Experience the mysterious sixth continent, Antarctica on this tour & cruise. No place on earth compares to this remote paradise of snow, ice, water and rocks. After spending ten nights on board your vessel exploring this wonderful part of the world, we are certain that you will leave Antarctica with a completely different perspective than when they arrived. It is simply breathtaking and on this comfortable adventure aboard an Expedition Ship you will have a front row seat to view one of the last hide-outs in the world. This once in a lifetime experience will exceed your expectations and create visual memories that will last a lifetime. This journey will take you on an exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula where you will encounter colossal icebergs and ice landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Hardy adventurers or those with a yen for history have the chance to camp out on the ice overnight and feel the thrill similar to the explorers who first found this mysterious continent.

2012 Cruise Departure Dates: Dec 8, 18 (Akademik Sergey Vavilov), Dec 8 (Akademik Ioffe)
2013 Cruise Departure Dates: Jan 27, Feb 24, Mar 6 & 16 (Akademik Sergey Vavilov), Mar 3 & 13 (Akademik Ioffe)

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata. The city has a spectacular legacy of architecture and parks, and its citizens consider themselves European. It is famous for the tango, superb restaurants, and the best shopping on the continent. The city has numerous museums related to history, and art in its many forms; fine, modern, decorative, popular, sacred and arts and crafts, as well as theatre and popular music. It is also known for its preserved homes of noted art collectors, writers, composers and artists.

Upon arrival you will be met by our local representative who will help you locate your vehicle.

Enjoy a private airport (International) transfer in Buenos Aires with professional driver and English speaking Guide.

Upon arrival by air into Buenos Aires' International Airport (Ezeiza/EZE), American passport holders are required to pay a reciprocity tax of $131 USD, and Canadian passport holders a tax of $70 USD. Other nationalities will vary. Payment may be done by cash (Argentine Pesos or American Dollars), credit card or travelers checks. For American passport holders,  a receipt will be stapled at the back of their passport and it will be valid for the duration of the passport. For Canadian passport holders, the reciprocity tax will be valid for one entry only.
Please consult with the Argentine consulate for full details. Subject to change without notice.

Buenos Aires is where it all happens, and we want you to immerse yourself in its beauty, history, and sheer radiance. Enjoy a private guided, half-day panoramic tour, discovering the rich parks and open spaces of the Northern Neighborhood and the eye-catching buildings and grounds of Palermo and Recoleta, in the comfort of a private vehicle. After being picked up from your hotel, you'll be driven to the Obelisk; a distinct symbol of the city. After that, you will visit different squares such as Plaza de Mayo, Plaza San Martín, Plaza del Congreso and some of the main avenues such as Corrientes, de Mayo, and 9 de Julio. Enjoy views in the historical neighborhoods of La Boca, San Telmo, Montserrat and the elegant neighborhoods of Palermo, Recoleta, and the modern Puerto Madero. Breathe in the fresh air as you pass through parks such as Lezama, Tres de Febrero and the Ecological Reserve. En route you will also get to visit financial and commercial areas and Soccer Stadiums. At the end of your tour you will be dropped back at your hotel.

Hotel Madero is placed in the wistful and scenic Puerto Madero area, and is a beautiful hotel to stay in while getting to know the fiery city of Buenos Aires. The 197 rooms offer a vast space in which one can relax and unwind, with great views. The culinary skills of the French chef at Madero's Red Resto & Lounge, are showcased via French specialties fused with international. Spend time at the bars, sipping on cocktails, or drop by the pool for a refreshing swim.

Overnight at Hotel Madero.

Enjoy a private airport transfer in Buenos Aires with a professional driver and English speaking Guide.

Fly from Buenos Aires domestic airport to Ushuaia. Note flights are subject to changes based on availability. The flight duration is approximately 3.5 hour.

Enjoy a private airport transfer with vehicle, English speaking guide and driver.

Partake in a half day private tour with your own vehicle, driver and guide to explore the Tierra del Fuego National Park, situated 11 km from Ushuaia. The park was established in 1960 with the intention of protecting the southernmost portion of the sub Antarctic forest and is made up of 63000 hectares. Unlike many other parks, it combines the ocean, forests and mountains. The biological richness of the Tierra del Fuego Island with its beautiful scenery is simply stunning. You can find animals such as red foxes, cauquenes, ducks, Patagonian wood peckers and more than 90 species of birds that are part of the Fuegian fauna, as well as beavers and rabbits, which were introduced to the island by colonizers. The forest is formed by lengas, guindos, ñires and valleys of peat and lichens. Ensenada Bay, Lake Roca and Lapataia Bay (the end of the Pan-American Highway that connects Alaska and Tierra del Fuego) give color to this unique place where we can still find reminders of the ancestral inhabitants: the yámanas. At the end of the tour you will be brought back to your hotel.

Overnight at Hotel Madero.

