Join a select group of travellers who have journeyed to the world's southernmost extremes and crossed that imaginary line in the polar sea; the Antarctic Circle. En route, you sail deep-blue waters among calving glaciers and tabular icebergs; explore Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguin rookeries on the Antarctic Peninsula; then venture still further south along the White Continent as the Professor Molchanov probes the edge of the pack ice.
Professor Molchanov
Friday 26 January - Monday 12 February 2007 (18 days)
Thursday 08 February - Sunday 25 February 2007 (18 days)
** Click here for 2008 dates **
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.
Ushuaia (pop. 50,000) means 'the bay that reaches into the west.' Ironically it is the world's southernmost city. The town is situated in the foothills of the Andes, in one of the most stunning locations in the world. Expect wonderful views from the airplane as you land.
Ushuaia is served by flights arriving from Buenos Aires, Argentina and Santiago, Chile.
On arrival at the hotel, register with the front desk then settle in your room. (Note that your room may not be available for occupancy until mid-afternoon. You may store your luggage and explore the community should you arrive early.)
A Quark Expeditions representative will be available in the hotel lobby at scheduled times to offer suggestions about the best places to dine, shop or visit. Two suggestions are the Maritime Museum (formerly a prison); or the Museo del Fin del Undo, to see exhibits on the region's indigenous people, almost none of whom now remain.
If you need to stretch your muscles after a long flight, climb the nearby Glacier Martial, for a close encounter with ice, and a bird's eye view of Ushuaia. If you prefer to relax, you can sit at a table in a sidewalk café and soak up the 'end of the world' feeling this frontier town offers.
Day 3: Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
In the morning, you may join the included guided tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park, home to caracaras, Black-faced Ibis, Magellanic Woodpeckers and the Fuegian red fox. Stroll seaside paths through guindo forest or wander by mountain lakes on the Chilean frontier.
The tour ends at a rustic dining hall where a stream rushes past. You learn about the local food culture while enjoying a traditional Argentine asado barbecue. Meat is barbecued by skilled chefs over an open fire and served on large picnic tables, located indoors and out. As you enjoy the barbecue, get to know your fellow adventurers, before spending the last few moments in the city exploring downtown.
In late afternoon, a bus transfers you and your fellow adventurers to the pier to board the ship. Have your identification on hand, because you must pass through security.
The Expedition Team directs you to the lounge, for a safety briefing. Emergency procedures are explained then followed by a practical demonstration. One of the enclosed lifeboats is lowered to give you the opportunity to see what is within and how you would survive in the unlikely event of an emergency at sea.
When the Argentine authorities complete immigration, customs and other procedures, the lines are cast off, a Russian salute is sounded on the foghorn, and the voyage down the Beagle Channel begins.
Later a three-course dinner with a choice of main courses and a complimentary glass of wine is served in the dining room. There is no need for formal attire, as our style is casual. After all you never know when you may want to return to the deck should the Expedition Team announce 'whales off the starboard bow!'
During the after-dinner Welcome Briefing, the Expedition Leader introduces the team of specialists that accompanies every expedition. The EL delivers an overview of the voyage, after which the ship's doctor may provide practical advice about coping with seasickness.
Day 4: Crossing the Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is notorious for high winds and rolling seas. Traversing the Drake is as much a part of the Antarctic experience as penguins and krill. With the right weather conditions your passage will be relatively easy.
The day begins with a wake-up call over the ship's public address system. You are informed of the ship's latitude and longitude, sea conditions, and weather. After breakfast, the education program commences with a presentation that could be about the early days of discovery in Antarctica. Alternately, you could hear a variety of presentations on the life cycle and breeding habits of the wildlife you will encounter during the voyage.
In the afternoon a film such as Ice Bound - 100 Years of Antarctic Discovery could be shown. Perhaps, another of our shipboard specialists may speak after the film on subjects such as the formation of icebergs.
Although our style is distinctly informal, there are one or two occasions during this expedition when you may choose to wear something a little more formal than expedition gear. The first would be the Captain's Welcome Reception, an opportunity to meet the Captain and his very experienced officers, who manoeuvre the ship with such skill during the voyage. The daily program, which is delivered to your cabin each evening, informs you of the
next day's activities and special events such as this one.
Day 5: Drake Passage and Aitcho Islands
During the night, the ship should have crossed 61o South latitude, so that you awaken in Antarctic waters. While the political boundary of Antarctica lies at 60o S, the Antarctic Convergence (also known as the Antarctic Polar Front) represents the biological boundary. This natural phenomenon is normally located somewhere between 55 and 60o South. Its position shifts seasonally, vacillating nearly 161 kilometers (100 miles) north and south.
