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Patagonia, Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica Odyssey – An Epic 25 Day Expedition

Patagonia, Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica Odyssey – An Epic 25 Day Expedition

From $ 57,011 AUD

Description

Our most comprehensive expedition to the Southern Ocean spans four iconic regions, bringing travelers to remote and seldom-seen locations where wildness and wildlife reign supreme. On this epic adventure aboard the ultimate polar ship, National Geographic Resolution, spend days immersed in the stunning landscapes of Patagonia’s fjords and glaciers; enjoy the windswept Falkland Islands, awash in British charm and history; continue on to the shores of South Georgia, where vast colonies of king penguins throng the beaches; and finish among the otherworldly beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula. Flexibility is the hallmark of our expedition style, so the day-by-day itinerary often changes as we take full advantage of rare wildlife sightings, like whales feeding off the ship’s bow, or perfect conditions to embark on an evening Zodiac excursion.    

Trip Name
Patagonia, Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica Odyssey - An Epic 25 Day Expedition
Days
25
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Ship Passenger Capacity: 126 Built: 2020 A next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation. National Geographic Resolution is a next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation. A twin to National Geographic Endurance, she is a fully stabilized, highly strengthened, ice-class Polar Class 5 (PC5) vessel, it is designed to navigate polar passages year-round, and safely explore uncharted waters, while providing exceptional comfort. Its patented X-BOW® is key to its design; its powerful wave-slicing action provides an extremely smooth ride in even adverse conditions, and even reduces spray on deck, for superior observation. She carries a full suite of expedition tools and offers a variety of experience-enhancing amenities. The luxury of comfort on expedition. National Geographic Resolution comfortably accommodates 126 guests in 69 outside-facing cabins. Cabins are efficiently designed, with sizes range from the 140-square-foot solo cabin to the 430-square-foot category 7 suite. Fifty-three of the 69 cabins, including all 12 of the solo cabins, will feature small balconies with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that bring in the spectacular views and ample natural light.  Comfort & convenience in every room. Every cabin has two portholes, a large window or balcony, and temperature controls. Bathrooms are modern and stocked with botanically inspired hair products, soap, and shower gel, plus a hairdryer. Cabins are equipped with expedition command centers with tablets and USB/mobile device docking, TVs, Wi-Fi connections, and hair dryers. Dining. Food served aboard is fresh, local, and delicious, and sourced from suppliers who share our values of sustainable use whenever possible. Meals aboard are almost always served in the dining room, located aft of the lounge deck. When weather conditions allow, lighter fare may be served on the observation deck. There is no assigned seating and our dining room accommodates the entire expedition community in a single seating. During meals your expedition leader, naturalists, and any guest speakers aboard will join you. Public Areas: Two restaurants, a Chef’s Table for small group dining, Observation Lounge with bar, gym, Wellness area, infinity-style outdoor hot tubs, library, main lounge with full service bar, 24-hour beverage, state-of-the-art facilities for films, slideshows and presentations, and a photo workshop area; plus, an expedition base with lockers for expedition gear, and an “open bridge” for access to our captain, officers and the art of navigation. Meals: Two restaurants, featuring local, sustainable choices and unassigned seating for flexible, inclusive dining; plus a Chef’s table for intimate, small group dining. Main restaurant has 270º views, and the Observation deck restaurant features lighter, made-to-order fare.  Special Features: A full-time doctor, undersea specialist, National Geographic photographer, Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor and video chronicler, an internet cafe and laundry. Wellness: The vessel is staffed by our wellness specialists and features a glass-enclosed yoga studio, gym, treatment rooms and spa relax area, and high- and low-heat saunas with ocean views. Expedition Landing Craft. Key to our operation is our fleet of expedition landing craft, which we use to land in places that would otherwise be inaccessible. With 14 of these boats and two loading stations used every time we disembark, we’re able to transfer guests off the ship quickly, so you can be out on adventures, not idly waiting. The expedition landing craft we use are 19 feet long, powered by four-stroke outboard engines, and are capable of comfortably carrying 10-12 people. They are widely recognized as the safest and most versatile small boats afloat. Remotely Operated Vehicle. Capable of reaching 1,000 feet, far beyond the range of any Scuba diver, the ROV allows you to literally view parts of the undersea that are as unexplored as the moon. Chances are you, like many of our guests, will be struck by how surprisingly colorful undersea life is in these unlikely places. And this