HIGHLIGHTS
Photography
Workshop
Sharpen
your photography skills in some of the planet’s most
picturesque places
Stanley
The
capital of the Falkland Islands and a common stop during our voyages in
this area
Carcass
Island
Contrary
to what its name may suggest, Carcass Island is a lively place for
viewing breeding Magellanic and gentoo penguins
Grytviken
An
impressive remnant of early 20th-century whaling, Grytviken is a
well-preserved former station abandoned by Norwegian hunters after they
had exhausted the local whale population
Salisbury
Plain
Known
for its colossal king penguin colony, Salisbury Plain is a longstanding
favorite in our South Georgia expeditions
Elephant
Island
Named
both for its elephant-head shape and the seals that once populated its
shores, this icy-peaked island lies near the tip of the Antarctic
Peninsula
Gentoo
Penguin
These
hygienic divers are the only penguin species whose population is
currently increasing along the Antarctic Peninsula
King
Penguin
Second
in size only to the emperor penguin, these colorful divers look so
different than their own chicks that they were once thought to be a
different species
Magellanic
Penguin
These
timid feather-shedders are named after the famed Portuguese explorer
whose crew spotted them in 1520
Rockhopper
Penguin
One
moment these golden-haired divers are sleeping on the water, the next
they can be swimming so fast they launch themselves ashore onto their
bellies
Weddell
Seal
Named
after the British navigator and sailor James Weddell, these extensively
studied seals live farther south than any other mammal
Black-browed
Albatross
So
efficient in the air that their in-flight heart rate barely rises above
resting, these sub-Antarctic birds pack a stomach full of oil they can
spit at would-be attackers
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Quadruple Porthole | Triple Porthole | Twin Porthole | Twin Window | Twin Deluxe | Superior | Junior Suite | Grand Suite |
|---|
| Oct 28, 2025 | Nov 17, 2025 | 14,350 | 16,100 | 17,600 | 18,350 | 19,950 | 21,450 | 22,700 | 26,150 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Quadruple Porthole | (Mid-range)
Twin Deluxe | (High-end)
Grand Suite |
|---|
| Oct 28, 2025 | Nov 17, 2025 | 14,350 | 19,950 | 26,150 |
ITINERARY
Day 1: Sandy Argentine beaches
You embark from Puerto Madryn in the afternoon, your prow aimed for the
Falkland Islands. Golfo Nuevo is renowned for its visiting southern
right whales, so you have a good chance of spotting one as you sail
toward the open ocean.
Day 2 – 3: Sea
life, sea birds
Though you’re now at sea, there’s rarely a lonesome
moment here. Several species of bird follow the vessel southeast, such
as albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels.
Day 4: Finding the
Falklands
The Falkland Islands offer an abundance of wildlife that is easily
approachable, though caution is always advised. These islands are
largely unknown gems, the site of a 1982 war between the UK and
Argentina. Not only do various species of bird live here, but chances
are great you’ll see both Peale’s dolphins and
Commerson’s dolphins in the surrounding waters.
During this segment of
the voyage, you may visit the following sites:
Steeple Jason – Home to the world’s largest
black-browed albatross colony (roughly 113,000), Steeple Jason is a
wild and rarely visited island buffeted by wind and waves. Weather and
swell conditions dictate the journey here.
Carcass Island – Despite its name, this island is pleasantly
rodent-free and hence bounteous with birdlife and many endemic species.
Anything from breeding Magellanic penguins and gentoos to numerous
waders and passerine birds (including Cobb’s wrens and
tussock-birds) live here.
Saunders Island – On Saunders Island you can see the
black-browed albatross and its sometimes-clumsy landings, along with
breeding imperial shags and rockhopper penguins. King penguins,
Magellanic penguins, and gentoos are also found here.
Day 5: The seat of
Falklands culture
The capital of the Falklands and center of its culture, Port Stanley
has some Victorian-era charm: colorful houses, well-tended gardens, and
English-style pubs are all to be found here. You can also see several
century-old clipper ships nearby, silent witnesses to the hardships of
19th century sailors. The small but interesting museum is also worth a
visit, covering the early days of settlement up to the Falklands War.
Approximately 2,100 people live in Port Stanley. Admission to the
museum is included.
Day 6 – 7: Once
more to the sea
En route to South Georgia, you now cross the Antarctic Convergence. The
temperature cools considerably within the space of a few hours, and
nutritious water rises to the surface of the sea due to colliding water
columns. This phenomenon attracts a multitude of seabirds near the
ship, including several species of albatross, shearwaters, petrels,
prions, and skuas.
Day 8 – 11:
South Georgia journey
Today you arrive at the first South Georgia activity site. Please keep
in mind that weather conditions in this area can be challenging,
largely dictating the program.
