking experience for two nights away from the ship. After packing the kayaks with the necessary gear for our adventure we leave the ship and paddle into our chosen destination. Once we land we expect to spend about 2/3 hours stretching our legs and exploring.  Some of you may ascend to a walk-able summit to take in the views, and massive icebergs in every direction. We also look for a possible campsite and assemble our tents for the wonderful experience of overnight kayak camping in Antarctica.  Specifics for our ski touring program will depend on weather and avalanche safety.  With our focus on the experience rather than the number of penguins we see, we have the flexibility to take our time to launch our outdoor pursuits in the right area for the required length of duration.  We envisage the ability to offer a couple of ski touring options throughout the time in Antarctica.   Days 11-12 / Drake Passage As we leave this magical place and make our way north, heading again across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage before rounding Cape Horn, we have no doubt that time will be spent sharing and reflecting on the wonderful experiences of the last few days. This sailing time is optimal for reviewing your newfound ‘field photography’ skills and learning more from our onboard presentation staff and educational experts. Sailing up the Beagle Channel, we celebrate the conclusion of our Polar expedition with a special dinner onboard. Day 13 / Ushuaia In the early morning, we will arrive back in Ushuaia. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travelers. Guests will be transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home.

ANTARCTIC PENINSULA ADVENTURE

After spending 10 nights on board our vessel exploring this wonderful part of the world, we are certain our guests will leave Antarctica with a completely different perspective than when they arrived. After all, it would be impossible to feel quite the same after gazing upon an unimaginable profusion of penguins tobogganing and waddling their way across the snow - or watching yet another species of whale crest the waves in close proximity. And then there is the awe you will feel when you first glimpse the sweeping ice sheet that spans an entire continent. Antarctica gets under your skin unlike any other place on earth.

Overview

Sailing in comfort aboard either the Akademik Ioffe or the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, we begin this 10 night expedition at the tip of South America. We chart a course through the Drake Passage and make visits along the way through the South Shetland Islands. When we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula, be prepared to be dazzled. Even our experienced crew members many of whom have visited the southern region a hundred times or more are still astonished by its pristine beauty. The abundance of wildlife here is truly extraordinary including five seal species, massive penguin rookeries of gentoo, Adelies and chinstraps as well as a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. It is nature you will experience up close and personal on frequent excursions inland.

Our journey will take us to Petermann Island or Wilhelmina Bay where we encounter colossal icebergs and, of course, the ice landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Hardy adventurers or those with a yen for history have the chance to camp out on the ice overnight and feel the thrill and audacity of early explorers who attempted to conquer this continent.

As with all of our expeditions, safety is our top priority. For that reason weather, ice or other conditions may require us to change our itinerary and shore excursions as we go but that is half the fun of Polar exploring. Predictability is a word that has no relevance in this environment.


Day By Day Expedition Itinerary

Day 1 / Ushuaia

Today is the first day of our adventure. As we board the vessel in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city at the tip of Argentina, and start to become familiar with 'our home' for the next 11 days we cannot help but wonder about the exciting journey ahead of us. In the early evening, we set sail and begin our voyage leaving behind Ushuaia and charting a course through the Beagle Channel.

Days 2 - 3 / Drake Passage

Crossing the Drake Passage, there is so much excitement in the air as we make our way ever closer to the white continent. Guests eagerly soak up the friendly atmosphere onboard as our numerous Polar experts prepare us for our adventures with presentations on everything Antarctic, from wildlife to history. Eventually, we will cross the Antarctic Convergence where we will notice a distinct drop in temperature as we enter the waters of the Antarctic Ocean. Along the way, we will witness many spectacular sights from icebergs to an array of seabirds and even several whale species some of which are known on occasion to fully breach from the sea.

Days 4 - 8 / Antarctic Peninsula

In the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, we will hope to make as much time as possible to explore by inflatable Zodiac boats and marvel up close at nature's glory. Planned excursions might include Neko Harbour, Wilhelmina Bay and even the southerly Petermann Island, where we will observe Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals, skuas and other seabirds as well as a shocking abundance of penguins including some very large colonies of the comical Adelie penguin. At Half Moon Island we will observe a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags. We also hope to see the gentle humpback whale dining on krill in its feeding grounds and possibly have an opportunity to observe orcas and Minke whales as we go.