glimpse may fundamentally change how you view the ocean. Kayaks. National Geographic Resolution will be equipped with a fleet of kayaks large enough to ensure everyone who wants to can paddle at every opportunity. Consequently, prior kayaking experience isn’t necessary—many of our guests have their first kayaking experience in extraordinary locations. Our custom-designed floating platform lets us deploy kayaks from the ship, or any location we want—including far from shore. Kayakers are usually free to explore where they want within boundaries set by the undersea specialist and officer of the watch. Underwater camera. Our undersea specialist will dive often during your expedition, even in polar regions, with cold-water gear, to shoot high-definition, Cousteau-like footage of the deep. Colorful nudibranchs, swimming, plant-like crinoids, and mysterious fish with antifreeze blood that thrive in the frigid sea will give you an entirely new appreciation of the marine environment. Video microscope. Naturalists will use the video microscope to help explain all elements of the environment, including tiny organisms that are the building block of the marine ecosystem. Spellbinding live views of krill at 80x magnification fills the high-definition screens in the lounge with vivid detail, and fills every onlooker with a sense of wonder at the importance of otherwise unobservable creatures. Hydrophone. This underwater microphone is deployed to listen to the vocalizations of marine mammals. Real time transmissions of their eerie, haunting sounds can be broadcast through the ship or recorded for later playback. Few experiences in nature are as captivating as watching humpback whales feed close to the ship as their vocalizations play through the ship’s PA system. Electronic charts. An electronic chart showing the ship’s location, course, and speed is almost always on display in the lounge. Open bridge. You’ll find our captains are engaged, knowledgeable members of your expedition who are eager to share their passion with you. National Geographic Resolution's open bridge features comfortable spaces to sit, enjoy the view, drink your morning coffee, or simply chat with the officers. Snorkeling gear & wetsuits. On warm weather itineraries where there will be snorkeling, you’ll select a mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit that remain yours for the duration of the expedition. There’s no need to pack and tote your own gear, although guests who prefer to are welcome to bring their own.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Santiago, Chile
Transfer from the airport to the Ritz Carlton, Santiago (or similar). Arrival Time: Arrive before 11:30 a.m. local time. Arrival City: Santiago, Chile   
Day 2 - Day 2 Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark Ship
Today we fly south on our recommended flight to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost inhabited city, where we meet our ship; we’ll provide transfers to the airport and hotel and luggage assistance.**If you are not purchasing our recommended flight, please get in touch with us to confirm your arrangements.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Days 3-5 Exploring the Chilean Fjords
Sail into southern Patagonia’s vast wilderness of forested isles, mirror-like lakes, and snowcapped peaks. Myriad fjords cut between soaring granite walls and waterfalls tumble from high above. Explore the region known as Chile’s “Glacier Alley,” part of the UNESCO-recognized Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. Cruise into the secluded Pia Fjord, admiring views of its massive glacier; and glide into Garibaldi Fjord in Alberto de Agostini National Park, where the Andes meet the sea. Get up close to the monumental wall of ice that marks the edge of Garibaldi Glacier, exploring by Zodiac or kayak. Continue to Agostini Fjord, where numerous glaciers originate from the nearby mountains, for a chance to witness thunderous glacial calving.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Days 6-7 Bahia Ainsworth / Tierra del Fuego: Karukinka Natural Park / At Sea
Today begins in Ainsworth Bay, a stunning fjord surrounded by subpolar forest at the base of Marinelli Glacier, where we’ll keep an eye out for elephant seals. Then cruise to Tierra del Fuego and venture into the archipelago’s largest protected land area: Karukinka Natural Park. Visit this private reserve by special permission, searching for an array of wildlife that includes Andean foxes, guanacos, and black-browed albatross.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Days 8-9 Falkland Islands
Everything we love about expedition travel seems to come together in the western Falkland Islands. Here, you can land on a beach tucked into a rocky cove, hike out across a rolling green pasture, and suddenly find yourself at the crest of a sea cliff looking out over the South Atlantic surf. Witness a breeding colony of black-browed albatross, and check out thousands of irresistible gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins that congregate on the shores, along with fur seals. Stanley, the colorful capital of the Falkland Islands, is a wonderfully unexpected place: a charming outpost of British culture tucked into a small bay on the shore of these windswept islands in the far South Atlantic. Many Falkland Islanders still live in very traditional ways, and we’ll have a chance to visit a small farm to see some expert sheep shearing and learn the best techniques for cutting blocks of peat for the fire. The rocky hills and white sand beaches outside town offer some excellent hikes, and afterward, a cup of tea or a pint at the local tavern goes down very nicely.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Days 10-11 At Sea
