Highlights of Epic Antarctica
Crossing the Circle via Falklands and South Georgia Roundtrip Buenos Aires • Aboard Ultramarine December 16, 2024 – January 7, 2025 | 23 Days
Join Maritime Travel Manager and Tour Escort, Neelam Dwivedi, on this incredible journey to Antarctica!
This Epic Antarctica itinerary is called so for a reason—it comprises all of the major Antarctic highlights. From the historic Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) to South Georgia to the Antarctic Peninsula, this 23–day voyage includes wildlife, icebergs, penguins, glaciers, historic sites, off–ship adventures and more. Start at the Falklands, home to albatross, dolphins, and five species of penguins. From there, venture to South Georgia (the Galapagos of the South Seas), where you’ll encounter 300,000 breeding king penguins, 50 million other seabirds and 5 million seals. Then, explore the Antarctic Peninsula before you cross the Antarctic Circle—a much–anticipated milestone for any world traveler.
Quark Expeditions, the global leader in polar adventures, has been named Best Expedition Cruise Line for 2023 by global luxury travel network Virtuoso.
Specializing exclusively in expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic, Quark Expeditions® has been the leading innovator of polar adventure since the company took the first group of consumer travelers to the North Pole in 1991. Quark Expeditions has been innovating ever since.
The global leader in polar adventures for more than 30 years, Quark Expeditions delivers extraordinary experiences and enriches lives through travel. Quark Expeditions has the most passionate and seasoned team in the industry, taking explorers to the ends of the earth, going where few ever dream, and walking where few ever will.
Itinerary: View Day-by-Day Trip Itinerary
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Neelam Dwivedi, Manager
610-6th Street, New Westminster, BC
Office: 604-525-5933 • Direct: 778-397-3381
Email: ndwivedi@maritimetravel.ca
Price quoted is per person, based on double occupancy, cruise only, and includes tax. Neelam’s Exclusive Group Rate of 25% OFF is reflected in the price. Other categories are available. To reserve your spot, a non-refundable deposit is due at time of booking. The deposit amount varies by category. (see rates below) Full payment due by August 2, 2024. Single rates are available on request. Airfare is extra and can be quoted at a later date. Travel insurance is highly recommended and will be quoted at time of booking. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time. A Passport is required and must be valid at least 6 months past return date. A minimum of 12 passengers is required to guarantee an escort. BCCP #51190.
Ask About a Pre-Night Package to Brazil & Argentina!
Upon arriving in this cosmopolitan city, known for its architecture and rich European heritage, you will independently transfer to your group hotel (pre-expedition hotel night included in mandatory transfer package).
After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to a central downtown location to have some time on your own to explore this quaint port town before making your way to the pier.
After a late afternoon embarkation, you will sail along the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart—the next time you see land, you’ll be in the remote Antarctic wilderness!
Your days at sea are filled with presentations led by your Expedition Team on photography, wildlife, glaciology, and history. In between presentations, spend time on deck looking for wildlife or chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar.
Upon your arrival in the Falklands (Malvinas), your camera will get its first real workout capturing the abundant wildlife and rugged feel of this sub-Antarctic region. The archipelago contains two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, which you will explore during daily Zodiac excursions and landings.
Stanley, also known as Port Stanley, is a favorite landing site, as the town offers a unique British outpost feel, complete with eclectic charm. You’ll be free to explore, grab a pint at the local pub, or visit the numerous churches and museums.
The archipelago is rich in wildlife, especially birds, and home to Magellanic, gentoo and southern rockhopper penguins. If you’re lucky, you may even spot king penguins here as well! Chances are good that you’ll see black–browed albatross, plus two endemic bird species—the flightless Falkland steamer duck, and possibly, the elusive Cobb’s wren.
Your team of polar experts will enrich your understanding of the local flora and fauna, helping you make the most of your time in the Falklands.
Sailing southeast to South Georgia, you’ll of officially enter Antarctic waters once you cross the Antarctic Convergence, an invisible biological boundary encircling the continent. This meeting of oceans, where the cold Antarctic waters mix with the warmer waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, helps nourish the abundance of krill that attracts whales, seals, and birdlife to this
part of the world. Your Expedition Team will notify you when you cross this invisible yet important line, and will also help you look out for the seabirds and marine life that frequent this nutrient-rich area.
This remote, mountainous island was a popular stop for many historic Antarctic expeditions and was once a centre for whale– and seal–hunting. Today, island wildlife populations are rebounding, but you’ll still see remnants of old whaling stations and other abandoned outposts.
Among the most significant and moving sites on South Georgia is the burial spot of the great explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. You can visit his grave at the settlement of Grytviken, which is also home to an old whaling station, plus a museum, gift shop, church and small research station.
Although South Georgia’s history is an important attraction to the island, it is the tremendous abundance of wildlife that surely captivate you and your shipmates. Each landing you make on South Georgia, often referred to as the Galapagos of the Poles, will give you opportunities to witness huge populations of wildlife.
