Antarctica - Whale Watching

This expedition starts and ends in Ushuaia. After embarkation and an evening sail through the Beagle Channel, you cross the Drake Passage and pass the Antarctic Convergence into the circum Antarctic upwelling zone, where both marine life and seabird diversity increase. From Day 4 onward the ship operates around the Antarctic Peninsula, first passing the Melchior Islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Islands. Depending on conditions, landings and Zodiac cruises may take place at sites such as Danco Island, Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay, with good chances to encounter humpback and minke whales. Further south, ice permitting, the route may include Pléneau and Petermann Islands and a transit of the Lemaire Channel, with possible sightings of Adélie penguins, blue eyed shags and leopard seals. A visit to Port Lockroy on Goudier Island may be possible, as well as activities around Jougla Point. Nearby areas such as Damoy Point can offer snowshoeing to the old ski way and are also used as a camping location. Wilhelmina Bay is highlighted as a strong whale watching area, and a Zodiac cruise may end at the wreck of the Guvernøren, a whaling vessel that burned here in 1915. The return voyage crosses the Drake Passage back to Ushuaia. Diving is optional and requires proven cold water experience with at least 30 dry suit dives.

Antarctica - Whale Watching: The itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia embarkation and Beagle Channel
Your voyage begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, on Tierra del Fuego at the far southern tip of South America. In the afternoon you embark on m/v Plancius and settle into your cabin. After check in, you receive initial information about ship routines and safety procedures. The ship then departs and sails through the Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening, a sheltered introduction framed by mountain scenery. As the vessel moves away from town, the view shifts from harbour surroundings to broader channel landscapes. The first evening is mainly for arriving on board before the open ocean crossing that follows.

Day 2: Drake Passage, the route of early polar explorers
The Drake Passage crossing begins. Over these days you experience some of the same conditions encountered by early polar explorers, with cool salt breezes and rolling seas. With some luck you may see a fin whale spouting in the distance. As the ship approaches the Antarctic Convergence, the natural boundary where cold waters meet warmer sub Antarctic seas, the marine environment begins to change. After crossing this zone you enter the circum Antarctic upwelling region, where productivity increases. With this shift, both marine life and birdlife become more varied, and time on deck becomes an important part of the day’s routine.

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Day 3: Drake Passage, seabirds and the transition into Antarctic waters
The crossing continues, with a focus on seabird observation and the changing ocean environment. Species you might see include wandering albatrosses, grey headed albatrosses, black browed albatrosses, light mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels. Many of these birds follow the ship for long periods or glide close to the waves, offering good viewing from deck. Sea conditions can vary, and the day remains primarily a transit, but with a clear sense of entering Antarctic influenced waters. On board, planning is adjusted to weather and sea state, as the first operations near the peninsula depend on local conditions.

Day 4: Entering Antarctica, Melchior Islands and first peninsula operations
You enter the Antarctic Peninsula region, where grey rock peaks traced with snow and towers of broken blue white ice define the landscape. The ship first passes the snow capped Melchior Islands and the Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands. From this point onward, the programme is built around landings and Zodiac cruising, adjusted to ice, wind and visibility. The focus of the voyage is whale watching, so the expedition team pays close attention to areas where humpback and minke whales are frequently encountered. At the same time, penguins and seals become regular features of the shoreline and near shore waters. The day sets the operational rhythm for the peninsula, combining navigation through island channels with the first opportunities for close range observation.

Day 5: Danco Island and nearby waters, penguins and seals
One possible landing site is Danco Island. Activities here may focus on gentoo penguins nesting on the island, while nearby waters can hold Weddell seals and crabeater seals. Zodiac cruising is often used to extend observation time along the shoreline and to scan for whales in adjacent channels. The day’s structure depends on conditions, but typically combines time ashore with time on the water, allowing both wildlife viewing and a sense of the peninsula’s coastal terrain. The expedition team manages distances and movement carefully around wildlife, while also using the flexibility of Zodiacs to respond to sightings. Whale encounters can occur at any time, so observation remains continuous throughout the day.

Day 6: Neko Harbour, glacier scenery and close range perspectives
Neko Harbour is another potential objective, known for its large glaciers and wind carved snowfields. Depending on conditions, there may be opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and a landing that provide close views of surrounding alpine peaks and the glacier front. The sheltered waters of the harbour can also be suitable for scanning for whales moving through the area. The day remains focused on combining landscape observation with wildlife watching, using Zodiacs to approach ice features and to adjust position when marine mammals are sighted. As always, ice conditions and weather determine the exact sequence and duration of activities. The overall emphasis remains on time on the water and the possibility of whale encounters.

Day 7: Paradise Bay, whale focused Zodiac cruising
Paradise Bay is a broad, ice flecked area that often offers good conditions for Zodiac cruising. This is one of the places where there is a good chance of encountering humpback and minke whales, depending on visibility and activity. The scenery is defined by steep slopes, glaciers and calmer water surfaces where ice fragments collect. The day’s plan may prioritise extended time in Zodiacs to maximise observation opportunities, while also allowing for a landing if conditions permit. The combination of quiet water, ice and wildlife makes this a key area for the theme of the voyage. The expedition team adapts the route within the bay to ice distribution and to any whale sightings.

Day 8: Lemaire Channel area, Port Lockroy and nearby sites as conditions allow
If ice conditions allow, the ship may sail through the Lemaire Channel and operate around Pléneau and Petermann Islands, where Adélie penguins and blue eyed shags may be seen. Humpback and minke whales are also possible here, as are leopard seals. After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, a visit to Port Lockroy on Goudier Island may be possible, a former British research station now functioning as a museum and post office. Activities may also take place around Jougla Point, with gentoo penguins and blue eyed shags. At nearby sites such as Damoy Point there may be an opportunity for snowshoeing to the old ski way, and this area is also used as a camping location. The exact combination of sites depends on ice and weather, and the expedition leader adjusts the plan accordingly.

Day 9: Wilhelmina Bay and Guvernøren wreck, whale watching emphasis
Wilhelmina Bay is considered a strong area for spotting humpback whales, and the day may include a Zodiac cruise focused on whale observation. A possible endpoint is the wreck of the Guvernøren, a whaling vessel that caught fire here in 1915, adding a historical element to the day. Around the Melchior Islands, amid icebergs and frozen scenery, additional whale sightings are possible, along with leopard seals and crabeater seals. The day’s structure remains flexible, with the expedition team choosing the best operating areas based on conditions and sightings. This is typically one of the most whale focused days of the programme, balancing time on the water with safe navigation among ice.

Day 10: Drake Passage and Ushuaia disembarkation
The ship returns across the Drake Passage toward Ushuaia. The package ends after breakfast on board with disembarkation in Ushuaia. You then continue your onward travel independently.

Included Antarctica - Whale Watching

- Pre-arranged group transfer from the ship to the airport in Ushuaia (immediately after disembarkation)
- Luggage transfer from the designated pick-up point to the ship on the day of embarkation in Ushuaia
- Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes
- Complimentary Wi-Fi: each guest receives 1.5 GB of data per day, renewed every 24 hours
- Complimentary Dopper water bottle for use during and after your expedition
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