Within the Convergence zone, warmer, more saline subtropical currents flowing south collide with northward-moving, colder, denser, and less salty polar water. The broad invisible boundary of this well-defined oceanic frontal system is characterized by an upwelling due to the colliding masses of warm and cold water that churn nutrients and food to the surface. This nutrient-enriched up-welling is an especially rich feeding ground for a profusion of foraging seabirds and whales.
In preparation for the first landing, you are shown how to board a Zodiac from the ship's gangway and how to exit on landing. By the end of the expedition, riding on the pontoons of these sturdy inflatable landing craft will be second nature to you. In addition, the first briefing should cover the Antarctic Conservation Guidelines. Quark Expeditions is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and as such, is bound by their regulations. IAATO is a self governing association that is dedicated to keeping tourism in Antarctica as low-impact as possible. The conservation regulations cover everything: boot washing (we loan you a pair, so you don't have to pack them), numbers of visitors on shore, distances that people should keep away from wildlife and human behaviour around wildlife.
You may experience occasional snow flurries and sleet showers, should the wind rise in velocity. The complimentary Quark Expeditions parka, which was in your cabin on the day of embarkation, is designed to accommodate any kind of weather. The hooded shell protects you from the rain. The fleece liner can be worn as a jacket to keep you warm on a chilly night. Worn together, you are ready for a squall or snow storm. As the ship approaches the Aitcho group, watch for Table Island off the bow, marking the completion of your transit of the Drake Passage. The geology of these islands is volcanic, with striking columnar formations and jagged, eroded pinnacles. The name of the island, Aitcho, is derived from the first letters of Hydrographic and Office.
Once on shore, you may be met by a welcoming committee of Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins. Keep your eyes open for elephant seals hauled out on the beach. Your close encounter with Antarctic wildlife will have begun. When you return to the ship you can expect a recap of the day's events, and a briefing about the landing planned for tomorrow.
The after dinner entertainment could be the film, By Endurance We Conquer, about Shackleton and the Antarctic. Our shipboard education program is a combination of formal and informal presentations, plus films and videos about Antarctica and its history.
Day 6: Whaler's Bay, Deception Island/Hannah Point and
Livingston Island
This morning you may be approaching Deception Island. The Captain could slowly steer the ship through Neptune's Bellows, into the protected flooded caldera within known as Port Foster. Watch for the rusted hulk of the whale-catcher, Southern Hunter, that, in 1956, went aground, the wreck is testament to the skilful navigation required to ease through the narrow passage. The caldera is the result of a very ancient explosion and collapse of a volcano, which left only the vast encircling rim and the gap that you sail through. The volcanic hillsides are streaked with red and yellow from ferrous and sulphurous emissions from long ago. In Whalers Bay, tbe landing may include a visit to the crumbling remains of the old whaling station, Norwegian Aktieselskabet Hektor that operated between 1910 and 1931.
The violent volcanic eruptions of 1967 and especially 1969, resulted in catastrophic mud, water, and ice floods that essentially destroyed the British Antarctic Survey base located here. All personnel were safely evacuated by the Chilean vessel Piloto Pardo. The derelict scientific station is now an historic site. You may see fur seals dozing on the beach, waking only to regard you with curiosity from time to time. If the conditions are right, some intrepid adventurers may take advantage of the underground thermal activity, and go swimming. Their time in the water may be brief but they will have something to boast about once they return home.
While sailing north to Hannah Point, for a possible landing. A member of the Expedition Team might present an illustrated presentation on the history of Deception Island. It could be interrupted by the hail, 'Whales dead ahead.'
On a previous expedition, our travellers reported witnessing one of the most extraordinary displays of cetacean activity imaginable. A number of humpbacks, possibly half a dozen in all, innumerable orcas, and a couple of fin whales were all seen feeding on masses of krill, seemingly oblivious to each other. At first, it appeared as if the orcas were attacking the others, but that was not so. This was a rare case of the lamb lying down with the lion and getting away with it. Our travellers watched with fascination the ceaseless blowing, spy hopping, sounding, and general thrashing about. Our
Expedition Team, salty veterans of many, many whale sightings, reported that this was a truly exceptional sighting. The Captain kept the ship as close to the performance in the sea, as long as possible, before resuming course. Keep in mind that no two expeditions are alike. Landings, and wildlife sightings, are subject to weather and ice conditions. It is the element of the unknown that makes expedition-style travel exhilarating.
