Antarctica remains the ultimate, most glorious frontier for exploration and discovery on our planet. Almost alien in immensity, it is a continent of volcanoes, glaciers, islands, and oceans. It is the most elemental wilderness, where the naked might of Nature assaults the senses as in no other place on Earth.
We embark from Ushuaia, Argentina, in Tierra del Fuego on a 19-day navigation aboard the elegant 116-passenger Plancius (see a gallery of images of the ship). Our itinerary is ideal for birding, with planned landings at the endemic-rich Falklands, the South Orkneys, the Antarctic Peninsula, and spectacular South Georgia.
Employing the ship's Zodiacs to reach little-known shores, we'll find ourselves face-to-face with such wonderful creatures as King, Adelie, Gentoo, Chinstrap, Magellanic, Macaroni, and Rockhopper penguins, Wandering, Black-browed, and Light-mantled albatrosses, the elegant Snow Petrel, Antarctic and Slender-billed prions, and many more. At sea we will encounter a rich variety of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic oceanic birds, such as Gray-headed and Royal albatrosses, Northern Giant-Petrel, Southern Fulmar, White-chinned, Antarctic (rare), Soft-plumaged, Kerguelen (rare), and Blue petrels, Fairy Prion, Black-bellied and Gray-backed storm-petrels, South Georgia Diving-Petrel, South Polar and Brown skuas, and Antarctic Tern, to name a few. We'll also concentrate on observing the wealth of marine mammals inhabiting these frigid seas, with four to five species of seals including the reptilian Leopard Seal, and whales that ought to include Humpback, Fin, and Minke (and possibly other large whales like Sperm and Right), Orca (Killer Whale), and the exquisite Hourglass, Peale's, and Commerson's dolphins. These cruises often encounter poorly known and rarely seen beaked whales like Arnoux's and Southern Bottlenose.
Beholding the pristine beauty of the Antarctic wilderness, the indefatigable polar explorer Roald Amundsen entered in his diary of November 13, 1911: "Glittering white, shining blue, raven black...the land looks like a fairytale. Pinnacle after pinnacle, peak after peak--crevassed, wild as any land on our globe, it lies, unseen and untrodden. It is a wonderful feeling to travel along it." Join us as we come to know that feeling for ourselves.
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.
Client comment
"The tour was excellent, exceptional and fabulous. Best features were the birds, especially the penguins, the mammals, hanging glaciers, sunrises, sunsets, zodiac cruises, hiking, lectures and the experience on the ship with fellow Oceanwide participants from different countries. And also guide Doug Gochfeld! Doug was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the birds and very helpful and always enthusiastic and fun to be around." J.J., ANTARCTICA, SOUTH GEORGIA & THE FALKLANDS 2019
ITINERARIES • TOUR STATUS • DETAILS • SPACE REQUESTS
ITINERARIES • We issue a separate itinerary for each year, typically at least 9 months before that year's first departure. Most itineraries don't vary much year to year, but there may be small or rarely more substantive changes. A sample previous-year itinerary is usually available even if the one for your chosen departure is not. We do not require any deposit for provisional bookings until the itinerary for the departure is ready.
DEPARTURES • We have 2 departures currently scheduled through 2027, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.
2025
Oct 20 - Nov 12, 2025
Guided by: Doug Gochfeld
Tour Manager: Karen Turner
Tour Limit: 10
Status: One space available - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space.
Tour Fee: $17450
Deposit: $3500
REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
2027
Oct 23 - Nov 16, 2027
Guide: TBA
Tour Manager: TBA
Tour Limit: 10
Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space.
Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2025=$17450
REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
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