We finally arrive on the continent of Antarctica at Paradise Harbour or Neko Harbour. Prepare to be dazzled by your first glimpse of the continent. The scenery here is amazing. In particular we will be struck by the oddly-shaped icebergs that look like sculptures, as well as the colossal 'tabular' icebergs that break away from the continent's ice shelf. We hope the weather will be mild enough to allow us all to step foot on the White Continent itself. Some may wish to camp on shore overnight. Whatever your vantage point, whether it is onboard or onshore expect to feel transformed as you experience twilight from the very bottom of the planet.

Days 9 - 10 / Drake Passage

As we leave this magical place and make our way north, heading again across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage before rounding Cape Horn, we have no doubt that time will be spent sharing and reflecting on the wonderful experiences of the last few days. Sailing down the Beagle Channel, we celebrate the conclusion of our Polar expedition at a special dinner.

Day 11 / Ushuaia

In the early morning, we will arrive back in Ushuaia. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travellers. Guests will be transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home.

Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctica

You may feel, as we do, that if you make the journey to the bottom of the world you may as well stay awhile. On this far-reaching expedition to the islands of the South Atlantic Ocean and the Antarctic mainland, you will revel in 18 eye-popping days of exploration. Busybody penguins in rookeries by the thousands, behemoth icebergs reflecting startling greens and blues, humpback whales feeding on krill and of course the continent-sized sweeping ice sheet of Antarctica.

Overview

This is One Ocean Expeditions' most extensive Antarctic expedition. We depart from Ushuaia and make our first stop in the Falkland Islands. Here, we will find a relatively warm climate where an abundance of unusual wildlife thrives. Sixty species of migratory birds and the rare rockhopper penguin inhabit these islands.

Our voyage on the well-appointed Akademik Ioffe and Akademik Sergey Vavilov, continues through the Antarctic convergence to the pristine island of South Georgia. Towering glacier-covered mountains are merely the backdrop to spectacular wildlife sightings including rookeries of the pompous king penguin, several seal species and the laughable macaroni penguin. We hope to see the South Orkney Islands, often cloaked in mist, as we make our way to the South Shetland Archipelago and Antarctica.

We all experience a deep sense of awe when we first glimpse the much-anticipated continent. Even our One Ocean Expeditions' leaders, who have led more than a hundred expeditions, are still overcome by its formidable beauty. We are greeted by thousands of icebergs that look like modern art sculptures lining the bays of Paradise Harbour or Hope Bay. Meanwhile an overwhelming profusion of wildlife is on display from penguins torpedoing through the water to predatory leopard seals staking their claim on ice floes. We hope to stand on the mainland of the White Continent itself. From this vantage point, it is easy to understand why legendary explorers such as Roald Amundsen and Sir Ernest Shackleton were so captivated by this haunting region. As with all our voyages, safety is our top priority. For that reason weather, ice or other conditions may require us to change our itinerary and shore excursions as we go but that is half the fun of Polar exploring. Predictability is a word that has no relevance in this environment.


Day By Day Expedition Itinerary

Day 1 / Ushuaia

Today is the first day of our adventure. As we board the vessel in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city near the tip of Argentina, and start to become familiar with 'our home' for the next 18 days we cannot help but wonder about the exciting journey ahead of us. In the early evening, we set sail and begin our voyage leaving behind Ushuaia and charting a course through the Beagle Channel.

Day 2 / At Sea

Our guests have the chance to spend plenty of time with our onboard polar experts. They will be educating us as we go on the wonders of Antarctica. Sailing northeast, we will likely be joined by swooping seabirds including the wandering albatross, who we will come to know well on this journey.

Days 3 - 4 / Falkland Islands

Arriving in the Falklands overnight, by morning we are all excited to make our first shore excursion. Our plan will be to explore the islands of the West Falkland Archipelago, home to a profusion of seabirds and migratory birds including the black-browed albatross. Our first penguin sightings will be on the island of West Point with its bustling rookeries of rockhoppers. On Carcass Island, we will observe nesting Magellanic penguins along with oystercatchers, geese and the flightless steamer duck who is a permanent Falkland resident. The next day we will make a stop in Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. As we wander through the charming streets of brightly painted houses, we will learn how this quiet harbour was once a major port in the 19th century for ships attempting to round the formidable waters of Cape Horn. We will also make a stop in Stanley's famed philatelic museum with its impressive collection of historic stamps.

