Ushuaia - Ushuaia Expedition Antarctica: Festive days at the end of the earth

Experience this bird paradise the Falkland Islands, which is home to around 60 species, at close range during your Zodiac landings. Observe rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, who share their habitat with kelp geese, striated caracaras, king cormorants as well as black-browed and wandering albatrosses.

In South Gorgia live Hundreds of thousands of king penguins side by side with elephant seals and fur seals on the coasts and cliffs – overwhelming natural spectacles that you can observe from a respectful distance after landing on one of the black shores. In addition, trace the footsteps of the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who found his final resting place here in 1922.

The South Orkney Islands are a lonely, glaciated world of icy wilderness located in the Scotia Sea. They are home to chinstrap and Adelie penguins, which can be spotted here. With luck, you’ll also see icebergs drifting off the rugged coast. Find out how the polar explorers live at the Argentinian Orcadas Station (depending on weather and authorisation). Experience the South Shetland Islands between ice and awe intensively – on deck as well as by Zodiac. The Weddell Sea is home to stunning ice formations – whether as sparkling blue-and-white sculptures, gigantic tabular icebergs or creaking sheets of dense pack ice. Off the Antarctic Peninsula, your ship sails into the centre of the flooded caldera of Deception Island. Majestic glaciers and gigantic icebergs shimmer in Paradise Bay. The Lemaire Channel is also impressive, flanked by mighty mountains up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) high. Icebergs ahead: at the bow and on the open deck areas, you can enjoy the best views of the white wonderland. You may even spot the flukes of blue whales, sperm whales and humpback whales as well as orcas.