Cape Town - Ushuaia Expedition Antarctica from Cape to Cape (Christmas cruise): The ultimate adventure between two continents

In the middle of nowhere, around 2,400 km (1,491 miles) from the nearest settlement, the island group of Tristan da Cunha rises out of the South Atlantic. The British overseas territory is one of the remotest inhabited islands in the world – and is only accessible by ship. The almost circular main island is the tip of an underwater volcano. If the weather is good, you will land here in the Zodiacs to learn more about the lives of the around 250 people who live here, far from civilisation. In the island’s interior, a patchwork of tiny potato and vegetable fields contrast with the dramatic rocky coast and black beach. A mosaic that will provide one of the many unforgettable moments on this expedition.

On the small neighbouring island of Nightingale, there are good opportunities for observing nature. The uninhabited island is an important breeding ground for more than a million seabirds, with an exceptionally wide variety of species. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important regions for birds in the world. The sea around Nightingale is also a rich habitat for wildlife. With luck, you may spot sperm whales and humpback whales here.

Days of adventure and great experiences lie ahead of you, when rugged peaks on the horizon signal your approach to this unique animal paradise. South Georgia is often referred to as the “cold Serengeti”. Hundreds of thousands of king penguins blanket the island’s coastlines and mountain slopes. On numerous trips and landings with the Zodiacs, you will experience the animal world from a respectful distance. With a little luck, you will see elephant seals fighting over a harem or gentoo and king penguins in their natural habitat. Your experts, who have extensive experience in the Antarctic, will familiarise you with the flora and fauna. The pioneering days of polar research will come to life for you in Grytviken: in the former whaling station, you will visit the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton and commemorate the heroic efforts with which he once saved his crew.

The South Orkney Islands, a small group of islands with a surface area of around 620 km² (239 mi²), are located in the Scotia Sea. A lonely, glaciated world with ice deserts – and more animal species than on the Galapagos Islands, as scientists have discovered. Who would guess there are around 1,200 animal species here? The South Orkney Islands are home to numerous varieties of penguin, whale and seal, as well as leopard seals. With luck, you will also see icebergs drifting off the rugged coast. In contrast, the Argentinian Orcadas research station – which has been staffed since 1904 – houses just a few people. Depending on the conditions and approval from the station, you will land in the Zodiacs to gain an impression of the isolated life of the polar researchers in the area.

The Antarctic Peninsula, part of the coldest continent on Earth, may seem inhospitable at first glance, but it is actually a paradise for countless animal species that have adapted perfectly. Enjoy unforgettable moments when, for example, you set foot on the Antarctic mainland near to Paradise Bay. Snow-covered peaks, imposing icebergs and towering glaciers surround you. Unbelievable views also await you in the bay of Neko Harbor with its rocky massifs. On Petermann Island, look out for gentoo and Adelie penguins as well as blue-eyed cormorants, which have their breeding colonies here. One of the most impressive shipping passages in the world is the Lemaire Channel: mountains up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) high line the strait of water.

The South Shetland Islands form a long chain in the ocean. The island group opens up exciting chapters of Antarctic exploration and provides expert insights into geology. Here, your small manoeuvrable ship can again prove its expedition capability when it sails into the flooded caldera of the extinct volcano that forms Deception Island. Flanked by rock faces up to 50 m (164 ft) in height, the black sand in front of you gives off steam as a testament to a past eruption – and you in the heart of the scenery. