TRIP NOTES VOYAGE INFORMATION Voyage Name South Georgia & Antarctic Odyssey Voyage Code ASG78G Dates 29 November to 18 December 2019 Duration 20 days / 19 nights Embark Ushuaia, Argentina Disembark Ushuaia, Argentina Ship Greg Mortimer Forms Due 29 August 2019 IMPORTANT INFORMATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS Please read our terms and conditions carefully to ensure you understand what is included in the trip cost as well as any fees that may be applicable in case you are required to cancel your trip. Please remember that the enclosed itinerary is merely a guide. While every effort will be made to follow the itinerary provided, in the event of political problems or natural disturbances that are beyond our control, and which prevent travel to a particular area, Aurora Expeditions reserves the right to make necessary changes to the itinerary and affected activities for that section of the voyage. ITINERARY OVERVIEW Day 1 Arrival airport transfer and overnight in Ushuaia Day 2 Embark the Greg Mortimer Day 3 Drake Passage crossing Day 4 Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands Days 5-7 Antarctic Peninsula Day 8 Elephant Island Days 9-10 At Sea Days 11-14 South Georgia Days 15-17 At Sea Days 18 Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Day 19 At Sea Day 20 Disembark Ushuaia VOYAGE HIGHLIGHTS Delight in miracle of penguin chicks hatching Marvel at huge king penguin colonies in South Georgia Explore the largest Black-browed Albatross colony in the world Walk along beaches lined with elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals ASG78G Updated LAST UPDATED: 18 January 2018 TRIP NOTES Experience the thrill of Antarctic kayaking and retrace Shackleton’s mountain crossing on skis (additional cost) EXPEDITION INCLUSIONS Arrival transfer from airport to hotel on Day 1 (preferred flights only) One night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia on Day 1 Luggage transfer from your hotel in Ushuaia to ship on Day 2 Transfer from pier to downtown Ushuaia or to airport on Day 20 On-board accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises Educational lectures and guiding services from expedition team Access to our onboard doctor and basic medical services A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket Complimentary use of gumboots during the voyage Comprehensive pre-departure information A printed photo book produced with photos from your voyage Port surcharges, permits and landing fees EXPEDITION EXCLUSIONS International or domestic flights to or within South America, unless specified Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary Airport arrival or departure taxes Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination charges Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges Hotels and meals not included in itinerary Optional excursions not included in the itinerary Optional activity surcharges All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses, gratuities, and email or phone charges. DETAILED ITINERARY Please refer to this itinerary as a guide only, as changes may occur due to unpredictable sea and weather conditions. Flexibility is key, when joining us on our expeditions. Day 1 Arrive Ushuaia Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to your downtown hotel (preferred flights only). Day 2 Embark the Greg Mortimer in Ushuaia This morning, your luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to port for clearance and loading onto the ship. You’ll have the day at leisure before making your own way to port in the late afternoon to meet your expedition team and commence boarding at approximately 4.00 pm (final embarkation time will be provided in your final documentation). ASG78G Updated LAST UPDATED: 18 January 2018 TRIP NOTES After breakfast, you can independently explore the bustling community that was previously the world’s most southerly town, a claim that now belongs to nearby Puerto Williams. The town itself sits beneath the spectacular mountains of Tierra del Fuego on the edge of the Beagle Channel. You may choose to enjoy a trip to Tierra del Fuego National Park, or visit the small museum, which has informative displays about the original inhabitants and the current population of Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is a duty-free port with a reputation for its delicious Argentinian chocolates, and leather goods, and is a great place to buy souvenirs and presents. There are a host of excellent restaurants available, so whether you are looking for a quick coffee, an excellent meal of king crab, or an Argentinian barbecue, you are spoiled for choice. As the Greg Mortimer pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important briefings. This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica. NOTE: Transfer of your luggage from your Ushuaia hotel to the ship is included. Detailed instructions will be available in your final documentation. Day 3 Drake Passage crossing As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures, and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment. Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following in our wake. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents created by the ship to gain momentum. Day 4 Drake Passage & South Shetland Islands Nearing the tip of the South Shetland Islands on day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on the bridge watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon. Days 5-7 Antarctic Peninsula Over the next three days a host of choices are open to us, and depending on ice and weather conditions, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula is ours to explore. Our experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design our voyage from day to day. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-20 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish. We will generally make landings or Zodiac excursions two, and occasionally three, times a day; cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales that are feeding near the surface, and landing on the continent and its off-shore islands to visit penguin rookeries, seal haul outs, historic huts, and a few of our other favourite spots along the peninsula. There will be plenty of time for sleep when you get home! There are many exciting places we can choose to visit; a sample of some of the places where we may land, hike, photograph or view spectacular wildlife follows: ASG78G Updated LAST UPDATED: 18 January 2018 TRIP NOTES Paradise Harbour A protected bay surrounded by magnificent peaks and spectacular glaciers, the rocky cliffs of this unforgettable piece of heaven provide perfect nesting sites for blue-eyed shags, terns and gulls. The serenity of Paradise Harbour envelops us once the sound of the dropping anchor fades from our ears. This is a haven for whales and we keep our eyes open for humpbacks, orcas and minkes, as well as crabeater seals, as we explore the bay in Zodiacs. Hydrurga Rocks This group of low-lying unprotected granitic rocks protrude from the sea, swept by ocean swells. At first these rocks appear uninteresting, but on closer investigation, calm channels lead to a hidden interior where Weddell seals are hauled out on protected snow beds and noisy chinstrap penguins raise their families on rocky platforms. Hydrurga is the Latin family name for leopard seal (Hydrurga Leonina), and on occasions we see some skulking in the shallows. There are many places to simply sit and watch the rise and fall of clear green water and listen to the magic sounds and calls of the wildlife. Half Moon Island This wildlife-rich island is tucked into a neat bay at the eastern end of Livingston Island. On a clear day, the glaciers and mountains of Livingston Island dominate the vista. There is a large chinstrap penguin rookery tucked in between basaltic turrets coloured by yellow and orange lichens. Gulls nest on these turrets and there are often fur seals and elephant seals hauled out on the pebble beaches. At one extremity of the island there is a large colony of nesting blue-eyed shags. At the other end lies a small Argentine station that is sometimes occupied by scientists conducting research on the penguin colony and surrounding waterways. Lemaire Channel If ice conditions allow, standing on the observation deck of the Greg Mortimer quietly moving through the narrow Lemaire Channel could be one of the highlights of our voyage. Cliffs tower 700 metres straight out of the ocean on either side of the ship. The water can be so still that perfect reflections are mirrored on the surface and it is clear to see why this Channel is also known as “Kodak Alley”.