Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea

Day 1: Punta Arenas, Chile

Arrive in Punta Arenas and transfer to your hotel. Tonight you will meet with your fellow passengers and receive your expedition briefing.

Days 2: Punta Arenas - King George Island

Transfer to the airport and take your seat for the flight south. King George Island is part of the South Shetlands archipelago, which lie about 160km off the coast of Antarctica. On arrival into King George Island you will be met by your expedition team and transferred by Zodiac to your ship.

Days 3-9: Antarctic Peninsula & the Weddell Sea

Your time in Antarctica will be divided, subject to conditions, between the eastern and western sides of the Peninsula. Possible landing sites along the west coast include Melchiors, Wilhelmina Bay, Cuverville Island and Orne Harbour. Glaciers, penguin colonies and breaching humpback whales will highlight your days, while friendly seals are plentiful in these waters. You can also expect to encounter what is arguably the most formidable Antarctic predator - the leopard seal.

The Antarctic Sound separates the western side of the Peninsula from the Weddell Sea and is often riddled with huge pieces of ice emanating from the Larsen Ice Shelf. The Antarctic Sound itself offers great places to get ashore and stretch your legs at landing sites that are home to nesting Adelie and gentoo penguins. Snow and pintado petrels as well as kelp gulls also call this area home.

The Weddell Sea is as stunning as it is remote, and is best known as the location where Shackleton's 'Endurance' came to its end, crushed by sea ice. Take a zodiac cruise amongst huge tabular icebergs and perhaps land on Paulet Island. The island is a 350 meter high volcanic cone that juts dramatically out of the sea. Over 100,000 pairs of Adélie penguins breed here, along with blue-eyed shags, snowy sheathbills and kelp gulls. Fur seals and Weddell seals haul out onshore, while leopard seals often hunt offshore.

Day 10: disembark at King George Island

Returning north disembark at King George Island and board the flight back to Punta Arenas. Enjoy an overnight stay in the city.

Day 11: fly to Punta Arenas

Enjoy breakfast with your fellow expeditioners in the hotel before saying your farewells.

Notes

• All voyage itineraries are intended as a guideline only - embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy of expedition travel. Actual routes and landings will be dependent on weather, sea and ice conditions. A degree of flexibility is essential in the polar regions!
• The above sample itinerary is based on the 11-day voyage on the Greg Mortimer. Other departures may vary in duration and routing, including alternative embarkation or disembarkation ports. Please contact us for specific details.