Route Description - Antarctica - Elephant Island - Weddell Sea - Polar Circle
Antarctica - Elephant Island - Weddell Sea - Polar Circle
This expansive Antarctic expedition ventures deep into the Antarctic Circle, combining the rich wildlife and dramatic ice of the Weddell Sea with the surreal landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula. Iconic locations like Shackleton’s famed Elephant Island and the frozen beauty of Crystal Sound make this journey truly extraordinary.
Antarctica – Elephant Island – Weddell Sea – Polar Circle
This bold polar adventure unites the icy majesty of the Weddell Sea with the wildlife-rich shores of the Antarctic Peninsula. Key stops such as the legendary Elephant Island and the remote, glacier-fringed islands of Crystal Sound set this expedition apart.
Day 1: End of the World, Start of a Journey
The voyage begins in Ushuaia, Argentina—often described as the southernmost city on Earth. Situated on the southern tip of South America in Tierra del Fuego, this small town, nicknamed “The End of the World,” is the gateway to the Antarctic. In the afternoon, passengers embark on their vessel and begin sailing through the scenic, mountain-bordered Beagle Channel.
Day 2–3: Path of the Polar Explorers
The next two days are spent crossing the Drake Passage, retracing the path of the early polar explorers. The sea air is brisk, the swells lively, and the wildlife abundant. Fin whales may be spotted spouting sea spray in the distance. Upon crossing the Antarctic Convergence—a biological boundary where cold southern waters meet warmer northern seas—the marine and bird life begins to shift dramatically. Birds such as wandering albatrosses, grey-headed and black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, and several species of petrels may accompany the ship.
Day 4: From Point Wild to the Weddell Sea
The vessel arrives at the storied Point Wild on Elephant Island, where Ernest Shackleton’s crew made their desperate landfall after the Endurance was lost to the ice. If conditions allow, landings or Zodiac cruises may be offered in this historical and inhospitable place before the ship continues toward the Weddell Sea.
Day 5: Weddell Sea and Devil Island
Entering the remote Weddell Sea, the ship navigates through Erebus and Terror Gulf, a seldom-visited region known for its dramatic ice and sweeping vistas. Potential stops include Beak Island and Devil Island, offering passengers a rare chance to witness the untouched wilderness and thriving pack ice ecosystem.
Day 6: Exploring the Most Remote Regions
The journey continues deeper into Erebus and Terror Gulf, with further exploration and activity opportunities based on conditions. Vega Island may be on the agenda, revealing one of the most remote and wild parts of the Antarctic.
Day 7: Orléans Strait Whale Search
Sailing down the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, the ship enters Orléans Strait. This area is known for sightings of humpback and orca whales. By afternoon, passengers may arrive in Mikkelsen Harbor for additional excursions.
Day 8: Port Monuments and Island Wildlife
The vessel passes through the dramatic Lemaire Channel en route to Port Charcot, home to a commemorative cairn left by the French Antarctic Expedition of 1903–05. Later in the day, Petermann Island offers rich birdlife and exciting Zodiac cruises among the icebergs, where leopard and crabeater seals often rest. Minke whales, humpbacks, and gentoo penguins are common sightings in the area.
Day 9–10: Detaille Island’s Historic Station
Crystal Sound welcomes the expedition with stunning ice formations and wildlife-rich waters. The day’s main landing is Detaille Island, home to a preserved British research station, now recognized as a historic site.
Day 11: Amazing Argentine Islands
The journey continues to the Yalour Islands—a small, rocky archipelago that hosts colonies of Adélie penguins and some of the southernmost gentoo penguins. The flora includes various lichens such as xanthoria, buellia, and usnea, along with extensive moss beds and rare Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica).
Day 12: Farewell to Antarctica
Final activities take place around the Melchior Islands, offering a fitting farewell to the Antarctic landscape before the ship turns northward toward the Drake Passage.
Day 13–14: Familiar Seas, Familiar Friends
The return voyage across the Drake Passage is marked by the reappearance of seabirds from the southward journey. Albatrosses, petrels, and fulmars once again trail the ship, now familiar companions to those on board.
Day 15: There and Back Again
The expedition concludes with disembarkation in Ushuaia. Though the voyage has come full circle, the memories of Antarctica—the silence, the ice, the wildlife—will remain with each traveler long after they return home.