Ultimate Antarctic Expedition including South Georgia & the Falkland Islands

This 22 day expedition journey links the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula into an itinerary that closely connects wildlife observation with polar history. From Ushuaia, the course first heads into the South Atlantic with onboard lectures and early chances to spot albatrosses and whales. In the Falkland Islands, landings in a landscape of cliffs, beaches, and scattered islands take center stage, with penguins and major black browed albatross colonies, including on Steeple Jason Island. South Georgia adds vast numbers of king penguins, seals, and seabirds, plus sites such as Grytviken. In Antarctica, icebergs, glaciers, and flexible landings set the rhythm, depending on weather and ice conditions.

South Georgia, Falkland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Arrival in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, framed by the rugged peaks of the Martial Mountains and the wilderness of Patagonia. The first expedition evening takes place at the hotel, where you will meet fellow travelers and some of the guides over dinner. The tour services begin with dinner.

Day 2, Ushuaia
After breakfast, the morning is at your leisure before heading to the port of Ushuaia and boarding. The captain and expedition team welcome you, then there is time to settle in and get familiar with life on board. In the Observation Lounge, the course is set for the Falkland Islands, while the team provides first insights into the days ahead.

All pictures of this partner
Day 3, At Sea
During the crossing of the South Atlantic, lectures and presentations provide an introduction to the biology and history of the Falkland Islands. On deck, it is worth looking into the wind, black browed albatrosses, numerous prions and shearwaters often accompany the ship. With good chances, orcas and sei whales are also sighted, depending on conditions and visibility.

Days 4 and 5, Falkland Islands
Two days are available to explore East and West Falkland as well as remote outlying islands. Between quiet settlements, white sandy beaches, high cliffs and meadows full of wildflowers, there are many opportunities for landings and wildlife observations. Typical are five penguin species, including Gentoo Penguin, Rockhopper Penguin, Magellanic Penguin, King Penguin and Macaroni Penguin, as well as the largest colony of the Black browed Albatross. With a bit of luck, the flightless Falkland Steamer Duck and the rare Cobb's Wren appear, complemented by night herons, meadowlarks, plovers, and Upland and Kelp Geese. Possible stops include Carcass Island with Southern Sea Lions, South American Fur Seals and Southern Elephant Seals in tussock grass, and, weather permitting, Steeple Jason Island with very large numbers of Black browed Albatrosses, plus skuas and Striated Caracaras. In Stanley, nature reserves and maritime history come together, including memorial sites of the Falklands War and the Jubilee Villas.

Days 6 and 7: At Sea
On the way to South Georgia, there is time to rest, to exchange with the expedition team, and to review photos and notes. Albatrosses and petrels often accompany the voyage, including the wandering albatross and the southern royal albatross, as well as sooty shearwater, Antarctic prion, and soft plumaged petrel. In the afternoon of the seventh day, a cruise along the Shag Rocks is planned, an archipelago consisting of six jagged rocks. The nutrient rich waters near the Antarctic Convergence attract seabirds, especially the South Georgia cormorant, and depending on conditions, offer good opportunities for observing whales.

Days 8 to 11, South Georgia
Four flexible expedition days are dedicated to South Georgia, a rugged island world with ice covered mountains, glaciers, wide beaches, and emerald green water. The travel period falls at the beginning of the breeding season, when large concentrations of wildlife gather along coasts and slopes. King penguins, macaroni penguins, and gentoo penguins are regularly observed here, accompanied by albatrosses such as wandering, black browed, grey headed, and sooty albatross. In addition, there are South Georgia cormorants, South Georgia pipits, northern pintails, and seal species such as Weddell seals and, occasionally, leopard seals, humpback, blue, and southern right whales are known in these waters. Planned visits include, among others, Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay, and Gold Harbour, where large king penguin colonies shape the shores. In Grytviken, the remnants of the whaling era recall the island’s history, and at the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton a quiet moment of remembrance is planned.

Days 12 and 13: At Sea
Heading south through the Scotia Sea, albatrosses and petrels circle above the ship, while the lectures shift their focus to Antarctica. In these waters, whale activity is observed regularly, depending on weather and sea state. With the first iceberg, the transition begins into a landscape of frozen forms that, in increasingly long days, reveals ever new light conditions. On board, there is time for rest, the library and working on images.

Days 14 to 19, Antarctica
Six expedition days in Antarctica in the early season offer long, clear days and often impressive light over ice and sea. Depending on ice and weather, frequent landings, hikes, Zodiac cruises, and ship passages are possible to visit bays, quiet anchorages, and selected historic sites. At this stage of the breeding season, there are good chances to spot gentoo, chinstrap, and Adelie penguins, as well as Weddell seals, leopard seals, and crabeater seals. On the water, humpback whales and minke whales are regular visitors, and orcas are also sighted. Among the seabirds are cape petrels, southern fulmars, and snow petrels, along with Antarctic skuas and the sheathbill. Possible landings include Elephant Island with links to the Endurance Expedition, Brown Bluff in the Antarctic Sound with an Adelie penguin colony and views of the Madder Cliffs, and Whalers Bay on Deception Island as a Historic Site with relics from the whaling era and a microclimate shaped by volcanic activity. Cierva Cove is suitable for Zodiac cruising among calving icebergs, Petermann Island combines a northern Adelie penguin colony with a southern gentoo penguin colony and traces of Charcot’s expedition. Port Lockroy on Goudier Island is known for historic buildings and a gentoo penguin colony. In Paradise Bay, in calm weather glaciers and mountains are reflected in the water, while Cuverville Island attracts with a large gentoo penguin population and opportunities for a more challenging hike.

Days 20 and 21, At Sea, Drake Passage
On the return journey to Ushuaia, the route leads across the Drake Passage. This sea crossing can be lively and highlights the expedition character of the trip. Between observing seabirds and possible whale sightings, there is time to sort impressions and reflect on the past days.

Day 22, Ushuaia
In the morning, the ship reaches the port of Ushuaia. After breakfast, you say goodbye to your fellow travelers and take the transfer to the international airport. After breakfast, the tour services end.

Accommodation:
In Ushuaia, you spend the first night in a hotel. Afterwards, during the expedition, you stay on board and use your booked cabin to rest between lectures, observations, and excursions. The long daylight hours in Antarctica make it possible to plan time on deck, in the Observation Lounge, or in your cabin flexibly.

Special features:
The itinerary remains flexible due to the expedition nature of the trip and may change because of weather, ice, or port operations, and the expedition leader will provide ongoing updates. Certain landings and sightings cannot be guaranteed. Some activities and excursions may take place in parallel, so it may not always be possible to join everything. Planning is subject to final regulatory approvals. For onward travel from Ushuaia, it is recommended not to schedule onward bookings before midday due to possible delays.
Show all dates