EXPEDITION CRUISE
The Ultimate South Georgia, Falklands & Antarctic Peninsula Cruise
CRUISE ID # HERITAGEHD261119
Ushuaia TO Ushuaia
Join expedition cruise pioneers Heritage Expeditions as we return to the Antarctic Peninsula on the ultimate Antarctic Peninsula Cruise. Explore the iconic wildlife havens of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island before discovering the wild, pristine beauty of Antarctica. Across 22 days, you will be transported to a world like no other, exploring some of the most isolated and breathtaking landscapes on Earth, where wildlife thrives and history abounds. This is widely considered one of the best South Georgia Antarctica cruises available. (Note: 2026 voyage is 21 days with 5 days in Antarctica)Travelling with Heritage Expeditions you will benefit from our more than 35 years of experience exploring Antarctica and the world's most experienced Southern Ocean operators. Travel is aboard the ice-strengthened Heritage Discoverer, crewed by some of the world's most experienced officers and sailors, and supported by an industry-leading, passionate and knowledgeable expedition team. Your adventure begins in the world's southernmost city, Ushuaia, known as the 'end of the world'. Wave goodbye to the rugged beauty of Patagonia as we head to the Falkland Islands, a region rich in both wildlife and history. The perfect start to our Falkland Islands Antarctica cruise. Home to five penguin species — Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic, King and Macaroni — and the world's largest Black-browed Albatross colony, the Falkland Islands also witnessed a conflict of sovereignty between Argentina and the United Kingdom. During our time here, we will immerse ourselves in both the abundant biodiversity and colourful history and a definitive Falkland Islands penguin cruise experience. Next, we have four days to explore the Subantarctic oasis of South Georgia Island, location of one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet. A true South Georgia expedition cruise highlight. Among the rugged, snow-capped mountains, wildlife numbers are unparalleled, with over one million King Penguins, millions of South American Fur Seals, Southern Elephant Seals, and tens of millions of seabirds calling this small island home. One of the best South Georgia king penguin cruise experiences anywhere. We also plan to pay our respects at the grave of legendary Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton at Grytviken and discover the century-old ruins of a once-thriving whaling industry. A moving Grytviken Shackleton cruise moment, and the definitive Shackleton grave South Georgia tour stop. As we cross the Antarctic Convergence, expect to see an increase in whale activity along with a wealth of birdlife feeding in these nutrient-rich waters. Arriving in the frozen continent, we will have five days each with more than 20-hours of daylight to maximise our time here as we explore the surreal, unrestrained beauty of Antarctica. With so much to see and do, our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season when wildlife is at its most active. Our adventure includes iconic highlights, penguin rookeries, towering glaciers and secluded beaches, all while being dwarfed by nature, surrounded by diverse wildlife and following in the footsteps of heroic explorers. There are many ways to explore this otherworldly paradise, and we will make full use of our time here, with daily landings, hikes, Zodiac excursions and ship cruises all possible. Gaze in awe at glaciers, icebergs and towering peaks in constantly changing light, ideal for photographers wanting to capture the beauty of this expansive region, or for those wishing to soak it all in from the deck, observation lounge and your stateroom or suite during the long hours of daylight. A dream itinerary for any Antarctica photography expedition cruise. Crossing the legendary Drake Passage on your journey home cements your place among the mariners who have navigated these famous waters. Join Heritage Expeditions on The Ultimate Antarctic Peninsula Cruise and experience the raw beauty, remarkable wildlife and timeless history exploring the wild and remote reaches of the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans. This voyage includes the option to join sea kayaking excursions with an expert guide. Kayaking around the Falklands, South Georgia and Peninsula Antarctica offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a wide array of habitats to explore beyond the reach of our Zodiacs. A rare opportunity for a small ship South Georgia cruise with hands-on kayaking included
TRIP STARTS ON
November 18, 2026
SHIP SAILS ON
November 19, 2026
HOTEL NIGHTS
Pre-Cruise: 1, Post-Cruise: 0
SHIP
Heritage Discoverer
TRIP ENDS ON
December 10, 2026
STOPS
22 Stops, 4 Countries
CRUISE NIGHTS
21
OPERATOR
Heritage Expeditions
FROM:
$23,300
WITH SPECIAL SAVINGS APPLIED
FARES SHOWN ARE PER GUEST
Suites & Fares
CHOOSE START DATE
: November 19, 2026
STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED DEAL
Cruise Fare
View Suites
Itinerary
22 Ports
4 Countries
Day
One
Arrival
November 18, 2026
Port
Pre-Cruise Night
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).
Day
Four
Arrival
November 21, 2026
Port
Day at Sea
We have two days to explore the pristine wilderness of the Falkland Islands as we navigate East and West Falkland Islands and their remote satellite islands. This stunning landscape spanning more than 700 islands, quiet villages, white sandy beaches, spectacular towering cliffs and grassy fields of wildflowers is a birder's paradise and home to five species of penguin - Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic, King and Macaroni– and the world's largest Black-browed Albatross colony. We will also look be looking for the endemic flightless Falkland Steamer Duck and, if lucky, the elusive Cobb's Wren among Black-Crowned Night Herons, Long-Tailed Meadowlarks, Two-banded Plovers, and Upland and Kelp Geese, making this a cornerstone of any Falkland Islands cruises itinerary. Our adventures may see us stretching our legs on Carcass Island where Southern Sea Lions, South American Fur Seals and Southern Elephant Seals can be found lazing on the beaches and among the tussac grass. If weather conditions are favourable, we hope to explore Steeple Jason Island where some 200,000-plus breeding pairs of Black-browed Albatross, 70% of the world's population, are joined by Rockhopper and Gentoo Penguins, and attract the largest numbers of predatory Striated Caracara and Falkland Skua in the region. The flora also punches above its weight here with some 417 different plant species found across the Falkland Islands including the Dog Orchid and Vanilla Daisy. History buffs will look forward to exploring colourful British outpost and Falklands capital the 'city' of Stanley where nature preserves meet maritime exploration, hilltop memorials to the 1982 Falklands War, the Jubilee Villas and the opportunity to enjoy a pint with the friendly locals.
