Exclusive South Georgia is a voyage which offers deep exploration of this mountainous island, unparalleled wildlife encounters, endless photographic opportunities and the chance to walk in the footsteps of Shackleton himself.
Throughout this voyage, a combination of zodiac cruising and onshore trekking will enable us to explore deep into the wilderness of South Georgia. It will also bring us into close contact with thousands birds and mammals such as king penguins, macaroni penguins, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, fur seals, elephant seals and introduced reindeer. We will also have the chance to retrace some of the steps taken by explorer, Ernest Shackleton, on his heroic walk across the island.
The journey itself begins in the capital of Chile, Santiago, where you will board a plane destined for Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. This is where you will meet the ship and set sail across the South Atlantic, observing as we go an abundance of birdlife in the skies above. We are likely to see several species of albatross, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels. Crossing the Antarctic Convergence, we can also expect to see vast numbers of southern seabirds, including prions and skuas.
While the Ski Explorers begin their Ski Traverse from Pegotty Bluff, the historic camp site from where Shackleton also started his 36 hour marathon trek, all other passengers will commence their exploratory voyage around South Georgia's magnificent coastline.
At Prion Island, we are likely to encounter the enormous and Wandering Albatross and be absorbed by their fascinating breeding displays and 'ritualised dances'. Further wildlife can be observed at Salisbury Plain, which harbours the second largest King Penguin Colony in South Georgia and is a popular resting sight for elephant seals.
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Ski Traverse Option
Shackelton's past can be explored further still by way of an adventurous 4 day ski traverse across the island, covering a total distance of 40 km (a route which took Shackleton just 36 hours).
On Day 4, a group of up to 12 passengers and 2-3 experienced mountain guides, will become Ski Explorers and attempt to traverse from the South coast (King Haakon Bay) to the North coast (Fortuna Bay) on skis, hauling their own pulkas (sledges). On lightweight skis and sledges, Ski Explorers will make rapid yet comfortable progress through the snow, passing alpine passes and towering glaciers.
Ski Explorers will spend the 4 days traversing through steep, glaciated and at times demanding snow covered terrain. For the duration of the traverse, Ski Explorers will be self sufficient and self reliant. By night they will set up tents and camp amidst the snow and ice, just as Shackelton did nearly a century ago.
This Ski Traverse option requires participants to be in good physical condition and to have a certain level of experience. Please Contact Us for further information.
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Depending on local ice and weather conditions, Ski Explorers will rejoin the ship at Fortuna Bay on Day 7, where all passengers will follow the final section of Shackleton's route to Stromness, the abandoned whaling village. Fortuna Bay is home to an abundance of wildlife, including King Penguins, seals and even the introduced reindeer.
The latter part of the voyage will take us to the whaling village of Grytviken, abandoned by humans, yet vastly populated by King Penguins and seals. In Grytvikin, there will also be the opportunity to visit the Whaling History Museum and Shackleton's grave. We will visit the beaches of Ocean Harbour, Godthul, Cobblers Cover, Drygalski Fjord, Larsen Harbour, Cooper Bay, St Andrews Bay, Possession Bay, Right Whale Bay and Elsehul, all of which provide endless photographic opportunities and an array of wildlife encounters.
Drygalski Fjord is not only a superb location for zodiac cruising, but also provides opportunities for keen walkers amongst the group to explore the surrounding coastlines further still through guided onshore hikes. Hikes vary in length, from 2 - 4 hours (5 - 10 km) and are subject to weather and landing site availability. Snowshoes will be available to all passengers at no extra cost, providing for an easier and safer walk through snow, with no previous experience required.
Day 1
(D)
08:20 Depart Santiago de Chile on LAN Chile flight LA991.
15:20 Arrive Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands.
You will have a short amount of time in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, where you will be able soak up Falkland Islands culture, which as well as displaying some South American characteristics, has a distinctive Victorian charm. In Stanley and the surrounding area we can expect to see a significant number of stranded clipper ships from a century ago.
