Bienvenidos. Welcome to Argentina. Begin your Antarctic adventure with an overnight stay in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and the capital of the Tierra del Fuego provence. Ushuaia is a relatively small city and is easy to find your way around. From Avenida San Martin, the streets run uphill and you can get a great view of the Beagle Channel from the top. If you arrive early you might also like to visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, which is located 11 km west of the city. Special Information

Today board the ship and embark through the beautiful Beagle Channel, leaving Ushuaia behind you. The channel is rich in wildlife, so rug up and head out on deck. The expedition team may be able to point out penguins, cormorants, petrels and Black-browed Albatross in the sea and air around you.

While out at sea, there is plenty to keep you entertained. Browse the ship's library and attend a series of presentations by on-board experts about Antarctic marine biology, history, geology and ornithology. Armed with this new knowledge, your Antarctic explorations and interactions with wildlife will be all the richer.

As you approach the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), see a treasure-trove of birdlife emerge. Kelp Geese, rockhopper penguins and Magellanic penguins are native to the area, so use your newfound knowledge to identify the various species you come across. Depending on the weather, daily Zodiac trips will take you to various landing sites around the Falklands. Hike up rocky beachheads and socialise with the friendly local residents. POSSIBLE LANDING SITES AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS - FALKLAND ISLANDS CARCASS ISLAND The 8 km long (five mile) island, northwest of West Falkland, belongs to Rob and Lorraine McGill. It's a picturesque island, where songbirds nest among the luxuriant growth that covers the gently rolling landscape. The island is named after a Royal Navy ship, the HMS Carcass, which arrived in 1766. NEW ISLAND The most ...

More shipboard presentations over the few days will prepare you for upcoming shore landings and possible Zodiac cruises along the coast of South Georgia. You'll know you’re in bona fide Antarctic waters when you cross the Antarctic Convergence – the biological boundary dividing Antarctica from the rest of the southern seas.

Your first sight of South Georgia will be of snow-capped mountains. Keep an eye out for wandering albatross and giant petrels, and don’t be surprised if you spot the odd reindeer. Although Antarctica has no native land mammals, reindeer were introduced in the early 20th century by Norwegian whalers. Over the next four days, planned activities include a series of landings at king penguin rookeries, abandoned whaling stations and the lonely gravesite of Sir Ernest Shackleton. As always, potential excursions are determined by weather and ice conditions. POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS – SOUTH GEORGIA DRYGALSKI FJORD This is a photogenic and dramatic fjord, with sharp and jagged peaks rising out of the sea. Glaciation never reached the peaks of this fjord, giving it a unique landscape. GOLD HARBOUR The backdrop to thi...

Head south again, spending a few more education-filled days at sea en route to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Armed with unlimited hot drinks and a warm parka, enjoy time on deck searching for wildlife.

Leaving South Georgia behind, head to the unique landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula. Changing conditions mean that each expedition is different, but your team will make sure that every day is memorable. Venturing out on the Zodiac, you might visit a penguin rookery and the historic harbour of Port Lockroy one day, and watch icebergs calve around Petermann Island the next. Perhaps take a 'polar plunge' in the freezing waters of Neko Harbour. The options for exploration are as vast as the Peninsula itself. POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS CUVERVILLE ISLAND A gentoo penguin rookery is situated on the north end of the island on a rocky beach. Depending on the time of season you visit, you may see them building nests or attending to their chicks. Giant petrels and kelp gulls also breed on the island. DAMOY POINT If...

Prepare for potentially rough seas as you journey homeward through the Drake Passage. This legendary waterway, named after Sir Francis Drake, separates the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula from South America, making for a scenic voyage back to the mainland. Spend your last days at sea appreciating the vast open waters and surrounding wildlife, using sturdy sea legs when up on deck.

After a shipboard breakfast this morning, disembark in Ushuaia, where you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home. Your Antarctic adventure comes to an end here. If you're booking a flight out of Ushuaia today, please ensure it doesn't leave before midday, in case you encounter delays coming into the harbour. Special Information