We have two days to explore the pristine wilderness of the Falkland Islands as we navigate East and West Falkland Islands and their remote satellite islands. This stunning landscape spanning more than 700 islands, quiet villages, white sandy beaches, spectacular towering cliffs and grassy fields of wildflowers is a birder's paradise and home to five species of penguin - Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic, King and Macaroni– and the world's largest Black-browed Albatross colony. We will also look be looking for the endemic flightless Falkland Steamer Duck and, if lucky, the elusive Cobb's Wren among Black-Crowned Night Herons, Long-Tailed Meadowlarks, Two-banded Plovers, and Upland and Kelp Geese, making this a cornerstone of any Falkland Islands cruises itinerary. Our adventures may see us stretching our legs on Carcass Island where Southern Sea Lions, South American Fur Seals and Southern Elephant Seals can be found lazing on the beaches and among the tussac grass. If weather conditions are favourable, we hope to explore Steeple Jason Island where some 200,000-plus breeding pairs of Black-browed Albatross, 70% of the world's population, are joined by Rockhopper and Gentoo Penguins, and attract the largest numbers of predatory Striated Caracara and Falkland Skua in the region. The flora also punches above its weight here with some 417 different plant species found across the Falkland Islands including the Dog Orchid and Vanilla Daisy. History buffs will look forward to exploring colourful British outpost and Falklands capital the 'city' of Stanley where nature preserves meet maritime exploration, hilltop memorials to the 1982 Falklands War, the Jubilee Villas and the opportunity to enjoy a pint with the friendly locals.
Day
Seven
Arrival
November 24, 2026
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Eight
Arrival
November 25, 2026
Port
Day at Sea
We have 4 days and a flexible itinerary to explore the astounding wildlife sanctuary that is South Georgia, also known as the 'Serengeti of the Southern Ocean' – for reasons which will quickly become apparent. Here, among the rugged, unrestrained beauty of towering, ice-capped mountains, glaciers, endless beaches, grasses and the clear emerald water of this British Overseas Territory resides one of the world's wildlife hot spots. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the start of breeding season, when it is believed South Georgia has more wildlife per square metre than anywhere else on Earth, a defining stretch of any South Georgia cruise’s itinerary. The sheer spectacle and numbers are mind-boggling: more than 60 million seabirds (including White-chinned Petrel, Diving Petrel and 50 million Antarctic Prion), 1 million King Penguins (the world's largest population), 3.5 million Antarctic Fur Seals (more than 95% of the world's population) and 400,00-plus Southern Elephant Seals (half the worlds' population). Other wildlife to look out for with our guides include Macaroni, and Gentoo Penguins; Wandering, Black-browed, Grey-headed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross; South Georgia Shag, South Georgia Pipit, Pintail Duck, Weddell Seals and, occasionally, Leopard Seals. While Humpback, Blue and Southern Right Whales are also known to visit these waters. High on our agenda are visits to Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour, where the chaos of thousands of King Penguins blanketing these shores offers some of the world's best birding. Despite the abundance of wildlife, Antarctic Fur Seals were once hunted to almost extinction for their fur in the early 19th Century, and the settlement of Grytviken was once a productive whaling centre. Although the historic whaling station is still a feature, Grytviken's legacy is now the final resting place of heroic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, where we plan to pay our respects. Like the Subantarctic Islands below New Zealand and Australia, South Georgia was also an important stopover during heroic-era Antarctic expeditions, and we look forward to sharing this history with you.
We have 4 days and a flexible itinerary to explore the astounding wildlife sanctuary that is South Georgia, also known as the 'Serengeti of the Southern Ocean' – for reasons which will quickly become apparent. Here, among the rugged, unrestrained beauty of towering, ice-capped mountains, glaciers, endless beaches, grasses and the clear emerald water of this British Overseas Territory resides one of the world's wildlife hot spots. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the start of breeding season, when it is believed South Georgia has more wildlife per square metre than anywhere else on Earth, a defining stretch of any South Georgia cruise’s itinerary. The sheer spectacle and numbers are mind-boggling: more than 60 million seabirds (including White-chinned Petrel, Diving Petrel and 50 million Antarctic Prion), 1 million King Penguins (the world's largest population), 3.5 million Antarctic Fur Seals (more than 95% of the world's population) and 400,00-plus Southern Elephant Seals (half the worlds' population). Other wildlife to look out for with our guides include Macaroni, and Gentoo Penguins; Wandering, Black-browed, Grey-headed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross; South Georgia Shag, South Georgia Pipit, Pintail Duck, Weddell Seals and, occasionally, Leopard Seals. While Humpback, Blue and Southern Right Whales are also known to visit these waters. High on our agenda are visits to Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour, where the chaos of thousands of King Penguins blanketing these shores offers some of the world's best birding. Despite the abundance of wildlife, Antarctic Fur Seals were once hunted to almost extinction for their fur in the early 19th Century, and the settlement of Grytviken was once a productive whaling centre. Although the historic whaling station is still a feature, Grytviken's legacy is now the final resting place of heroic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, where we plan to pay our respects. Like the Subantarctic Islands below New Zealand and Australia, South Georgia was also an important stopover during heroic-era Antarctic expeditions, and we look forward to sharing this history with you.
We have 4 days and a flexible itinerary to explore the astounding wildlife sanctuary that is South Georgia, also known as the 'Serengeti of the Southern Ocean' – for reasons which will quickly become apparent. Here, among the rugged, unrestrained beauty of towering, ice-capped mountains, glaciers, endless beaches, grasses and the clear emerald water of this British Overseas Territory resides one of the world's wildlife hot spots. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the start of breeding season, when it is believed South Georgia has more wildlife per square metre than anywhere else on Earth, a defining stretch of any South Georgia cruise’s itinerary. The sheer spectacle and numbers are mind-boggling: more than 60 million seabirds (including White-chinned Petrel, Diving Petrel and 50 million Antarctic Prion), 1 million King Penguins (the world's largest population), 3.5 million Antarctic Fur Seals (more than 95% of the world's population) and 400,00-plus Southern Elephant Seals (half the worlds' population). Other wildlife to look out for with our guides include Macaroni, and Gentoo Penguins; Wandering, Black-browed, Grey-headed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross; South Georgia Shag, South Georgia Pipit, Pintail Duck, Weddell Seals and, occasionally, Leopard Seals. While Humpback, Blue and Southern Right Whales are also known to visit these waters. High on our agenda are visits to Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour, where the chaos of thousands of King Penguins blanketing these shores offers some of the world's best birding. Despite the abundance of wildlife, Antarctic Fur Seals were once hunted to almost extinction for their fur in the early 19th Century, and the settlement of Grytviken was once a productive whaling centre. Although the historic whaling station is still a feature, Grytviken's legacy is now the final resting place of heroic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, where we plan to pay our respects. Like the Subantarctic Islands below New Zealand and Australia, South Georgia was also an important stopover during heroic-era Antarctic expeditions, and we look forward to sharing this history with you.
We have 4 days and a flexible itinerary to explore the astounding wildlife sanctuary that is South Georgia, also known as the 'Serengeti of the Southern Ocean' – for reasons which will quickly become apparent. Here, among the rugged, unrestrained beauty of towering, ice-capped mountains, glaciers, endless beaches, grasses and the clear emerald water of this British Overseas Territory resides one of the world's wildlife hot spots. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the start of breeding season, when it is believed South Georgia has more wildlife per square metre than anywhere else on Earth, a defining stretch of any South Georgia cruise’s itinerary. The sheer spectacle and numbers are mind-boggling: more than 60 million seabirds (including White-chinned Petrel, Diving Petrel and 50 million Antarctic Prion), 1 million King Penguins (the world's largest population), 3.5 million Antarctic Fur Seals (more than 95% of the world's population) and 400,00-plus Southern Elephant Seals (half the worlds' population). Other wildlife to look out for with our guides include Macaroni, and Gentoo Penguins; Wandering, Black-browed, Grey-headed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross; South Georgia Shag, South Georgia Pipit, Pintail Duck, Weddell Seals and, occasionally, Leopard Seals. While Humpback, Blue and Southern Right Whales are also known to visit these waters. High on our agenda are visits to Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbour, where the chaos of thousands of King Penguins blanketing these shores offers some of the world's best birding. Despite the abundance of wildlife, Antarctic Fur Seals were once hunted to almost extinction for their fur in the early 19th Century, and the settlement of Grytviken was once a productive whaling centre. Although the historic whaling station is still a feature, Grytviken's legacy is now the final resting place of heroic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, where we plan to pay our respects. Like the Subantarctic Islands below New Zealand and Australia, South Georgia was also an important stopover during heroic-era Antarctic expeditions, and we look forward to sharing this history with you.
Day
Thirteen
Arrival
November 30, 2026
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Fourteen
Arrival
December 01, 2026
Port
Day at Sea
Early season Antarctica is an especially magical time pairing long clear days with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular lighting. Even the most novice photographer can't help but take exceptional photos with the low hanging sun creating epic sunrises and sunsets, washing icebergs, ice, sea and sky in vivid colours. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season, when Antarctica's wildlife converges in full force and mating behaviours at chaotic penguin cities can be observed. Icebergs, frequently clad with Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, are also at their most captivating. Landings here are frequent, maximising the long daylight hours and the opportunities they present, eventful, occasionally unexpected and always exciting. We have 6 days (note 2026 voyage spends 5 days in Antarctica), each with more than 20-hours of daylight, to explore multiple historic and wildlife rich landing sites, hidden bays, quiet coves and walk on the ice and snow of the Seventh Continent. Prepare to be dwarfed by nature as we discover alien landscapes and elaborate icescapes of unimaginable beauty carved by wind and waves. Look for, and walk among Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins; Weddell, Leopard and Crabeater Seals; in the water Humpback and Minke Whales fill these important feeding grounds along with Orca. Birders can gaze skywards for Cape, Storm and Snow Petrels, our constant companions while in Antarctica, along with predatory Antarctic Skua and the curious, ground-dwelling Snowy Sheathbill – the only bird in Antarctica without webbed feet. While specific landings cannot be guaranteed, they could include the following, and many other exciting opportunities: Elephant Island It's hard to believe this hostile environment of mostly vertical rock and ice cliffs sustained 22 crew from Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition/Endurance Expedition for four-and-a-half months after their ship Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. Elephant Island, part of the South Shetland archipelago, is also the starting point of Shackleton's legendary rescue mission which would see him, and five of his crew, sailing the small lifeboat James Caird to South Georgia followed by a 36-hour hike to Stromness. Brown Bluff This scenic setting in the Antarctic Sound marries sheer stone walls, fallen boulders and ice-capped peaks is the location of a large, bustling Adélie Penguin rookery, where Gentoo Penguins and Snow Petrels can also be observed. Brown Bluff also offers exceptional views of the pink-tinged Madder Cliffs in Kinnes Cove. Whalers Bay, Deception Island Taking its name from a prolific whaling history and the island's 'hidden' entrance, Whalers Bay is a designated Historic Site tucked away in a small natural harbour used by sealers and then whalers from the 1820s. The buildings, structures and artefacts linked to these activities represent the most significant whaling remains in the Antarctic. It's also the location of a 'heated lagoon' and fascinating microclimate courtesy of volcanic activity with Antarctic Tern, Cape Petrel, Kelp Gull, Skua and Wilson's Storm Petrel all breeding here. Cierva Cove A visit to Cierva Cove is sure to be a highlight as you weave through this magnificent body of water navigating astounding calved icebergs and ice sculptures set to the soundtrack of pops and crackles as air bubbles trapped for millennia escape the brash ice surrounding your Zodiac. Cutting deep into the spine of the Antarctic Peninsula, if we are lucky, we may see huge slabs of ice sliding down the 1,300-metre mountain chain. Ten species of bird breed here including a Chinstrap Penguin colony, Humpback Whales are regular visitors and the plant life includes mosses (Drepanocladus uncinatus), turf (Polytrichum alpestre) and Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia Antarctica). Argentine research station Base Primavera is also located here. Petermann Island Petermann Island might be small, at just 1-kilometre long, but this volcanic outpost boasts some incredible features. More than half the island is covered by a permanent icecap and the island is both Antarctica's northernmost Adélie Penguin colony, and southernmost Gentoo colony. It's also the wintering site of renowned French Explorer Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot's second French Antarctic Expedition (1908–1910) aboard his aptly named ship Pourquoi-Pas? (Why Not?). Anchoring in a cove he named Port Circumcision, Charcot carried out extensive scientific, cartographic, and biological research and left behind a number of artifacts still visible today including the letters 'PP' engraved in stone. An Argentine refuge hut and commemorative cross signifying the deaths of three members of the British Antarctic Survey in 1982 can also be found on the island. Port Lockroy, Goudier Island Location of the famed Penguin Post Office, the world's southernmost post office, Port Lockroy's safe harbour in the Palmer Archipelago has attracted explorers, whalers, scientists, and sailors for more than a century. Featuring a young-ish (mid-80s established) Gentoo Colony, and historic sites and museum including Britain's Base A, part of a wartime mission code-named Operation Tabarin, all set among a backdrop of snowy mountain ranges and ice caps, a visit to the time capsule that is Port Lockroy never disappoints. Paradise Bay Once the anchorage site for whalers' floating factory ships, Paradise Bay is now considered one of Antarctic Peninsula's most stunning locations delivering the ultimate, unrestrained, iconic and pristine Antarctic wilderness experiences just north of the legendary Lemaire Channel. Going beyond otherworldly to other planetary, expect towering mountain peaks, ancient glaciers jutting out of steely blue water and shimmering icebergs the size of buildings floating on water so millpond calm (weather permitting) it perfectly mirrors this incredible scene. Whales, Gentoo Penguins and Crabeater Seals are all known to frequent these waters and both Argentina's Almirante Brown and Chile's González Videla research stations are located here. Cuverville Island Cuverville Island combines a stunning, ice-capped landscape where steep cliffs and a boulder-strewn beach meet Antarctic Peninsula's largest Gentoo Penguin population (home to some 14,000 birds), while its shallow bay features astounding monolithic grounded icebergs perfect for Zodiac exploration. With two-thirds of the island covered by a huge, pointed dome icecap and mostly steep surrounds, there is just one landing site where whaling artefacts, including whale bones and a whalers' dam, can still be found. There is also the opportunity to stretch your legs where a moderately challenging uphill hike rewards with a new perspective and jaw-slackening panoramic views over the Errera Channel and the surrounding glaciers.
Early season Antarctica is an especially magical time pairing long clear days with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular lighting. Even the most novice photographer can't help but take exceptional photos with the low hanging sun creating epic sunrises and sunsets, washing icebergs, ice, sea and sky in vivid colours. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season, when Antarctica's wildlife converges in full force and mating behaviours at chaotic penguin cities can be observed. Icebergs, frequently clad with Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, are also at their most captivating. Landings here are frequent, maximising the long daylight hours and the opportunities they present, eventful, occasionally unexpected and always exciting. We have 6 days (note 2026 voyage spends 5 days in Antarctica), each with more than 20-hours of daylight, to explore multiple historic and wildlife rich landing sites, hidden bays, quiet coves and walk on the ice and snow of the Seventh Continent. Prepare to be dwarfed by nature as we discover alien landscapes and elaborate icescapes of unimaginable beauty carved by wind and waves. Look for, and walk among Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins; Weddell, Leopard and Crabeater Seals; in the water Humpback and Minke Whales fill these important feeding grounds along with Orca. Birders can gaze skywards for Cape, Storm and Snow Petrels, our constant companions while in Antarctica, along with predatory Antarctic Skua and the curious, ground-dwelling Snowy Sheathbill – the only bird in Antarctica without webbed feet. While specific landings cannot be guaranteed, they could include the following, and many other exciting opportunities: Elephant Island It's hard to believe this hostile environment of mostly vertical rock and ice cliffs sustained 22 crew from Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition/Endurance Expedition for four-and-a-half months after their ship Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. Elephant Island, part of the South Shetland archipelago, is also the starting point of Shackleton's legendary rescue mission which would see him, and five of his crew, sailing the small lifeboat James Caird to South Georgia followed by a 36-hour hike to Stromness. Brown Bluff This scenic setting in the Antarctic Sound marries sheer stone walls, fallen boulders and ice-capped peaks is the location of a large, bustling Adélie Penguin rookery, where Gentoo Penguins and Snow Petrels can also be observed. Brown Bluff also offers exceptional views of the pink-tinged Madder Cliffs in Kinnes Cove. Whalers Bay, Deception Island Taking its name from a prolific whaling history and the island's 'hidden' entrance, Whalers Bay is a designated Historic Site tucked away in a small natural harbour used by sealers and then whalers from the 1820s. The buildings, structures and artefacts linked to these activities represent the most significant whaling remains in the Antarctic. It's also the location of a 'heated lagoon' and fascinating microclimate courtesy of volcanic activity with Antarctic Tern, Cape Petrel, Kelp Gull, Skua and Wilson's Storm Petrel all breeding here. Cierva Cove A visit to Cierva Cove is sure to be a highlight as you weave through this magnificent body of water navigating astounding calved icebergs and ice sculptures set to the soundtrack of pops and crackles as air bubbles trapped for millennia escape the brash ice surrounding your Zodiac. Cutting deep into the spine of the Antarctic Peninsula, if we are lucky, we may see huge slabs of ice sliding down the 1,300-metre mountain chain. Ten species of bird breed here including a Chinstrap Penguin colony, Humpback Whales are regular visitors and the plant life includes mosses (Drepanocladus uncinatus), turf (Polytrichum alpestre) and Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia Antarctica). Argentine research station Base Primavera is also located here. Petermann Island Petermann Island might be small, at just 1-kilometre long, but this volcanic outpost boasts some incredible features. More than half the island is covered by a permanent icecap and the island is both Antarctica's northernmost Adélie Penguin colony, and southernmost Gentoo colony. It's also the wintering site of renowned French Explorer Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot's second French Antarctic Expedition (1908–1910) aboard his aptly named ship Pourquoi-Pas? (Why Not?). Anchoring in a cove he named Port Circumcision, Charcot carried out extensive scientific, cartographic, and biological research and left behind a number of artifacts still visible today including the letters 'PP' engraved in stone. An Argentine refuge hut and commemorative cross signifying the deaths of three members of the British Antarctic Survey in 1982 can also be found on the island. Port Lockroy, Goudier Island Location of the famed Penguin Post Office, the world's southernmost post office, Port Lockroy's safe harbour in the Palmer Archipelago has attracted explorers, whalers, scientists, and sailors for more than a century. Featuring a young-ish (mid-80s established) Gentoo Colony, and historic sites and museum including Britain's Base A, part of a wartime mission code-named Operation Tabarin, all set among a backdrop of snowy mountain ranges and ice caps, a visit to the time capsule that is Port Lockroy never disappoints. Paradise Bay Once the anchorage site for whalers' floating factory ships, Paradise Bay is now considered one of Antarctic Peninsula's most stunning locations delivering the ultimate, unrestrained, iconic and pristine Antarctic wilderness experiences just north of the legendary Lemaire Channel. Going beyond otherworldly to other planetary, expect towering mountain peaks, ancient glaciers jutting out of steely blue water and shimmering icebergs the size of buildings floating on water so millpond calm (weather permitting) it perfectly mirrors this incredible scene. Whales, Gentoo Penguins and Crabeater Seals are all known to frequent these waters and both Argentina's Almirante Brown and Chile's González Videla research stations are located here. Cuverville Island Cuverville Island combines a stunning, ice-capped landscape where steep cliffs and a boulder-strewn beach meet Antarctic Peninsula's largest Gentoo Penguin population (home to some 14,000 birds), while its shallow bay features astounding monolithic grounded icebergs perfect for Zodiac exploration. With two-thirds of the island covered by a huge, pointed dome icecap and mostly steep surrounds, there is just one landing site where whaling artefacts, including whale bones and a whalers' dam, can still be found. There is also the opportunity to stretch your legs where a moderately challenging uphill hike rewards with a new perspective and jaw-slackening panoramic views over the Errera Channel and the surrounding glaciers.
Early season Antarctica is an especially magical time pairing long clear days with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular lighting. Even the most novice photographer can't help but take exceptional photos with the low hanging sun creating epic sunrises and sunsets, washing icebergs, ice, sea and sky in vivid colours. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season, when Antarctica's wildlife converges in full force and mating behaviours at chaotic penguin cities can be observed. Icebergs, frequently clad with Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, are also at their most captivating. Landings here are frequent, maximising the long daylight hours and the opportunities they present, eventful, occasionally unexpected and always exciting. We have 6 days (note 2026 voyage spends 5 days in Antarctica), each with more than 20-hours of daylight, to explore multiple historic and wildlife rich landing sites, hidden bays, quiet coves and walk on the ice and snow of the Seventh Continent. Prepare to be dwarfed by nature as we discover alien landscapes and elaborate icescapes of unimaginable beauty carved by wind and waves. Look for, and walk among Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins; Weddell, Leopard and Crabeater Seals; in the water Humpback and Minke Whales fill these important feeding grounds along with Orca. Birders can gaze skywards for Cape, Storm and Snow Petrels, our constant companions while in Antarctica, along with predatory Antarctic Skua and the curious, ground-dwelling Snowy Sheathbill – the only bird in Antarctica without webbed feet. While specific landings cannot be guaranteed, they could include the following, and many other exciting opportunities: Elephant Island It's hard to believe this hostile environment of mostly vertical rock and ice cliffs sustained 22 crew from Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition/Endurance Expedition for four-and-a-half months after their ship Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. Elephant Island, part of the South Shetland archipelago, is also the starting point of Shackleton's legendary rescue mission which would see him, and five of his crew, sailing the small lifeboat James Caird to South Georgia followed by a 36-hour hike to Stromness. Brown Bluff This scenic setting in the Antarctic Sound marries sheer stone walls, fallen boulders and ice-capped peaks is the location of a large, bustling Adélie Penguin rookery, where Gentoo Penguins and Snow Petrels can also be observed. Brown Bluff also offers exceptional views of the pink-tinged Madder Cliffs in Kinnes Cove. Whalers Bay, Deception Island Taking its name from a prolific whaling history and the island's 'hidden' entrance, Whalers Bay is a designated Historic Site tucked away in a small natural harbour used by sealers and then whalers from the 1820s. The buildings, structures and artefacts linked to these activities represent the most significant whaling remains in the Antarctic. It's also the location of a 'heated lagoon' and fascinating microclimate courtesy of volcanic activity with Antarctic Tern, Cape Petrel, Kelp Gull, Skua and Wilson's Storm Petrel all breeding here. Cierva Cove A visit to Cierva Cove is sure to be a highlight as you weave through this magnificent body of water navigating astounding calved icebergs and ice sculptures set to the soundtrack of pops and crackles as air bubbles trapped for millennia escape the brash ice surrounding your Zodiac. Cutting deep into the spine of the Antarctic Peninsula, if we are lucky, we may see huge slabs of ice sliding down the 1,300-metre mountain chain. Ten species of bird breed here including a Chinstrap Penguin colony, Humpback Whales are regular visitors and the plant life includes mosses (Drepanocladus uncinatus), turf (Polytrichum alpestre) and Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia Antarctica). Argentine research station Base Primavera is also located here. Petermann Island Petermann Island might be small, at just 1-kilometre long, but this volcanic outpost boasts some incredible features. More than half the island is covered by a permanent icecap and the island is both Antarctica's northernmost Adélie Penguin colony, and southernmost Gentoo colony. It's also the wintering site of renowned French Explorer Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot's second French Antarctic Expedition (1908–1910) aboard his aptly named ship Pourquoi-Pas? (Why Not?). Anchoring in a cove he named Port Circumcision, Charcot carried out extensive scientific, cartographic, and biological research and left behind a number of artifacts still visible today including the letters 'PP' engraved in stone. An Argentine refuge hut and commemorative cross signifying the deaths of three members of the British Antarctic Survey in 1982 can also be found on the island. Port Lockroy, Goudier Island Location of the famed Penguin Post Office, the world's southernmost post office, Port Lockroy's safe harbour in the Palmer Archipelago has attracted explorers, whalers, scientists, and sailors for more than a century. Featuring a young-ish (mid-80s established) Gentoo Colony, and historic sites and museum including Britain's Base A, part of a wartime mission code-named Operation Tabarin, all set among a backdrop of snowy mountain ranges and ice caps, a visit to the time capsule that is Port Lockroy never disappoints. Paradise Bay Once the anchorage site for whalers' floating factory ships, Paradise Bay is now considered one of Antarctic Peninsula's most stunning locations delivering the ultimate, unrestrained, iconic and pristine Antarctic wilderness experiences just north of the legendary Lemaire Channel. Going beyond otherworldly to other planetary, expect towering mountain peaks, ancient glaciers jutting out of steely blue water and shimmering icebergs the size of buildings floating on water so millpond calm (weather permitting) it perfectly mirrors this incredible scene. Whales, Gentoo Penguins and Crabeater Seals are all known to frequent these waters and both Argentina's Almirante Brown and Chile's González Videla research stations are located here. Cuverville Island Cuverville Island combines a stunning, ice-capped landscape where steep cliffs and a boulder-strewn beach meet Antarctic Peninsula's largest Gentoo Penguin population (home to some 14,000 birds), while its shallow bay features astounding monolithic grounded icebergs perfect for Zodiac exploration. With two-thirds of the island covered by a huge, pointed dome icecap and mostly steep surrounds, there is just one landing site where whaling artefacts, including whale bones and a whalers' dam, can still be found. There is also the opportunity to stretch your legs where a moderately challenging uphill hike rewards with a new perspective and jaw-slackening panoramic views over the Errera Channel and the surrounding glaciers.