One day you may see rookeries with hundreds of thousands of pairs of king penguins waddling on shore, and the next, you may visit another beach dominated by hundreds of fur or elephant seals. The grasses, mountains and beaches of South Georgia all play an important role in the breeding and survival of different species on the island. Your Expedition Leaders will help you understand and appreciate the delicate balance among these fragile and interwoven relationships.
Say goodbye to the king penguins, as your next destination is Antarctica! Your days at sea are filled with presentations, workshops, and social activities led by your Expedition Team.
The experience is hard to put into words, but the most common reaction upon reaching the Antarctic Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. You will discover that Antarctica is a land of extremes: one moment you’ll be immersed in complete silence and solitude; the next, you’ll be laughing at the comical antics of a curious penguin.
Zodiac cruising, visits to historical sites and, of course, communing with seals and penguins will highlight your days. Perhaps you’ll catch sight of the fearless penguin eater, the leopard seal, or maybe you’ll come eye to eye with an Antarctic minke whale while you cruise in a Zodiac. Each day, and each excursion, will present a new collection of creatures to captivate you and keep your camera busy.
If you find yourself wanting more, treat yourself to an optional kayaking adventure (reserve in advance when booking your trip), or cast reason aside and join in the Polar Plunge— it’s something you’ll never forget!
Crossing the Antarctic Circle is both a memorable experience and impressive achievement, as few travelers travel so far south. If conditions allow us to cross this famed latitude of 66°33´ South, we’ll toast the first explorers who ventured here, and you can raise a glass and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world visited by very few people. This is raw Antarctica, home of the midnight sun, Weddell seals, and your best chances of encountering sea ice—the foundation of the Antarctic marine ecosystem.
If you haven’t had your fill of Antarctic wildlife and icebergs by now, you’ll surely be satisfied by the time you return to the Drake Passage. You will continue to make excursions by Zodiac as you travel north along the western Antarctic Peninsula. Your Expedition Team will always be on the lookout for species of seabirds, seals and whales that may have eluded you on your journey south.
After more than three weeks of rare wildlife encounters and remarkable landscapes, your journey home begins. The unpredictable and exciting Drake Passage is an adventure unto itself. While being well taken care of by our expert onboard staff, you’ll have plenty of time to gaze out at the ocean, take pictures of seabirds swooping around the ship, and reflect on your remarkable Antarctic adventure.
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. The mandatory transfer package includes a little taste of Patagonia with a Tierra del Fuego National Park tour before transferring to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.
TRANSER PACKAGE INCLUDES:
RATES SPECIFICALLY DO NOT INCLUDE:
RATES:
Category |
Group Rate @ 25% OFFPublished Rates |
Pay in Full byNov. 30 & SAVE 10% |
Deposit Amount |
Balcony Suite |
$ 50,875 |
$ 46,023 |
$ 14,481 |
Deluxe Balcony Suite |
$ 59,275 |
$ 53,583 |
$ 16,581 |
Penthouse Suite |
$ 65,725 |
$ 59,388 |
$ 18,194 |
Owner’s Suite SOLD OUT |
$ 81,100 |
$ 73,225 |
$ 22,038 |
Prices quoted are per person, based on double occupancy, in CAD $.
ULTRAMARINE
The newest ship in our fleet, Ultramarine is designed to go beyond the familiar in polar exploration, to immerse guests in parts of the Polar Regions where few humans have ever set foot.
Equipped with two twin-engine helicopters and 20 quick-launching Zodiacs, Ultramarine offers the most off-ship adventure activities in the industry. Guests can enjoy two restaurants (Balena and Bistro 487), Tundra Spa, a sauna-with floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious suites and abundant wildlife-viewing spaces. Ultramarine also features advanced sustainability systems—which exceed all industry standards. Ultramarine is perfectly designed to deliver the ultimate polar expedition experience.
SHIP SPECIFICATIONS:
Staff and Crew: 140
Guests: 199
Lifeboats: 4, fully enclosed
Ice Class: PC6
Visit QuarkExpeditions.com to view deck plan details.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
Price quoted is per person, based on double occupancy, cruise only, and includes tax. Neelam’s Exclusive Group Rate of 25% OFF is reflected in the price. Other categories are available. To reserve your spot, a non-refundable deposit is due at time of booking. The deposit amount varies by category. Full payment due by August 2, 2024. Single rates are available on request. Airfare is extra and can be quoted at a later date. Travel insurance is highly recommended and will be quoted at time of booking. Prices and availability are subject to change at any time. A Passport is required and must be valid at least 6 months past return date. A minimum of 12 passengers is required to guarantee an escort. BCCP #51190.
Please NOTE: Group Terms & Conditions vary from standard Terms & Conditions. Quark’s standard
Terms & Conditions found at https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/expedition-terms-and-conditions
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