Antarctica - Discovery and Learning

Classic Antarctica including Deception Island

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Title

Antarctica - Discovery and Learning

Start – End

Tripcode

HDS26-28

Language

English

Ship

m/v Hondius

Embarkation / Disembarkation

Ushuaia - Ushuaia

Nights / Days

11 nights

Group request For reservations with more than 15 guests you can contact us directly
Itinerary

Voyage overview

This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins.

Long hikes: -

Long walks in Antarctica are designed for small groups of up to 24 passengers, accompanied by at least two expedition staff with experience in this terrain. These walks offer an immersive experience in the pristine polar landscape, requiring participants to be prepared for up to three to four hours of hiking on semi-rough, rocky and snowy terrain with notable elevation changes. While the pace will be steady and manageable, the conditions can be demanding and change quickly. A good level of fitness and willingness to walk for extended periods are essential. The total duration will vary depending on site conditions and explore the untouched expanses of the Antarctic wilderness. For those who prefer not to join the long hikes, alternative activities or shore landings will be available during this time.

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. 
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.
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. 
 
Sites you may visit include: 
 
Danco Island – Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be found nearby.
 
Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
 
Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales.

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.
 
When conditions are right, you can snowshoe around the shore and to the old ski-way at nearby Damoy Point.
The volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often cloaked in mist, but they do offer subtle pleasures: There’s a wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and no small amount of fauna (gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels).
 
In Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded caldera. Here you find an abandoned whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels – along with kelp gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. A good hike is a possibility in this fascinating and desolate volcanic landscape.
 
As an alternative, you may be able to engage in activities near Half Moon Island. Here chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul out onto the beach near Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific research station. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
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.

Highlights you might experience

Neko Harbour
Neko Harbour

A pleasant beach in Antarctica’s larger Andvord Bay, Neko Harbour is a scenic landing site that offers great views of gentoo penguins and a nearby glacier

Lemaire Channel
Lemaire Channel

A classic route for our expeditions to Antarctica, this iconic waterway serves as the gateway to the southern Antarctic Peninsula

Port Lockroy
Port Lockroy

A former British base built in 1944, Port Lockroy is located on Goudier Island near the Antarctic Peninsula

Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay

A breathtakingly beautiful bay offering classic views of colossal ice formations and iconic Antarctic wildlife

Cuverville Island
Cuverville Island

Home to thousands of gentoo penguins, this island lies just off the Antarctic mainland

Deception Island
Deception Island

A volcanic island in the South Shetlands, north of the Antarctic Peninsula

Weddell Seal
Weddell Seal

Named after the British navigator and sailor James Weddell, these extensively studied seals live farther south than any other mammal

Gentoo Penguin
Gentoo Penguin

These hygienic divers are the only penguin species whose population is currently increasing along the Antarctic Peninsula

What Our Travelers Say

Since we curate unique itineraries for every sailing, these reviews reflect similar past cruises. They illustrate the general atmosphere and quality standards, though specific activities and wildlife encounters will vary.
Best trip ever

by Muriel de Kok

Antarctica

We saw so many beautifull animals and surroundings! It feels unreal when you are there. Very happy we also did the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Great expeditionteam and hospitalityteam on the ship.

Life experience

by Alex AVI Zavitan

Antarctica

Most of the time it was enjoyable, there were a few instances where I was hurt or it was really unpleasant.

once in a lifetime

by dan mihai tarcea

Antarctica

i dream about this trip allmost 10 years, i save money for my lifetime experience and if you still dream and never give up it happends. it was 19 days of my greatest experience and i live any seconds with open heart.
One of the Lifetime experience

by Elene Tan

Antarctica

One of the best cruise and trip I join so far. The expedition team really go way beyond, very passionate about their job. The activities very well organized. Even the lecture was very informative. I definitely will join this expedition again in future.

Antarctica Discovery & Learning Voyage

by Rolf Günther

Antarctica

The Antarctica Discovery & Learning voyage aboard the MS Hondius in November was outstanding. The crew and expedition guides demonstrated excellent background knowledge, shared with clarity, enthusiasm, and professionalism. All activities — landings, Zodiac operations, and kayaking — were conducted confidently and safely, always leaving participants feeling well prepared and in expert hands. Cleanliness and hygiene on board were excellent, contributing to a very comfortable expedition environment. Beyond the superb organization, the voyage offered additional unforgettable natural impressions. In particular, entering the icy Antarctic waters at Stony Point was a truly fantastic and intense experience — a rare moment of immersion that created a deep and lasting connection with this extraordinary environment. A superbly executed expedition voyage that truly lives up to its promise of Discovery & Learning.
Outstanding experience

by Simone Bianca Schuft

Antarctica

That was such a wonderful and inspiring expedition, with such a lot of wildlife sightings and beautiful, breathtaking scenery. The kayak outings had been great, sitting there outside with all the stillness around, beautiful views and maybe some animal noises around. The places we stopped were great, and gave us a good insight into Antarctica. The team was amazing, all as much as excited to go there as we have been, and they did all such a great job in making this an outstanding exoperience.
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m/v Hondius

Hondius is the world’s first-registered Polar Class 6 vessel and was built from the ground up for expedition cruising.

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Activities you can participate in

Camping

Camping

FREE

Special gear and field equipment will be provided. Camping is subject to weather, local site and environmental regulations.

Kayaking Try-out (beginner, 2 seaters)

Kayaking Try-out (beginner, 2 seaters)

FREE

Always wanted to try out kayaking? Now is the time to do exactly what you always dreamed of. You will be offered at least one outing in the morning or afternoon. No skills required.

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