Falkland Islands
South Atlantic Wildlife Spectacular

Wednesday 11 - Wednesday 25 January 2012 (15 days)
Wednesday 2 - Wednesday 16 January 2013 (15 days)

Journey with us to the most accessible of the sub-Antarctic Islands, a land of albatrosses, penguins, Sea Lions and Elephant Seals... plus a warm and very British welcome.

The rich seas of the South Atlantic are teeming with life - which means an abundance of food for the seabirds and sea-mammals. These are present in greater abundance and diversity than the North Atlantic but the problem for wildlife enthusiasts has always been the inaccessibility of the area and the islands which are home to many of the species.

With direct flights from the UK with the RAF, however, and a well-established infrastructure to accommodate special-interest high-quality tourism, the Falkland Islands are simply the most accessible place to see breeding colonies of true sub-Antarctic species such as Black-browed Albatross, Rockhopper, Magellanic, Gentoo and King Penguins, Snowy Sheathbills and Southern Giant Petrel. And, as with all the wildlife here, most are extremely approachable, giving unparalleled opportunities for photography. With a maximum group size of only seven or eight, places will go fast on this tour - so do book early!

Tim Earl is one of the pioneers of Falklands tourism, and has led over twenty groups there, his first in 1987.

Accommodation: We stay in comfortable lodges and hotels. En-suite facilities are available throughout, with the exception of one or two rooms at Darwin. We can offer a very limited number of single rooms, but these may not be available throughout.

Leaders: Tim Earl and local guides

Prices:
2012: £ 6,495
2013: £ tbc

Single supps.*:
2012: £ 945
2013: £ tbc
Deposit: £ 1000 per person

The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of return RAF flights Brize Norton-Mount Pleasant, internal flights, full board accommodation, ground transport, incidental tips, and the services of the leader.

The price excludes travel insurance, optional tips to local drivers and guides, drinks and other personal expenses.

*subject to availability

These trips will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays

the Falkland Islands map



Provisional Itinerary
Please note that this itinerary may change according to flight schedules.
Day 1 We take a late evening departure from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.
Days 2-3 We arrive early afternoon at Mount Pleasant Airport - with luck a Typhoon jet escort will accompany us for the last hour. We drive to our hotel in Darwin where we'll be welcomed by our host Sheena Ross. Two nights Darwin
Days 4-6 We take a FIGAS (Falkland Islands Government Air Service) flight in a 9-seater Islander aircraft to the superb and wildlife-rich Carcass Island. Three nights Carcass Island
Days 7-9 We fly to Pebble Island, West Falkland. Three nights Pebble Island
Days 10-11 We fly to Sea Lion Island, the most southerly inhabited island of the archipelago, just five miles long by one and a half miles wide, with a resident population of five. Sea Lion has the only purpose-built lodge on the Falkland Islands with all rooms en-suite. We will be greeted with 'smoko' - tea and cakes in the lounge - no doubt. Two nights Sea Lion Island Lodge
Days 12-13 We fly back to Stanley and check into our hotel with an afternoon boat trip to Kidney Island on which we 'chum' for seabirds.
The following day a three-hour Land Rover drive takes us to one of the biggest penguin colonies of the Falklands, at Volunteer Point. At this time of year the King Penguin chicks are just hatching. Two nights Stanley
Day 14 Early departure from Stanley to Mount Pleasant Airport to catch the mid-morning flight to UK, with a refuelling stop at Ascension Island, and arriving back at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire early on Day 15.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary