Explorers' Cruise
Falkland Islands, South Georgia & Antarctica

16 or 19 day Cruise
Professor Multanovskiy, Professor Molchanov or MV Orlova

Our Explorers' Cruises combine the comfortable adventure cruises of Classic Antarctica with visits to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. They include many of the wildlife and scenic highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands as well as the best of these two wildlife-rich sub-Antarctic islands.

Depending on the itinerary, the tours embark and disembark in the ports of Ushuaia or Puerto Madryn in Argentina, or Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands. Like Classic Antarctica, they are designed to include as much wildlife viewing as possible, but also include visits to scientific bases and allow plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of icy waterways, glaciers, icebergs and rugged mountains.

We have a selection of departure dates to choose from and, even though it is impossible to guarantee precisely what we will see because sightings and encounters inevitably vary from trip to trip, we are confident that no-one will be disappointed. Flexibility is the key to success and the Captain and Expedition Leader continually assess daily weather conditions and wildlife opportunities to take full advantage of the almost continuous daylight in order to maximize time ashore.

South Shetland Islands
This impressive group of islands, lying to the north and roughly parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, is a haven for wildlife. Our first landfall could be Elephant Island, where Ernest Shackleton's men found refuge during the epic 'Endurance' expedition (following in the wake of Shackleton, from Antarctica to Elephant Island and on to South Georgia, is a particular aim of Explorers' Cruise 3). We will visit enormous penguin colonies, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe southern elephant seals wallowing in mud pools. We also hope to visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago and look for Antarctica's only two flowering plants, which thrive here during the short southern summer. A highlight of our visit to the South Shetlands will be sailing through a narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island.

Antarctic Peninsula
This awe-inspiring wilderness of snow, ice, waterways and mountains is the most readily accessible part of the White Continent and has some of the best wildlife. Enormous colonies of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Kelp Gulls, Cape Petrels, Snowy Sheathbills and Antarctic Terns are just some of the many birds found here in abundance. We are also likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, while orcas, humpback whales and Minke whales are often encountered at close range.

The Peninsula also has a remarkable history and, during the trip, we will learn about some of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world. Keeping a lookout from the Bridge or the deck of the ship, as we thread our way along the continent, we will certainly feel the same sense of excitement as many of those early explorers.

Sailing around the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula we hope to navigate the Antarctic Sound, or 'iceberg alley' as it is often called, where huge tabular icebergs drift north from the Antarctic continent. If we are lucky, and weather and ice conditions permit, we may be able to land on Paulet Island to see its enormous Adélie Penguin colony. We also plan to visit aptly-named Paradise Harbour, or nearby Neko Harbour, where glaciers fill the calm waters with a mind-boggling vista of icebergs; this is where we hope to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself. At Port Lockroy, as well as enjoying the thriving penguin colonies, we will visit a former British scientific station that has recently been renovated to serve as one of the most isolated and intriguing museums in the world. The station also acts as a post office and we will have a unique opportunity to send postcards home.

During the voyage we hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways in the world (if they are not choked with pack ice and icebergs - a spectacular sight in itself); two in particular, the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, are narrow passages between towering rock faces and glaciers that are so impressive they are a highlight of the trip for many people. On some voyages we sail south of the Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island, where Adélie and Gentoo Penguins, skuas and Blue-eyed Shags nest close to the landing site.

Falkland Islands
In the historic Falklands we explore some of the privately-owned outer islands that are home to great concentrations of wildlife - including several species found nowhere else in the world. Flightless Steamer Ducks, Magellanic Penguins and Gentoo Penguins are just some of the highlights on Carcass Island, for example, while nearby West Point Island and New Island boast fantastic Rockhopper Penguin rookeries as well as nesting Black-browed Albatrosses and Blue-eyed Shags. Peale's and Commerson's dolphins are often seen along the coasts of these islands and frequently bow-ride and play alongside our boats. We will also explore Stanley, the charming capital of the archipelago.

South Georgia
South Georgia has its own astonishing concentrations of wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery ranging from 7,000-foot mountains and mighty glaciers to deep fjords and low-lying grassland. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on earth and certainly has more wildlife than virtually anywhere else on the planet. Thousands of King Penguins greet us at Salisbury Plain, Wandering Albatrosses nest and thousands of fur seals breed at Prion Island, whilst huge southern elephant seals and a substantial number of King and Gentoo Penguins crowd the beaches at places such as Gold Harbour. The island also played a significant role in Ernest Shackleton's epic journey after the sinking of his ship, the 'Endurance', when he managed to raise the alarm at the whaling station in Stromness. We visit Shackleton's grave at Grytviken, a once-active whaling station.

Drake Passage and other sea crossings
Our journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, is an experience in itself. Our ship is accompanied most of the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering Albatross - along with an impressive variety of other seabirds such as Giant and Cape Petrels.
We have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins and many different species have been encountered in these rich waters over the years. We also cross the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zones. Meanwhile, the program of lectures continues during these sea crossings as our expedition staff introduce some of the wildlife we are likely to encounter and cover all topics from the history of exploration to the geology of the region.

Explorers' Cruise 1
Falkland Islands, South Georgia
and Antarctic Peninsula
19-day voyages embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Day 1: Ushuaia - Arrive* in the southernmost city in the world, nestled between the spectacular snow-capped mountains of the Andes and the Beagle Channel. Time permitting, explore this 'frontier town' at leisure. Make your way to the port and embarkation begins later in the afternoon.
Day 2: At sea.
Day 3-4: Falkland Islands.
Day 5-6: At sea.
Day 7-10: We plan four days on South Georgia.
Day 11-12: At sea.
Day 13-16: South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Day 17-18: Drake Passage.
Day 19: Ushuaia.
* Flights are not included in the cruise program.

Cruise Name Explorers' Cruise 1
Professor Multanovskiy
22 January - 9 February - 19 Days
Professor Molchanov
5-23 January - 19 Days
M/V Orlova
11-29 November - 19 Days
14 January - 1 February - 19 Days

Explorers' Cruise 2
Falkland Islands, South Georgia
and Antarctic Peninsula
19-day voyage embarking in Puerto Madryn, Argentina and disembarking in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Day 1: Trelew / Puerto Madryn - Arrive in Trelew* and make your own way to Puerto Madryn (close to the wildlife-rich Peninsula Valdez and the largest breeding ground in the world for southern right whales). Embark the Professor Molchanov in the late afternoon.
Days 2-3: At sea.
Day 4: Falkland Islands.
Day 5: Stanley, Falkland Islands.
Days 6-7: At sea.
Days 8-11: We plan four days on South Georgia.
Days 12-13: At sea.
Days 14-16: Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands.
Days 17-18: At sea.
Days 19: Ushuaia.

* Flights are not included in the cruise program. Contact us for special air/land packages in conjunction with the cruise.

Explorers' Cruise 3
In The Wake Of Shackleton
Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands and
South Georgia
19-day voyage embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Day 1: Ushuaia - Arrive* in the southernmost city in the world, nestled between the spectacular snow-capped mountains of the Andes and the Beagle Channel. Time permitting, explore this 'frontier town' at leisure. Make your way to the port and embarkation begins later in the afternoon.
Days 2-3: Drake Passage.
Days 4-6: Antarctic Peninsula.
Day 7: Elephant Island
Days 8-9 : At sea.
Days 10-12: South Georgia.
Days 13-15: At sea.
Days 16-17: Falkland Islands.
Day 18: At sea.
Day 19: Ushuaia.
Please note - there will be a Shackleton 'specialist' to accompany these voyages … please ask for more details.
* Flights are not included in the cruise program.