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Best of Antarctica: Pristine Wilderness (Ocean Endeavour)

Ocean Cruise

Experience the raw and pure beauty of the Great White Continent on an 11-day expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula. During this magical time, landscapes are at their most pristine as the thawing of sea ice draws you into an unspoiled polar wilderness. Icebergs are at their greatest mass, penguins are busy courting, nest building and squabbling over pebbles. As the Ocean Endeavour edges its way through the fractured ice, maybe entering the narrow, sheer-sided Lemaire Channel, you’re invited onto the bow of the Ocean Endeavour. Scan for Leopard seals on ice fls as you follow the continent’s inhabitants further south into the untouched snowscapes of pristine Antarctica.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

SPECIAL BOOKING CONDITIONS
You are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of AUD1500, USD1000, EUR900, NZD1600, GBP800, CAD1300, CHF900 or ZAR17,000 per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed. Full payment is required 95 days prior to departure.
Please refer to our “Booking and Conditions” section on our website including the special conditions that apply to Antarctica Voyages (Ocean Endeavour)

COVID 19 VACCINATION
COVID-19 vaccination is a pre-embarkation requirement for all guests, staff, and crew on all Ocean Endeavour voyages. We will request a copy of your COVID-19 vaccination status on Day 1

ADVENTURE OPTIONS
Approaching a looming glacier in a sea kayak, strapping on snowshs to reach the best icy viewpoints, capturing the perfect photo of a seal hunting its prey or camping under an Antarctic perpetual twilight – these are just some of the ways you can enrich your exploration of the great White Continent with our additional activities. A range of Paid Adventure Options is available on the Ocean Endeavour, on selected voyages, subject to availability. Your booking agent can assist with availability and pricing.
• Kayaking or Photography Program - Voyage-duration program available on all voyages. Pre-book via your booking agent.
• Day Paddle or Stand Up Paddleboarding- One-off excursion available on all voyages. Pre-book via your booking agent. Additional spaces may be available to book on board via the Expedition Team
• Camping - One-off excursion available on selected voyages. Pre-book via your booking agent.
• Snowshing - One-off excursion available on selected voyages. Book on board via the Expedition Team.

Tour Details Collapse
Tour Provider Intrepid Travel
Number Of Days
11
Price From
$9,847
Start Location
Ushuaia, Argentina
End Location
Ushuaia, Argentina
Age Range
Avg. 30+
Group Size
1 to 200
Tour Style
Comfort
Tour Themes
Adventure, Polar
Physical Rating
Easy to Moderate
Itinerary Expand all
Day 1: Ushuaia, Argentina
Your adventure begins in Ushuaia, Argentina. Nestled within the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, Ushuaia boasts many shops, museums, restaurants and cafes that you can enjoy before your voyage. This Argentine town is the ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. If you feel adventurous, the nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park offers plenty of outdoor activities.
Day 2: Embarkation in Ushuaia
Following your embarkation onto the Ocean Endeavour in the late afternoon, begin your Antarctic journey south, passing through the infamous Beagle Channel. Named after the famed ship on which Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel presents great photo opportunities of landscapes and seabirds.
Days 3-4: At Sea, Drake Passage
Famed for its wild nature, the Drake Passage is unpredictable and always changing. Be sure to spend some time out on one of the Ocean Endeavour's many outer decks soaking up the fresh sea air and feeling the breeze of the roaring forties and furious fifties – waters not yet tamed even by the most intrepid of explorers. Your expedition team will provide insights into your exciting adventure that lies ahead. During these two days on the sea, you will have plenty of time to gaze out at the Southern Ocean, capture photos of the birds circling the Ocean Endeavour and get to know your fellow travellers and expedition team. There is always great excitement on board when the first sighting of land appears, which with favourable sea and weather conditions will be early evening on day four.
Days 5-8: South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula
Your Antarctic adventure truly begins once you have left the Drake Passage behind and the South Shetland Islands come into view, a region that has long captured the attention of explorers. Every visit to Antarctica reveals something unexpecting or new, meaning your expedition will be unlike any other – a unique and personal experience. During your time aboard the Ocean Endeavour, your expedition team and captain will scout for whales and seabirds and alert you to any new sightings. Enjoy in-depth explanations and lectures from your expedition team on the glaciology, history and wildlife of the region as you explore. Even more exciting will be your first land excursion – something you will never forget! Daily Zodiac cruises and shore excursions take you to explore local bays, channels and landing sites with wildlife opportunities always at the forefront of your expedition team's mind. Walk on beaches dotted with penguins, visit penguin rookeries and search for southern seal species, including the fearless penguin eater, the leopard seal. Each day and each landing is different, but every day presents new photo opportunities and sightings, so it won't take long until you know the difference between an Adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguin. You might hike to a penguin rookery one day and take a Zodiac cruise among towering icebergs the next. From coming eye to eye with a humpback whale to the sound of a calving glacier, you will wake up excited each day with a desire to explore this icy wilderness. If you can't get enough and find yourself wanting more, treat yourself to an overnight ice camping experience on land, a snowshing excursion to explore further afield, or a hit the water for a day paddle excursion. An average day onboard begins with a wake-up call from your expedition leader around 7 am, giving you time to prepare for the day before joining your fellow expeditioners for breakfast in the Polaris restaurant. You will usually have two excursions per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with a delicious lunch served on the Ocean Endeavour in between excursions.
Days 9-10: At Sea, Drake Passage
Your journey back across the Drake Passage provides a final opportunity to enjoy the Antarctic air. Be sure to spend some time on the outer decks scouting for whales, watching seabirds, or enjoying a presentation by your expedition team on a wide range of topics. Celebrate the experiences you have shared with your fellow passengers exploring the remarkable world of Antarctica.
Day 11: Disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina
You arrive in the port of Ushuaia in the morning and your expedition team will gather on the deck to farewell you as you disembark the Ocean Endeavour after breakfast. Your morning transfer to Ushuaia airport is included.
Inclusions Expand
Meals: 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners.
Transport: Expedition cruise ship, zodiac.
Accommodation: 1 night comfortable hotel, 9 nights expedition cruise ship.
Welcome Briefing.
Citizen Science Program.
Daily Briefings and Recap.
Onboard Lecture Program.
Guided walking Excursions.
Zodiac Excursion/Cruising.
Citizen Science Program.
Daily Briefings and Recap.
Onboard Lecture Program.
Onboard Lecture Program.
Daily Briefings and Recap.
Citizen Science Program.
Departure Dates Expand
Start End Availability Price
18 Nov 2024 28 Nov 2024 6 $13,130
$10,504
27 Nov 2024 07 Dec 2024 2 $13,210
$10,568

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