Sites you might visit
include:
Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour – These sites
not only house the three largest king penguin colonies in South
Georgia, they’re also three of the world’s largest
breeding beaches for southern elephant seals. Only during this time of
year do they peak in their breeding cycle. Watch the four-ton bulls
keep a constant vigil (and occasionally fight) over territories where
dozens of females have just given birth or are about to deliver. You
can also see a substantial number of Antarctic fur seals here during
the breeding season (December – January).
Fortuna Bay – A beautiful outwash plain from Fortuna Glacier
is home to a large number of king penguins and seals. Here you may also
have the chance to follow the final leg of Shackleton’s route
to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness. This path cuts across
the mountain pass beyond Shackleton’s Waterfall, and as the
terrain is partly swampy, be prepared to cross a few small streams.
Grytviken – In this abandoned whaling station, king penguins
walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place
– because they basically do. Here you might be able to see
the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave.
In the afternoon of day 11 and depending on the conditions, we will
start sailing southwards in the direction of the South Orkney Islands.
Day 12: Southward bound
There may be sea ice on this route, and at the edge of the ice some
south polar skuas and snow petrels could join the other seabirds
trailing the vessel south.
Day 13: The scenic vistas
of South Orkney
Depending on the conditions, you might visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine
scientific station on Laurie Island in the South Orkney archipelago.
The personnel here will happily show you their facility, where you can
enjoy expansive views of the surrounding glaciers. If a visit
isn’t possible, you may instead land at Signy
Island’s Shingle Cove.
Day 14 - 15: Entering the
Antarctic
Enormous icebergs and a fair chance of fin whale sightings ensure
there’s never a dull moment on this last sea voyage south.
Also, your best chance to spot Antarctic petrels is here. Depending on
conditions, we aim to begin activities the afternoon of day 15.
Day 16 – 18:
Awe-inspiring Antarctica
If the ice conditions permit, you now sail into the Weddell Sea. Here
colossal tabular icebergs herald your arrival to the eastern side of
the Antarctic Peninsula. Paulet Island, with its large population of
Adélie penguins, is a possible stop. You might also visit
Brown Bluff, located in the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound, where you
could get the chance to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself.
If conditions aren’t favorable to enter the Weddell Sea from
the east, the ship will set course for Elephant Island and head into
the Bransfield Strait, between the South Shetland Island's and the
Antarctic Peninsula.
The volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often
cloaked in mist, but they nonetheless offer many subtle pleasures. A
wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and fauna
(gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels) live here.
On Half Moon Island, Chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul
out onto the beach near Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific
research station.
On Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune’s
Bellows and into the flooded caldera. Here you can find an abandoned
whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels. A number of kelp gulls,
brown skuas, south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns can be spotted too.
Wilson’s storm petrels and black-bellied storm petrels also
nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. As an
alternative, you can take part in activities near Telefon Bay, further
inside the caldera.
This extended voyage gives you the chance to sail even farther down the
icy coast of the western Antarctic Peninsula. There are several
opportunities for great landings where you might set foot on the
Antarctic Continent, surrounded by an epic landscape of alpine peaks
and mammoth glaciers calving at sea level. Gentoo penguins, leopard
seals, Weddell seals, humpback whales, and minke whales are often seen
here.
The breathtaking scenery continues in the Bransfield Straight and, if
conditions allow further South in the Gerlache Strait. Conditions on
the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
Day 19 – 20:
Familiar seas, familiar friends
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake,
you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered
from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you
now, and you to them.
Day 21: Earth’s
southernmost city
You arrive and disembark in Ushuaia, commonly held to be the
world’s most southern city. It is located on the Tierra del
Fuego archipelago, nicknamed the “End of the
World.” But despite this stopping point, the wealth of
memories you’ve made on your Antarctic expedition will travel
with you wherever your next adventure lies.
Hondius (Expedition, 170-guests)
MV Hondius offers luxury accommodation for up to 180 passengers. The ship has a luxury standard while Oceanwide's signature cozy and informal atmosphere. Hondius the strongest ice-strengthened vessel will be in the polar regions and will be equipped with stabilizers, and great trips for advanced, innovative exploratory quality in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Voyage
aboard the indicated vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea.
- All
shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
- Program
of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff.
- Free
use of rubber boots and snowshoes.
- Luggage
transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in
Ushuaia.
- Pre-scheduled
group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly
after disembarkation).
- All
miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure material.
- Free 1.5 GB of daily Wifi
Excluded
from this voyage
- Any
airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights.
- Pre-
and post- land arrangements.
- Passport
and visa expenses.
- Government
arrival and departure taxes.
- Meals
ashore.
- Baggage,
cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
- Excess
baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry,
bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
- The
customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other
service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
