Viking Expeditions Cruises – Antarctica & South Georgia Island (Argentina, Falkland Islands, Antarctica) 19 Days

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, is an eclectic combination of Latin and European influences. The tree-lined streets and postcolonial architecture draw on the city’s Spanish, French and Italian heritage, while the many cafés and bodegas and vibrant nightlife are decidedly Argentine. Its barrios, or neighborhoods, exude an intimate atmosphere that belies the city’s size. Full of bohemian flair, historic San Telmo’s cobblestone streets and Belle Époque–style buildings reverberate with the mesmerizing melodies of the tango.

Ushuaia, Argentina
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and fly to your embarkation city. Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. Its splendid setting, tucked between the Beagle Channel and the southernmost slopes of the Andes, lends it an outpost atmosphere, as do the Antarctic explorers readying for the expeditions that depart from here. Ushuaia is the capital of and gateway to the celebrated Tierra del Fuego, the “Land of Fire,” named by Spaniards upon seeing the constant flames burned by the indigenous Yámana to keep warm. This largely unspoiled region comprises the large island of Tierra del Fuego and countless Chilean and Argentine islands.

Sail the South Atlantic Ocean
Trace the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range longer than the Rockies, the Himalayas and the Andes combined. Its hidden towering peaks divide the Atlantic Ocean in half, North to South. Enjoy the amenities of your ship as you sail. Perhaps take a breath of fresh air on a brisk walk around the Promenade Deck or begin your day with a workout in the well-equipped Fitness Center.

West Point Island, Falkland Islands
West Point Island boasts some of the most magnificent coastal vistas with soaring cliffs spilling into the surf. This visually dramatic land was founded as a sheep farm in 1879 by Arthur Felton. Today, his great-nephew Roddy Napier owns the entire island; he and his wife Lily oversee the farm and regularly welcome travelers. The island and its neighbors also enjoy status as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area with BirdLife International. Significant species include the Falkland steamer duck, black-browed albatross, southern rockhopper penguin and Magellanic penguin.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory comprising almost 800 small islands. Visitors to the main island of East Falkland, from curious travelers to expedition ship crews en route to Antarctica, experience British warmth in Port Stanley’s pubs and at the charming Victorian stone church. Remarkably, there are about 200 sheep for every person in this starkly beautiful archipelago, yet the Falklands are also known for their biological diversity. Five penguin species call the islands home, from the king penguins to the gentoo, and the Magellanic on farther shores.

Shore Excursions – Zodiac: Port Stanley
Duration: 45 minutes      
Investigate the remote beauty of Port Stanley’s coastlines during an exhilarating Zodiac ride. Board your Viking Zodiac and set off from your Expedition ship with a small group of fellow travelers onto the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Admire the picturesque shores of this remote island outpost, celebrated for its biodiversity and rich wildlife, as you glide across the waters. Your Viking specialists will choose the best route based on the weather and water conditions. Your Expedition team will answer any questions you may have along the way, as well as share stories and insights. At the end of your excursion, your Zodiac will return to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Scenic Gypsy Cove
Duration: 2 hours  
Explore the rugged natural beauty and local wildlife of the Falklands during a visit to Gypsy Cove. Board your motor coach and listen as an audio guide provides a brief overview of life in the Falklands during the short drive to this scenic spot: a walking trail overlooking a wind-sheltered stretch of white-sand beach and Port Stanley’s most accessible National Nature Reserve. Upon arrival, meet your guide who will direct you to the start of the path. Join a guided tour or follow at your own pace, enjoying sweeping views of your surroundings. Keep watch for Magellanic penguins and other species of birds such as upland geese and rock cormorants. Stop at three viewing platforms along the way, where knowledgeable guides will explain the local flora and fauna as well as offer personal insight into island life. After, board your coach for the return journey to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Penguins of Yorke Bay
Duration: 2 hours     
Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the Falkland Islands during a self-guided exploration of Yorke Bay. Located along the far eastern coastline of East Falkland, Yorke Bay offers an intriguing glimpse into the natural world. Due to the aftereffects of the Falklands War, the bay’s beach was seldom visited by people until recently, leaving it in pristine condition. Today, it is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including colonies of gentoo and Magellanic penguins. You will transfer to the bay by minibus, where upon arrival, you will have free time to explore your picturesque surroundings. Stop to observe the penguins as they congregate together on the beach or slip into the water to swim and hunt. Keep watch for playful dolphins that can sometimes be seen near the shoreline. At the end of your free time, board your minibus and return to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Scenic Sailing by Special Operations Boat
Duration: 1 hour  
Experience the stunning beauty of the Falkland Islands from the water during a ride in a Special Operations Boat. Board your vessel from the ship’s shell door landing, with assistance by a member of Viking’s Expedition Team. Once securely on board, lines will be untethered, and your thrilling journey will begin. Hold tight for the ride as you whisk across the water, perhaps leaping over the wake of a passing boat. Your highly maneuverable vessel will allow you to reach less accessible locations along the water’s edge. Knowledgeable specialists will be on hand to explain the natural world that surrounds you and the diversity of the local ecosystems. Admire the stunning remote outpost of Port Stanley, home to more sheep than people, as you glide across the water. At the end of your excursion, your Special Operations Boat will return you and your fellow travelers to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Kayaking in Port Stanley
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes     
Take to the water and explore your surroundings with a member of your Viking Expedition Team. After a thorough introduction and safety briefing, transfer from your ship to the kayak staging area, where you will receive your paddle and join a fellow traveler in a two-person kayak. Your kayak has been designed to provide a combination of stability and comfort as you paddle your way through the open water. Dressed in a kayak suit and bespoke life jacket for maximum maneuverability, you will be geared up to remain warm and dry during your expedition experience. Immerse yourself in nature as you journey along the coast, reaching less accessible locations along the water’s edge and keeping watch for local wildlife.

