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Polar Circle & Antarctic PeninsulaGMK30 * Tuesday 26 February - Wednesday 12 March, 2008 (16 days)
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'Grigoriy Mikheev/Aleksey Maryshev' |
We explore some of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet, with icebergs, glaciers, snow-capped mountains and abundant wildlife, including many species of seals, seabirds, whales and vast numbers of penguins.
Weather and landing conditions permitting, we will spend as much time ashore as possible, hiking and exploring the sites. The limited number of passengers aboard the vessel enables us to bring everyone, all at once, quickly and smoothly ashore with our inflatable Zodiacs. Regularly we try to land at 'unknown' locations, which will contribute to the exploratory character of the Polar voyage. Apart from snow and ice and the rich Antarctic life, there are also many historical sites, such as Paulet Island where Otto Nordenskjöld's Swedish expedition survived, in 1901-03. The Swedish hut is still standing, surrounded by thousands of Adelie Penguins. From here it is possible to gain an understanding of what enticed men to this remote land. Muffled against the weather we look out across the Weddell Sea: inhospitable, yet inspiring, it is a sight to quicken the pulse and move the spirit. If we are lucky, we may even spot that most elusive of birds, the Emperor Penguin on an ice floe. Sometimes, as we sail towards the Lemaire Channel, sea-mist may obscure the narrow strait leaving only rocky peaks visible against the sky. Take a place high on the upper deck where the mist thins, the deck will disappear and the filtered light takes on an ethereal glow. On some voyages we move further south, crossing the Antarctic Circle and reaching Crystal Sound, a land of high mountains and huge glaciers. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands where we may have our last Zodiac cruise of the voyage. Please note that the following itinerary is for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice and weather conditions and in order to take advantage of opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. GMK30/31 also offers a fascinating scuba - diving programme for experienced dry- suit divers along sea ice and to explore the marine wildlife. 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 Arrive Buenos Aires International airport, and transfer to Buenos Aires Aeroparque for the flight to Ushuaia, arriving in the evening. Overnight Ushuaia Day 3 In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located in the shadow of the Andes and right at the Beagle Channel shore. We'll sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon. Day 4 - 5 During these two days we will sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the cir-cum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may meet 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 glimpse at the first icebergs. Day 6 - 11 At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape pigeons and many Dominican gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune´s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. On our way to the south sailing through the Gerlache Strait we will have great chances to see many Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. In Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island with Elephant Seals and fair chances to encounter Humpback, Minke and Fin Whales. We head south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, south of the polar circle. The landscape is very impres-sive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. At the Fish Islands we land at one of the southernmost Adelie Penguin and Blue-eyed Shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. At Detaille Island, south of the Polar Circle, in Crystal Sound we reach probably our farthest south. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, we arrive at Inverleith Harbour, where we may have our last zodiac cruises of the voyage. Day 12 - 13 In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds. Day 14 We arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia. Overnight Ushuaia Day 15 Depart Ushuaia in the afternoon for return flight to Madrid and the UK, arriving on Day 16. |
Grigoriy Mikheev
The ships are modern, ice-strengthened research vessels, built in Finland for the Russian Academy of Science. They are under long-term contract to Oceanwide Expeditions and have been converted for passenger use and are ideally suited to expedition cruising in polar areas. They comply with the highest international safety and environmental regulations, as well as the Arctic and Antarctic Shipping guidelines. The passengers are accommodated in triple, twin, superior cabins or a suite. All cabins are 'outside' and most cabins have private facilities. The public areas are comfortable and cosy and include a dining room which could also act as the lecture room, a bar with reference books, a small infirmary and a sauna. The best viewing places on board for spotting wildlife are the bridge (where passengers are welcome) and the open-deck areas. The ships carry a full complement of Zodiac crafts, for both cruising and landing ashore. Usually on our voyages the Chef will organize a Polar barbecue on deck. Surrounded by an impressive landscape and accompanied by your fellow-travellers, staff members and the Russian crew members, this event is one to remember. 
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 Oceanwide Expeditions
The prices are per person, and are fully inclusive of return flights UK/Ushuaia, overnight accommodation in Ushuaia and Buenos Aires, 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. For a price ex Ushuaia, please deduct £ 895 from the total cost. For a price ex Buenos Aires, please deduct £ 545 from the total cost. Supplement for Scuba Divers on GMK30/GMK31 is £ 600 per person. 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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