|
|
|
|
|
Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula
MOL31 23 March – 02 April, 2010 (11 days)
|
© Franco Banfi/Oceanwide Expeditions
Leopard Seal |
Itinerary Day 1 Embark in Ushuaia. Day 2 & 3 At sea. Day 4 & 5 At Brown Bluff we land at the Antarctic Continent, near the young of an Adelie Penguin colony, which have not left for the sea yet. We walk along the coast and try to climb along a gentle slope to above the rim of the cliffs. At southeast Dundee Island, we walk to a landing strip for planes, used by the American explorer Ellsworth, for the first over flight of the Antarctic Continent in 1935. Here, there is an area where we can make an extensive walk along the coast without disturbing the animals. Another historic place is Paulet Island, where members of the Swedish Nordenskiöld Expedition built a stone emergency hut in 1903. Day 6 In the Weddell Sea, at Snow Hill Island we land near another Swedish cabin from 1902. Nearby Seymour Island, is completely ice-free, and famous for its fossils. We will make a walk of about six hours along the coast from the southern tip to the Argentinean Base Marambio. We will have a fantastic view of the table icebergs in the Weddell Sea, while we get a glimpse into Antarctica's much warmer past (fossils of leaves). Day 7 On Devil’s Island with penguin colonies, we walk around the island and also climb to the middle ridge of just above 200 m. An alternative for this walk is the 8 km long and 300 m high Beak Island in Dusen Bay, which is also ice-free and close to the continent. Later on in the day we will have a zodiac excursion along a glacier front on the Tabarin Peninsula. Day 8 We land at Baily Head (Deception Island) near a Chinstrap Penguin colony, and walk to from there, in six hours to the deserted whaling station in Whalers Bay. If we cannot land at Baily Head due to high seas, we will directly sail to Whalers Bay and walk from Fumarole Bay to a Chinstrap colony at Vapour Col and back. We conclude the day with a bath in the warm sea at Pendulum Cove, where volcanic vents heat the water. Day 9 & 10 At sea. Day 11 Disembark in Ushuaia. N.B.: All passengers should be aware of the fact that during this voyage we will offer longer hikes of ca. 3 to 6 hours. |
M/v Professor Molchanov
|
'Professor Molchanov' |
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: We can arrange flights and overnight accommodation for you if necessary. Please contact us for prices and availability. Leaders: Guides from Oceanwide Expeditions
Please enquire for single supplements. The prices are per person, and are fully inclusive 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 return flights UK/Ushuaia (please allow approximately £ 1500), overnight accommodation in Ushuaia, transfers in Ushuaia, travel insurance, meals ashore, optional tips to leaders and crew, drinks, and other personal expenses. Please allow two days either side of the cruise dates for travel and an overnight at each end of the cruise in case of any delays. 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. | ||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||