The Frozen continent - sailing to Antarctica

For many years, people speculated about the shape of the earth. One missing piece was the weight that kept the earth from tipping over. Aristole already speculated about a region bearing the same relation to the south pole as the one in the north. Antarktike would be the female form of Antarktikos. Meaning as much as across from Arctic. Much later this missing continent even had a name, Terra Australis. The British explorer Mattew Flinders, mapped great parts of the continent now known as Australia. He claimed there was “no probability” of finding any land mass further south than “his” Australia. Claims like these didn’t stop brave men from venturing further and further south. By 1820 the continent surrounding the South Pole was found. It stayed well hidden in the Antarctic mist and was the object of many great expeditions. Some in search of its supposed natural resources, some in search of the whales and their blubber, some in search of fame!

Before setting off for the lost continent we will explore the shores and Islands of the Falklands. Colourful wild live like the Kingpenguin and Rockhopers are the main attractions. When starting the crossing of the infamous Drake passage, we hope that Elephant Island will be our first land fall. Following this chain of Islands we will come to the South Shetland Islands. Its highlights the imploded Deception Island. From there our journey continues to take in the sights of the great white continent. Possible places to visit are Half-moon bay, Paradise harbour, Port Lockroy, al depending on the weather conditions of course. During our stay on the peninsula it would be very possible to be in company of Humpback whales and Fin Whales.

The most Southern continent also has its own kind of fauna like the many penguins, but also a great variety of seals among whom we can hopefully find the fearsome looking Leopard Seal. If the ice allows us we will try to transit the Le Maire channel with it awesome views!

We will finish this voyage in the most Southern village of the world, Puerto Williams.

Day 1 : Welcome on board in Port Stanley, at 18:00 local time. First evening will be spend with introductions, to the crew, the expedition members and to safety on board. 

Day 2-5 : Set sail for some of the best places on the Falkland Islands. Depending on wind you will spend 1 to 3 days on the Falkland Islands visiting a King penguin colony and maybe even a seal colony. 

Day 6-10 : Sail across the Antarctica, first landing hopefully Elephant Island

Day 11-20 : Sailing to along the South Shetland Islands, Deception Island, Paradise harbour, Port Lockroy and more, if wind and weather permit. Our schedule and the places we visit are completely dependent on weather and wind.

Day 21 – 25 : Sail across the Drake Passage

Day 26 – 27 : Explore channels around Puerto Williams.

Day 28 : Disembark in the harbour of Puerto Williams at 10:00 local time.