Antarctica, South Georgia & Falklands
An extended expedition to all sub-Antarctic highlights
Embark your boat in Ushuaia and head out into the South Atlantic ocean, passing through the Beagle Channel and past the islands of Tierra del Fuego, where you can see dolphins and whales. Stop at the Falkland Islands for world-class birdwatching, penguin colonies and the charming capital Stanley. From here, you’ll head east past remote ice mountains towards the wildlife paradise of South Georgia. Your journey culminates in the magnificent scenery of the Antarctic Peninsula, before returning across the Drake Passage to South America.
Key information
| Destinations | South America, Antarctica |
|---|---|
| Activity | Cruise & Sailing, Active, Nature & Wildlife |
| Physical Level | Easy |
 Season |
November - March |
Suggested itinerary
Take a trip to the end of the world
Day 1–2 in Ushuaia
Located on the southernmost tip of South America and the gateway to the Antarctic and South Atlantic, it is easy to see how port town Ushuaia earned its nickname the “End of the World”. The starting point for many Antarctica cruises and tours to nearby Isla Yécapasela (penguin island), the town is a busy hub for adventure tourism — with hiking, scuba diving, sea kayaking, sailing and skiing all on offer. Beer-enthusiasts shouldn’t miss getting a pint from Cervecería Beagle, the world's southernmost brewery.
Go birdwatching in the Falkland Islands
Day 3–7 in Falkland Islands
Known by the Spanish as Islas Malvinas, this island archipelago has far more to offer than a troubled political history. The Falkland Islands offer some of the best birdwatching in the world, with large colonies of penguins, albatross and seals. A popular stop on Antarctic voyages, the islands are becoming increasingly popular in their own right, thanks to their abundant wildlife, gorgeous landscape and charming capital city Stanley.
Visit wild South Georgia
Day 8–12 in South Georgia
Home to more than 100 million seabirds, 100,000 elephant seals and 3 million fur seals, South Georgia offers wildlife watching on an unparalleled scale. The island is also home to the historic whaling station of Grytviken and is the final resting place of legendary explorer, Ernest Shackleton.
Explore the Antarctic Peninsula
Day 13–19 in Antarctic Peninsula
You don't take a holiday to Antarctica ‒ you make a trip of a lifetime.
This colossal frozen netherworld is bigger than the USA. The sun doesn’t rise for six months of the year and it's constant daylight the rest. It's the most untouched, alien place on our planet ‒ but the rewards are exceptional. Antarctica’s landscapes are surreal: utterly immense rolling icefields, icebergs the size of stadiums, glassy seas deeper than a skyscraper.
Its wildlife is abundant and utterly unperturbed by people. Armies of penguins waddle across the ice, train-sized humpback whales and orcas breach from the inky depths, seals flounder on the snowfields. On a calm day, when the sunlight bounces off every surface, the silence is all-encompassing. It's like nowhere else on earth.
Don't miss
Penguins in Paradise Bay
Home to gentoo penguins and the occasional humpback whale, Paradise Bay is a must-stop on any Antarctica cruise. Come to see penguins diving off ice floes and huge chunks of jagged ice surrounding the harbour. Wrap up — Paradise Bay’s temperatures remain below freezing year round.
Get your camera ready at Lemaire Channel
Antarctica is a land of beauty, but perhaps the best views are reserved for the 1km stretch of Lemaire Channel, located between the mainland and Booth Island. It’s so photogenic that travellers have nicknamed it Kodak Gap.
Postcards from Port Lockroy
This British research base was founded in 1944 and abandoned in 1962, and now operates as a museum staffed by volunteers. They operate the centre as it was in the 1940s, which means no internet or TVs, but you can buy and send postcards from one of the most southerly Post Offices in the world.
Sea kayaking
Not all excursions are on dry land! Your ship may carry kayaks, giving you a chance to explore the ice floes under paddle power.
Cross the formidable Drake Passage
Day 20–21 in Drake Passage
Considered by many polar travellers to be the gateway to Antarctica, the Drake Passage is a common feature for cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula. Straddled between Chile’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, this infamous waterway is named after the 16th-century English explorer Sir Francis Drake.
Don't miss
Navigating Drake Passage
If you’re starting your voyage from South America, you’ll spend two days navigating Drake Passage. You’ll encounter giant albatross — and occasionally giant waves — as you await your first view of Antarctica’s icebergs.
Whale watching
Antarctica is one of the best places on earth to see whales. From orcas to humpbacks, minke to sperm, the relative isolation whales have enjoyed in the Antarctic means they are curious of ships and even approach them.
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