Snow Hill Island – Icebreaker Voyages

The largest and most enigmatic of the penguins, the majestic Emperor is the only animal to breed in the harsh, cold, dark Antarctic winter. As recently so well depicted in the film ‘March of the Penguins’, when the Antarctic spring sun finally returns, the female Emperors return from the sea to relieve the males, who have spent the winter huddled together on the ice, incubating their single egg on their feet. These unique Icebreaker voyages plan to visit Snow Hill Island, in the northern Weddell Sea in early spring, when the chicks are starting to be fed by both parents. Watch and photograph their daily lives at close range, the adult’s greeting and courtship displays, communal creches of chicks, adults tobogganing on their bellies and you may even see them shoot in and out of the sea at the ice edge! The icebreaker will approach to the area as close as it can get allowing for ice and weather conditions and then up to four days are planned with the Emperors themselves, flying in close to the colony by helicopter and then a short walk to the birds themselves. All operations will be conducted with the welfare of the colony (estimated to be 4000 pairs) first and foremost and strict rules on passenger conduct at the colony will apply. In addition these voyages feature a double crossing of the Drake Passage with it’s seabirds and cetaceans and two days are planned in the northern Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands including a landing on the continent itself. Other penguins you can expect to see on these voyages would be Gentoo, Adelie, Chinstrap and Magellanic. Emperors do not breed in the Antarctic Peninsula area, occuring there only as vagrants. These voyages offer the best way to fully experience these unique birds. A top flight team of expedition staff will accompany these ultimate natural history adventures. These itineraries are much lower in price than similar voyages in previous years and demand will be very high, book early!

 

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Ushuia. Overnight hotel.

Day 2 Day trip to the Tierra Del Fuego National Park with BBQ lunch. Embark.

Days 3-4 At sea, Drake Passage.

Day 5 - 7 Snow Hill Island Emperor Penguin colony.

Days 8-11 Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.

Days 12-13 At sea, Drake Passage.

Day 14. Disembark Ushuaia.

 

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Dates

2007

25^th October – 7^th November , 6^th – 19th November and 18th November – 1^st December.

Please note the 18^th November voyage finishes in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Triple berths from £4999 per person, twins from £7189 per person and singles from £12,225

 

2008

7^th – 19^th October, 19^th – 31^st October and 31^st October – 12^th November.

Triple berths from £5599 per person, twins from £8049 per person and singles from £13649

 

All voyages aboard Kapitan Khlebnikov include a pre-cruise hotel stay for one night with breakfast, group transfers to/from vessel, comprehensive pre-trip information, all meals aboard ship (glass of wine with dinner nightly), services of expedition team, Zodiac and helicopter excursions and landings, boot loan service, complimentary parka coat and post-trip CD with photos and video.

 

Excludes: Flights (UK – Ushuaia available from £815 return including taxes, current fuel surcharges and fees), gratuities (suggested US$10 pp per day aboard vessel), airport transfers, travel insurance and other drinks and items of a personal nature.

 

Previous Quark Expeditions passengers qualify for a 5% discount on these or other future voyages. More detailed information and a full colour brochure for these voyages is available from us.

 

Please note that the other Antarctic Icebreaker voyages available (see here) would also all expect to encounter Emperor Penguins. We are also be able to offer a ‘Dive with Emperor Penguins’ programme for qualified ice-divers, details on request.   

 

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Other Voyages

Some of our ice-strengthened ships are running 10 night voyages from Ushuaia in November and December towards the same area of the northern Weddell Sea in search of Emperors. These vessels cannot penetrate fast ice nor are they equipped with helicopters, so cruising amongst the icebergs and ice edge is the plan. There is no guarantee of seeing Emperors on these voyages however and more than likely immature birds will be encountered (which are black and white and lack the yellows tones of the adults) whilst of course there would be no chance of seeing chicks. Some of these voyages have certainly encountered adults on ice in the past however so you just never know. Twin cabin share from £2599 per person excluding flights. Full details available from us. 

 

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Air Safaris

Travelling from Chile via Patriot Hills, a tented camp by a blue ice runway on the continent, you will fly on in a specially adapted light aircraft on to the edge of the Weddell Sea and spend days with breeding Emperors standing in their icy home with their new chicks. A true expedition, camping in this frozen wilderness with the Lords of Antarctica will not be forgotten experience, ever. Weather permitting, short walks will be undertaken, with many of the Emperors likely to follow you, in a surreal setting of icebergs and coastal ice cliffs. An utterly unique travel and wildlife experience from start to finish.

 

12 days duration from Punta Arenas, Chile, from £19,445 per person. Departures 8^th – 20 November 2007 and  TBA November 2008.

Note some time flexibility is needed on the part of Antarctic air expedition participants, weather delays currently average three days per expedition (additional to planned duration). Contact us for full details.