Early season Antarctica is an especially magical time pairing long clear days with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular lighting. Even the most novice photographer can't help but take exceptional photos with the low hanging sun creating epic sunrises and sunsets, washing icebergs, ice, sea and sky in vivid colours. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season, when Antarctica's wildlife converges in full force and mating behaviours at chaotic penguin cities can be observed. Icebergs, frequently clad with Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, are also at their most captivating. Landings here are frequent, maximising the long daylight hours and the opportunities they present, eventful, occasionally unexpected and always exciting. We have 6 days (note 2026 voyage spends 5 days in Antarctica), each with more than 20-hours of daylight, to explore multiple historic and wildlife rich landing sites, hidden bays, quiet coves and walk on the ice and snow of the Seventh Continent. Prepare to be dwarfed by nature as we discover alien landscapes and elaborate icescapes of unimaginable beauty carved by wind and waves. Look for, and walk among Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins; Weddell, Leopard and Crabeater Seals; in the water Humpback and Minke Whales fill these important feeding grounds along with Orca. Birders can gaze skywards for Cape, Storm and Snow Petrels, our constant companions while in Antarctica, along with predatory Antarctic Skua and the curious, ground-dwelling Snowy Sheathbill – the only bird in Antarctica without webbed feet. While specific landings cannot be guaranteed, they could include the following, and many other exciting opportunities: Elephant Island It's hard to believe this hostile environment of mostly vertical rock and ice cliffs sustained 22 crew from Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition/Endurance Expedition for four-and-a-half months after their ship Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. Elephant Island, part of the South Shetland archipelago, is also the starting point of Shackleton's legendary rescue mission which would see him, and five of his crew, sailing the small lifeboat James Caird to South Georgia followed by a 36-hour hike to Stromness. Brown Bluff This scenic setting in the Antarctic Sound marries sheer stone walls, fallen boulders and ice-capped peaks is the location of a large, bustling Adélie Penguin rookery, where Gentoo Penguins and Snow Petrels can also be observed. Brown Bluff also offers exceptional views of the pink-tinged Madder Cliffs in Kinnes Cove. Whalers Bay, Deception Island Taking its name from a prolific whaling history and the island's 'hidden' entrance, Whalers Bay is a designated Historic Site tucked away in a small natural harbour used by sealers and then whalers from the 1820s. The buildings, structures and artefacts linked to these activities represent the most significant whaling remains in the Antarctic. It's also the location of a 'heated lagoon' and fascinating microclimate courtesy of volcanic activity with Antarctic Tern, Cape Petrel, Kelp Gull, Skua and Wilson's Storm Petrel all breeding here. Cierva Cove A visit to Cierva Cove is sure to be a highlight as you weave through this magnificent body of water navigating astounding calved icebergs and ice sculptures set to the soundtrack of pops and crackles as air bubbles trapped for millennia escape the brash ice surrounding your Zodiac. Cutting deep into the spine of the Antarctic Peninsula, if we are lucky, we may see huge slabs of ice sliding down the 1,300-metre mountain chain. Ten species of bird breed here including a Chinstrap Penguin colony, Humpback Whales are regular visitors and the plant life includes mosses (Drepanocladus uncinatus), turf (Polytrichum alpestre) and Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia Antarctica). Argentine research station Base Primavera is also located here. Petermann Island Petermann Island might be small, at just 1-kilometre long, but this volcanic outpost boasts some incredible features. More than half the island is covered by a permanent icecap and the island is both Antarctica's northernmost Adélie Penguin colony, and southernmost Gentoo colony. It's also the wintering site of renowned French Explorer Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot's second French Antarctic Expedition (1908–1910) aboard his aptly named ship Pourquoi-Pas? (Why Not?). Anchoring in a cove he named Port Circumcision, Charcot carried out extensive scientific, cartographic, and biological research and left behind a number of artifacts still visible today including the letters 'PP' engraved in stone. An Argentine refuge hut and commemorative cross signifying the deaths of three members of the British Antarctic Survey in 1982 can also be found on the island. Port Lockroy, Goudier Island Location of the famed Penguin Post Office, the world's southernmost post office, Port Lockroy's safe harbour in the Palmer Archipelago has attracted explorers, whalers, scientists, and sailors for more than a century. Featuring a young-ish (mid-80s established) Gentoo Colony, and historic sites and museum including Britain's Base A, part of a wartime mission code-named Operation Tabarin, all set among a backdrop of snowy mountain ranges and ice caps, a visit to the time capsule that is Port Lockroy never disappoints. Paradise Bay Once the anchorage site for whalers' floating factory ships, Paradise Bay is now considered one of Antarctic Peninsula's most stunning locations delivering the ultimate, unrestrained, iconic and pristine Antarctic wilderness experiences just north of the legendary Lemaire Channel. Going beyond otherworldly to other planetary, expect towering mountain peaks, ancient glaciers jutting out of steely blue water and shimmering icebergs the size of buildings floating on water so millpond calm (weather permitting) it perfectly mirrors this incredible scene. Whales, Gentoo Penguins and Crabeater Seals are all known to frequent these waters and both Argentina's Almirante Brown and Chile's González Videla research stations are located here. Cuverville Island Cuverville Island combines a stunning, ice-capped landscape where steep cliffs and a boulder-strewn beach meet Antarctic Peninsula's largest Gentoo Penguin population (home to some 14,000 birds), while its shallow bay features astounding monolithic grounded icebergs perfect for Zodiac exploration. With two-thirds of the island covered by a huge, pointed dome icecap and mostly steep surrounds, there is just one landing site where whaling artefacts, including whale bones and a whalers' dam, can still be found. There is also the opportunity to stretch your legs where a moderately challenging uphill hike rewards with a new perspective and jaw-slackening panoramic views over the Errera Channel and the surrounding glaciers.
