ACROSS THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE VOYAGE TO THE 7TH CONTINENT

Transcription

1 ACROSS THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE VOYAGE TO THE 7TH CONTINENT January 22 February 4, Days Aboard the Island Sky Ushuaia ARGENTINA MAP NOT TO SCALE Join Me in Antarctica! WANDERING ALBATROSS PACIFIC OCEAN Vernadsky Research Base Enterprise Island DRAKE PASSAGE LEMAIRE CHANNEL ANTARCTIC PENINSULA Detaille Island Deception Island Neko Harbour Paradise Harbour ANTARCTIC CIRCLE LEOPARD SEAL ATLANTIC OCEAN Are you an adventurer that is ready to explore one of our planet s last frontiers? Then join me aboard the 100-guest Island Sky with Zegrahm Expeditions as we voyage across the Antarctic Circle and become one of the privileged few to set foot on the Great White Continent! Zegrahm has carefully planned this expedition for the optimal time of year Antarctica s summer season when the days are longer and the wildlife is most active. Enjoy multiple landings and the opportunity to hike along Antarctica s icy shores with world-class experts leading the way. Zegrahm s carefully-selected expedition team has a variety of field leaders including naturalists, biologists, geologists, and ornithologists to offer guests a deeper understanding of this mysterious continent and its wildlife. Call me for more information! Jim Wilson Michael Moore YOUR PHOTO Name: Phone: P.S. Groups of six or more can save 10%!

2 Saturday - Wednesday, January ANTARCTIC PENINSULA As you cruise the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula and its adjacent islands, landings are dependent upon weather and ice conditions. Our leaders have been to Antarctica numerous times, and their experience in the region enables them to adapt quickly to change, making sure every option is considered, and every opportunity seized. If the weather is in our favor, landings may be offered before breakfast or even after dinner. There is also a possibility that you may visit a research station to witness the scientific activities conducted by the multinational community of scientists working there. Though the expeditionary nature of our voyage precludes guaranteeing specific stops, we plan to visit the following islands, bays, and coves where outstanding birdlife, dramatic scenery, and unique marine life can be seen close at hand. This list serves only as a guideline of the places you may experience: Scott Bickell Itinerary Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be ongoing enhancements to this itinerary. Monday & Tuesday, January 22 & 23, 2018 DEPART USA / BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / USHUAIA Board your independent flight via Buenos Aires, arriving in Ushuaia the next day. Transfer to Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa. The rest of the day is at leisure with a welcome dinner and overnight at our hotel. CRYSTAL SOUND / ANTARCTIC CIRCLE Dependent on ice conditions, we will attempt to cross the Antarctic Circle in Crystal Sound, so named for research conducted here on the structure of ice crystals. Board Zodiacs for a cruise among element-sculpted icebergs as you search for leopard, Weddell, and crabeater seals hauled out on ice floes. Minke and humpback whales are also frequently sighted during this time of year. DETAILLE ISLAND Conditions permitting, step ashore on Detaille Island and explore the remains of the British Antarctic Survey Base that was abandoned in VERNADSKY RESEARCH BASE Permission pending, visit the Ukrainian-operated Vernadsky Research Station. Take a tour of the station and meet with a group of scientists to learn about their research and life in the Antarctic. ADELIE PENGUINS Wednesday, January 24 USHUAIA / EMBARK ISLAND SKY Today, enjoy a boat trip on the Beagle Channel and disembark in Tierra del Fuego National Park for nature hikes surrounded by dramatic scenery. Board the Island Sky this afternoon and set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula. Thursday & Friday, January 25 & 26 DRAKE PASSAGE Named for the 16th-century English seaman, the Drake Passage is a deep waterway spanning 600 miles from the southern tip of South America to the South Shetland Islands. Join naturalists on deck to watch for wandering and blackbrowed albatross, as well as pintado and white-chinned petrels. Attend informative lectures on the history, geology, and wildlife of the Antarctic realm. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS ACROSS THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE: VOYAGE TO THE 7TH CONTINENT < 2 >

3 CHINSTRAP PENGUIN Ted Kenefick LEMAIRE CHANNEL AND PLENEAU ISLAND Cruising the beautiful Lemaire Channel, keep watch for the humpback and minke whales frequently spotted here. This narrow channel is one of the most visually impressive areas of the Antarctic Peninsula and is often referred to as the Kodak Gap or Nikon Niche due to the wonderful photo opportunities it offers. Steep mountain peaks jut out of the sea on both sides, and the surrounding waters are often choked with icebergs and frequented by crabeater seals. A stunning labyrinth of grounded icebergs lies in the shallow waters west of Pleneau Island, presenting a superb Zodiac cruising experience. Crabeater and leopard seals haul out on the ice, and elephant seals and gentoo penguins may be found on the island itself. NEKO HARBOUR AND PARADISE BAY Weddell seals can occasionally be found hauled out on the beach here, and a gentoo penguin colony overlooks a spectacular glacier, which is sometimes quite active in calving icebergs. In Zodiacs, cruise among these fantastic shapes sculpted by wind and water. Later, the Island Sky navigates the scenic waters of Paradise Bay, where Chile and Argentina both maintain bases. DECEPTION ISLAND As you approach Deception through Neptune s Bellows, a channel just wide enough for the ship to navigate, southern fulmars and pintado petrels soar overhead. Weigh anchor inside a volcano whose collapsed cone was filled by seawater. Thursday & Friday, February 1 & 2 DRAKE PASSAGE Enjoy two days at sea to relax, sort through your photos, and attend lectures recapping your Antarctic adventures. On deck, keep watch for seabirds and the whales that are frequently seen in these waters. Saturday & Sunday, February 3 & 4 USHUAIA, ARGENTINA / DISEMBARK / BUENOS AIRES / USA Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, connecting with your independent overnight flight. Arrive in the USA the next day. Flight Information You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/buenos Aires/Ushuaia and Ushuaia/Buenos Aires/home city. Please contact our in-house Air Department for fare quotes, reservations, or other air-related questions. GENTOO PENGUIN BROWN BLUFF WEDDELL SEAL Ted Kenefick Michael Moore ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS ACROSS THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE: VOYAGE TO THE 7TH CONTINENT < 3 >

4 The Island Sky The all-suite Island Sky is a spacious 100-guest expedition vessel. Public spaces include a large lounge, elegant bar with piano, library, a singleseating dining room, and a rear sun deck where meals are served in pleasant weather. All suites have an ocean view and feature a sitting room, en suite bathroom, flat-screen television, spacious wardrobes, and dressing table. Deck Plan Visit for more information on this ship. Rates CATEGORY 1 $12,980 CATEGORY 3 $15,580 CATEGORY 5 $17,980 CATEGORY 2 $14,280 CATEGORY 4 $16,580 CATEGORY 6 $20,480 Solo Travelers: No solo supplement in select categories (limited availability)! INCLUDED: Daily activity options including cultural tours, nature walks, and Zodiac cruises All gratuities All accommodations World-class lecture and expedition team All onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner All entrance fees, taxes, and landing and port charges Arrival and departure transfers on group dates Gift certificates for recommended expedition gear and reading materials Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance NOT INCLUDED: Airfare from your home city/buenos Aires/Ushuaia and Ushuaia/Buenos Aires/home city Excess baggage charges Airport arrival and departure taxes Transfers for independent arrivals and departures Passport and/or visa fees Travel insurance Items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages (other than listed at left), and other incidentals /Internet/fax/telephone charges A 25% per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition. All rates are per person, based on double occupancy, quoted in US dollars, and must be paid in US dollars. Rates and itineraries are subject to change. Please review our Terms & Conditions online at or call our office for a printed copy. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS ACROSS THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE: VOYAGE TO THE 7TH CONTINENT < 4 >

5 Featured Leaders Our leaders have visited the Antarctic Peninsula numerous times and will provide valuable insight and commentary on the history, geology and wildlife of this intriguing region. Fascinating lectures, photo presentations, daily recaps, and informal discussions will enhance your understanding and appreciation of the wonders you will see. Leaders from additional fields of study will join the leaders featured below. DAN OLSEN (EXPEDITION LEADER) Dan has lived in Seward, Alaska for over a decade, where he is the captain of a 150-passenger tour boat in Kenai Fjords National Park. Dan spent many years teaching Outward Bound courses in mountaineering, sailing, and kayaking, and he continues to lead kayakers in the Arctic and Antarctic. Dan is currently studying acoustic killer whale dialects to identify pods by their calls, and is working on a Master s degree thesis. TOM SHARPE Originally from Glasgow, Tom is a graduate of the universities of Glasgow and Leicester and has spent the last 35 years as a geology curator in the National Museum of Wales. He is a Chartered Geologist, a Fellow of the Geological Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Tom has over three decades of experience of interpreting geology for a wide range of audiences. JIM WILSON Jim hails from the city of Cobh, County Cork, Ireland and is a highly respected ornithologist and ecologist with more than 35 years of birding experience in the Antarctic, Ireland, Europe, and Africa. He is a full-time freelance wildlife filmmaker, broadcaster, and the author of three books two on Irish birds and one on the whales and dolphins found in the waters surrounding Ireland. Know Before You Go For most activities, a relatively moderate level of exertion is required. You will need to climb into and out of Zodiacs for excursions ashore. Ashore, you must be able to walk moderate distances, unaided, over rough terrain such as rocky beaches and occasional ice and snow. Temperatures will range from 30ºF 40ºF on the Antarctic Peninsula. scott Bickell Sam Crimin LOGO & PERSONALIZED CALL TO ACTION < 5 >