Atlantic Odyssey

Day 1: The end of the world, the beginning of a journey
Your journeybegins where the world ends, in Ushuaia (Argentina) – also known as the southernmost city on the planet. It is located at the southernmost tip of South America. In the afternoon, you will begin your journey here in Tierra del Fuego, also known as the "end of the world," and spend the rest of the evening sailing through the picturesque, mountain-lined Beagle Channel.

Days 4–7: Arrival in Antarctica
Gray stone peaks covered with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and a very diverse flora and fauna. You will first pass the snow-covered Melchior Islands and sail through the Schollaert Channel, located between Brabant Island and Antwerp Island.

Places you can visit here include:

Danco Island – Activities at this location focus on the gentoo penguins that nest on the island and the Weddell and crabeater seals that are often spotted in the surrounding area.

Neko Harbor – An epic landscape of massive glaciers and endless snowfields shaped by the wind. A Zodiac excursion or shore excursion offers the best perspective of the ice-capped mountain peaks.

Paradise Bay – During a Zodiac ride in this expansive, ice-strewn bay, there is a good chance of seeing humpback and minke whales.

Pléneau and Petermann Islands – If ice conditions permit, you can sail through the Lemaire Channel and search for Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There is also a good chance of seeing humpback and minke whales as well as leopard seals here.

Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you can visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – at Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You can also take part in activities around Jougla Point, where you will encounter gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.

In nearby locations such as Damoy Point, it may be possible to go snowshoeing on the old ski trail. This is also one of the expedition participants' favorite camping spots.

Wilhelmina Bay & Guvernøren – This is a great place to see humpback whales. On a Zodiac excursion, you can see the ghostly wreck of the Guvernøren, a whaling ship that burned down here in 1915. Around the Melchior Islands, amid an icy landscape dotted with countless icebergs, you can see even more whales, leopard seals, and crabeater seals.

The conditions in the Drake Passage determine the exact departure time.

Day 10: Ushuaia
Today you will return to Ushuaia, where your journey began 10 days ago. 

Days 12–14: Sea route to South Georgia
You are on your way to South Georgia. Along the way, you can observe a variety of albatrosses, petrels, Cape pigeons, and southern fulmars.

Days 18–21: Back to the sea
Your journey continues across the Atlantic Ocean—on both sides of the Antarctic Convergence, you can observe a large number of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic seabirds.

Days 23–26: Tristan da Cunha and all the beautiful birds
The remote islands of Tristan da Cunha are famous for their rich bird life, which includes rockhopper penguins, several species of albatross, petrels, skuas, terns, and many others. The destination on this leg of your journey is the small settlement on the west side of the main island, but you can also land at Seal Bay on the south side of Tristan da Cunha or at Sandy Point on the east side.

At these locations, you will encounter exotic animals such as yellow-nosed albatrosses and sub-Antarctic fur seals. Landings are planned on Nightingale Island and Inaccessible Island.

Two days are reserved on Tristan da Cunha in case of bad weather, but please remember that nature dictates the itinerary here: since the Atlantic Odyssey expedition began in 1998, 35% of landings on Tristan da Cunha have had to be canceled due to bad weather. If a diversion is necessary for safety reasons, a good alternative will be chosen.

Days 31–33: St. Helena Highlights
After disembarking in Jamestown on the island of St. Helena, you will have the opportunity to explore the local culture, the pleasant climate, and the native bird life.

You can visit Longwood House, where Napoleon died in exile, climb the 699 steps of Jacob's Ladder, or snorkel in the shallow waters off the coast and observe a variety of tropical and subtropical fish.

Please note: You have the option of disembarking and flying home from Jamestown, subject to flight availability. In the evening, you will be transferred to Ascension Island and Praia in Cape Verde, where you can also disembark.

Days 34–36: Cruising the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
You'll start your journey in St. Helena. The route follows the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the vast undersea mountain range that stretches over 16,000 km (10,000 miles) from the Arctic Ocean to the southern tip of Africa.

Observe the stars on the aft deck, where many highlights of the equatorial sky await you. Weather permitting, you can see these wonders of the sky with binoculars or even with the naked eye.

Days 39–42: Crossing the equator
On the way across the equator, you will be accompanied by Arctic terns and skuas on their spring migration north. During this phase of the journey, good weather is desirable so that you can observe the stars from the deck and see the North Star appear on the northern horizon.