Classic Antarctic Photo Tour Fly In - Cruise - Fly Out Penguins, Blue Ice, History and... December - 2017 Celebrating 28 years of incredible photo adventures! E: julia@worldadventures.com.au W: www.worldphotoadventures.com.au
Imagine taking off from mainland Chile and just over 2 hours later - shooting in snow and ice - Antarctica. What an amazing photo adventure! This will be our fifth tour to this incredible part of our planet and our second Fly-Cruise-Fly adventure. We are offering you a World Photo Adventures group expedition on the Classic Antarctic Air Cruise tour. This is a Fly In - Cruise - Fly Out Antarctic adventure that maximises time to explore this stunning region and minimises long periods at sea. Consequently, you can expect smoother seas and fantastic quality time during this once in a lifetime adventure. Our host company - ANTARCTICA XXI - has been operating such tours for well over 10 years and looks forward to helping you have a fantastic Antarctic adventure. Just 68 berths are available! Our small group fits in this number, this offering you an exclusive photo guide. Join one of the worlds most experienced photo tour operators - now celebrating 28 years of incredible photo adventures... We look forward to offering you a unique adventure! WHY BOOK THIS ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1. This tour will maximise your time in Antarctica. You have less cruising time to get to and from Antarctica (less rough seas) and more exploration cruising time. This means more photography time! 2. Exclusive WPA photo group - maximum 10 per photo guide.* 3. Exclusive photo guide - this is not a holiday for your photo guide! We will also offer the best pre departure information and work hard in the field to help you. * We include a complete ship package from excellent accommodation on a stable ship, to all meals, all drinks including standard alcoholic beverages. * We target stunning glaciers, icebergs, antarctic birds, nature, history and top creative subjects. * Photo workshops that cover everyone from beginners to advanced. * Our ship is customised to the Antarctic conditions. * Non photographic partners love our events. * Small photo group sizes. * This is our 28th year of offer amazing World Photo Adventures! PAGE 2
STUNNING PHOTO HOLIDAYs... We are offering three linked and incredible photo adventures in 2017. You can join one, or more to maximise your time in the region. 1. Torres del Paine Circumnavigation (Patagonia) - November 2017 2. Patagonia Ice Trek - a unique challenge - November 2017 3. - Fly In - Cruise - Fly Out - December 2017 THE ITINERARY... On this exciting Antarctic expedition, we have the opportunity to thoroughly explore the South Shetland region and Antarctic Peninsula, seeking out breathtaking bays and islands and marvelling at extraordinary natural wonders, from our well-appointed expedition vessel, we see Antarctic nature in all its glory. The offshore South Shetland group boasts an abundance of wildlife including five species of seals and massive rookeries of gentoo, Adélie and chinstrap penguins, as well as a profusion of seabirds ranging from albatross to skuas. Imagine flying to Antarctica and just over 2 hours, taking photos on this amazing continent. Read on for more exciting information... PAGE 3
CLASSIC ANTARCTICA 8 DAYS - 7 NIGHTS Jumping over Cape Horn and the mythical waters of the Drake Passage, we will take you to one of the most spectacular places on earth, the coldest, highest, windiest, driest, and remotest continent Antarctica. Yes just over 2 hours and you are shooting in Antarctica! PRE-TOUR - December We suggest that you arrive today (at the latest) in Punta Arenas. Regular flights from Santiago to Punta Arenas are offered. (This flight is not included and can be booked for a complete package.) We do not include accommodation and no activities are organised today. You might like to arrive a day or so earlier. Punta Arenas offers some lovely walks and local locations to explore., DAY 1 - December After a leisurely breakfast, we offer a workshop to help answer a lot of questions and to show you images and get you ready for your adventures to come. Suits all levels from novice to experienced photographers. In the afternoon, we attend a briefing that provides important information about our voyage and reviews the essential guidelines for Antarctic visitors. Later, we gather for a welcome dinner and the chance to meet your fellow ship adventurers from all over the world. Accommodation - hotel (B,D) DAY 2 - December Your Antarctic adventure begins with a two-hour flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands. As you exit the plane, the clear Antarctic air fills your lungs for the first time. Explore the area surrounding Chile s Frei Station and Russia s Bellingshausen station, before boarding a Zodiac to embark your expedition vessel. How exciting! Imagine, flying, landing in Antarctica and being on your ship of adventure, the same day! This limits any chance of giant ocean swells! It will maximise your time and DAYs 3 to 6 - December Quality time cruising between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along icefilled fjords and among spectacular icebergs, while enjoying the company of sea birds, penguins, seals and whales. Each day, we disembark by Zodiac and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. On board the ship, attend an engaging program of lectures and presentations, and enjoy spectacular vistas from the glass-enclosed lounge while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests. continues... PAGE 4
From previous page... No journey is the same as flexibility is the key to success in Antarctica. The Expedition Team sets the voyage route to take advantage of the ever-changing opportunities provided by Nature, crafting a unique and extraordinary experience each time. While the exact itinerary changes with each expedition, you will explore several spots that offer the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment. Importantly, your personal photo guide will be helping you each day in the field and for any technical or theory challenges. They are very experienced professional photo guides - it is not a holiday for them! Your voyage may include visits to sites such as Paulet Island, Hope Bay, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Deception Island, the Lemaire Channel, or many other magnificent places. DAY 7 - December Return to King George Island and bid farewell to Antarctica before boarding the flight back to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night. No further services are provided. DAY 8 - December After breakfast, transfer to the Punta Arenas airport for your onward flight. OR, Interested in more photo adventures? We highly recommend that you join our linked Patagonia adventures for a very different experience - please contact Julia today. Prices and details are subject to change. PAGE 5
TOUR PRICES & DETAILS CLASSIC ANTARCTIC AIR CRUISE PHOTO TOUR PRICE EARLY BOOKINGS At this time, we are asking for a $500 fully refundable show of interest deposit. This will hold you a cabin space with WPA. (which are limited) We will then ask for full deposits when the ship owner requests them. This will be about 18 months before departure. In the meantime, lots of time to save... * Triple cabin - approx. USD $10,500 per person. * Twin cabin - approx. USD $11,500 per person * Single cabin - appreox. USD $15,995 per person Note that your flights from Punta Arenas - Antarctica - Punta Arenas are included as are details as specified in the itinerary, from Day 1 until Day 8. Excluded: international flights and your return flight to Santiago. COMPLETE PACKAGE We can book a complete package for you. Ask Julia at the time of booking. PAYMENTS (Once dates and prices are confirmed.) All bookings and correspondence are to be made through World Photo Adventures. * Contact Julia to book a cabin. * Initially, a deposit of US$4,000 is required. This is non refundable. Deposit protection insurance in available. * Balance of payment is required 150 days before departure. YOUR GUIDE s... We are taking a maximum of 10 per photo guide in our exclusive photo group, with seasoned professional guide Pearce Leal to lead you. Pearce has been to Antarctica and the Arctic, has guided in over 30 other WPA events and will work hard to help you in the field and with top processing and creative information. TWIN SHARE/SINGLE WPA/ANTARCTICA XXI will take care of finding a matching adventurer. This will ideally be someone in our group, but can not be guaranteed. Single price only applies if you ask for it. TERMS & CONDITIONS Please read both companies Terms & Conditions and fill in our booking form. Julia can offer travel insurance, including deposit protection insurance. You must have emergency evacuation insurance cover for the entire tour. IMPORTANT Once you pay full deposits - Please note that we can not transfer your Antarctica payments to another event. Currency fluctuations can not be used as a reason to cancel this event. Conditions are subject to change. IMPORTANT - Bank Fees and Currency Fluctuations The above amounts need to be paid in full and do not include Bank Transfer Fee or currency exchange variations. PAGE 6
