Antarctic Expedition - Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula

Fitness and Experience

• The Antarctica Adventure offers a truly unique and memorable experience for people with a sense of adventure
• It is the perfect introduction to the White Continent. Between your departure from and return to the port of Ushuaia, Argentina, you will experience the wildlife and scenic highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands
• Please ensure that you make mention of any medical conditions upon booking

What to Bring/Wear

• Clothing - Active travellers typically own most of the clothing items necessary for a polar voyage
• Below is a list of the essential items expedition members will need
• Comfortable, casual clothing is the best choice
• Travellers should dress in layers, to ensure warmth and comfort
• Gloves Hat and scarf Waterproof pants or trousers
• Quick-dry socks, plus, warm, long wool or cotton socks to wear over a thin pair of silk, or polypropylene socks
• Waterproof, light backpack or a dry bag to line a backpack
• Hiking boots
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Additional detailed suggestions are provided in the pre-departure kit

What is Supplied

Pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Ushuaia, Argentina, for 1 night with breakfast

Shipboard accommodation in your choice of cabin occupancy and category

All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board the ship throughout the voyage, including a complimentary glass of house wine with dinner

All shore landings and excursions by Zodiac according to the daily onboard program

Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings and other activities arranged by the Expedition Team

Formal and informal educational presentations by our Expedition Team as scheduled during the voyage

A digital post-expedition log combining narrative, photography and video

A specially designed expedition parka to keep

The loan of a pair of rubber boots for the duration of the voyage (so you don’t have to pack any)

Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic book

Transfer fro the hotel to the ship on embarkation, and from the ship to the airport on disembarkation — plus all baggage handling aboard the ship

All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program

More Information

FURTHER ADVENTURES FOR SELECTED TOURS:

SEA KAYAKING Exploring the Peninsula by kayak is an unforgettable experience: plying inlets and waterways, you encounter penguins at water level and glide past massive icebergs, raising your paddle to hear the intense silence. We provide ideal kayaks for this environment: 5 m (16 ft) rudder-equipped Prijon tandem models, which are stable, tough and surprisingly comfortable. Up to 10 travellers per voyage will enjoy at least four kayak excursions, each led by two highly qualified instructors - with a Zodiac safety boat in constant communication, ready to assist if necessary. Possible kayaking sites include Hannah Point/Aitcho Islands, Deception Island, Port Lockroy, Neko Harbor, Paradise Bay and Lemaire Channel. Sea Kayaking: $595 supplement per person.

ICE CAMPING Join the select few who've camped overnight on the pristine ice shelf of Antarctica. In keeping with Quark's commitment to leave no trace, this is camping at its simplest: an expedition tent and sleeping bag; no fire or meals (you eat aboard the ship before we land); and around you the deepest silence imaginable, broken only by the call of a boastful penguin or the crack of ice breaking in the distance. Your Expedition Team handles all logistics for up to 20 campers on a single night ashore (as always, ice and weather permitting). We generally camp near Port Lockroy on the Neumayer Channel, carefully selecting the site to avoid disturbing wildlife or contaminating vegetation. Ice Camping: No supplement. Confirmed at booking on a first-come, first-served basis.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Another unforgettable way to experience the spectacular landscapes of Antarctica is on a pair of cross-country skis. Travelling quickly and quietly under your own power, you can explore deeper into the White Continent than you'd be able to reach on foot, while taking advantage of the long hours of daylight. We supply the equipment and expert guides, you provide the energy, enthusiasm and ideally a bit of previous experience - and together we break trail (subject to weather conditions, of course) through an incredible pristine world of snow and ice. Cross-Country Skiing: $250 supplement per person. Maximum 10 participants.

ICE CLIMBING If gazing up at spectacular Antarctic icebergs isn't awe-inspiring enough, you can always put your mountaineering skills to work and try climbing one of the ice cliffs. Our expert guides provide detailed briefings and all the equipment you need, then offer helpful direction as you climb. If you're up for the challenge, this will add a whole new dimension to your Antarctic adventure. Ice Climbing: $250 supplement per person. Maximum 10 participants. Not Included in the Expedition Rates: Any airfare; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore, unless specifically mentioned, baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges, and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges, telecommunication charges, and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for those who have served you aboard (guidelines will be provided). Parkas are not included for passengers sailing on board M/V Orlova.

A DAY ON BOARD Imagine a comfortable hotel with almost as many staff as guests, spectacular views out of every window, superb international cuisine, and a range of modern facilities. Then imagine the hotel in a new wild and remote location every day, add a team of international experts on everything from polar exploration to birds and marine mammals then throw in once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as a whale breaching alongside your Zodiac.

MORNING ACTIVITIES A typical day - if, indeed, there is a typical day - begins with a friendly wake-up call and breakfast. You will have been briefed the night before, and a detailed daily program will have been delivered to your cabin, so this morning talk is of the adventures ahead. Your first activity might be an entertaining presentation by a worldrenowned expert, or a chance to watch as the ship navigates through the polar landscape. Next, you respond to the call to prepare for the first shore landing of the day.

ZODIAC CRUISING AND SHORE TRANSFERS Every ship carries a fleet of sturdy Zodiacs to transfer you, your fellow travelers, and the expedition staff quickly and safely to otherwise inaccessible shores where you encounter wildlife, and visit historical sites. You may stay ashore for the maximum allotted time - typically from two to four hours depending on the day's itinerary - or you may be ready to return to the ship sooner. Wherever possible, your Expedition Leader tailors excursions to several levels of activity, offering options for long visits, short walks, or Zodiac cruises.

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM You have time to change and refresh before lunch, while the vessel positions to the next spectacular site. From the deck you are treated to an ever-changing landscape. Perhaps you note the sinuous line of a penguin profile and the sharp contrast of its black and white coat, reminding you of the work of an artist, but which one? Through our Artist-in-Residence Program, available on board select M/V Orlova voyages, you learn to see the Antarctic Peninsula in an entirely new way through presentations, and hands-on workshops led by a professional artist. Your afternoon activities might be another shore landing, or a Zodiac cruise through a beautiful icescape, past seals sleeping on ice floes or among whales. By evening the talk is lively and animated as fellow passengers share the day's experiences.

EVENING IN ANTARCTICA Evenings are for relaxing, should you choose. Curl up with a good book, spend a few hours chatting in the bar, or watch a movie. However, exhilarating alternatives may occupy you during the extended hours of an austral summer day. Participate in another shore landing or Zodiac cruise. Interact with one of our experts making a presentation or spend a few more hours on the deck, looking for one more iceberg.