10 Night Cruise sailing from Ushuaia roundtrip aboard Clipper Adventurer. 1 night stay pre-cruise in Ushuaia.

*** Note: Contains land arrangements - please check at time of enquiry/booking ***

This Peregrine journey takes us to one of the world's most awe-inspiring destinations. After making shore visits on our way through the South Shetland Islands we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula, on the continent of Antarctica, to be immediately dazzled by perhaps the most dramatic scenery to be found anywhere on earth. Sailing aboard our well-appointed expedition vessel, we witness Antarctic nature in all its glory. These areas boast an extraordinary abundance of wildlife, including five species of seals and massive rookeries of gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins as well as a profusion of seabirds ranging from albatross to skuas. Another wildlife highlight may well be observing a variety of magnificent whales in close proximity as they crest the surface of the waves.

On the 'White Continent', we also see remarkable landscapes of ice. At Paradise Harbour or Hope Bay we find many icebergs dotting the waters, including some that are colossal in size, containing natural caves that are shrouded in eerie translucent light. On land there is a sweeping ice sheet, masking mountains, filling trenches and binding together an entire continent that is about the size of Africa. We even have the chance to camp ashore on the ice, if conditions are suitable. Travelling in the company of our experienced expedition crew, some of whom have travelled to Antarctica over 100 times, it still seems astonishing as we reflect on the exploits of the early explorers as they attempted to conquer this beautiful and yet formidable land.

Note: Weather, ice and other mitigating factors may result in changes to our itinerary and alteration to certain shore excursions.

Day 1: Ushuaia
Day 1 is an arrival day and you can arrive at any time. You will be on your own to make your own discoveries in Ushuaia. A night in a hotel. No meals are included on Day 1.

Day 2: Ushuaia - Embarkation Day
Once onboard, our expedition team will welcome you and once you've settled in we'll set sail from Ushuaia, charting our course through the Beagle Channel.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Days 3-4: Drake Passage
As we cross the Drake Passage, our team of experts will be out on deck to help us spot whales and identify seabirds. We also have the chance to take part in the onboard presentation series, preparing us for our adventure to the 'White Continent'. Talks on wildlife, ice and polar history will create enormous anticipation that continues to build as we cross the Antarctic Convergence. Here the cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean meet the warmer waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. We will also notice a sharp drop in temperature at this point. Huge icebergs loom up against the horizon and seabirds such as the wandering albatross and petrels are regularly sighted.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Days 5-9: South Shetland Islands and Antarctica
We cruise among the volcanic South Shetland Islands and the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, travelling ashore as frequently as possible in inflatable Zodiac boats. We hope to make shore excursions at Livingston, Half Moon and King George Islands, beginning from Day 5 or 6.

Admiralty Bay, on King George Island, is a favoured feeding ground for humpback whales and, with luck, we may see them dining on krill. At crescent-shaped Half Moon Island, we'll observe a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags, while at Livingston Island we discover more flourishing wildlife. Here there are Weddell seals, elephant seals, skuas, giant petrels, Antarctic terns and rookeries of chinstrap, gentoo and macaroni penguins.

Weather permitting, we also hope to enter the flooded volcanic caldera of Deception Island - a recently active volcano and one of the most perfect crater islands in the world. Steam rises in places along its shores, where the cold Antarctic waters mix with the hot thermal waters of the bay. Here, conditions permitting, the very adventurous amongst us may choose to take a dip.

Our journey continues on to Paradise Harbour or Hope Bay, both situated on the mainland. Here we see some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. We witness an impressive array of icebergs in many different shapes and sizes, including those that have eroded into natural ice sculptures as well as city-block sized 'tabular' bergs which break from the thick ice shelves. If the weather is temperate, we have the chance to set foot on the Antarctic continent and even to spend a night camping out on shore, if you wish. The lights of the southern sky bath the landscape in an eerie luminescence, making this camping experience a truly remarkable one. The days are long and the short nights are often preceded by a wonderful twilight. On board we get to spend ample time on the bridge or on deck, simply marvelling at the glorious passing scenery.
Meals included: 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Days 10-11: Drake Passage
We leave the Antarctic Peninsula and head back across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. The crossing is completed with the rounding of Cape Horn. We commemorate the conclusion of our adventure and our last evening together on board our ship at the Captain's Dinner, as we cruise on up the Beagle Channel.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Day 12: Ushuaia
In the early morning we arrive back in Ushuaia