Days 5 - 6 / At Sea

Now we sail southeast bound for the island of South Georgia. These days at sea are never dull. Much of our time is spent scanning the horizon in search of whales and other marine mammals as well as seabirds. Our friendly onboard experts continue to fill minds with heroic stories of some of the earliest daredevils to explore Antarctica. We will also learn about Polar conservation - a theme particularly close to the hearts of our One Ocean Expeditions' guides and crew. The anticipation grows particularly as we cross the Antarctic Convergence and notice a dramatic drop in temperature.

Days 7 - 9 / South Georgia

Majestic snow-covered mountains greet us on the island of South Georgia - the most rugged island in this region. We will cruise the protected waters of the eastern coast looking for suitable landing spots such as Salisbury Plain and St Andrews Bay. The highlight of both these excursions is the mind-boggling abundance of king penguin adults and young that live in these locations by the hundreds of thousands, covering every inch of the shore. That is not the only wildlife on display. Fur seals can be seen poking their heads above the water, skuas and giant petrels swoop in the skies above, and the albatross our constant companion is never far away. We hope to explore an old whaling station at Grytviken (Greet-vik-in) and visit the grave of the most famous Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Days 10 - 12 / Sea and South Orkneys

As we cross the Scotia Sea, sailing ever closer to Antarctica, we hope to visit the South Orkney Islands. Linked to the Antarctic Peninsula by an enormous sub-marine mountain range these islands, often shrouded in mist, are protected by large icebergs and sea ice. If we are lucky, there will be an excursion to Coronation Island to observe penguins nesting in moss beds alongside graceful snow petrels. We may also stop at the remote island of Laurie and visit the Argentinean meteorological station located there.

Days 13 - 16 / South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Mainland

Elephant Island, en route to the South Shetland Islands, will be our next destination if conditions are suitable. Here, we will learn more about the famous Antarctic adventures of Sir Ernest Shackleton. This island was a place of refuge in 1916 for Shackleton and his crew after his ship was destroyed by pack ice in the Weddell Sea.

Next, we will spend some time cruising among the South Shetland Islands just off the Antarctic Peninsula. Dazzling wildlife sightings await us on our excursions to some of these islands including King George, Half Moon, Barrientos or Livingston. Adelie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins thrive here, as do several species of seal. We even hope to see the gentle humpback whale dining on krill off King George Island.

Weather permitting, we will visit the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island. With rugged scenery, great sites of geologic interest and an overwhelming display of whaling and scientific exploration history, Deception Island is a perfect museum of natural and exploration history. For those wanting to stretch their legs, a spectacular hike to the crater rim offers a challenge. Finally, after so much anticipation, we will arrive at the Antarctic mainland in Paradise Harbour or Hope Bay. The scenery here from the colossal icebergs to the seemingly endless Antarctic ice sheet is truly breathtaking. Weather permitting, we hope to undertake a shore excursion and set foot on the White Continent itself.

Day 17 - 18 / Drake Passage

As we leave this magical place and make our way back, heading again across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage before rounding Cape Horn, we have no doubt that time will be spent sharing and reflecting on the wonderful experiences of the last few days. Sailing up the Beagle Channel, we celebrate the conclusion of our Polar expedition at a special dinner.

Day 19 / Ushuaia

In the early morning, we will arrive back in Ushuaia. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travelers. Guests will be transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home. 

