Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands

Day 1: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Welcome to Buenos Aires, where you will be staying in a hotel. You may want to spend some time exploring the city, nicknamed the "Paris of South America." With its Belle Époque buildings, street cafés, and green spaces, the city exudes the fiery passion of Latin America—the collective love of soccer, grilled meat (asado), and tango.

Day 3: At Sea
Feel right at home aboard the Scenic Eclipse, where luxury knows almost no bounds. As you sail south, there will be plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. Your Discovery Team will be on deck, keeping an eye out for albatrosses, prions, and petrels following the ship. They’ll give presentations on the history and geology of the Falkland Islands and the Southern Ocean.

Day 5: Falkland Islands

Remote and sparsely populated, the Falkland Islands are a paradise for animal lovers. You’ll visit several of the outer islands, which are hometo largecolonies of penguins and albatrosses. Fur seals and elephant seals roam the sandy beaches, while whales and dolphins call the surrounding waters home.

During your stay in the Falkland Islands, you will likely also visit Stanley, the archipelago’s capital on East Falkland (depending on weather and operational conditions). Since their colonization in the 18th century, ownership of the Falkland Islands has been disputed among the French, British, Spanish, and Argentines. In 1982, the Falklands War led to the separation of this remote outpost, and the islands remain part of the British Commonwealth.

This town offers a unique British outpost feel as you meander through its central streets. Visit a range of local shops and see incredible sights such as Christ Church Cathedral with its whale bone arch, or perhaps even stop off at an English pub for a beer with the friendly locals.

Day 8: South Georgia

South Georgia is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the world. During your stay here, the team of experts aboard the Scenic Eclipse will tailor a unique itinerary based on weather and ice conditions to showcase South Georgia’s abundant wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.

A 3,000-meter-high mountain range forms the backbone of this long, narrow island. Between the mountains, fragmented glaciers make their way through tussock grass to the deeply indented coastline. Although it is such a small outpost in the vastness of the South Atlantic, the sea around South Georgia is one of the most vibrant areas on Earth. Although permanently uninhabited, it is home to a rich wildlife, including king penguins, albatrosses, elephant seals, and fur seals.

With nicknames like “the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean” and “the Galápagos of the Poles,” South Georgia is considered one of the most fascinating destinations for wildlife photographers from around the world. The island is home to some of the world’s largest king penguin colonies and offers breathtaking encounters with an exceptionally diverse array of wildlife. Thousands of king penguins gather on the black sand beaches. It’s a mesmerizing spectacle of black, white, yellow, and orange: the penguins stand close together, interact with one another, and curiously explore their surroundings. Their chorus of calls fills the air.

In addition to king penguins, this area is also home to gentoo penguins and macaroni penguins, as well as numerous seabirds. Among the most impressive are the majestic wandering albatrosses, which let the gusts of wind carry them as they spread their wings wide and glide over the waves.

The wildlife of South Georgia constantly reveals a different side of itself: one day, huge colonies of king penguins capture everyone’s attention; the next, thousands of fur seals or elephant seals populate the beaches. The diversity and sheer number of animals make every shore excursion an extraordinary experience of nature.

Day 10: South Georgia

On your expedition around South Georgia, you can visit the following places, among others:

Gold Harbour is one of the most scenic bays in South Georgia. Against the backdrop of the glacier-capped peaks of the Salvesen Range, an impressive natural spectacle unfolds: king penguins and gentoo penguins populate the beach, while elephant seals line the coast.

Cooper Bay is located at the southeastern tip of South Georgia and captivates visitors with its rugged coastline, small coves, and offshore kelp forests. On a Zodiac tour, with a little luck, you can spot giant petrels and brown skuas while fur seals glide through the kelp forests. On land, a short, steep climb through the tussock grass landscape leads to a colony of macaroni penguins.

Drygalski Fjord is one of South Georgia’s most impressive landscapes. Steep, snow-covered mountain slopes line the narrow fjord, through which icebergs and smaller ice formations drift. At the far end rises the Risting Glacier; with a bit of luck, you can observe ice blocks calving from its terminus. The fjord is also known for its seabird population: especially snow petrels nest in the light-colored rock faces and can be spotted with binoculars.

