Starting from Ushuaia and ending in New Zealand, this voyage takes you across the Ross Sea, where around one third of the world's population of emperor penguins breeds.
You visit the volcanic Peter I Island; explore the outer fringes of the pack-ice in the Amundsen Sea, and pause at the huts of British explorers Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott. En route you explore Campbell Island, home to the southern royal albatross, and the South Shetland Islands, where you visit enormous rookeries of penguins, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals, and see wallowing elephant seals. You sail on to the Antarctic Peninsula, with plenty of time to experience its magic.
A typical Ross Sea itinerary is shown below, on board Ortelius.
During this voyage passengers are transferred ashore by Zodiac inflatable. If Zodiacs cannot be used the ship's two helicopters will be deployed. Potential locations for helicopter landings are Peter I Island, the Ross Ice-shelf, the Dry Valleys, McMurdo Station, Cape Evans (the site of Scott's hut) and Cape Royds (where Shackleton's hut is located). A total of five helicopter landings are planned, however it is impossible to predict the exact number as the expedition visits some of the world's most remote areas, where the forces of nature, weather and ice conditions may all affect helicopter usage.
Both trips are of identical duration i.e. 31 nights / 32 days. However, if you look at the dates of operation, it appears that one lasts for 32 nights, while the other lasts for only 30 nights. This is due to the effect of crossing the International Date Line at 180⁰ longitude. At this point one day is added to the trip that heads from Argentina to New Zealand, while one day is deducted from the reverse trip.
The full itinerary detail is available on our website.
Please note: Some trips operate in reverse, starting from Bluff, near Invercargill, and ending in Ushuaia, Argentina. The itinerary is the same as described above, but in the opposite direction. Exact itinerary and duration will depend on your chosen vessel, departure date and local conditions.
This is a group trip with fixed departure dates. Please refer to our website for further information.
This trip has no fixed departures but restrictions may apply - check operator website
** If you see this next to a price, a specific price in your currency has not been provided, this is an estimated-only price based on a currency conversion, the price you pay may be different to that shown
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