Sail the South Atlantic Ocean
Follow in the wake of the great explorers, including Captain James Cook, who traversed these waters, claiming the island of South Georgia for Britain in 1775. As you sail today, savor a range of international cuisine on board. Choose from a variety of international flavors at the World Café, enjoy al fresco dining on the Aquavit Terrace, or regional specialties in The Restaurant.

Explore South Georgia
South Georgia is untamed beauty, with its rugged landscapes, mountainous hillsides and spectacular glaciers. It was founded by Captain James Cook in 1775 and has featured on many explorers’ maps since. Sir Ernest Shackleton first traversed these waters in 1916, returning in 1921 in an attempt to map the coastline of the Antarctic. To this day, South Georgia remains one of the least visited places on earth. While it remains permanently uninhabited by humans, it is home to an abundance of wildlife, including king penguins, albatross, as well as elephant and fur seals.

Sail the South Atlantic Ocean
Sail the legendary waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, where intrepid explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton navigated the fateful voyage of the Endurance, which resulted in her sinking in Antarctic waters in 1915. As you sail today, relax in the Explorers’ Lounge, inspired by epic journeys of discovery. Marvel at the views through the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows as you share a cocktail with friends, or settle down to read a book.

Explore Antarctica
At once ethereal and majestic, Antarctica has inspired explorers and adventurers for centuries. In this icy wilderness, marvel at icebergs glimmering in serene bays and mountains cloaked in white rising from the mainland basalt cliffs. These stunning landscapes evoke both utter tranquility as Weddell seals lounge on ice floes, and breathtaking drama as glaciers thunderously calve into the sea. In these cold and nutrient-rich waters, humpback, fin and minke whales have been known to greet expedition ships that venture into their habitat.

Sail the Drake Passage
Named for 16th-century English privateer Sir Francis Drake, the frigid waters of the Drake Passage stretch for some 600 miles between Cape Horn and Livingston Island in the South Shetland archipelago. Renew your body, mind and spirit in our Scandinavian-inspired spa, a Nordic sanctuary of holistic wellness, today while at sea. Whether you unwind in the Sauna, relax in the Warming Cave or take a dip in the Spa Pool, you will feel recharged and revitalized.

Scenic Sailing: Cape Horn
Rising above the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans converge, Cape Horn, named for the Dutch city of Hoorn in The Netherlands, is part of the Hermite Islands archipelago. This remote, stark and treeless place is often considered the continent’s southernmost point. Soaring from Hornos Island is an enormous prehistoric-looking massif of Jurassic volcanic rock. Atop, stands its historic lighthouse near the water’s edge. A beacon of assurance and safety for countless sailors since 1991, it is the world’s southernmost traditional-style lighthouse.

Ushuaia, Argentina
Disembark your ship and transfer to the airport for your charter flight. Bid farewell to your fellow travelers and journey home from Buenos Aires.