There are many reasons our tours are so successful. Here are just a few... UNTAMED QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE With over 70 years of combined experience in tailoring premium travel quests, our team ensures you never settle for less than the best. We offer lovely 3/4 star accommodation for your comfort and enjoyment. GREAT TOURS COME IN SMALL GROUPS Small group travel gives you flexibility and the ability to follow your interests. That s why we keep tour group sizes small so you can savour your travel experience. YOUR PERSONAL SPECIALISED PHOTO GUIDE Depending on the event and group numbers, you are guaranteed to have at least one of the best photo guides in the world. Some tours have two! The goal of our guides, no matter what your interest, or experience, is to optimise the tour, manage a smooth running holiday and importantly, help you in the field to experience and shoot amazing subjects. It is not a holiday for them! EXCEPTIONAL END-TO-END EXPERIENCE We work towards delivering the time of your life. Our office gem Julia, helps you with all your pre- and post-tour needs and we can book your flights. Once you are out in the field our professional local drivers and guides are right by your side. Don t forget those special photo guides! World Photo Adventures and its expert team know this captivating land better than anyone. FIRST TIME ON TOUR WITH US? We ll happily answer your questions, offer advice or connect you with the experiences that will satisfy your wanderlust. Contact Julia at: julia@worldadventures.com.au. SAFETY AND SECURITY Your safety and security is very important to us. Apart from the experience of your WPA guides, our local operators are outstanding and very experienced to local cultures and customs. Our itineraries, accommodation and tour information all add s up to helping you enjoy a great adventure, with peace of mind. TOUR DATES: December 2017 EVENT GRADE: Moderate with zodiac landings. TRANSPORT: Flying and ship. ACCOMMODATION: Hotel accommodation, plus ship. TARGETS: Landscapes, Wildlife, Creative, Culture. OUR QUALIFICATIONS Along with other famous travel companies like QANTAS, World Photo Adventures has become a member of ATAS. The Australian Travel Accredited Scheme is a national industry accreditation backed by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents. ATAS members are recognised as running a credible, professional business, offering clients peace of mind with annual financial checks, a minimum history of service in the travel industry and an outstanding service record. For more details go to www.afta.com.au WHAT IS CATO? World Photo Adventures is a member of CATO. Membership of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is a hallmark of competence and integrity. CATO is the representative body for wholesale tour operators who supply travel and tour packages to domestic and international destinations. For more information, go to: www.cato.asn.au/about/about-cato PAGE 7
~ MEET YOUR TOUR TEAM ~ WHO ARE WE? At World Photo Adventures, creating marvellous and memorable journeys is our mission. Our tours give you impressions and experiences you ll cherish for a lifetime. We re more than travel and tour specialists we re your complete photography adventure solution. We take you straight to the photographic heartlands of your chosen tour region. As a family business, personalised service is close to our hearts. STAND-OUT SERVICE Stunning Norfolk Island set the stage for our first photo tour in 1989. (In fact Darran and Julia met on this very first photo adventure!) Since then our tours have gone from strength to strength and continent to continent. Wherever you travel with World Photo Adventures, our superior service levels are a mainstay. Claim the ultimate tour experience for you and your lens. From our friendly helpful staff, you ll enjoy the peace of mind and exceptional experience that only comes from working with one of the world s most experienced photo travel companies. DARRAN LEAL Professional photographer/guide With over 400 successful photo tours/ workshop and seminars worldwide and counting, Australian-born Darran s lifetime loves are travel and outdoor photography. He combines these with vast experience in delivering global photo tours, workshops and seminars. Darran is one of the world s few fulltime professional photo guides. He leads photographers of all levels to many of the world s most captivating locations. As a natural born photographer, educator