Antarctic Dream Itinerary
This itinerary serves as a guideline only. The exact route and programme varies according to the weather conditions at the time. Flexibility is the key to the expeditions made by the M/V Antarctic Dream.
Day 1: Ushuaia – Argentina
Board the "Antarctic Dream” where you will be greeted by your Expedition Leader and staff and shown to your cabin. Check-in begins at 2.30pm. Departure is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Days 2 to 3: Drake Passage
Wandering albatrosses, storm petrels and other seabirds will escort the vessel as you sail south across this famous passage named after Sir Francis Drake, the 16th-century English navigator. Continue towards the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zone. In 1819, the British explorer William Smith described the South Shetland Islands as "barren and covered with snow, with seals in abundance". Yet mosses and lichens thrive during the short summer at the low-lying peninsulas of these rugged islands located directly adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula.
(You are almost guaranteed to be seasick during the crossing of the Drake Passage. There is nothing much to be done about this, except take the sickness pills and know that everyone else is in the same boat)
Day 4: King George Island
King George Island will give you an early taste of what the Antarctic really is. It is the biggest island of the South Shetlands. You will disembark in Potter Bay and also at Aitcho Island which is in between Greenwich and Robert Islands. You should be able to see Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins as well as Weddell Sea seals and sea elephants before continuing with the crossing of the Brainsfield and Gerlache Straits to enter Andvord Bay where you find Neko Bay.
Day 5: Neko Bay
Besides the magnificent scenery of mountains, snow and ice, you can expect to see a wide variety of the native wildlife including Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguins, which occupy rookeries ranging from a few pairs to many thousands. Other birds to look out for are blue-eyed shags, gulls, Cape petrels, skuas, snowy sheathbills and Antarctic terns. Marine mammals that you are likely to see include Weddell crab-eaters and leopard seals while Orcas, humpback and also mink whales may be spotted at close range.
The program includes your first landing on the White Continent (Neko Bay) and another on Gaudier Island. Neko Bay was discovered by Adrian de Gerlache, a Belgian explorer between 1897 and 1899 and it is called Neko after the Norwegian whaleship which operated in this area from 1911 to 1912 and from 1923 to 1924. Gaudier Island is close to Wienecke Island in the Antarctic Peninsula and was the principle base of the 1944 Tabarin Operation - the scientific research included the Antarctic`s first ionosphere measurements and also the first recording of an atmospheric whistle.
Day 6: Pleneau - Petermann Island
Sail south through the narrow Lemaire Channel whose high, sheer cliffs suggest that no passage could be found. Once through the channel, known as one of the most beautiful places in the world, and provided climate and ice conditions are good enough, you will be able to visit Petermann Island which is the most southern land point of our expedition. Here you will disembark and you will be able to see the most southern colony of Gentoo penguins which nest near the landing spot. On this island you will also be able to see a colony of beautiful Adelei penguins, skuas and blue-eyed shags. From here you should have the opportunity to take our zodiacs and visit impressive ice formations.
Day 7: Paradise Bay – Cuverville Island
At this point of the program you will begin your return voyage. During the morning and “if weather permits”, you will disembark or use the zodiacs in Paradise Bay. This is one of the most striking places of the whole Antartctic Peninsula. Here glaciers tumble into the sea, icebergs break off and are later carved into wonderful shapes by the wind.
In the evening you will visit Cuverville Island. Beside its dramatic scenery it is home to a large colony of nearly 5,000 pairs of Gentoo Penguins and other breeding birds including Giant, Wilson, White and Painted petrels while on its beaches seals and sea wolves. This rocky island is on the north side of the Errera Channel, between Ronge Island and the Arctowski Peninsula.
Day 8: Deception Island – Whaler`s Bay – Pendulum Cove
Continue sailing to Deception Island which is at the northwest side of the Peninsula.
During the morning you will try to disembark in Whaler`s Bay and Pendulum Cove. In the afternoon and depending on weather conditions we will disembark at Livingstone Island (Hannah Point). This is one of the best places in the Antarctic to see fauna and you should see Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, skuas and blue-eyed shags. With luck you should also see sea elephants.
Days 9 to 10: Drake Passage
Today, you will leave the Antarctic and head north back across the Drake Passage. Now is the chance to compare and revise notes and dwell on the adventures of the past week, to take in the final lectures and to enjoy the delicious gastronomy on board as you return to Ushuaia.