Early season Antarctica is an especially magical time pairing long clear days with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular lighting. Even the most novice photographer can't help but take exceptional photos with the low hanging sun creating epic sunrises and sunsets, washing icebergs, ice, sea and sky in vivid colours. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season, when Antarctica's wildlife converges in full force and mating behaviours at chaotic penguin cities can be observed. Icebergs, frequently clad with Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, are also at their most captivating. Landings here are frequent, maximising the long daylight hours and the opportunities they present, eventful, occasionally unexpected and always exciting. We have 6 days (note 2026 voyage spends 5 days in Antarctica), each with more than 20-hours of daylight, to explore multiple historic and wildlife rich landing sites, hidden bays, quiet coves and walk on the ice and snow of the Seventh Continent. Prepare to be dwarfed by nature as we discover alien landscapes and elaborate icescapes of unimaginable beauty carved by wind and waves. Look for, and walk among Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins; Weddell, Leopard and Crabeater Seals; in the water Humpback and Minke Whales fill these important feeding grounds along with Orca. Birders can gaze skywards for Cape, Storm and Snow Petrels, our constant companions while in Antarctica, along with predatory Antarctic Skua and the curious, ground-dwelling Snowy Sheathbill – the only bird in Antarctica without webbed feet. While specific landings cannot be guaranteed, they could include the following, and many other exciting opportunities: Elephant Island It's hard to believe this hostile environment of mostly vertical rock and ice cliffs sustained 22 crew from Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition/Endurance Expedition for four-and-a-half months after their ship Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. Elephant Island, part of the South Shetland archipelago, is also the starting point of Shackleton's legendary rescue mission which would see him, and five of his crew, sailing the small lifeboat James Caird to South Georgia followed by a 36-hour hike to Stromness. Brown Bluff This scenic setting in the Antarctic Sound marries sheer stone walls, fallen boulders and ice-capped peaks is the location of a large, bustling Adélie Penguin rookery, where Gentoo Penguins and Snow Petrels can also be observed. Brown Bluff also offers exceptional views of the pink-tinged Madder Cliffs in Kinnes Cove. Whalers Bay, Deception Island Taking its name from a prolific whaling history and the island's 'hidden' entrance, Whalers Bay is a designated Historic Site tucked away in a small natural harbour used by sealers and then whalers from the 1820s. The buildings, structures and artefacts linked to these activities represent the most significant whaling remains in the Antarctic. It's also the location of a 'heated lagoon' and fascinating microclimate courtesy of volcanic activity with Antarctic Tern, Cape Petrel, Kelp Gull, Skua and Wilson's Storm Petrel all breeding here. Cierva Cove A visit to Cierva Cove is sure to be a highlight as you weave through this magnificent body of water navigating astounding calved icebergs and ice sculptures set to the soundtrack of pops and crackles as air bubbles trapped for millennia escape the brash ice surrounding your Zodiac. Cutting deep into the spine of the Antarctic Peninsula, if we are lucky, we may see huge slabs of ice sliding down the 1,300-metre mountain chain. Ten species of bird breed here including a Chinstrap Penguin colony, Humpback Whales are regular visitors and the plant life includes mosses (Drepanocladus uncinatus), turf (Polytrichum alpestre) and Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia Antarctica). Argentine research station Base Primavera is also located here. Petermann Island Petermann Island might be small, at just 1-kilometre long, but this volcanic outpost boasts some incredible features. More than half the island is covered by a permanent icecap and the island is both Antarctica's northernmost Adélie Penguin colony, and southernmost Gentoo colony. It's also the wintering site of renowned French Explorer Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot's second French Antarctic Expedition (1908–1910) aboard his aptly named ship Pourquoi-Pas? (Why Not?). Anchoring in a cove he named Port Circumcision, Charcot carried out extensive scientific, cartographic, and biological research and left behind a number of artifacts still visible today including the letters 'PP' engraved in stone. An Argentine refuge hut and commemorative cross signifying the deaths of three members of the British Antarctic Survey in 1982 can also be found on the island. Port Lockroy, Goudier Island Location of the famed Penguin Post Office, the world's southernmost post office, Port Lockroy's safe harbour in the Palmer Archipelago has attracted explorers, whalers, scientists, and sailors for more than a century. Featuring a young-ish (mid-80s established) Gentoo Colony, and historic sites and museum including Britain's Base A, part of a wartime mission code-named Operation Tabarin, all set among a backdrop of snowy mountain ranges and ice caps, a visit to the time capsule that is Port Lockroy never disappoints. Paradise Bay Once the anchorage site for whalers' floating factory ships, Paradise Bay is now considered one of Antarctic Peninsula's most stunning locations delivering the ultimate, unrestrained, iconic and pristine Antarctic wilderness experiences just north of the legendary Lemaire Channel. Going beyond otherworldly to other planetary, expect towering mountain peaks, ancient glaciers jutting out of steely blue water and shimmering icebergs the size of buildings floating on water so millpond calm (weather permitting) it perfectly mirrors this incredible scene. Whales, Gentoo Penguins and Crabeater Seals are all known to frequent these waters and both Argentina's Almirante Brown and Chile's González Videla research stations are located here. Cuverville Island Cuverville Island combines a stunning, ice-capped landscape where steep cliffs and a boulder-strewn beach meet Antarctic Peninsula's largest Gentoo Penguin population (home to some 14,000 birds), while its shallow bay features astounding monolithic grounded icebergs perfect for Zodiac exploration. With two-thirds of the island covered by a huge, pointed dome icecap and mostly steep surrounds, there is just one landing site where whaling artefacts, including whale bones and a whalers' dam, can still be found. There is also the opportunity to stretch your legs where a moderately challenging uphill hike rewards with a new perspective and jaw-slackening panoramic views over the Errera Channel and the surrounding glaciers.
