ANTARCTIC 2021.22 CROSSING THE CIRCLE Southern Expedition Contents 1 Overview 2 Itinerary 5 Arrival and Departure Details 7 Your Ship Options 10 Included Activities 11 Adventure Options 12 Dates and Rates 13 Inclusions and Exclusions 14 Your Expedition Team 15 Extend Your Trip 16 Meals on Board 17 Possible Excursions 21 Packing Checklist Overview Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition Antarctica offers so many extraordinary things to see and do, and traveling with Quark Expeditions® offers multiple options to personalize your experience. We’ve designed this guide to help you identify what interests you most, so that you can start planning your version of the perfect expedition to the 7th Continent. With a more in-depth exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula, our Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition voyage gives you the chance to venture beyond the EXPEDITION IN BRIEF Antarctic Circle, a milestone few have reached. Including an in-depth exploration of Be one of the few travelers the penguin colonies, glaciers, bays and historical sites of the Peninsula, you’ll also to venture to 66°33'S navigate beyond 66⁰33´ South. Encounter even more wildlife and experience the Visit Antarctic research awe of splendid isolation. You can personalize your adventure with options that suit stations your interests, and cross the 7th Continent off your list—your way. Witness abundant Antarctic wildlife, including penguins, Antarctica has been inspiring explorers for centuries and our expeditions offer the seals and whales chance for you to discover why. We’re excited to host you on your unforgettable Experience western Antarctic Peninsula highlights and visit adventure! Feel free to reach out to our team of Polar Travel Advisers who can iconic landing sites answer your questions and provide assistance at any time. Learn about Antarctica’s history, glaciology and wildlife from onboard specialists 1 Itinerary DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel Buenos Aires USHUAIA, ARGENTINA presents great photo opportunities of ARGENTINA You will begin your journey in Ushuaia, landscapes and seabirds. Eventually the a small but bustling port town at the tip channel opens up to the Southern Ocean, CHILE of South America. This Argentine town and onwards to Antarctica. is an ideal gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while DAYS 3 & 4 | CROSSING Atlantic Ocean THE DRAKE PASSAGE Ushuaia preparing for your adventure ahead. Get Your days at sea are filled with active in the mountains or enjoy South Shetland handcrafted chocolate at a café in town. presentations and lectures led by your Islands Expedition Team, who will prepare you Island DAY 2 | EMBARKATION DAY for the wildlife that will greet you upon your arrival. In between presentations, LE As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon, C IR C IC Weddell Sea T C R spend time chatting with your shipmates A you will begin your Antarctic journey, N Antarctic T A passing through the Beagle Channel. over a drink at the bar, or enjoy the fresh Peninsula Named after the famed ship on which air and views on the outer decks. CROSSING THE CIRCLE Southern Expeditions On board the Ocean Diamond or Ocean Adventurer 2 DAYS 5–7 | SOUTH SHETLAND and search for a number of southern and glaciers and watching penguins ISLANDS & ANTARCTIC PENINSULA seal species, including the cunning waddling on the beach will become your The most common reaction upon leopard seal. daily entertainment, while sea kayaking, reaching the White Continent is a sense paddle excursions, or camping are Your Expedition Team will take care of reverence and awe. The experience is optional activities available on select of you at each landing, whether you are beyond words, since few places are as voyages (at an extra cost). untouched and enduring as Antarctica. exploring the Antarctic terrain, visiting a You will begin to appreciate why this research station or consorting with DAYS 8 & 9 | ANTARCTIC CIRCLE region has long captivated the attention of penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie and Crossing the Antarctic Circle is both a explorers and travelers alike. Every visit gentoo penguins are found here, along memorable experience and impressive to Antarctica, we witness something new with five different species of seals. Zodiac achievement, as few travelers reach so far or unexpected, which means that your cruising can offer opportunities to view south. If conditions allow us to cross this expedition will be unlike any other— some of the larger local marine mammals famed line at 66°33´ S, we’ll toast the first creating a unique, personal experience. more intimately, such as Antarctic minke explorers who ventured here, and you can and humpback whales. Each day and each raise a glass and take pride in knowing excursion will present