- This voyage is also available in 2018. Read more here.
This expedition takes you to the spectacular highlights of the southern hemisphere.
From Urban Adventure to Polar Wilderness
Enjoy a taste of big city life in Montevideo before embarking on MS Midnatsol. After two days at sea, we arrive Puerto Madryn, the gateway to the Península Valdés. This area was named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its abundant wildlife. Here you can encounter some of the largest marine animals in the world in their natural environment.
Fabulous Falklands
A starkly contrasting wilderness and cultural experience awaits on the Falklands. Sheep graze next to penguin colonies in the countryside, while red English buses trundle by cozy pubs in the town.
Mind-Blowing Antarctica
We cross the Drake Passage to explore the most remote place on planet Earth. The Antarctic ice sheet covers 98% of the continent and is the largest single mass of ice in the world. This is a wilderness teeming with life. Go ashore to meet the penguins in their noisy and crowded colonies.
Join the expedition team and explore the icy shores of Antarctica on landings to get a close look at penguins and seals, and enjoy kayaking and visits to the most fascinating places. On board, interesting lectures on science and history, and activities and workshops in expedition photography will take your expedition to a new and entertaining level.
We round off this adventure by spending two days crossing the Drake Strait to Ushuaia.
- Experience Antarctica, Patagonia, the Falklands, and South America
- See the amazing wildlife of the southern hemisphere, sometimes up close
- Go ashore in Antarctica and kayak in the most remote place on Earth
- Wide-ranging science program
- Hurtigruten expedition in the cabin grade of your choice on a full board basis
- One hotel night in Montevideo before the voyage, including breakfast and a sightseeing tour
- Transfer from the hotel to the ship in Montevideo
- Transfer from the ship to the airport in Ushuaia
- Economy flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires
- Wind- and water-resistant jacket
- Landings with small boats and activities on board and ashore
- Professional English speaking expedition team that gives lectures as well as accompanies landings and activities
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- Complimentary use of Muck Boot rubber boots
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Luggage handling
- Optional excursions and gratuities
Price includes:
- Hurtigruten expedition in the cabin grade of your choice on a full board basis
- One hotel night in Montevideo before the voyage, including breakfast and a sightseeing tour
- Transfer from the hotel to the ship in Montevideo
- Transfer from the ship to the airport in Ushuaia
- Economy flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires
- Wind- and water-resistant jacket
- Landings with small boats and activities on board and ashore
- Professional English speaking expedition team that gives lectures as well as accompanies landings and activities
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- Complimentary use of Muck Boot rubber boots
Not included:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Luggage handling
- Optional excursions and gratuities
Itinerary
Welcome to South America! - Montevideo
Enjoy an overnight stay in Montevideo, the vibrant capital of Uruguay, before you explore the city the following day.
Montevideo boasts colorful cultural diversity, with a picturesque blend of Colonial Spanish, Italian, and Art Deco architectural styles. Long considered one of South America's most interesting cities, you can visit the Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) with its 18th century buildings; the vibrant Mercado del Puerto; the bustling Avenida 18 de Julio with its numerous theatres, museums, and art galleries; and the stretch of white-sand beaches surrounding the city before embarking on your adventure.
Wildlife and Lectures - At Sea
Enjoy the first day on board! The expedition team will start the lecture program, which covers history and the great explorers, marine biology, wildlife, oceanography, and climate change. Spend some time on deck and enjoy the sun and the warm temperatures and look out for wildlife as we make out way south.
World Heritage Highlights - Puerto Madryn, Argentina
The first highlight on this expedition is our visit to the Península Valdés. This is a nature reserve that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Situated on Argentina's barren eastern Patagonian coast, this oddly shaped peninsula is home to some of the country's most dramatic wildlife habitats, with elephant seals, Magellan penguins, the southern right whale, and a great variety of birds. Puerto Madryn is known as the gateway to whales, penguins … and Welsh traditions! Founded by Welsh immigrants in 1865, Puerto Madryn is now one of the most vibrant cities in Patagonia, with a beautiful coastal avenue that overlooks the huge natural amphitheatre of Nuevo Gulf. Enjoy our wide variety of excursions such as horseback riding, snorkelling with sea lions, kayaking with sea lions, or whale watching, or visit Estancia San Lorenzo, where you will see wildlife including rheas (flightless, ostrich-like birds), guanacos (related to alpacas and llamas), and elephant seals.
Relaxing on MS Midnatsol - At sea
Enjoy a day at sea sharing experiences, and exchanging stories, photos, and videos with your fellow adventurers.
Pubs, Penguins, and Perfect Wilderness - Falkland Islands
When we arrive the Falkland Islands, you will experience everything from red buses and English pubs in the capital of Stanley to penguins, hikes in the hills or along the coastline, and kayaking in crystal-clear waters. New Island is an lovely inlet, with white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. It could easily be mistaken for a Caribbean island, if only it was just a little warmer!
We pass an old shipwreck on our way ashore to enjoy a day among penguins and seals. While we are here, you can join several excursions such as history tours, birdwatching tours, nature walks, and even a scenic plane tour where you can discover the Falklands by air in a classic island-hopping aircraft.
Enjoy the Onboard Activities - Drake Passage
Days at sea are full of activity. By now, our expedition team will have convinced everybody on board that science is fun! We can promise first class 'edutainment'! Once we have crossed the Antarctic Convergence, you will notice that the air becomes crisper and colder. From the deck, you might start seeing icebergs in the water, and maybe even whales as well.
Penguins, Icebergs, Seals, and Whales - Antarctica
Antarctica is sure to inspire you with its beauty: endless white horizons and oceans full of glorious icebergs and whales. Perhaps even more awe-inspiring will be meeting the huge colonies of penguins. They are not afraid of humans, so you can look forward to truly close encounters with this most charming of bird species. You'll go ashore to explore the impressive Antarctic scenery. You'll enjoy close encounters with wildlife and glaciers, and old whaling stations and its relics. And from the deck, there are great opportunities to spot whales.
You are now in one of the most remote areas of the world and the sensations will be non-stop. We will land several times for unforgettable experiences as weather and ice conditions allow. Among the locations we may visit are Half Moon Island, Yankee Harbor, and Cuverville Island, home to a large colony of gentoo penguins. Neko Harbor is beautifully located in the innermost part of Andvord Bay, and Paradise Harbor got its descriptive name from the whalers who came here long ago: When the storms were at their worst, this is where they came to seek shelter. The high glacier walls in Wilhelmina Bay convey the mighty power of ice, from calving glacier fronts to floating ice.
The Beginning of the End of the Adventure - Crossing the Drake Passage
After exhilarating days in Antarctica and the Falklands, the final days on board are spent crossing the Drake Passage. Spend time with family, old friends, new friends, and the expedition team, and enjoy the farewell dinner on the last evening.
The Southernmost Town in the World - Ushuaia
Arriving in Ushuaia, it’s time to say goodbye. We transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. If you want to have a bit more fun before going home, you are more than welcome to join an optional post-cruise Land Adventure.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.