The next planned landing could be Hannah Point in Walker Bay, on the south western end of Livingston Island. The scenic point was named for the sealer Hannah of Liverpool, that was wrecked there in 1820. Hannah Point is remarkable for the profusion of species that can be seen there: fur seals, elephant seals, Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins. When the conditions are at their best, this landing is a must for photographers. The expedition pushes further and further south while the recap unfolds in the lounge. Recaps provide opportunities to relive the day's adventures and ask questions of the Expedition Team.
Day 7: Setting Foot on the Peninsula
Perhaps you awaken to find the ship anchored off Almirante Brown, an unoccupied Argentine station. An oft told tale is that a couple of decades ago the base suffered an attack by an arsonist, an infuriated and, no doubt, deranged base physician who had been told that his return home was postponed for another year.
Since the fire, Gentoo Penguins have been nesting amid the remaining structures. A good distance off is Mount Français, at 3000m (9842 ft.), one of the highest peaks in Antarctica and the loftiest in this region. The clarity of the air and the brilliance of the sun may make the towering peak seem close at hand.
From Paradise Bay the ship may sail into the Errera Channel en route to the next landing site. If your voyage offers kayaking, a second paddle of the day may occur here, while everyone else goes ashore to visit the largest Gentoo rookery in the world.
The Great Antarctic Barbecue is a Quark tradition that occurs when the weather is so irresistible no one wants to remain inside. The Hospitality Team goes all out, serving grilled meats, salads, sweets, and mulled wine.
Day 8: Lemaire Channel, and Port Lockroy
To reach Port Lockroy, the ship may traverse the Lemaire Channel, named by Adrien de Gerlache in 1908, for a Belgian explorer of the Congo. The channel boasts some of the continent's most breathtaking scenery. About a kilometre (half-a-mile) in width, it is edged by soaring peaks of stark rock punctuated with snow patches and glaciers. Perhaps a glacier may calve with a roar and a splash, just as you sail past.
Depending on the time of year, the channel is known to have a fair amount of drifting pack ice, as well as newly forming grease or pancake ice. Ice conditions determine whether the ship can transit the channel.
Following the Second World War, Base A, now known as Port Lockroy, became one of the original Falkland Island Dependencies Survey (FIDS) stations, the forerunner of the present-day British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Restoration commenced in 1996, and the main building presently appears as it did originally.
Port Lockroy was named in honor of the French maritime minister who was one of Charcot's patrons. Port Lockroy on Goudier Island was originally a secret military base established under the code name Operation Tabarin, in 1944.
Ashore, there is time to visit the museum, look at the souvenir shop, and make use of the post office from which mail bearing British Antarctica stamps is sent out.
The three people who operate and live at the little base during the austral summer may be invited aboard for the luxury of hot showers and dinner with guests from around the world. Afterward, they may speak about the operation of the station-museum and answer questions.
Day 9: Petermann Island
Meal times aboard ship are adjusted to accommodate landings, just as the Expedition Leader adjusts plans to take advantage of local situations. Today's lunch may be early so that you can visit Petermann Island, where the southernmost Gentoo rookery in the world is located. While ashore, a member of the Expedition Team may explain the glaciated geology of the island and the history of Jean Baptiste who over wintered on the Pourquoi Pas?
Once back aboard ship all attention is focused on attaining our goal- crossing the Antarctic Circle.
Day 10: Crossing the Antarctic Circle in Crystal Bay
Determining exactly when and on which day the ship will cross the Antarctic Circle is impossible. The Expedition Leader and Captain will work together closely, examining charts and weather reports, to determine the best course to follow through Crystal Sound.
As a matter of fact, each day of this voyage the Captain and Expedition Leader will make adjustments to the program, taking advantage of local conditions. Therefore the crossing could be attempted days earlier or a few days later. This itinerary is only a guide.
Although it is possible that conditions may make it impossible to cross the Antarctic Circle, we can promise that the attempt will be celebrated with a glass of champagne and a toast to all the intrepid explorers who have gone before.
Day 11: Rothera Station
If our goal has been achieved and conditions permit, the ship will push further south with the intention of visiting an active research station and one of the least accessible historic sites on the Peninsula.
Visits to research stations in Antarctica are subject to permission. It is our plan to seek permission for a tour of the base, which was established in 1975. Occupied all year, the population fluctuates between 22 hardy souls in winter and 130 during the austral summer.