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE VOYAGE

ANTARCTIC CIRCLE VOYAGE EXTENDED

After spending 13 nights on board our vessel exploring this wonderful part of the world, we are certain our guests will leave Antarctica with a completely different perspective than when they arrived. After all, it would be impossible to feel quite the same after gazing upon an unimaginable profusion of penguins tobogganing and waddling their way across the snow - or watching yet another species of whale crest the waves in close proximity. And then there is the awe you will feel when you first glimpse the sweeping ice sheet that spans an entire continent. Antarctica gets under your skin unlike any other place on earth.
Overview 
Sailing in comfort aboard the comfortable and well-appointed Ioffe or Vavilov, we begin this 13-night expedition at the tip of South America. We chart a course through the Drake Passage with a goal of heading directly south to the Antarctic Circle at 66°33'S. The farther south we go, the more sea ice we will find and our aim is to cross the circle before getting stopped by this ice. Few ships go this far south and we will take full advantage of being on a modern, ice-strengthened vessel of this caliber. 
Marguerite Bay and Detaille Island are two places that we might visit while traveling south of the circle. Who knows, we may even try to camp ashore south of the circle. We will slowly make our way back up the peninsula, visiting penguin rookeries as we go When we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula, be prepared to be dazzled. Even our experienced crewmembers many of which have visited the southern region a hundred times or more are still astonished by its pristine beauty. The abundance of wildlife here is truly extraordinary including five seal species, massive penguin rookeries of gentoo, Adelies and chinstraps as well as a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. It is nature you will experience up close and personal on frequent excursions inland. 
Our journey will take us to Petermann Island or Wilhelmina Bay where we encounter colossal icebergs and, of course, the ice landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Hardy adventurers or those with a yen for history have the chance to camp out on the ice overnight and feel the thrill and audacity of early explorers who attempted to conquer this continent. 
As with all our expeditions, safety is our top priority. For that reason weather, ice or other conditions may require us to change our itinerary and shore excursions as we go but that is half the fun of Polar exploring. Predictability is a word that has no relevance in this environment.
Day By Day Expedition Itinerary
Day 1 / Ushuaia
Today is the first day of our adventure. As we board the vessel in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city at the tip of Argentina, and start to become familiar with 'our home' for the next 13 days.  We cannot help but wonder about the exciting journey ahead of us. In the early evening, we set sail and begin our voyage leaving behind Ushuaia and charting a course through the Beagle Channel. 
Days 2 - 3 / Drake Passage
Crossing the Drake Passage, there is so much excitement in the air as we make our way ever closer to the white continent. Guests eagerly soak up the friendly atmosphere onboard as our numerous Polar experts prepare us for our adventures with presentations on everything Antarctic, from wildlife to history. Eventually, we will cross the Antarctic Convergence where we will notice a distinct drop in temperature as we enter the waters of the Antarctic Ocean. Along the way, we will witness many spectacular sights from icebergs to an array of seabirds and even several whale species some of which are known on occasion to fully breach from the sea. 
Days 4 - 11 / Antarctic Peninsula
In the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, we will hope to make as much time as possible to explore by inflatable Zodiac boats and marvel up close at nature's glory. Our first goal will be to sail south of the Antarctic Circle and into Matha Strait or Marguerite Bay. Given favorable ice conditions, we will push our exploration even further southward, looking for historic and wildlife sites. From our most southerly point (south of the Antarctic Circle), we will make our way north along the Antarctic Peninsula, cruising through the narrow waterways and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula. Spectacular waterways such as Crystal Sound, the Lemaire Channel, the Neumeyer Channel and the Gerlache Strait will all feature in our itinerary. Landing sites might include Neko Harbour, Wilhelmina Bay, Petermann Island and the Yalours, where we will observe Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals, skuas and other seabirds as well as an abundance of penguins including some very large colonies of the comical Adelie penguin. At Half Moon Island we will visit a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags. We also hope to see the gentle humpback whale dining on krill in its feeding grounds and possibly have an opportunity to spot orcas and Minke whales as we go. We will plan on walking ashore on the continent of Antarctica at Paradise Harbour or Neko Harbour. Although it will not be your first glimpse of the Antarctic, a walk ashore on the Continent will evoke emotions to carry with you for the rest of your life. The scenery here is amazing. In particular the oddly shaped icebergs looking like sculptures, as well as the colossal 'tabular' icebergs that break away from the continent's ice shelf. Some may wish to camp on shore overnight. Whatever your vantage point, whether it is onboard or onshore expect to feel transformed as you experience twilight from the very bottom of the planet. 
Days 12 - 13 / Drake Passage
As we leave this magical place and make our way north, heading again across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage before rounding Cape Horn, we have no doubt that time will be spent sharing and reflecting on the wonderful experiences of the last few days. Sailing down the Beagle Channel, we celebrate the conclusion of our Polar expedition at a special dinner. 
Day 14 / Ushuaia
In the early morning, we will arrive back in Ushuaia. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travelers. Guests will be transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home. 

Christmas in Antarctica

After spending 8 nights onboard the Akademik Sergey Vavilov exploring the Antarctic Peninsula we feel recharged and invigorated to approach the new year.  This specially designed and succinct voyage captures the highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula in a condensed 8 night voyage.

This specialty departure includes a feature focused tailor made family adventure for those parents or grandparents travelling with children/youth. Exploring and sharing adventures along the Antarctic Peninsula, creating memories to last a lifetime.

With our One Ocean Expeditions staff leading the way with interactive educational experiences, onboard programming, onshore guided excursions, as well as a unique approach with child led photography; this voyage promises to be a great adventure for all onboard. 

Please call us or speak with your agent for further details.