Day 11: Ushuaia, Argentina
After and early breakfast you will land at 9 am and bid farewell to your fellow guests. Thus ends an incredible and unique expedition.
Day 1: Ushuaia – Argentina
Board the "Antarctic Dream” where you will be greeted by your Expedition Leader and staff and shown to your cabin. Check-in begins at 2.30pm. Departure is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Days 2 to 3: Drake Passage
Wandering albatrosses, storm petrels and other seabirds will escort the vessel as you sail south across this famous passage named after Sir Francis Drake, the 16th-century English navigator. Continue towards the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zone. In 1819, the British explorer William Smith described the South Shetland Islands as "barren and covered with snow, with seals in abundance". Yet mosses and lichens thrive during the short summer at the low-lying peninsulas of these rugged islands located directly adjacent to the Antarctic Peninsula.
(You are almost guaranteed to be seasick during the crossing of the Drake Passage. There is nothing much to be done about this, except take the sickness pills and know that everyone else is in the same boat)
Day 4: King George Island
King George Island will give you an early taste of what the Antarctic really is. It is the biggest island of the South Shetlands. You will disembark in Potter Bay and also at Aitcho Island which is in between Greenwich and Robert Islands. You should be able to see Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins as well as Weddell Sea seals and sea elephants before continuing with the crossing of the Brainsfield and Gerlache Straits to enter Andvord Bay where you find Neko Bay.
Day 5: Neko Bay
Besides the magnificent scenery of mountains, snow and ice, you can expect to see a wide variety of the native wildlife including Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguins, which occupy rookeries ranging from a few pairs to many thousands. Other birds to look out for are blue-eyed shags, gulls, Cape petrels, skuas, snowy sheathbills and Antarctic terns. Marine mammals that you are likely to see include Weddell crab-eaters and leopard seals while Orcas, humpback and also mink whales may be spotted at close range.
The program includes your first landing on the White Continent (Neko Bay) and another on Gaudier Island. Neko Bay was discovered by Adrian de Gerlache, a Belgian explorer between 1897 and 1899 and it is called Neko after the Norwegian whaleship which operated in this area from 1911 to 1912 and from 1923 to 1924. Gaudier Island is close to Wienecke Island in the Antarctic Peninsula and was the principle base of the 1944 Tabarin Operation - the scientific research included the Antarctic`s first ionosphere measurements and also the first recording of an atmospheric whistle.
Day 6: Pleneau - Petermann Island
Sail south through the narrow Lemaire Channel whose high, sheer cliffs suggest that no passage could be found. Once through the channel, known as one of the most beautiful places in the world, and provided climate and ice conditions are good enough, you will be able to visit Petermann Island which is the most southern land point of our expedition. Here you will disembark and you will be able to see the most southern colony of Gentoo penguins which nest near the landing spot. On this island you will also be able to see a colony of beautiful Adelei penguins, skuas and blue-eyed shags. From here you should have the opportunity to take our zodiacs and visit impressive ice formations.
Day 7: Paradise Bay – Cuverville Island
At this point of the program you will begin your return voyage. During the morning and “if weather permits”, you will disembark or use the zodiacs in Paradise Bay. This is one of the most striking places of the whole Antartctic Peninsula. Here glaciers tumble into the sea, icebergs break off and are later carved into wonderful shapes by the wind.
In the evening you will visit Cuverville Island. Beside its dramatic scenery it is home to a large colony of nearly 5,000 pairs of Gentoo Penguins and other breeding birds including Giant, Wilson, White and Painted petrels while on its beaches seals and sea wolves. This rocky island is on the north side of the Errera Channel, between Ronge Island and the Arctowski Peninsula.
Day 8: Deception Island – Whaler`s Bay – Pendulum Cove
Continue sailing to Deception Island which is at the northwest side of the Peninsula.
During the morning you will try to disembark in Whaler`s Bay and Pendulum Cove. In the afternoon and depending on weather conditions we will disembark at Livingstone Island (Hannah Point). This is one of the best places in the Antarctic to see fauna and you should see Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, skuas and blue-eyed shags. With luck you should also see sea elephants.
Days 9 to 10: Drake Passage
Today, you will leave the Antarctic and head north back across the Drake Passage. Now is the chance to compare and revise notes and dwell on the adventures of the past week, to take in the final lectures and to enjoy the delicious gastronomy on board as you return to Ushuaia.
Day 11: Ushuaia, Argentina
After and early breakfast you will land at 9 am and bid farewell to your fellow guests. Thus ends an incredible and unique expedition.
