Antarctic Voyage – On board the Ortelius

Reach Buenos Aires from India. Pick up and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Transfer to hotel on your own. Spend the day at leisure exploring the beautiful town or you can embark on several optional exciting trips.

Ushuaia, Argentina

Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.

Day 4 & 5 – 11 & 12 December 2020, Friday & Saturday:

Drake Passage

Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence—Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas—you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.

Day 6 to 11 – 13 to 19 December 2020, Sunday to Saturday:

Antarctica Basecamp

Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands. Weather and ice conditions will inform your captain’s and expedition leader’s decisions about where to anchor. Favorable weather conditions will determine the possible activities in each location. Places you might visit include:

Neumayer Channel: The vessel may position itself here, launching its multiple basecamp activities from the protected waters around Wiencke Island. You can enjoy the splendors of this alpine environment at sea with Zodiac and kayaking trips or, if you’re in the mood for a walk, there are possible snowshoe hikes and soft-climb mountaineering options farther inland.

Port Lockroy: After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. There are great opportunities also for kayaking and camping here, and when conditions are right, you can even snowshoe around the shore.

Pléneau & Petermann Islands: If the ice allows it, you can sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There’s also a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales and leopard seals here. Kayaking, glacier walks, and more ambitious mountaineering trips are the potential activities at this location.

Neko Harbor: An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbor offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.

Paradise Bay: You have the chance to make camp here like a true polar explorer (but with a better tent!), enjoying a supreme overnight Antarctic adventure.

Errera Channel: Possible sites in this area include Danco Island and Cuverville Island, but also the lesser-known (though equally picturesque) Orne Island and Georges Point on Rongé Island.

On your last day of near-shore activities, you pass the Melchior Islands toward the open sea. Keep a sharp lookout for humpback whales in Dallmann Bay. You might also shoot for Half Moon Island, in the South Shetlands, with further chances for activities.

Conditions in the Drake Passage will determine the exact time of departure.

Day 11 & 12 – 20 & 21 December 2020, Sunday & Monday:

Drake Passage

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from your passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.

Ushuaia, Argentina to Buenos Aires

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies..

Fly to Buenos Aires and stay overnight

Transfer to airport for flight back to India.

OR

Check the possible extension to Iguassu falls. Proposed itinerary appended below this information.

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EXTENSION TO IGUASSU FALLS

Proceed to airport for flight to Iguassu Falls. Iguassu falls are on the Iguasu river bordering Brazil and Argentina & shortly downstream is border with Paraguay.

On arrival at Iguassu, transfer to Recanto Cataratas Resort.

(B, D)

Today you have tour of Brazilin side of the falls which you can explore with the walkways built facing the waterfall. After the walking tour you will visit the Bird park. This is one of the larges aviary in the world, followed by Macuco boat safari which takes you for a zip under the falls !! this is one of the most thrilling experience…

Take lunch and then proceed for a 10 minute helicopter ride & then proceed for Rafain show with dinner.

Stay at Recanto Cataratas Resort.

(B, L)

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Argentine side of the falls. This is a totally different perspective of the magnificent falls. Explore the falls and then proceed to airport for flight to India.