Uitgebreid dagprogramma

De schepen
Deze reis wordt uitgevoerd met de MV Plancius. Klik voor meer scheepsinformatie op de naam van het schip.

De voertaal aan boord is Engels. Onderstaande reisbeschrijving voor seizoen 2010-2011 is in het Engels. (De eerste reis van seizoen 2010-2011 van 18 oktober tot 4 november duurt 18 dagen, bezoekt alleen South Georgia en niet Antarctica en de Falklands en start in Montevideo, Uruguay. Onderstaande reisbeschrijving geldt niet voor deze reis.)
Day 1
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located in the shadow of the Andes and right at the Beagle Channel shore. We'll sail through this scenic waterway during the afternoon.

Day 2
At sea, in the wester lies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

Day 3
A typical itinerary in the Falklands - South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula could be as follows. This is a sample only, the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.
In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us instead views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons. In addition, on Saunders we will be able to observe Rockhopper Penguins, Black-browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.

Day 4
In Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we can experience Falkland culture, which has some South- American characteristics as well as Victorian charm.
In Stanley and surrounding area we can see a quite important number of stranded clippers from a century ago.

Day 5 & 6
At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.

Day 7 - 10
In South Georgia we shall visit the bay of Elsehul, with it´s very active fur seal breeding beach, and then take course to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour and Cooper Bay to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Elephant seals, King and Macaroni Penguins. At Fortuna Bay we might try to follow in the footsteps of the great British Explorer Ernest Shackleton and hike over to Stømness Bay. There and at Grytviken we'll see and abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken we´ll also offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton´s grave near by. One of the highlights might be our visit to Prion Island, where we will witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays.

Day 11
At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds. At some point we might encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we might have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like the Maccormick Skua, Snow Petrel and the elusive Emperor Penguin.

Day 12
We are aiming for a visit at Orcadas station, an Argentinean base located in the South Orkney Islands. The friendly base personnel will show us their facilities and we can enjoy the wonderful views of the surrounding glaciers.

Day 13
At sea.

Day 14 - 16
We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Paulet Island with a million pairs of Adelie Penguins and the remains of the Nordenskiöld  expedition. At Brown Bluff we can put our feet on the continent.
At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson's Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune's Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. In the afternoon we may  land at Half Moon Island, where we can obsereve Elephant, Weddell and Fur Seals as well as Chinstrap Penguins, Blue-eyed Shags, Wilson's Storm Petrels, Kelp Gulls, Snowy Sheatbills, Antarctic Terns and Antarctic Brown Skuas.
On our way West, we sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. Time and conditions allowing we hope to be able to sail further South to Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay and through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large Whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.

Day 17 - 18
On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

Day 19
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

Voor alle reizen geldt dat de route afhankelijk is van weersomstandigheden en ijsgang.

De voertaal aan boord is Engels. Onderstaande reisbeschrijving voor seizoen 2010-2011 is in het Engels en is van de eerste reis van seizoen 2010-2011 van 18 oktober tot 4 november. Deze reis duurt 18 dagen, bezoekt alleen South Georgia en niet Antarctica en de Falklands en start in Montevideo, Uruguay

Day 1: Montevideo, Uruguay
In the afternoon, we embark in Montevideo. We set sail to South Georgia.

Day 2 – 5: at sea
At sea, across the Southern Atlantic Ocean, in the Westerlies the ship is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels. At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.

Day 6 – 14: Sailing around and skiing across South Georgia
An exciting expedition with two adventure options: the normal sea voyage for “sea explorers” (with zodiac excursions hiking options) and a land expedition for “ski explorers”! The sea explorers will circumnavigate the Island in 9 days (23 - 31 October), while at the same time the ski explorers will attempt to traverse the Island on a self supplied ski trek from the South coast (King Haakon Bay) to the North coast (Stromness Bay) in  4 to 5 days (23 - 28 October).
Ski trek across South Georgia: a group of up to 12 ski explorers and 2-3 mountain guides will attempt to traverse on an unsupported and self supplied trek across the island with skis (or snowshoes) hauling pulkas (sledges). The skiers will cover a total distance of 40 – 50 km retracing sections of the historic Shackleton route, which he covered in 36 hours.
On arrival day at King Haakon Bay, the expedition members will spend a night close to the shore preparing for the crossing. The expedition will then embark on their trek across alpine passes and glaciers aiming for reunion with the ship at Stromness Bay. After both expeditions have rejoined, all passengers will then continue to enjoy the latter part of the South Georgia cruise itinerary (29 – 31 October).
Sea voyage around South Georgia: The sea explorers who remain on board will wave the skiers “bye-bye” at Pegotty Bluff, the historic camp site. It was from where on the 19th May 1916 that Shackleton, Crean and Worsley set off across the Island to Stromness in a marathon trek of 36 hours.  The same day, Plancius, will stop over at Cape Rosa, where we intend to make a landing. Shackleton’s James Caird landed at Cape Rosa after an epic 16 days voyage from Elephant Island. Truly a historic day!
During the night at sea we will pass Cape Disappointment (discovered by James Cook in 1775) and the expedition will reach the South East corner of South Georgia .  Drygalski Fjord is a great scenic place for zodiac cruising, we hope to land at Cooper Bay. During the next few days the expedition will explore the beaches of Gold Harbour, Royal and St. Andrews Bay. The sites that we visit give us a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like like King and Macaroni Penguins, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Elephant Seals and the introduced reindeer.
With zodiacs we explore more closely the glacier front of Nordernskjöld glacier and the shorelines of Maiviken and Cumberland West Bay.
There will be opportunities for walkers in the group to hike at Godthul, Maiviken, Gold Harbour and Stromness. All hiking excursions are subject to weather and landing site availability. Hikes will be guided and vary in length with approx 2 – 4 hours, 5 – 10 km.
At Stromness Bay, the abandoned whaling village, the walkers amongst the sea explorers might want to follow a shorter section of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final leg of his epic hike. The path will take us to “Shackleton Waterfall”, total distance 5 km, 2 hours walking. The terrain is boggy and some small rivers might have to be crossed (sandals and walking poles very useful!).
In Stromness, the ship will most likely re-unite with the ski explorers. With all passengers onboard the ship will then set sail to Fortuna Bay to anchor for the night. The beaches are inhabited by King Penguins and seals. We might even see reindeer! At Grytviken we will also see an abandoned whaling village, where King Penguins now walk in the streets and seals have taken over the buildings. At Grytviken we’ll also offer a visit to the Whaling History Museum as well as to Shackleton’s grave near by. One of the final highlights might be our visit to Prion Island, where we will witness the breeding efforts of the huge Wandering Albatross and enjoy watching their displays. At Salisbury Plain, the second largest King Penguin colony at South Georgia, we will also see elephant seals. The voyage around South Georgia ends at the bay of Elsehul, with its very active fur seal breeding beach. From there we take course to Ushuaia, South America.

Day 15 – 17: at sea
On our way to Ushuaia we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Southern Atlantic.

Day 18: Ushuaia / Argentina
We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.