Argentina & Antarctica, 13 day Program

A 13-day expedition program onboard the MS Fram featuring expert guides, lectures, and PolarCirkel boat landings starting at $5,499

DEPARTURE DATES:
November 26 - December 8, 2008
December 4 - December 16, 2008
December 12 - December 24, 2008
December 20, 2008 - January 1, 2009
December 28. 2008 - January 9, 2009
February 14 - 26, 2009
February 22 - March 6, 2009

Day 1: Depart from your home city.
Depart from your home city on your overnight flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Day 2: Buenos Aires
Morning arrival at the Buenos Aires Airport in Argentina. During the transfer to your hotel, an orientation tour of the city will be given. You have the rest of the day to explore at leisure, or join one of the optional excursions.

Day 3: Buenos Aires-Ushuaia-Embarkation
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. You will enjoy an orientation tour of this popular and attractive resort town, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, rivers, and waterfalls, before boarding MS Fram. In the evening an informative welcome meeting will be held. [B/D]

Days 4-5: The Drake Passage
Less than two days will be spent crossing the Drake Passage. During the crossing numerous lectures will be held on fascinating Antarctica, considered one of the most breathtaking and beautiful continents. You will arrive in Antarctica on Day 5. [B/L/D]

Days 5-9: Antarctica
Antarctica, "The White Continent," is more than half the size of North America. On the Antarctic Peninsula you'll experience the narrow, glacier-lined Lemaire Channel, considered one of most beautiful passages in Antarctica where humpback and killer whales, various penguins, and elephant seals are a common sight and the breathtaking Neumayer Channel, with its majestic cliffs. Visits by PolarCirkel boats will be attempted in various locations (weather permitting), including:

• Whaler's Bay, on Deception Island, with its warm springs and black volcanic sand.
• Half Moon Island, with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, famous for its large chinstrap penguin rookery, kelp gulls and Antarctic terns. Whale spotting is also common here.
• Yankee Harbor, home to a variety of seals and an estimated 4,000 gentoo penguin pairs. It is a common feeding area for whales as well.
• Cuverville Island, boasting the largest known colony of gentoo penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula.
• Neko Harbor, off spectacular Errera Channel, home to hundreds of gentoo penguins, Weddell and elephant seals, is believed to be part of mainland Antarctica.
• Almirante Brown, in Paradise Harbor, named for its beauty, with ice cliffs and floating icebergs, home to gentoo and chinstrap penguins.
• Petermann Island, home of the southernmost gentoo penguin colony, blue-eyed shags and Adelie penguins nest here too.
• Port Lockroy, surrounded by mountains, glaciers and ice shelves, and known for its gentoo penguins and blue-eyed cormorants.
• Wilhelmina Bay, feeding ground for whales and seals.
• Antarctic Sound, where huge mile-long tabular icebergs can be seen. The sound is also home to an estimated half-million Adelie penguins as well as gentoo penguins, leopard seals and killer whales.
• Brown Bluff, on the coast of the Antarctic Sound at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Adelie penguins, gentoo penguins, kelp gulls and Cape petrels can be found here and Weddell seals are regular visitors.
  

Days 9-10: The Drake Passage
While you cross this stretch of water from Antarctica, a series of lectures will be held onboard summing up topics related to Antarctica. [B/L/D]

Days 11: Disembarkation-Ushuaia-Buenos Aires
In the morning, you will reach the Argentinean city of Ushuaia. Ushuaia is reckoned to be the most southerly city in the world and is situated on Tierra del Fuego Island south of the Magellan Strait. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your disposal. [B]

Day 12: Buenos Aires : Return To your home city.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. [B]

Day 13: Arrive In your home city.
Morning arrival in your home city.

Meal codes: [B] Breakfast [L] Lunch [D] Dinner

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