Your hosts may tell you about their on-going research projects, some of which are meteorological, while others involve scuba diving.
Day 12: Marguerite Bay
Stonington Island in Marguerite Bay. located at 68o11'S, 67o00'W, has been designated as an historic site under the Antarctic Treaty System. To the British, it was known as Base E, from which mapping parties set out to explore the Peninsula. Conservation of Base E, and the nearby American Base, known as US East Base has been ongoing for a decade.
Day 13: Loubet Coast
The French names that appear on charts in this region of the Peninsula are indications that Jean-Baptiste Charcot charted these waters.
Charcot, yachtsman, doctor, and grandson-in-law of Victor Hugo, inherited a fortune from his neurologist father. He spent his inheritance on the construction of a ship for polar exploration, Français. The President of France, Emile Loubet supported Charcot's desire to explore the west coast of Graham Land from the north, venturing south to Adelaide Island. If weather and ice conditions permitted, he was to press on to Alexander Island.
During the voyage he intended to chart the coastline, while gathering botanical, zoological, hydrographic and meteorological data.
As your ship navigates the channel between Adelaide Island and the Loubet Coast, your shipboard historian may deliver a presentation about Charcot and his expeditions. On his return to France, Charcot built a second ship that he called Pourquoi-Pas? (Why not?). It was in the second ship that Charcot reached Marguerite Bay which he named for his second wife, Meg.
Behind every name on the map of Antarctica are stories of real people with a passion for the unknown and who were willing to sacrifice all to fulfill it. Our specialists take pleasure in separating fact from fiction, while telling a rip roaring great yarn!
Day 14: The Drake Passage
A day at sea can be as busy as any day ashore. Members of the Expedition Team continue the education program. The subjects can range from a presentation on the 1911-12 Scott-Amundsen Race to the South Pole to an illustrated lecture on the whales of the Southern Ocean.
Another recap session will take place late in the day. That is your opportunity to ask questions or debate with your fellow adventurers how best to preserve this pristine continent.
Day 15: The Drake Passage
Packing day has arrived. A briefing is held, final remarks are made and instructions for disembarkation are delivered. You learn when to place your luggage in the corridor outside the cabin door for collection.
The Captain's Farewell Reception is the second excuse to dress after more than a week in expedition gear. You can thank the Captain, and officers, whose skills are essential to your safety and success during this voyage.
Day 16: Ushuaia, Argentina
During the night, a small vessel comes alongside and a local pilot boards the ship to help navigate the last stretch of water en route to Ushuaia.
After breakfast aboard ship, you are transferred by bus to the passenger collection point at the end of the quay.
Overnight Ushuaia.
Day 17: Ushuaia, Argentina
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.
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.
Specifications of Professor Molchanov
|
| Length | 69.7m |
| Breadth | 12.8m |
| Draft | 4.5m |
| GRT | 1753 tons |
| Engines | 2 Diesel ME, total 3120 HP |
| Ice Class | UL |
| Cruising Speed | 10 knots |
| Staff and Crew | 32 |
| Passengers | 48 |
| Registry | Russia |
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**:
** Please note the 7% fuel supplement in addition to the prices given from 1 Dec 2005, as shown below
| |
Triple |
Twin Shared Facilities |
Twin Share Facilities (as single) |
Twin Private Facilities |
Twin Private Facilities (as single) |
Superior |
Amundsen suite |
| Professor Molchanov |
| Jan 26 - Feb 12, 2007 |
£6,785 |
£8,165 |
£11,550 |
£9,400 |
£13,395 |
£10,705 |
£11,400 |
| Feb 08 - Feb 25, 2007 |
£6,785 |
£8,165 |
£11,550 |
£9,400 |
£13,395 |
£10,705 |
£11,400 |
| Deposit per person |
£1,000 |
£1,000 |
£1,000 |
£1,000 |
£1,000 |
£1,000 |
£1,000 |
Land Only Single Supplement: £170 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.
Fuel Supplement with effect from 1 Dec 2005
The rates shown above were set in the spring of 2005. Since then, unprecedented volatility in global energy markets has caused the price of marine fuel to take a dramatic upward turn, particularly in the remote ports where these ships refuel. Quark Expeditons have therefore introduced a fuel surcharge for their trips. In addition, the cost of flights has increased due to the increased cost of fuel.
We therefore have reluctantly had to impose a fuel supplement of 7% of the above tour prices for all the 2006/7 expeditions to the Antarctic shown above.
More information on Quark Expeditions |
