Great Explorers and Wildlife
Your Hurtigruten expedition includes an overnight stay in Santiago, Chile, prior to embarkation, return flights in economy class between Santiago and Punta Arenas, Santiago and Punta Arenas airport transfers, the expedition cruise with meals and house beverages in the restaurants, complimentary tea and coffee, Wifi (with limitations due to remote areas visited, and no streaming), complimentary reusable water bottle and a range of included excursions and onboard activities.
Trip Type: Adventure
Day By Day
Day 1 – Santiago de Chile
Your adventure starts with an overnight stay in Santiago, the exciting and diverse capital of Chile. There is much to discover here, from Andean glaciers at the city borders to skyscrapers in the center, lovely colonial architecture and the shores of the fast-flowing Mapacho River.
Day 2 – Santiago to Punta Arenas
Fly early in the morning to Punta Arenas where the vessel awaits, ready for your expedition cruise to Antarctica. Your base camp at sea awaits! Welcome aboard the world’s first hybrid electric–powered expedition ship, the MS Roald Amundsen. On board, you’ll meet the Expedition Team and the crew members, who will take you through a mandatory health and safety meeting, for your safety and that of others. Later that evening, launch into your journey with a welcome dinner. Afterward, take some time to familiarize yourself with the state-of-the-art vessel, designed especially for sustainable voyages in polar waters.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Scenic Beagle Channel
Enjoy cruising the scenic Beagle Channel, surrounded by mountains plunging straight into the icy water. This wild and remote area seems almost undisturbed by humans. Take in the isolated islands, hidden bays and rich wildlife that create one the world´s most beautiful landscapes.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Cape Horn and the Drake Passage
Cape Horn is the southernmost point of South America, and your crew will do their best to make a landing there. The ship will then cross the famed Drake Passage to Antarctica. On the way, enjoy fascinating lectures from the Expedition Team in the Science Center and take advantage of the Wellness Center and other onboard amenities. You’ll also learn how to make your visit as safe and as sustainable as possible and you’ll join Citizen Science programs to help collect data for current scientific research. With so many things to do, your time at sea will fly by.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Drake Passage
Continue the crossing of the Drake Passage. Swing over to the Science Center for helpful tips from the onboard photographer, whose useful advice will greatly improve the quality of your photos.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Antarctica - Another World!
You might have read about Antarctica or watched a documentary or two. You might even have taken detailed notes in the onboard lectures during the crossing. But nothing prepares you for when you see it yourself. Welcome to an endless wilderness of ice, icebergs, and glaciers. A place where nature is king and mortals are mere observers. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. Its stillness is broken from time to time by the only locals on the continent.
The Expedition Team will lead ice-cruising and landings at every opportunity to come ashore and explore the impressive Antarctic scenery. From deck, there are great chances to spot whales. Of course, this is true wilderness, so nature is in charge, but the experienced captain will work with the elements to create the best possible itinerary for the guests adventure.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 – Antarctica, Another World!
Antarctica is home to millions of penguins, and is the feeding ground for thousands of whales. It is a continent dedicated to science and peace, and is protected by the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 which claims, among other things:
- Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only.
- Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation toward that end shall continue.
- Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available.
Antarctica is, in all aspects, isolated from the outside world. Travelers will quickly understand what this means when they experience 'the windiest, coldest, driest, and highest continent.'
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 – Antarctica - Another World
Continue the exploration of Antarctica. Landings are attempted at several sites in the South Shetlands and on the Antarctic Peninsula, aiming to bring you to the incredible diversity of landscapes and rich wildlife on display in this pristine wilderness. With guest safety in mind, nature prevails on all expeditions. Weather, along with ice and sea conditions set the final framework for all operations and places visited.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 – Antarctica - Another World
Continue the exploration of Antarctica. You will have the opportunity to book additional activities on board, such as extended hikes, kayaking through the Antarctic waters, or snowshoing. Wherever you are able to explore, the sights and sounds of Antarctica are sure to stay with you for a lifetime!
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 – Antarctica - Another World
Continue your exploration of Antarctica.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 – Antarctica - Another World
Enjoy the last day in Anarctica, exploring the exiting possibilities nature and wildlife offer.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 – At Sea
After exploring this unforgettable continent, set course for the Falkland Islands. The Expedition Team will brief you about the history and biology of the Islands, point out wildlife from the outer decks and scout for the Albatrosses that often guide the way. Using the state-of-the-art microscopes in the ship’s Science Center, you can analyze samples taken during the expedition cruise to see another kind of ‘wildlife’ at the cellular level.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 – At Sea
A second day at sea as the vessel continues the journey to the Falkland Islands.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 – The Falkland Islands
After the wilderness of Antarctica, enjoy the contrast provided by Stanley, with red phone boxes, red buses and old pubs. The capital is a good size for roaming the streets on foot, or you can join an excursion to explore the wilderness and wildlife in the surrounding area. The vessel will be docked here throughout the day.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15 – The Falkland Islands
The Falklands are teeming with wonders of nature, with fantastically clear blue skies, seamless horizons and stunning white sand beaches. As you reach the westernmost outposts in the Falklands, you will see remote farms that have been family-owned for generations. Penguins waddle along the beaches here, often coming close to you to take a look out of curiosity, and even posing for photos! Conditions permitting, you will be able to go ashore to explore the area on hikes and to spot some of the many bird species that live there.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16 – The Falkland Islands
Enjoy one final day exploring the Falkland Islands before heading back to the mainland!
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17 – The Magellan Strait
Completing the loop of the Magellan Strait, spend time with your fellow travelers in the Science Center, recapping all that you have experienced on this expedition cruise. Make sure you spend some time on deck looking for wildlife.
Starting Accommodation: MS Roald Amundsen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18 – Punta Arenas to Santiago de Chile
Arrive back in Punta Arenas in the morning, where you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Santiago de Chile and the end of your expedition.
Meals: Breakfast
Pricing
Package Level: Deluxe |
Pricing for this package is on request. Please call a Swain Destinations Specialist to customize this journey. |
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