Day 13: Antarctica

When you arrive in Antarctica for the first time, you’ll discover a world unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Welcome to a challenging, unpredictable, and at the same time breathtakingly beautiful landscape that never ceases to surprise. Open the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors of your suite and step out onto your private veranda: before you stretch icebergs shaped by nature in a wide variety of forms and sizes, while majestic, glaciated mountains rise thousands of meters high from the ocean. Keep an eye out for seals, majestic whales, and penguin colonies that bring the coastal landscape to life. Bird lovers will also be in for a treat: wandering albatrosses, petrels, giant petrels, and numerous other seabirds call this place home.

An essential part of your expedition is the experienced Discovery Team, consisting of up to 20 experts from various fields. Scientists, geologists, botanists, historians, photographers, archaeologists, anthropologists, marine biologists, and glaciologists will share their knowledge, answer your questions, and guide you through Antarctica, offering fascinating insights along the way.

Zodiac trips, shore excursions, and guided hikes will continually offer you new perspectives on this extraordinary world. Depending on conditions, you can also explore the surroundings by kayak or stand-up paddleboarding. Gliding silently across the water and encountering the massive icebergs at eye level is an experience that is as impressive as it is humbling. There’s also time to let the unique silence of Antarctica wash over you.

Since ice and weather conditions determine the course of every expedition, the daily itinerary is kept flexible. Your experienced captain and the expedition leader continually adjust the route and activities to suit current conditions, drawing on their extensive experience from numerous Antarctic voyages to make the most of what this extraordinary region has to offer. Depending on the time of year, there are 18 to 20 hours of daylight available each day.

Days 15–17: Antarctica

On your journey of discovery through Antarctica, you can look forward to fascinating encounters with extraordinary wildlife. Eight species of penguins are native to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic regions. About twelve million penguins live on the Antarctic Peninsula alone. Experiencing a penguin colony up close is one of the unforgettable moments of an Antarctic expedition. Even before you see the animals, their unmistakable scent signals their presence. With every step you take, their calls grow louder. Watch as the penguins waddle across the beach, calling out to one another and interacting. Among the species you may encounter on the Peninsula are Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins —and, with a little luck, the rare emperor penguins as well.

Whales are also among the most impressive inhabitants of Antarctic waters. The first spout on the horizon builds the excitement: Where will the next one appear? Perhaps the back of a minke whale will come into view, or the characteristic hump of a humpback whale, or the distinctive dorsal fin of an orca. With a little luck, you’ll be able to observe these majestic animals from various perspectives—from the Scenic Eclipse’s Observation Lounge, on a Zodiac excursion with an experienced member of the Discovery Team, or right at the water’s edge from a kayak or stand-up paddleboard.

Antarctica is also a fascinating destination for birdwatchers. More than 40 different bird species can be found here. Keep an eye out for wandering albatrosses, petrels, giant petrels, blue-eyed cormorants, diving petrels, cormorants, great crested grebes, skuas, gulls, and terns.

Day 20: Ushuaia

This morning it’s time to say goodbye: to your experienced crew and the fellow travelers with whom you’ve shared this extraordinary journey. After one last delightful breakfast on board, you’ll disembark from your Discovery yacht in Ushuaia and fly to Buenos Aires. You’ll take home unforgettable memories of your expedition through the fascinating ice landscapes of Antarctica.

Please book your return flight from Buenos Aires with a departure time after 9:30 p.m.

KAYAKING (FREE)
Join one of the active kayaking exploration tours. This is the perfect way to experience Antarctica from a completely different perspective.

STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING (FREE)
In stand-up paddleboarding, you stand on a wide, stable board and glide gently across the water. Standing up, you have a wonderful view of your surroundings, and thanks to the quiet, gentle movement, you have a very good chance of spotting wildlife. You can hardly get any closer to the wild Antarctic. Some prior experience is recommended.

HELICOPTER FLIGHT (FOR A FEE)
As you fly high above the earth aboard the state-of-the-art Airbus H130 helicopter, Antarctica reveals itself in all its wild beauty. Few people before you have ever seen this panoramic view of one of the most remote and isolated places on Earth.

SUBMARINE TOUR (FOR A FEE)
Explore the depths of the ocean, see underwater environments, and discover a diverse array of vibrant marine life. Scenic Neptune, the underwater submarine capable of diving to depths of up to 984 feet below sea level, is completely redefining underwater exploration.

It is a Worx Cruise Submarine 7 and can accommodate up to six guests and the pilot. The Scenic Neptune features swivel seats that can rotate 280 degrees. Through the two acrylic spherical windows, you can enjoy a full panoramic view of the ocean surroundings.