During our time at sea, learn about the fascinating history of Antarctic exploration, as well as the flora, fauna, and geology of South Georgia. Your naturalists will help identify the seabirds that follow the ship: wandering albatross, prions, and black-browed albatross.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Days 12-15 South Georgia
Simply put, there is nowhere else in the world like South Georgia. Often referred to as the “Serengeti of the Southern Ocean,” for its jaw-dropping abundance of wildlife, this rugged and remote island offers one of nature’s most dazzling spectacles: tens of thousands of king penguins, the second largest species in the world, all nesting together on a single two-mile-long beach. It’s also home to huge elephant seals and playful Antarctic fur seals.  In keeping with the nature of an expedition, our schedule is flexible with opportunities for walking, hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac excursions as we explore South Georgia’s spectacular coastline. Enjoy a variety of activities each day, including visits to Grytviken—the final resting place of Shackleton—and Stromness Harbour, where Ernest Shackleton, Tom Crean, and Frank Worsley finally reached aid at a whaling station.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Days 16-17 At Sea
As we voyage towards the Antarctic Continent, head up to the Bridge to watch for icebergs and observe expert navigation at work as our skilled Captain and officers sail these historic waters. There will also be time to enjoy a massage in the wellness center, work out in the gym, and browse in the library. Each day our naturalists offer talks that add depth to your experience.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Days 18-22 Exploring Antarctica
With long hours of daylight at this time of year, we have ample opportunities to explore. Our schedule is flexible, allowing us to take advantage of the unexpected, whether we’re watching whales at play off the bow of our ship, hiking alongside penguin highways, or enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise amid porpoising penguins. While wildlife is magnificent, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know ice up close and personal—from icebergs the size of islands, bergy bits and near-vertical glaciers, to the fragile, nearly invisible layers that have just begun to freeze. One day, we might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level; embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed shags; or walk amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins. The next, we might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. Everywhere we go in Antarctica we’re surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images. Along the way your expert expedition team will enrich every experience.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Days 23-24 At Sea
This 500-mile-wide strait between the Antarctic Peninsula and South America is one of the most famous bodies of water in the world. Sometimes ferocious, sometimes flat calm, the Drake is always a fascinating place in its own right. This part of the journey is our best opportunity to see gorgeous seabirds like the wandering albatross, and we might be lucky enough to encounter orca whales or rare species of dolphins. Visit the Bridge (a great place to spot wildlife), attend a talk about the biology of the penguins you’ve just seen, or settle into a comfy chair in the observation lounge to look out over the waves and reflect on your incredible journey. Toast our epic voyage at a festive farewell dinner. Savor your final moments aboard ship as we make our way toward Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of the South American continent.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 - Day 25 Ushuaia / Disembark Ship / Santiago
Disembark in Ushuaia and board our recommended flight to Santiago to connect with your flight home; we'll provide transfers to the airport and luggage assistance.**If you are not purchasing our recommended flight, please get in touch with us to confirm your arrangements.Departure Time: Depart after 9:00 p.m. local time. Departure City: Santiago, Chile Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 12 - Please note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

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Inclusions

    • Discover four iconic regions in the company of top naturalists, National Geographic Photography Experts, and the most experienced polar captains in Antarctica, with 55+ years of expedition heritage
    • Navigate Chile’s coastal fjords and explore spectacular Glacier Alley, where monumental glaciers calve into the sea
    • Visit Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands and a charming outpost of British culture tucked into a small bay
    • Observe elephant seals, gentoo penguins, and 100,000 pairs of king penguins on a single beach in South Georgia
    • Seek out Antarctica’s iconic wildlife—including penguins, seals, and orcas—and marvel at incandescent icebergs using our fleet of kayaks and Zodiacs

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