a new collection of you’ve made it to a part of the world Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions creatures to delight you and keep your visited by very few people. This is raw from the ship to explore local bays, camera busy. Antarctica, home of the midnight sun, channels and landing sites. With wildlife Weddell seals, and your best chances of always at the forefront of our minds, you Your days will be busy spotting wildlife encountering sea ice – the foundation of will visit penguin rookeries, scout for and being mesmerized by the astounding the Antarctic marine ecosystem. humpback and minke whales, beauty of Antarctica. Listening to the crackling and crumbling of icebergs 3 DAYS 10 & 11 | NORTHBOUND of memories to last a lifetime. Excited ALONG THE PENINSULA conversations with your newfound friends EXPEDITION SPIRIT Embracing the unexpected is part of By now, your knowledge of Adélie, will make the crossing fly by, regardless the legacy—and excitement—of chinstrap and gentoo penguins will be of weather and sea conditions. Your expedition travel. When traveling in matched by your ability to differentiate Expedition Team will round up its series extremely remote regions, your between a leopard, fur and Weddell seal. of presentations as well, with a slideshow Expedition Team must consider the Terms like ‘bergy bits’ and ‘pancake ice’ of the great landing sites and wildlife sea, ice and weather to guide the will become part of your vocabulary, yet you’ve witnessed over the course of your route and itinerary details. This there are still many tales to be told. As voyage. Be sure to take some time to itinerary is a tentative outline of what you head north, Zodiac excursions will fill reflect on everything you’ve experienced you may experience on this voyage; your days, and your Expedition Team will so far. please be aware that no specific continue looking out for species of itinerary can be guaranteed. By the seabirds, seals and whales that may have DAY 14 | DISEMBARK IN USHUAIA same token, wildlife encounters as eluded you on your journey south. Today, you’ll say goodbye to your described are expected, but not Expedition Team and fellow travelers, guaranteed. Your Expedition Team DAYS 12 & 13 | CROSSING disembarking in the morning to catch will use their considerable THE DRAKE PASSAGE your homeward flights or continue your experience to seek out wildlife in As you recross the Drake, Antarctica travels on your own. known habitats, but the presence of fades away, leaving you with a collection any particular species of bird or marine wildlife is not guaranteed. 4 Arrival and Departure Details As you prepare for your journey, you may be interested in your arrival and departure details. Since international air transportation is not included in the cost of your expedition, you have some flexibility in planning your flights. Looking to extend your adventure beyond your polar expedition? On page 15, learn how to add on a pre- or post-expedition stop—or both!—in your gateway city. Arrival Day and Embarkation ARRIVING IN USHUAIA You may arrive in Ushuaia at any time during Day 1 of your itinerary. Ushuaia is a destination worth exploring, so we do encourage you to arrive a day or two before your expedition. Based on the arrival information you send us, we will arrange for a transfer from the airport to your hotel. A Quark Expeditions® representative will be available to answer your questions in the lobby of your hotel in Ushuaia during your optional pre-departure briefing on Day 1, at 6pm. 5 EMBARKATION IN USHUAIA Included Hotel Arrival and On the morning of Day 2, your luggage will be collected from the lobby of your Accommodations Departure Transfers hotel, transferred to the ship and stored Your included accommodation begins on USHUAIA AIRPORT TRANSFERS in your cabin. Day 1 of your itinerary, and the specific ARRIVAL: A group transfer in Ushuaia hotel will be indicated on your final Ship embarkation will occur on Day 2 of is included from the airport to your voyage confirmation. If you are arriving your itinerary, usually around 4pm. You included pre-expedition hotel on Day 1 of prior to Day 1 of your expedition or are and your shipmates will meet at a your itinerary. staying after the disembarkation day and designated location near the pier, and DEPARTURE: A group departure would like help booking a pre- or post- board the waiting buses for transfer to the transfer is included from the ship to the stay, please contact your preferred travel ship. Information about embarkation will airport on the final day of your itinerary. agent or Quark Expeditions® for hotel be posted in your Ushuaia hotel and If your flight is later in the day, you may options. As accommodation space is discussed during your optional pre- opt to transfer to our luggage storage limited, you are encouraged to request departure meeting on Day 1.