You will board the ship in Port Stanley and set sail for South Georgia in the early evening.
Days 2 - 3: At Sea
(B, L, D)
Sailing across the South Atlantic provides plenty of opportunities for spotting seabirds such as several species of albatross, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels. On our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature is likely to drop by as much as 10 °C in just a few short hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship, including prions and skuas.
Days 4 - 11: South Georgia
(B, L, D)
This is an exciting expedition with two adventure options: the normal sea voyage for "Sea Explorers" (with zodiac excursions and hiking options) and a land expedition for "Ski Explorers".
The Sea Explorers will explore the coastlines of the Island, meanwhile the Ski Explorers will attempt to traverse the Island on a self supplied ski trek from the South coast (King Haakon Bay) to the North coast (Fortuna Bay) in 4 days.
Ski trek across South Georgia
A group of up to 12 Ski Explorers and 2-3 mountain guides will attempt to traverse on an unsupported and self supplied trek across the island with skis hauling pulkas (sledges). The skiers will cover a total distance of 40 km retracing sections of the historic Shackleton route, which he covered in 36 hours.
On arrival day at King Haakon Bay, the expedition members will spend their first night further inland. They will then embark upon their trek across alpine passes and glaciers aiming for reunion with the ship at Fortuna or Stromness Bay. After both expeditions have rejoined, all passengers will then continue to enjoy the latter part of the South Georgia cruise itinerary.
Sea Voyage
The Sea Explorers, who remain on board, will say their goodbyes to the skiers at Pegotty Bluff: the historic camp site where Shackelton and his men took shelter beneath their upturned boat, the James Caird. It was from here on the 19th May 1916 that Shackleton, Crean and Worsley set out across the South Georgia to Stromness on a 36 hours marathon trek.
The same day, our vessel will stop over at Cape Rosa, where we intend to make a landing. This is where the James Caird first landed after an epic 16 days voyage from Elephant Island. Truly an historic day!
The ship will be positioned around the Northwest corner of South Georgia. One of the highlights is the visit to Prion Island, where you can witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy their displays. At Salisbury Plain we can find the second largest King Penguin colony in South Georgia and expect to see elephant seals.
In Fortuna Bay, the ship will most likely reunite with the Ski Explorers. The beaches are inhabited by King Penguins and seals. We might even be lucky enough to see reindeer, imported from the Arctic by Norwegian whalers many decades ago! Both Sea Explorers and Ski Explorers can follow the final section of Shackleton's route to Stromness, the now abandoned whaling village.
At Grytviken we will also see an abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over and inhabit the buildings. At Grytviken we will have opportunities to visit the Whaling History Museum as well as Shackleton's grave nearby.
During the next few days the expedition will explore the beaches of Ocean Harbour, Godthul, Cobblers Cover, Gold Harbour, Drygalski Fjord, Larsen Harbour, Cooper Bay, St. Andrews Bay, Possession Bay, Right Whale Bay and Elsehul. The sites that we visit will provide fantastic vantage points to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife. Such wildlife we are likely to see include King and Macaroni Penguins, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals and the introduced reindeer.
Drygalski Fjord is a very scenic place for zodiac cruising. There will be opportunities for walkers in the group to hike at Godthul and Gold Harbour. All hikes will be guided and varied in length, from 2 - 4 hours and 5 - 10 km. Please note that all hiking excursions are subject to weather and landing site availability.
Upon reaching Elsehul, thus ends our South Georgia voyage. The ship will take course to the Falkland Islands in the evening.
Days 12 - 14: At Sea
(B, L, D)
On our way to Port Stanley we can again expect to be followed by a wealth of seabirds while crossing the South Atlantic.
Day 15 - 17th Dec, 2011
(B)
You will disembark from the ship and be transferred to the international airport Mount Pleasant, where we will catch our flight to Santiago de Chile.
16:20 Depart Mount Pleasant on LAN flight LA990
21:30 Arrive Santiago
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