ANTARCTICA, SOUTH GEORGIA & THE FALKLANDS ABOARD THE OCEAN DIAMOND Antarctica

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1 ANTARCTICA, SOUTH GEORGIA & THE FALKLANDS ABOARD THE OCEAN DIAMOND Antarctica DATES, FEES, & ITINERARY In the spirit of Sir Ernest Shackleton s Antarctica expedition, our exploration of the White Continent offers in-depth Antarctica, South Georgia, and Falkland Islands adventure travel all while seamlessly combining rich natural history with some of Mother Nature s most rugged and dramatic landscapes. Your three-week Antarctica expedition takes place at the height of the austral summer; long daylight hours provide extra time for Zodiac trips to remote shores where you ll be in the rare company of thousands of penguins; seals and albatross; and the otherworldly, icy architecture of the Antarctic Peninsula. Category Category Category Category Category Suite Balcony Suite Jan 5-26, 2017 $17,980 $18,780 $19,780 $20,980 $22,480 $23,480 $25,780 *Rates based on double occupancy. Single Special Rate at Limited Availability: Cat 1- $22,580 / Cat 2- $23,580 / Cat 3 $24,780 / Cat 4- $26,280 DAYS 1-2: DEPART HOME/BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA/USHUAIA Depart from home on your independent flight via Buenos Aires, arriving in Ushuaia the next day. Transfer to Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa with the rest of the day is at leisure. Gather at the hotel this evening for a welcome dinner and overnight. Overnight at hotel DAY 3: USHUAIA, ARGENTINA/ EMBARK OCEAN DIAMOND

2 Today, enjoy a boat trip on the Beagle Channel and disembark in Tierra del Fuego National Park for nature hikes surrounded by dramatic scenery. Or, visit Martial Glacier, followed by a city tour and lunch in Ushuaia. Board the Ocean Diamond this afternoon and set sail for the Falkland Islands. DAYS 4-5: AT SEA/STEEPLE JASON ISLAND, FALKLAND ISLANDS/SAUNDERS ISLAND Attend lectures on the natural and historical highlights ahead during a day at sea. On Steeple Jason Island visit a large black-browed albatross colony and stroll along beautiful beaches to search for seabirds. On Saunders Island, you will find colonies of Gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins. DAYS 6-7: CRUISING THE SOUTH SCOTIA SEA Lecturers recap your experiences and prepare you for your visit to South Georgia. On deck, join naturalists in search of the seabirds and marine mammals that flourish in these nutrient-rich waters. DAYS 8-10: SOUTH GEORGIA Flexibility in this area is a must. Many of your leaders have been to South Georgia numerous times and, if the weather is in our favor, they may plan a landing before breakfast or even after dinner. You will visit several islands, bays, and coves to observe outstanding birdlife and elephant and fur seals close at hand. The following is a list of places we might visit on South Georgia. Some of them are pending final government approval. Elsehul Bay This beautiful bay is home to thousands of fur seals as well as macaroni penguins, the most numerous of all penguin species. Listen for the high-pitched trumpeting of king penguins amid the magnificent sounds of marine mammals that echo in the bay. Salisbury Plain Two glaciers flank Salisbury Plain on South Georgia s north coast. Here, more than 200,000 king penguins congregate to breed, and you are greeted by one of the more remarkable sights and sounds on Earth. Stromness Bay This now abandoned whaling station is the site of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his party s arrival after crossing the island s glaciers on foot. Stromness offers views of the cliffs from which the adventurer and his companions descended.

3 Grytviken Go ashore and explore here, discovering the ruins of this once-active whaling station. The cemetery holds a special fascination, as it is here that Shackleton is buried. Walking along the coast, you may spy seabirds, penguins, and marine mammals. Gold Harbor At the foot of the Bertrab Glacier, Gold Harbor is often referred to as the jewel in the island s crown. In addition to a large king penguin colony, you are likely to see elephant and fur seals, Gentoo penguins, giant petrels, and with luck, some light-mantled albatross. DAY 11-12: AT SEA Naturalists recap your memorable visit to South Georgia and introduce you to the history, geology, and wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands. DAY 13: ELEPHANT ISLAND This morning arrive at Elephant Island, made famous by the Shackleton expedition. Awesome glaciers, speckled with pink algae, create a dramatic backdrop. Weather permitting, enjoy a Zodiac cruise around the island with an opportunity to view a thriving chinstrap penguin colony. DAYS 14-18: ANTARCTIC PENINSULA As you cruise the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula and its adjacent islands, the daily schedule of landings is dependent upon weather and ice conditions. We plan to venture into the seldomvisited Weddell Sea. The expeditionary nature of this voyage precludes guaranteeing specific stops; past expeditions have visited the locations below. This list serves as a guideline only of the places you may experience. Brown Bluff Located on the Antarctic Peninsula, Brown Bluff rises 2,450 feet above an ash beach littered with bizarrely shaped boulders. Some 20,000 pairs of Adelie, and hundreds of Gentoo penguins, congregate here to breed. Skuas and pintado petrels nest near the top of the cliff and kelp gulls fill the air with perpetual sound and motion. 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 rushing seawater.

4 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. Steep mountain peaks jut out of the sea on both sides, and the 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 occupy the island itself. DAYS 19-20: DRAKE PASSAGE During the Drake crossing, you will have opportunities to see and photograph wandering and black-browed albatross, sooty shearwaters, and white-chinned petrels. Also keep a lookout for the whales often seen in these waters. DAYS 21-22: USHUAIA, ARGENTINA/DISEMBARK/BUENOS AIRES/HOME Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, connecting with your independent overnight flight. Arrive in the USA on Janurary 28. Overnight aboard flight Please note: Unless otherwise noted, daily excursion options are included in the cost of the trip. We do our best to adhere to the scheduled itinerary, but in the spirit of our expeditionary style of travel we may deviate slightly to take full advantage of encounters with the destination and its people, culture, and wildlife. OCEAN DIAMOND Sail aboard the Ocean Diamond, a modern, stable superyacht and experience Antarctica. Carrying a maximum of 189 passengers, this outstanding vessel features numerous adventure options plus onboard amenities such as a massage and wellness program and a well-stocked polar library. Because the Ocean Diamond is faster than most other tourist vessels making the voyage, its passengers will gain an additional 12 hours accessing the wildlife, rugged beauty and adventure activities an Antarctic expedition has to offer.

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6 ACTIVITIES Kayaking (must pre-register, limited availability) EXTENSIONS Optional 4 night Pre-Voyage Extension: Patagonia with Torres Del Paine Encompassing 615,000 acres of expansive grasslands and the fantastic pinnacles of the Andean mountains, Torres del Paine National Park is a stunning UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Chile s premier Patagonian destination. Here peaks of twisted, snow-dusted granite endowed with waterfalls, emerald lakes, and verdant valleys tower above the plains of Patagonia. Price TBD. Call for more information. Deposit: 25% of expedition fare Final Balance: Due 120 prior to expedition.

7 Cost Includes: All gratuities, accommodations in our hotels and on board as outlined in the itinerary; all onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner; arrival and departure transfers; services of the expedition staff, including lectures, briefings, slide/film shows; all group activities and excursions; kayaking (not guaranteed) landing and port fees; and medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance. *Kayaking is available to a limited number of experienced kayakers. Contact an Adventure Specialist to preregister for this activity. Not Included: All air transportation; excess baggage charges; airport arrival and departure taxes; transfers for independent arrivals and departures; passport and/or visa fees; items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar charges, alcoholic beverages, /internet/fax/telephone charges. For more information, please call an Adventure Specialist at