and adventurer, Darran s career inevitably led him to help others explore and capture their world. Now Darran spends his time up to his arm pits in crocodiles, cuddling gorillas or herding photographers. Check out Darran s work first-hand at: www.worldphotoadventures.com.au JULIA LEAL Professional travel consultant Exploring new territory is an adventure Julia has been savoring since childhood. Julia was born in Liverpool, England yet soon migrated to New Zealand with her family. She launched her travel career in 1979 in tropical Noosa, Queensland where she managed one of the first resorts in the region. Then it was back to Auckland, New Zealand to take up the role of travel consultant. Before long, Go International snapped Julia up as a travel rep. While leading an educational tour on Norfolk Island in 1989, Julia met Darran. Though her career remained trans-tasman for several years after, Julia is now in her element as a travel consultant extraordinaire for World Photo Adventures. When it comes to securing an extraordinary photographic adventure tour founded on unrivalled service, Julia has it covered. PEARCE LEAL Professional photographer/guide No photographer could wish for a better guide to getting remarkable destination shots than a fellow photographer. Pearce is the man to get you weaving incredible lens magic, with over 30 tours and workshops under his belt, Pearce has traversed incredible image opportunities in Africa, the USA, South America, Asia and Australia. In addition, his own photographic work has been featured in magazines and media around the globe. He has won several awards in the AIPP, to finalist in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the year. His teaching skills and his dedication to help those on tour is outstanding. Check out Pearce s work first-hand at: www.pearcelealphoto.com FRAZER LEAL IT Wizard At a very young age Frazer pulled apart computers to see how they worked and started to fix all sorts of technology. He first became serious with a camera when he borrowed his dad s camera while on a workshop on Fraser Island. He went on to win best photo with over 100 adult photographers. Frazer is our IT and Social Media manager. He designs and manages our website and helps to keep you up to date with our great adventures. PAGE 8
THE SHIP Ocean Nova is a modern (Stabilised) and comfortable vessel. She was built in Denmark in 1992 to sail the ice-choked waters of Greenland, and her ice-strengthened hull is ideally suited for expedition travel in Antarctica. Ocean Nova has capacity for 68 passengers accommodated in comfortable outside cabins, all with private facilities, including dedicated single, twin and triple cabins. In addition to a glass-enclosed observation lounge and presentation room, she also has a spacious dining room, a bar, a library and an infirmary. The ship has Zodiac boats that are well suited for disembarking and wildlife watching. EXPEDITION STAFF & CREW: 38 PASSENGERS: 68 LIFEBOATS: 2, fully enclosed, 90 people LENGTH: 73.0 m BREADTH: 11.0 m DRAFT: 3.7 m PROPULSION: Diesel engines - 2,000-horsepower ICE CLASS: 1B, EO (Hull Ice 1A) CRUISING SPEED: 12 knots in open water THE AIRCRAFT The BAE-146 aircraft was manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace (which later became part of BAE Systems). It is a high-wing aircraft with very short runaway requirements, which makes it particularly suited for this kind of destinations. It is operated by Aerovias DAP, which has more than 20 years of experience flying in Patagonia and Antarctica. MODEL: BAE 146-200 ENGINES: 4 turbofans Honeywell ALF 502R-5 LENGTH: 93 ft 8 in (28,55 m) WINGSPAN: 86 ft 5 in (26,34 m) CRUISE SPEED: 465 mph (750 km/h) SERVICE CEILING: 31,200 ft (9.500 m) CAPACITY: 70 passengers ADVERSE WEATHER First of all, January is one of the best months to visit Antarctica as it can offer more stable weather. It is vary rare that weather effects our departure, but if this is to happen, you will be offered accommodation and activities, with a view to depart ASAP. We will aim to maximise your adventure! * GROUP NUMBERS Groups numbers are based on lots of 10. This is the offer by the ship owner to allow a guide from WPA. Group numbers may vary depending on this factor. ITINERARY Every effort will be made to adhere to the planned program. However, it must be realized that with this type of adventurous travel to Antarctica, changes to the itinerary may occur due to severe and unpredictable weather. We need to emphasize the fact that weather conditions are unpredictable and that safety is always the paramount concern on any Antarctic voyage. For this reason ANTARCTICA XXI reserves the right to change the itinerary here described due to weather conditions or other factors beyond ANTARCTICA XXI s control without consulting the participants. FLIGHT CONNECTIONS A tight time-schedule connection with an Antarctic expedition is unwise. For this reason, WPA/ANTARCTICA XXI strongly suggests that a flexible air ticket be held for your journey home, and in any case not to book a flight on the same day of the return flight from Antarctica. INCLUDED IN THE RATE 1. Transfers airport/hotel/airport in Punta Arenas foreseen on the first and last day of the voyage (in case of using the complimentary hotel upon return from Antarctica, no transfer is included the following day). 2. 1 overnight in Punta Arenas at Hotel Rey Don Felipe or other hotel of similar category and a welcome dinner including drinks on Day 1 (except ANTARCTICA EXPRESS Air-Cruise). 3. 1 complimentary hotel night upon request in Punta Arenas on the day of return from Antarctica. 4. Flight from Punta Arenas to Frei Station on King George Island and/or vice versa as indicated in the program corresponding to each voyage. 5. Ship cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula as indicated in the program corresponding to each voyage. 6. Full board including drinks and open bar during the ship cruise. 7. All guided shore excursions. 8. Lectures and entertainment on board. 9. Comprehensive pre- and post-voyage information material. 10. Loan of waterproof boots for landing in Antarctica. 11. Contingency Plan for air-cruise departures as foreseen for each voyage (see further on). NOT INCLUDED IN THE RATE 1. International flights and the flight to Punta Arenas. 2. Accommodation, meals, drinks, excursions and transfers other than those included in the itinerary. 3. Personal insurances. 4. Extra expenses (communication, laundry, souvenirs, etc.). 5. Tips (suggested USD 10 per person per day). 6. Visas or Passport expenses and/or any other arrival and/or departure tax, if applicable. PAGE 9
MAP & LOCATIONS... We recommend that you go to: www.maps.google.com.au Type in the key names of the locations you are visiting and explore the country. CLIMATE Antarctica can get cold, but most likely not as cold as you might think. We will send you a clothes list and suggested travel items a few months before departure. WE INCLUDE... PERSONAL GUIDE We offer professional photographic guides and on board expedition guides. This will guarantee that your holiday runs smoothly and that you receive fantastic local information. You can not beat having an experienced professional photographer on hand to help optimise your photography and holiday. PHOTOGRAPHY World Photo Adventures events are designed to maximise your photo interests, no matter what level or style of photography you like. Our customers use everything from top line D-SLR s with pro lenses, to mid range kits and non photographic partners with compact cameras. Equipment is very personal. We offer a workshop at the start of all tours and then follow this up with personal assistance in the field and where possible, mini workshops. Our events include the services of a seasoned professional photo guide and the professional travel services of our office and local operators. Our goal is to help you understand your equipment, the base techniques required for great results and assist you to maximise your photo opportunities in stunning locations around the world. We guarantee to do this! ALL ACCOMMODATION Our accommodation is of a high standard for your comfort. MEALS All meals on the ship are included and other meals as per itinerary. NOT INCLUDED... Your international airfares are not included in the price and the return flight Santiago/Punta Arenas. These flights can be booked through our travel specialists. We highly recommend this, as you will need to link up with your holiday at specific times. Transfers, laundry, tips, drinks and items not listed in the itinerary are not included. ADVERSE WEATHER First of all, December is one of the best months to visit Antarctica as it can offer more stable weather. It is vary rare that weather effects our departure, but if this is to happen, you will be offered accommodation and activities, with a view to depart ASAP. We will aim to maximise your adventure! CONTINGENCY PLAN In case that the flight to or from Antarctica cannot take place due to unfavorable weather conditions, either at point of origin and/or destination, ANTARCTICA XXI will apply the Contingency Plan corresponding to each voyage. PAGE 10