Spirit of Shackleton

Arrive in Ushuaia at any time. Arrival transfer included. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the world's most southerly city.

Overnight in a hotel in Ushuaia

Enjoy a free morning in Ushuaia. Do any last minute shopping, explore the town, or visit the surrounding countryside. Embarkation on the G Expedition begins in the afternoon at the port in Ushuaia. Enjoy the evening sailing through the Beagle Channel.

Breakfast and Dinner is included today

As our journey continues towards the Falkland Islands, you will have time to be acquainted with the ship and join in on the many lectures and information sessions about the extraordinary human and natural history of the Antarctic region.

All meals included today

The Falkland Islands provide a rare opportunity to witness the biological diversity and extraordinary scenery of the southern islands. Penguins are abundant here, and the Falklands have the largest black-browed albatross colony in the world. In Stanley, meet the hardy local inhabitants whose colourful houses provide contrast to the long, dark winters.

Catch our first glimpses of penguins, including the Magellanic, rockhopper, gentoo, and king penguins. With a little luck, spot elephant seals, sea lions, king cormorants, black-browed albatross, skuas, night herons, giant petrels, striated caracaras and of course sheep.

Stop at Port Stanley for an opportunity to meet the hardy local inhabitants whose colourful houses provide contrast to the long dark winters. The town is the capital of the Falkland Islands, most locals head to Stanley to do their shopping, visit the post office, or go golfing. The bomb disposal unit from the Falklands War in 1982 is also in the town as well as several war museums.

Sailing east, set course for South Georgia. Days at sea are filled with lectures to prepare for landings. Watch for the many whales that inhabit these waters.

Daily lectures and educational program
Attend lectures hosted throughout the day on everything from local wildlife to geology to history. The Expedition has one of the highest ratios of expedition team members to guests – with one expert for every ten guests there is always someone on hand to answer questions and provide greater insight and appreciation of the world at its extremes. The expedition team is comprised of professional and highly skilled historians, marine biologists, and naturalists who offer keen insight and a unique personal perspective to each and every adventure.

Home to many interesting sights (including the grave of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton), South Georgia has several former whaling stations and boasts plenty of wildlife. Visiting a huge colony of king penguins is a major highlight of this part of the journey. Weather permitting, spend four full days exploring the island.

Weather permitting, four full days will be spent exploring this island. On nearby islands look out for the wandering albatross in their nesting grounds.

Spend four days exploring South Georgia Island if weather permits. Observe a large colony of King penguins, the second largest species of penguin that stand almost 100cm (3 ft) tall. Nearby islands are the nesting grounds for Wandering albatross, a species of albatross that only stays on land to breed and eat. Hopefully in the four days in the area the group will get a chance to spot one of these majestic sea birds during the small amount of time it spends on land.

South Georgia is also the best place in the world to observe the southern elephant seal, the largest breed of seal. The island is home to over half of the world's population of these animals. October is a great time to see newly birthed pups alongside their mothers.

Sail for two days, retracing Shackleton's route backwards on course towards Elephant Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.

These waters are rich with nutrients and the long summer days provide the ingredient that is missing most of the year. The result is a complex food chain topped by several species of whales, seals, and seabirds.

Experience some of the most unique wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery in the world while setting foot on the Antarctic continent. Attempt two shore landings per day (weather permitting), and encounter Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adélie penguin rookeries; Weddell, crabeater, and leopard seals; and orca, humpback, and minke whales in the cold Antarctic waters. The peninsula also has a remarkable human history.

Finally a chance to step foot on the Great White Continent! Over the next four days, the Expedition will navigate southwards making stops in the South Shetland Islands then through the Bransfield Strait and to the Antarctic Peninsula.

Our goal is to attempt two excursions per day while we navigate through the area but our itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions that we encounter.

The Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands abound with wildlife activity. Take a chance to visit scientists working in modern research bases, with plenty of time to enjoy the sheer beauty and the breathtaking scenery of ice-choked waterways, blue and white icebergs, impressive glaciers and rugged snow-capped mountains.

The Peninsula also has a remarkable history and, during the voyage, opt to learn about some of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world.

Visit scientists working in modern research bases if weather and ice conditions permit. With the exception of visitors from expedition ships, scientists and research staff are the only temporary inhabitants of Antarctica. Many of the research stations are permanent, operating year round, with visiting scientists heading to Antarctica for a few months at a time.

Reflect on a memorable adventure and take in some final lectures en route back to Ushuaia. Keep a careful lookout for a last chance to spot whales.

Heading north across the Drake Passage, spend two days enjoying the beauty of the sea while sailing for Ushuaia. In between bird watching, whale watching, and enjoying some final lectures by our expedition staff, this is a chance to relax and review the adventures of the past week before returning to Ushuaia.

Remember, the best way to experience the wildlife of the Drake Passage is to be on deck keeping a look out for Albatross, Prions, and Whales!

Disembark in the morning.

Our adventure comes to a close. Have a final breakfast on the ship before saying goodbyes before disembarking in Ushuaia in the morning.