Travel the frontier waters of the Southern (Antarctic) Ocean aboard a luxury cruise vessel. Make stops at port establishments of past explorers, or enjoy outings on inflatable motor boats, allowing you to explore the less accessible areas of this remote part of the globe. Bring your sense of adventure, and let mother nature guide your daily excursions on your unforgettable voyage.

Enjoy a private cruise pier transfer with vehicle, English speaking guide and driver.

Welcome aboard!
Take some time to get settled in to your cabin, and explore the length of the ship.

In the early evening, you set sail and begin your voyage leaving behind Ushuaia, and charting a course through the Beagle Channel.

The Akademik Sergey Vavilov ship, Scandinavian-built for the Russian Academy of Science, was designed to travel quietly during hydro-acoustic research. Up to 107 guests can be accommodated aboard Akademik Sergey Vavilov, each cabin providing an outside position and exterior view. This ship is maneuverable yet exceptionally stable, as external stabilizers and a built-in trimming system provide necessary stability. Akademik Sergey Vavilov has an ice-strengthened hull and a cruising speed in open water of 14.5 knots. The ship is outfitted with fully enclosed lifeboats, ship-to-shore communications via satellite, platform for optional kayaking & camping, a fleet of Zodiacs, panoramic observation lounge, clinic with licensed doctor, and an elevator between decks 1 and 5.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

Crossing the Drake Passage, there is so much excitement in the air as you make your way ever closer to the white continent. You'll eagerly soak up the friendly atmosphere onboard as the numerous Polar experts prepare you for your adventures with presentations on everything Antarctic, from wildlife to history.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

Eventually, you will cross the Antarctic Convergence where you'll notice a distinct drop in temperature as you enter the waters of the Antarctic Ocean. Along the way, you will witness many spectacular sights from icebergs to an array of seabirds and even several whale species some of which are known on occasion to fully breach from the sea.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

A chain of islands located north and on the ‘weather’ side of the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Shetland Islands are known for their more maritime climate and an abundance of wildlife. You'll cruise these volcanic islands in search of chinstrap penguin rookeries, perhaps the wafting ‘steam’ of a Southern Elephant seal wallow or perhaps the signs of exploration left on the beaches in the form of tri-pots and abandoned whaling stations. The crew hopes to make a visit to Deception Island, with a goal of visiting the chinstrap penguin rookery at Baily Head. If weather precludes this, you will attempt a landing inside this active volcanic caldera.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

At about 25 nautical miles long and about 10 nautical miles wide, the Antarctic Sound separates Joinville Island from the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. As you sail into the sound, you will look to our starboard and the vastness of the Antarctic icecap, imagining the sweeping katabatic (gravity-driven) winds that this region is famous for.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

Enjoy another day in Antarctica Peninsula and get ready to be dazzled. The abundance of wildlife here is truly extraordinary including five seal species, massive penguin rookeries of gentoo, Adélies and chinstraps as well as a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. It is nature you will experience up close and personal on frequent excursions inland.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

Planned excursions may include Paulet Island, Brown Bluff and even the southerly Snow Hill Island, where you will observe Weddell and elephant seals, skuas and other seabirds as well as a shocking abundance of penguins.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

Enjoy a hiking tour in Antarctica. Imagine standing high up on a slope, overlooking an ice-filled bay. Wind riffles the surface of the bay, kayaks glide across it. You turn to your partner and smile as you realize that Antarctica was everything that you had imagined it would be. Images of snow, ice, mountains and glaciers dominate our ideas of what we will experience on a voyage to Antarctica. You will introduce you to a new view of Antarctica!

Join us in an optional activity. Imagine the swish of water is it passes your hull, or the clack of brash ice against your paddle blade. Sea kayaking in Antarctica allows you to experience another side of this magnificent destination. Even the smallest piece of brash ice requires a navigation decision that you as skipper of your own little boat will be required to make. Bumping through the ice, gliding across a glassy bay with the mountains and glaciers reflected in the water, or dodging a raft of porpoising penguins are experiences shared by sea kayakers in Antarctica. With a combined role of safety and interpretation, they will guide and introduce you to a slower paced, quieter Antarctica. The kayak excursions will be offered in conjunction with the Zodiac excursions whenever weather conditions permit. Kayak Guides and Adventure Concierges will help to explain the choices of activities at each landing site and provide some suggestions on what to participate in, based on your own interests.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

As you leave this magical place and make your way north, heading again across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage before rounding Cape Horn, you have no doubt that time will be spent sharing and reflecting on the wonderful experiences of the last few days.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

Enjoy your last night on the ship. Share your experience with your fellow travellers or simply relax while you return to Ushuaia. Sailing down the Beagle Channel, you celebrate the conclusion of your polar expedition at a special dinner.

Overnight at Akademik Sergey Vavilov (BLD).

In the early morning, we will arrive back in Ushuaia. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travelers. Guests will be transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport).