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Antarctica, The Falklands and South Georgia
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Ushuaia (Argentina) – South Atlantic - Falkland Islands – Scotia Sea - South Georgia – Antarctic Peninsula & Islands – Drake Passage – Ushuaia Sample wildlife: Penguins including King & Macaroni, albatrosses including Wandering, Black-browed and Light-mantled Sooty, other tubenoses eg petrels, prions, diving-petrels, storm-petrels and shearwaters etc, various shags, geese, duck including steamer-ducks, waders, skuas, gull and terns plus Falkland & S Georgian endemics. Potential marine mammals include Southern Elephant, Leopard, Weddell, Crab-eater and other seals, Humpback, Orca, Fin, Antarctic Minke and other whales. Dolphins could include Peale’s, Commerson’s and Hourglass. Climate: summer Polar. Accommodation: 90+ passenger comfortable expedition ship. Cabins with, and without private facilities. The ‘ultimate’ itinerary, two guaranteed departures with Dick Filby onboard!
Client quote: ‘ We had a fantastic time, 7 penguins, 5 albatross species and great whale encounters. Dick was a great leader and extremely helpful.’ M&F.S. March 2013
Antarctica is truly like nowhere else on Earth, a continent of dramatic ice-covered mountains, never-ending snowfields, innumerable glaciers and colossal icebergs fractured into fantastic shapes. Captivated and spellbound by the incredible and ever changing beauty of our surroundings, you will thrill to the unique wildlife spectacles that unfold daily on these trips. Throughout these voyages, landings are made at the best areas for wildlife. Sturdy Zodiac inflatables allow us to go ashore at the remotest of places with ease and comfort. The days spent at sea on these trips are a major highlight for wildlife observation too. A key element of our success is that by travelling in a group we will have many keen eyes, ensuring that more birds and cetaceans are spotted than on the average voyage. The January voyage includes a day’s bird watching excursion in Ushuaia to visit our favourite local birding hotspots including several in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, and will seek the local specialities including Magellanic Woodpecker. WildWings have been sending people to Antarctica for over 20 years now and we have learnt that the best bird and wildlife experience needs the right itinerary, on the right ship with the right staff. This new unique partnership with our preferred operator, One Ocean Expeditions, allows us to offer two superb itineraries, both featuring Dick Filby, one of the UK’s most experienced Antarctic tour leaders. Dick will be joining their larger than average expedition teams onboard, and will work closely with the expedition leaders to maximise the wildlife opportunities throughout each voyage. In addition to their expedition staff, One Ocean Expeditions are unique in offering the services of their Adventure Concierges onboard too, to look after every last little detail. There may also be an opportunity on all our special voyages to spend a night, ‘camping’ ashore, for those that wish, a wonderful additional wilderness experience (subject to local conditions on the day). We offer these voyages with extra inclusions (pre-voyage hotel night in Ushuaia) and for the 31st January voyage, a guided birding excursion to the Tierra Del Fuego National Park), now surely is the time to book that life-long dream trip! These voyages offer all the expected birds and mammals of the Antarctic Peninsula including the crossings of the Drake Passage. Chinstrap, Adelie and Gentoo Penguins, Wandering, Royals, Black-browed, Grey-headed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, both Giant Petrels, Southern Fulmar, Cape, (Lesser) Snow, Soft-plumaged, Blue and White-chinned Petrels, Antarctic and Slender-billed Prions, Wilson’s and Black-bellied Storm-Petrels, Common Diving Petrel, Antarctic Shags, Snowy Sheathbill, Chilean, Brown and South Polar Skuas, Dolphin and Kelp Gulls plus Antarctic Terns being the expected birds species. If you are lucky in the Drake Passage other species may include Great-winged, Atlantic, Kerguelan and/or Grey Petrels and down around the ice, Antarctic Petrels can appear at any time. The expected cetaceans on these voyages would be Humpback, Antarctic Minke and Killer Whales plus Peale’s and Hourglass Dolphins but many more species are possible and seen such as Blue, Fin and Southern Right Whales. Other marine mammals should include Weddell, Crabeater, Antarctic Fur and Leopard Seals. In addition to the spectacular wildlife you will also wonder at the ice, its shapes, colours and hues and soak in some of the most amazing scenery on earth in the ever changing light. Photographic (still and video) opportunities are superb throughout. There is no doubt amongst those that have travelled to the Antarctic region on voyages that have included South Georgia - be they birders, naturalists or the general tourist - that they rate this unique island as awesome as the Antarctic itself. The scenery is incredible; the penguin rookeries immense - how King Penguins are usually everybody’s favourite. You have not lived until you have seen nesting Wandering Albatrosses. The beaches filled wall-to-wall with Fur Seals have to be seen to be believed. Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses are the most haunting of all the albatross, and that the sea crossing, filled with birds and often whales, is a major highlight in itself. Preceded with the splendours of the Falklands, and followed with the best of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetlands, this is truly the ultimate Antarctic trip. Most people only do one Antarctic trip in their life, and, if they do not include South Georgia, then they may always regret it. There is no doubt that we consider this to be the perfect itinerary for the trip of a lifetime. As we travel, we will also marvel at the exploits of the early explorers, especially Shackleton, and in particular his incredible open boat journey from Elephant Island culminating in the traverse of South Georgia to save his men. All this they accomplished without the help of modern navigation aids or high performance clothing. These voyages include the Falklands and South Georgia therefore offers additional species such as King, Macaroni and Magellanic Penguins, albatross colony visits, Gray-backed Storm-Petrel, Georgian Diving Petrel, South Georgia Shag, Sub-Antarctic Skua plus ‘land’ endemics such as Falklands Flightless Steamer Ducks, South Georgia Pintail and Pipit, Striated Caracara etc. We also plan to sail through the northern Weddell Sea on our way down to Antarctica and will look for larger tabular bergs, which may contain resting flocks of thousands of Antarctic and Snow Petrels (as were seen in 2010). Additional marine mammals should include Commerson’s Dolphins, South American Sea Lions and Southern Elephant Seals. The vessel for these expedition cruises will be one of our favourite ships, either the Vavilov, or her sister, Ioffe. With a maximum passenger capacity of about 90, we can expect to make two landings and/or Zodiac cruises each day. These vessels offers a number of advantages over the 50 or so passenger ships, not least their larger size meaning greater stability on the open ocean, very important for maximising sea watching on the crossings of the Drake Passage and Scotia Sea. They are very stable and a ‘scope and tripod can often be used on deck, whilst at sea! Originally built for scientific polar exploration, they have lots of open deck space in all directions, ideal for sea-watching and photography and are very quiet too, allowing for closer encounters with cetaceans. These ships have a high ice-class rating, and their experienced staff and crew are dedicated to ensuring that you have a successful, comfortable, safe and enjoyable trip and that you see as much of the wildlife as possible. The Zodiac drivers will take us safely ashore, and also on more leisurely cruises as well, so we gain an even more intimate and unique perspective of the seabirds and marine mammals in this stunning wilderness. The atmosphere on board is relaxing and informal and meals are taken at a single open sitting in the spacious dining room. Western chefs produce an international choice of cuisine throughout the voyage. At certain points during your voyage a speedy or take away dining option maybe available to minimise time in the dining room and maximise time on deck for those that wish. The cabins are comfortable and all have an outside view (porthole or window), desk and chair plus storage space and power points. All cabins (except the triples) include bathrobes, toiletry kits, a hairdryer and a tea/coffee maker. In addition, the suites also have a CD player/mini-stereo with Ipod dock (and use of the ship’s CDs), snack basket and bottle of wine on embarkation, vanity kit plus use of binoculars and a wildlife book Other on board facilities include an fitness room, sauna and polar plunge pool, lounge, presentation room, multi-media room, gift shop and a well-stocked library. The mud-room allows boots and outdoor coats to be kept by the Zodiac gangways. The spacious bridge is usually open for those who wish to learn about navigation, see the ship's charts, or simply sea watch in comfort and is stocked with wildlife ID guides and spare pairs of binoculars. The November voyage also includes Bruce Pearson onboard as ‘artist in residence’, one of the UK’s (and arguably the world’s) best living wildlife artists. Bruce’s love of the southern oceans and it’s wildlife goes back many years and is celebrated in his recently published book, Troubled Waters, trailing the albatross, an artist’s journey (Langford Press). Bruce will be joining Dick and the larger than average expedition team onboard. He will give lectures and hold workshops throughout the voyage, giving tips and advice on drawing and painting. WildWings will make a donation equivalent to 5% of the voyage price (between £373 to £606 per passenger, depending on booked cabin type) to the Birdlife International ‘Save the Albatross Campaign’ (administered in the UK by the RSPB) for each passenger who books on this special voyage with Bruce. Whether you are a serious birder, a keen naturalist, or just want to see the most incredible place on earth, don't miss this chance to join the best leader on the best ship, on the ultimate itinerary…… Itinerary Day 1: Arrive Ushuaia, overnight hotel. NB: The exact voyage itineraries are subject to ice, weather and local conditions at the time.
Voyage Information 2013 Antarctica, the Falklands & South Georgia (Vavilov) 22nd November – 10th December 2013 Leaders: The ship’s expedition team including Dick Filby & Bruce Pearson. Special inclusions – Pre-cruise night hotel in Ushuaia. 5% discount if 50% of the balance is paid within 30 days of booking! Prices per person sharing:
Single cabins 1.5 twin share price. WildWings will make a donation equivalent to 5% of the voyage price (between £373 to £606 per passenger, depending on booked cabin type) to the Birdlife International ‘Save the Albatross Campaign’ (administered in the UK by the RSPB) for each passenger who books on this special voyage with Bruce. Voyage Information 2014 Antarctica, the Falklands & South Georgia (Ioffe) 31st January – 18th February 2014 Leader: The ship’s expedition team including Dick Filby. Special inclusions – Pre-cruise night hotel in Ushuaia plus birding excursion to Tierra Del Fuego National Park on day of sailing. Win your berth back! Book by 30/6/13 and you will be entered into our Prize Draw! 5% discount if 50% of the balance is paid within 30 days of booking! Prices per person sharing:
Single cabins 1.5 twin share price. Exchange rate £1 = US$1.55 Price includes: Accommodation and all meals aboard ship (with free tea and coffee 24 hours), port taxes, Zodiac landings, services of WildWing’s Dick Filby (plus Bruce Pearson on the 22nd November voyage) and ship’s expedition staff including lecture and film programmes at sea, pre-voyage WildWings hotel night in Ushuaia (with breakfast), WildWings birding excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park in Ushuaia with picnic lunch led by a top English-speaking local bird and wildlife guide (31st January voyage only), daily sea watching sessions (at sea), evening checklist, use of onboard library, WildWings pre-tour information pack and day-by-day checklist of mammals and birds, group transfers in Ushuaia to and from ship, souvenir voyage CD log and free onboard wet weather gear and boot loan onboard Deposit: £1200 per person A colour brochure with more information about the ship is available plus our full recce tour report and species list from the February 2010 voyage to Antarctica, The Falklands and South Georgia is our website or available from us. The 2011, 2012 & 2013 species list are also available online. Single cabins 1.5 twin share price.
A colour brochure with more information about the ship is available plus our full recce tour report and species list from the February 2010 voyage to Antarctica, The Falklands and South Georgia is our website or available from us. The 2011 & 2012 species list are also both available online. |
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