The focus of this expedition is on exploring the icy wilderness of Antarctica during its summer season, seeing its stunning landscapes and meeting some of its heart-warming wildlife.

Buenos Aires, Ushuaia and the Drake Passage

After a night in sensuous Buenos Aires, you’ll fly to Ushuaia to embark on hybrid-powered MS Fridtjof Nansen. We then sail south and cross the Drake Passage to Antarctica. In this part of the world, sea ice, wind, waves and weather conditions are hard to predict. That’s why we adjust to the elements and modify our plans as we go, to give you the best possible experience for the conditions at the time.

A different world

The icescapes and wildlife of Antarctica change with the seasons. Late spring in October and November means more snow and pristine landscapes, though whales are relatively rare. Penguins court and nest these months, with the eggs hatching into cute bundles of feathers by December and January. February and March are the peak of whale-watching opportunities when large amounts of krill lure them to the area. Whichever period you visit, the Expedition Team will be your living, breathing encyclopaedias, sharing their extensive knowledge about the history, wildlife and science of the area. You can join them in included and optional activities to really discover the secrets and magic of the frozen continent.

ITINERARY:-

DAY 01: 03 DEC Departure from Kolkata

Journey Begins…..
Assemble at the Kolkata Airport 3 hrs prior to your scheduled flight to Mumbai. Meet your local representative who will brief you about the upcoming travel.

DAY 02: 04 DEC The beat of Buenos Aires -Feel the rhythm of bustling Buenos Aires

An overnight stay in Buenos Aires is the ideal way to start your Antarctic adventure. Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or ‘people of the port’, this city is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendour and Latin American panache. There are plenty of places to explore, including many parrillas serving authentic Argentine steak. Or maybe you’d like to practise your dance moves in the famous hometown of the tango. Why not consider arriving a few days early to see all this vibrant city has to offer with our optional Pre-Programme.

DAY 4 & 5: 6 - 7 DEC Get set for Antarctica -Cross the Drake Passage FULL BOARD

In order to get to Antarctica, we have to cross the infamous Drake Passage. It was named after the English sea captain and privateer Sir Francis Drake who discovered it by chance in 1578 when his ship was taken south by heavy winds. Since there is no landmass at this latitude, wind and water roam freely, making it hard for ships to sail here. But don’t worry, even the ‘Drake Shake’ isn’t a big deal for our modern expedition ship.
It takes two days to cross the roughly 1000-km-wide Drake Passage. So, you’ll have some time on your hands, which is definitely a good thing as there is plenty to do to get ready for your Antarctic adventure. The Expedition Team will start their lecture programme in the Science Center, drawing on decades of experience to teach you how to make your visit as safe and as sustainable as possible. As per IAATO guidelines, we will all wear sterilised rubber boats when ashore and ensure we vacuum our clothing beforehand to remove any possible foreign contaminants. You will also learn about the various hands-on Citizen Science projects you can get involved in, all of which feed into live research and current science.

DAY 11-12: 13-14 DEC DRAKE PASSAGE-Heading back to civilisation FULL BOARD

After having explored remote and wild Antarctica over five days, we will be due to sail back for home. By this point, both your head and your heart will be filled with lifelong memories. You’ll hopefully also have captured many of these special moments on your camera. Crossing back over the Drake Passage, you’ll probably spend the next couple of days going through those pictures just to try and stay in Antarctica a little longer. The Expedition Team will also be doing the same as they recap the journeys many experiences over in the Science Center. Working out is also a great way of processing everything you have seen, or maybe let your mind wander back to Antarctica in the Explorer Lounge and Bar ?

DAY 13: 15 DEC USHUAIA/BUENOS AIRES- Explorers unite! BF, D

Estimated time of arrival is 7:00 AM Your expedition cruise reaches its end as we return to Ushuaia. From here, you join a transfer to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires & then take your onward flight back to India.

DAY 14:16 DEC ON BAORD YOUR RETRUN FLIGHT

DAY 15: 17 DEC Return back to India

Departure date: 4TH DEC 2024