Shackleton's Antarctica: Alternative departure
Trace the steps of an epic and heroic journey. Let us take you on a fantastic voyage of discovery to the world’s last great wilderness, once the preserve of intrepid pioneers and explorers such as Sir Ernest Shackleton, in honour of whom this exciting journey is named.
Also included
- Return scheduled flights to Buenos Aires
- Transfers between airport, hotel and pier
- Internal flight Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
- 17-night cruise aboard MS Fram
- Your choice of cabin throughout the cruise
- Cruise itinerary as specified
- Hotel accommodation as specified, before and after your cruise
- Meals, entertainment and most leisure facilities aboard ship
- Port and airport taxes (except local departure tax from South America)
Accommodation
Hurtigruten’s latest addition to the fleet, MS Fram, is also one of the newest ships sailing the waters of the Antarctic. The name Fram has a strong legacy - it is the name of the ship that Roald Amundsen used for his 1910-1912 South Pole expedition. Aboard you will find everything you need to make your journey of discovery so much more special, from indoor and outdoor observation areas to a restaurant and even two Jacuzzis on the deck! The interior decoration of MS Fram has been inspired by the landscapes of Greenland, with works of art by Greenlandic and Norwegian artists adorning the walls.
Itinerary
Day 1 : UK/Buenos Aires
Depart on your overnight flight to Buenos Aires. Dinner is included.
Day 2 : Buenos Aires
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. You will enjoy a tour of the city en route. The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires is considered to be the most elegant city in South America and is often referred to as the ‘Paris of the Americas’. You will see such famous sights as Plaza de Mayo, where the Casa Rosada (Government House), the Cathedral of Buenos Aires and the tomb of General San Martin, the hero and liberator of Argentina, are situated. You will also visit the La Boca District, renowned for its brightly painted houses it has become an artists’ colony, and the Recoleta cemetery, famous for its beautiful family tombs and the burial place of Eva Peron. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 3 : Ushuaia
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia. On arrival, transfer to the port and board MS Fram for the start of your cruise of Antarctica in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton, one of the last great British Victorian explorers.
Born in 1874, Shackleton joined the Merchant Navy aged 16 and then in 1901 was chosen to go on Scott’s Antarctic expedition aboard Discovery. He returned to the continent in 1908 as the leader of his own expedition aboard Nimrod. On arrival back in Britain, Shackleton was knighted for his achievements. Shackleton’s crowning glory was perhaps his greatest failure - in 1914 he began his third Antarctic expedition aboard Endurance, planning to cross the continent via the South Pole. Early in 1915, Endurance became trapped in the ice, sinking 10 months later. Shackleton and his crew lived on the ice until setting of aboard three small boats in a hunt for land in April 1916. They found Elephant Island, where they camped before Shackleton and five of his crew boarded one of the boats and took 16 days to sail the 800 miles to South Georgia. This was not the end of their epic journey, however. The six men then had to trek across the island, scaling mountains that had never before been climbed, to reach a whaling station. The crew left on Elephant Island were finally rescued in August 1916. Throughout the expedition and all the hardship, not one man lost his life, testament to Shackleton’s skills as a leader. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 4 - 5 : Drake Passage
Cruise towards to the southern tip of Argentina, the Antarctic Peninsula crossing Drake Passage, named after the Elizabethan privateer Sir Frances Drake. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 6 - 8 : Antarctica
Discover the mysterious ‘white continent’ as you experience this spectacular and pristine landscape for yourself. Antarctica is a vast continent, that is more than 99% covered with ice, some of which is three miles thick in places. It’s unforgiving and harsh yet also an incredibly beautiful wilderness.
There will be plenty of opportunity for you to visit penguin colonies, see the majestic icebergs float by, watch seals basking in the sun and maybe spot passing whales. You’ll also learn more about Shackleton and other intrepid polar explorers such as Captain Robert F. Scott and Roald Amundsen. Visit old abandoned whaling stations or research stations manned by scientists, cruise past idyllic bays filled with ice and admire the majestic landscapes to be found at every turn. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 9 - 10 : Cruising at sea
Relax and enjoy the ship's facilities. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 11 - 12 : South Georgia
South Georgia, like the Falkland Islands, is a British Overseas territory. One of the places you can visit during your time here is Grytviken Whaling Station, where you will find the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, who died aboard his ship just off the coast in 1922 early in his fourth and final Antarctic expedition. There will also be plenty of opportunity to view the incredible range of wildlife found here - from seals and penguins to astounding bird life. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 13 - 14 : Cruising at sea
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 15 - 16 : Falkland Islands
Consisting of two main islands and around 700 smaller ones, the Falkland Islands are found just 300 miles from the coast of Argentina. Take the opportunity to join our shore excursions that will introduce you to the variety of wildlife on the islands. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 17 - 19 : Cruising at sea
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 20 : Buenos Aires
Disembark MS Fram in Buenos Aires after breakfast and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 21 : Buenos Aires/UK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 22 : UK
Arrival in the UK.
Please note: All routes and excursions are provisional and subject to weather conditions. Sea and ice conditions may affect itinerary.
Departues
23 Feb 2011 - £4,935
Find out More - Tel Travelsphere on 0845 358 2368
