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Classic Antarctica
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© B & C Alexander/Quark 
'Professor Molchanov' |
Very few people in the world can claim to have crossed the Antarctic Circle, reaching an extreme latitude at the very bottom of the world. Only the most adventurous travellers include this Circle on their life list of goals. Share this momentous achievement with a few select adventurers on board the Professor Molchanov.  Itinerary Day 1 Depart London in the afternoon for a flight via Madrid, arriving Buenos Aires on Day 2. Flights from regional UK airports may also be available; please enquire for details. Day 2 - Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Arrive Buenos Aires International airport, and transfer to Buenos Aires Aeroparque for the flight to Ushuaia, arriving in the evening. Overnight Ushuaia Day 3 - Ushuaia Spend the morning with a local guide on a group excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park then enjoy a traditional Argentine asado lunch. Settle into your cabin and get to know the ship. You will meet your Expedition Team as the ship heads through the scenic Beagle Channel. Days 4-6 - Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands Journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake. As the ship sails, our naturalists and historians offer presentations on the marvels ahead. If weather allows, you can spend time on deck spotting for albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering Albatross - and other seabirds. The South Shetland Islands, which lie to the north of the Antarctic Peninsula, are usually sighted in the late afternoon on Day 4. Here you visit vast penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe wallowing southern elephant seals. You may also visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago and look for Antarcticaâ's only two flowering plants, which thrive here during the short southern summer. Often the ship sails through Neptune Bellows, a narrow passage leading into the sunken caldera of Deception Island. Here, if the tide allows you may dip your toes in the steaming waters of Pendulum Cove. Days 7-13 - Antarctic Peninsula Our exploration of the Antarctic continent may begin with a visit to the aptly named Paradise Bay, or to nearby Neko Harbor. Glaciers fill the calm waters with an amazing vista of icebergs as you set foot on the Antarctic continent itself. During the voyage, expect to see enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins. You may also encounter Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, as well as orcas, humpback, and Minke whales. If pack ice and icebergs allow, the ship navigates some of the most beautiful waterways in the world. Two in particular, the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are impressive narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. Sailing south of the Lemaire Channel we may visit Petermann Island, where Adélie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags nest close to the landing site. The quest for the Antarctic Circle continues as the expedition pushes farther south. You will be in the vicinity of historic Stonington Island, which served briefly as a base for the Byrdâ's Little America Expedition in 1940. The site also served as the base for Finn Ronneâ's 1947-48 Antarctic Research Expedition that mapped a great portion of the continent by air. We will mark arrival at the southernmost location with a celebration on board. Days 14-15 - Drake Passage You bid farewell to Antarctica as you sail north across the Drake Passage. The adventure is not over as there are more opportunities to watch birds and whales cavorting in the open ocean. Day 16 - Ushuaia We arrive in Ushuaia and disembark. Overnight Ushuaia. Day 17 Today we fly from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires for the return flight to the UK, arriving on Day 18. Please note: Read this itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations depend on final permission. THE FLEET The fleet is equipped with all necessary communication and navigation equipment. The officers and crew are highly experienced in ice navigation. Our Russian captains are recognized as world experts in polar operations. They are joined by our expedition staff and lecturers from all over the world - internationally renowned experts on a wide variety of subjects from marine mammals and birds to the history of polar exploration and geology. Professional chefs produce an excellent international menu and the relaxing bars are well stocked with a good selection of beer, wine, and spirits. PROFESSOR MOLCHANOV Small, ice-strengthened vessel offering an experience more like a private expedition than a conventional cruise The 72 metre, 1753 ton Professor Molchanov was built in Finland in 1983 for polar and oceanographic research. Continuously refurbished since its conversion for passenger use, the vessel is ideally suited for expedition cruising, carrying a maximum of just 52 passengers in comfortable twin and triple cabins, all outside and each with a desk and ample storage space. Public areas include a lounge and bar, small library, infirmary (there is a doctor on board) and a sauna. Views are excellent from the large, open decks and the navigation bridge, where we are almost always welcome. The European chefs produce a varied menu and the comfortable bar is stocked with a good selection of wine. The ship is staffed by Russian officers and crew, all highly experienced in ice navigation. Russian captains are recognised as the world experts in polar operations. The atmosphere aboard the Professor Molchanov is relaxed and informal, more like a private expedition than a cruise. To explore such a region with just a small number of fellow passengers is a real luxury, and will help make your Antarctic voyage of discovery and adventure a truly unforgettable experience. |
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Accommodation: Cabins as described above subject to availability.
Travel: Flights from regional UK airports may also be available; please enquire for details. Leaders: Guides from Quark Expeditions Professor Molchanov prices per person:
The prices are per person, and are fully inclusive of return flights UK/Ushuaia, two nights' accommodation in Ushuaia, transfers in Ushuaia & Buenos Aires, the cruise, meals during the voyage, shore excursions by Zodiac and activities throughout the voyage, lectures and leadership by expedition staff, taxes and port charges and pre-departure information. The prices exclude travel insurance, meals ashore, optional tips to leaders and crew, drinks, and other personal expenses. Please note that we can arrange optional extensions in Ushuaia (see our Patagonia itinerary for details), or anywhere else in Argentina. You can also opt to leave the UK a day earlier and spend a day in Buenos Aires to break the long journey south. | ||||||||||||||
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