Early season Antarctica is an especially magical time pairing long clear days with an abundance of wildlife and spectacular lighting. Even the most novice photographer can't help but take exceptional photos with the low hanging sun creating epic sunrises and sunsets, washing icebergs, ice, sea and sky in vivid colours. Our voyage is timed to coincide with the arrival of the breeding season, when Antarctica's wildlife converges in full force and mating behaviours at chaotic penguin cities can be observed. Icebergs, frequently clad with Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, are also at their most captivating. Landings here are frequent, maximising the long daylight hours and the opportunities they present, eventful, occasionally unexpected and always exciting. We have 6 days (note 2026 voyage spends 5 days in Antarctica), each with more than 20-hours of daylight, to explore multiple historic and wildlife rich landing sites, hidden bays, quiet coves and walk on the ice and snow of the Seventh Continent. Prepare to be dwarfed by nature as we discover alien landscapes and elaborate icescapes of unimaginable beauty carved by wind and waves. Look for, and walk among Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins; Weddell, Leopard and Crabeater Seals; in the water Humpback and Minke Whales fill these important feeding grounds along with Orca. Birders can gaze skywards for Cape, Storm and Snow Petrels, our constant companions while in Antarctica, along with predatory Antarctic Skua and the curious, ground-dwelling Snowy Sheathbill – the only bird in Antarctica without webbed feet. While specific landings cannot be guaranteed, they could include the following, and many other exciting opportunities: Elephant Island It's hard to believe this hostile environment of mostly vertical rock and ice cliffs sustained 22 crew from Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition/Endurance Expedition for four-and-a-half months after their ship Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. Elephant Island, part of the South Shetland archipelago, is also the starting point of Shackleton's legendary rescue mission which would see him, and five of his crew, sailing the small lifeboat James Caird to South Georgia followed by a 36-hour hike to Stromness. Brown Bluff This scenic setting in the Antarctic Sound marries sheer stone walls, fallen boulders and ice-capped peaks is the location of a large, bustling Adélie Penguin rookery, where Gentoo Penguins and Snow Petrels can also be observed. Brown Bluff also offers exceptional views of the pink-tinged Madder Cliffs in Kinnes Cove. Whalers Bay, Deception Island Taking its name from a prolific whaling history and the island's 'hidden' entrance, Whalers Bay is a designated Historic Site tucked away in a small natural harbour used by sealers and then whalers from the 1820s. The buildings, structures and artefacts linked to these activities represent the most significant whaling remains in the Antarctic. It's also the location of a 'heated lagoon' and fascinating microclimate courtesy of volcanic activity with Antarctic Tern, Cape Petrel, Kelp Gull, Skua and Wilson's Storm Petrel all breeding here. Cierva Cove A visit to Cierva Cove is sure to be a highlight as you weave through this magnificent body of water navigating astounding calved icebergs and ice sculptures set to the soundtrack of pops and crackles as air bubbles trapped for millennia escape the brash ice surrounding your Zodiac. Cutting deep into the spine of the Antarctic Peninsula, if we are lucky, we may see huge slabs of ice sliding down the 1,300-metre mountain chain. Ten species of bird breed here including a Chinstrap Penguin colony, Humpback Whales are regular visitors and the plant life includes mosses (Drepanocladus uncinatus), turf (Polytrichum alpestre) and Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia Antarctica). Argentine research station Base Primavera is also located here. Petermann Island Petermann Island might be small, at just 1-kilometre long, but this volcanic outpost boasts some incredible features. More than half the island is covered by a permanent icecap and the island is both Antarctica's northernmost Adélie Penguin colony, and southernmost Gentoo colony. It's also the wintering site of renowned French Explorer Captain Jean-Baptiste Charcot's second French Antarctic Expedition (1908–1910) aboard his aptly named ship Pourquoi-Pas? (Why Not?). Anchoring in a cove he named Port Circumcision, Charcot carried out extensive scientific, cartographic, and biological research and left behind a number of artifacts still visible today including the letters 'PP' engraved in stone. An Argentine refuge hut and commemorative cross signifying the deaths of three members of the British Antarctic Survey in 1982 can also be found on the island. Port Lockroy, Goudier Island Location of the famed Penguin Post Office, the world's southernmost post office, Port Lockroy's safe harbour in the Palmer Archipelago has attracted explorers, whalers, scientists, and sailors for more than a century. Featuring a young-ish (mid-80s established) Gentoo Colony, and historic sites and museum including Britain's Base A, part of a wartime mission code-named Operation Tabarin, all set among a backdrop of snowy mountain ranges and ice caps, a visit to the time capsule that is Port Lockroy never disappoints. Paradise Bay Once the anchorage site for whalers' floating factory ships, Paradise Bay is now considered one of Antarctic Peninsula's most stunning locations delivering the ultimate, unrestrained, iconic and pristine Antarctic wilderness experiences just north of the legendary Lemaire Channel. Going beyond otherworldly to other planetary, expect towering mountain peaks, ancient glaciers jutting out of steely blue water and shimmering icebergs the size of buildings floating on water so millpond calm (weather permitting) it perfectly mirrors this incredible scene. Whales, Gentoo Penguins and Crabeater Seals are all known to frequent these waters and both Argentina's Almirante Brown and Chile's González Videla research stations are located here. Cuverville Island Cuverville Island combines a stunning, ice-capped landscape where steep cliffs and a boulder-strewn beach meet Antarctic Peninsula's largest Gentoo Penguin population (home to some 14,000 birds), while its shallow bay features astounding monolithic grounded icebergs perfect for Zodiac exploration. With two-thirds of the island covered by a huge, pointed dome icecap and mostly steep surrounds, there is just one landing site where whaling artefacts, including whale bones and a whalers' dam, can still be found. There is also the opportunity to stretch your legs where a moderately challenging uphill hike rewards with a new perspective and jaw-slackening panoramic views over the Errera Channel and the surrounding glaciers.
Day
Twenty One
Arrival
December 08, 2026
Port
Day at Sea
Day
Twenty Two
Arrival
December 09, 2026
Port
Day at Sea
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).
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About the Ship
Name
Heritage Discoverer
Operator
Heritage Expeditions
Heritage Discoverer is a trailblazing expedition ship, purpose-built to navigate the world’s most demanding waters.
Ship Facts
cabin count
70
capacity
130
crew count
15
deck count
5
currency
USD onboard
gross tonnage
6158
language
en
launch year
1989
length
108m
speed
14kts
wheelchair count
No Data
width
16m
DINING
Savour international gourmet fare crafted by leading chefs in our two restaurants and celebrate the day’s adventures in the Bar and Lounge.
Entertainment
On board, discover lavish amenities, welcoming social areas and expansive panoramic decks. Visit the captain and crew on the Bridge under our Open Bridge policy.
