Antarctic expedition from Cape to Cape

Day 1: Cape Town – Embarkation
Your journey begins in Cape Town. After embarkation, the MS Hanseatic Spirit departs at around 9 p.m. and sets course for Tristan da Cunha.

Days 6-7: Tristan da Cunha/United Kingdom
Tristan da Cunha rises about 1,500 miles from the nearest settlement in the South Atlantic—probably the most remote place in the world. Weather permitting, you will land with the Zodiacs to experience the life of the approximately 230 Tristanians far away from our civilization. The small island of Nightingale, a breeding ground for more than a million seabirds, offers excellent opportunities for nature observation.

The sea is also teeming with life, where with a little luck you may spot sperm whales and humpback whales. These impressions are further enriched by elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions, and leopards during the optional after-program.

Days 12-14: South Georgia
Rugged peaks on the horizon herald the animal paradise of South Georgia, often referred to as the "cold Serengeti." Hundreds of thousands of king penguins populate the beaches and mountain slopes in endless rows. The Zodiacs are in use several times a day so that you can land at the most beautiful spots along the rugged coastline. With a little luck, you may encounter heavyweight elephant seals and fur seals when landing at Gold Harbour, for example. In addition, chinstrap penguins, macaroni penguins, Adelie penguins, and giant petrels populate the island and provide abundant life.

In Grytviken, you can discover an old wooden church from the whaling era, and Sir Ernest Shackleton's final resting place also serves as a reminder of times gone by.

Days 16-20: South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, South Orkney Islands
Heading south: From the tip of Latin America, you will cross the Drake Passage to reach the archaic beauty of the South Shetland Islands.

Amidst a snow-covered mountain landscape, a pioneering spirit hangs in the air on the sub-Antarctic archipelago. Here, the small HANSEATIC spirit can prove its expedition capabilities as it enters the flooded caldera of the extinct volcano Deception Island. Cliffs up to 50 meters high on either side, a black beach in front of you where the traces of earlier eruptions still steam – and you right in the middle of the scene.

Set foot on the Antarctic mainland for the first time in Paradise Bay. Snow-capped peaks, imposing icebergs, and towering glaciers give you a festive welcome. Neko Harbor also offers impressive views, surrounded by floating ice sculptures and set against a backdrop of high rock massifs.

The enormous dimensions of the Antarctic Peninsula are also evident at Brown Bluff, whose tuff cliffs, over 700 m high, lie between two mighty glaciers. This panorama is accompanied by the screeching of countless Dominican gulls, Cape petrels, and snow petrels.

Elephant Island is a place steeped in history: it was here that the crew of the famous polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton once spent the winter after being forced to abandon their ship in the ice.

Around 1,200 species live on the South Orkney Islands. Scientists have discovered that there are more animal species here than on the Galapagos Islands. Numerous species of penguins, whales, seals, and leopard seals live here. In contrast, the Argentine research station Orcadas, which has been occupied since 1904, is inhabited by only a few people. Depending on conditions and subject to station approval, you will land there with the Zodiacs and get a glimpse of local life.

Day 22: Ushuaia, Argentina Arrival 6:00 a.m.
Every adventure, no matter how great, must come to an end at some point. It is now time to disembark in Ushuaia. You will take with you memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure takes you.