Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands

Upon arrival in Ushuaia, transfer to the hotel. Meet the fellow expeditioners who will join us aboard the Greg Mortimer during a welcome reception. Afterward, connect with Stanford travelers during a special welcome dinner in our hotel.

Enjoy a leisurely morning to rest and an opportunity for free time in town. After lunch, tour the upper area of the city, taking in beautiful panoramic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. In “La Mission” neighborhood, we see many of the homes once owned by the first families to settle in the area. Visit the Prison Museum before transferring to the pier for embarkation.

Settle into our cabins and listen to engaging lectures as the ship sails across the South Atlantic Ocean towards the Falkland Islands.

Today we go ashore in historic Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. This charming town has a distinctly British character with terraced town houses and quaint cottages. Nestled within brightly colored buildings we find cozy cafes, English pubs, souvenir shops and a post office. Visit the historic Dockyard Museum at the waterfront to learn about maritime history in the Falklands.

Our lecture program continues over the course of the next three days at sea. On deck, join naturalists in search of the seabirds and marine mammals that flourish in these nutrient-rich waters.

During our time in South Georgia, we travel in the true spirit of adventure. With flexibility in mind in this ever-changing part of the world, our team of experts together with the captain assess the wind, weather and sea conditions to determine our activities each day. The following is a list of places we hope to visit in South Georgia.

Elsehul Bay
Enjoy time in this beautiful bay, home to thousands of fur seals as well as macaroni penguins, the most numerous of all penguin species.

Salisbury Plain
Here at glacier-flanked Salisbury Plain on South Georgia’s north coast, be awed by the sight and sound of more than 200,000 king penguins congregating and breeding. The area between Elsehul Bay and Salisbury Plain is believed to have more wildlife per square foot than any other place on the planet.

Stromness Bay
Envision Sir Ernest Shackleton and his party arriving at Stromness Bay after their harrowing crossing of the island’s glaciers on foot and take in views of the cliffs and the glacier from which the famous adventurer and his companions descended.

Grytviken
Go ashore to explore the ruins of this once-active whaling station and perhaps send a post card from the small post office. Visit the Grytviken cemetery, the gravesite where Shakleton was laid to rest.

Gold Harbor
Situated at the foot of the Bertrab Glacier, Gold Harbor is often referred to as the “jewel in the island’s crown.” In addition to a large king penguin colony, we’re likely to see fur and elephant seals, gentoo penguins and giant petrels.

After our busy days in South Georgia, recharge with two days at sea attending informative lecturers as we sail across the Scotia Sea towards Antarctica. On deck, join naturalists in search of the seabirds and marine mammals.

Weather permitting, set course for Elephant Island, a half-submerged mountain cloaked with an ice sheet at the outer limits of the South Shetland Islands. We aim to sail past Cape Valentine where Shackleton and his men first made landfall after losing their ship, the Endurance, to pack ice in the Weddell Sea. We hope to follow the coastline six miles west to Point Wild, where the men eventually set up camp under their upturned open boats. If conditions allow, we plan to Zodiac cruise or, if very lucky, make a landing on historic Point Wild.

Explore the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula and its adjacent islands for the next three days. Again, activities will be determined each day to ensure that we take full advantage of as many opportunities as we can. The list below provides a glimpse of the places we may experience (subject to change pending local weather, sea conditions, ice charts, and permitting).

Neko Harbor
In this spectacular harbor gentoo penguins breed, Weddell seals haul out on the beach, and feeding whales often pass by. The nearby glacier is lively, with large calvings crashing thunderously into the bay below.

Paradise Bay
One of the most picturesque locations on the Antarctic Peninsula, Paradise Bay is home to two research stations: Argentina’s Almirante Brown and Chile’s Gonzales Videla. Take a Zodiac cruise or make a landing, pending conditions and station permission.

Lemaire Channel
Cruising the beautiful Lemaire Channel, keep watch for the humpback and minke whales frequently spotted here. This narrow channel is one of the most visually impressive areas of the Antarctic Peninsula. Steep mountain peaks jut out of the sea on both sides, and the waters, frequented by crabeater seals, are often choked with icebergs. A stunning labyrinth of grounded icebergs lies in the shallow waters west of Pleneau Island, making for a thrilling Zodiac cruising experience.

Port Lockroy
Port Lockroy has been known as a safe anchorage following its use by the whaling fleets of the early 20th century and for this reason was selected to be the first British base to establish a year-round British presence in Antarctica. Today, we find a museum, post office and small gift shop on the island.

Disembark the Greg Mortimer today at King George Island and fly to Punta Arenas. King George Island is located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands. Flexibility is key as our exact flight departure time will depend on weather and visibility. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel for dinner.

After what is sure to be the trip of a lifetime, depart on independent flights home.