Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY: 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL 137
A small-ship expedition is the ideal way to experience Antarctica’s ethereal beauty and rare wildlife. PHOTO: MICHAEL S. NOLAN
MICHAEL S. NOLAN
CHRIS HOWARTH
Antarctica is hypnotically beautiful, with its
towering blue-white icebergs, mountains
sheering from the sea, and spectacular pageant
of wildlife. This small-ship expedition brings
you all the glories of the Antarctic Peninsula,
the most wildlife-rich part of the continent.
You’ll walk among rookeries thronged with
penguins and their fuzzy chicks, look for
spouting whales in iceberg-filled bays, spot
incredible Antarctic birds including the fabled
wandering albatross, explore by Zodiac, and
marvel at the nearly 24-hour daylight. There
are even options to sea kayak or camp on
some journeys! Expert naturalists bring the
Antarctic world to life for you as they share
their in-depth knowledge and passion for this
miraculous realm.
Days 1-4 Ushuaia / Embark / Drake
Passage From Ushuaia, navigate the historic
Beagle Channel, traveled by Charles Darwin
aboard the HMS Beagle in 1835. Huge albatross
and Cape petrels soar above the wake of
the ship as you cross the Drake Passage to the
Antarctic Peninsula.
Days 5-12 Antarctic Peninsula / Drake
Passage / Ushuaia You’ll have five exciting
days to absorb the pristine beauty and
extraordinary wildlife of the Peninsula. Set out
for guided walks among thousands of clamorous
penguins, explore historic outposts, look for
humpback whales, and take Zodiac excursions
to towering icebergs and ice floes where seals
laze. Destinations include Paulet Island, home to
some 200,000 Adélie penguins, Paradise Bay,
a spectacularly scenic setting of glaciated
mountains, ice cliffs, and icebergs, and the
narrow Lemaire Channel, where the ship
navigates a smooth-as-glass waterway between
sheer 3,000-foot peaks. Some departures have
options for camping or sea kayaking, weather
permitting. The ship will also sail into the sea-
flooded crater of Deception Island, the largest
active volcano in Antarctica, where hardy souls
have a chance to take a dip in a small natural hot
spring on the rocky shoreline. In the true spirit
of expedition cruising, the expedition leader and
captain will determine the best course for the
weather and ice conditions and for maximizing
your wildlife encounters. On Days 10-11, keep
an eye out for whales and seabirds as the ship
returns across the famed Drake Passage to Ushuaia.
Disembark on Day 12 and depart.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Active expedition cruise to the Antarctic
Peninsula, a breathtaking wildlife paradise
• Cruise past icebergs of the South
Shetland Islands and Paradise Bay, take
a dip in the thermal waters at Deception
Island, see the stunning Lemaire Channel
• With expert naturalists, hike amid colonies
of penguins and explore ice-strewn bays
by Zodiac
DETAILS
• 12-day trip begins and ends in Ushuaia
• 10 nights aboard an expedition ship,
1 night hotel
• All meals included
DATES
Nov 19-30, 2016 Nov 17-28
Nov 24-Dec 5 Nov 24-Dec 5
Dec 2-12 Nov 27-Dec 8
Dec 4-16 Dec 4-15
Dec 12-22 Dec 14-25
Dec 15-27 Dec 24, 2017-Jan 4, 2018
Dec 26, 2016-Jan 6, 2017 Jan 5-16, 2018
Jan 15-26, 2017 Jan 15-26
Jan 24-Feb 4 Feb 13-25, 2018
Feb 12-23 Feb 25-Mar 8
Feb 14-25
TRIP COST
From $5995
Cruise length, itinerary, and pricing vary by
departure.
TRIP LEVEL 1+ 2 3 4 5 6 7
12-day expedition cruise, nature walks on
uneven ground, Zodiac cruising with wet
landings, possibility of rough seas and cold
weather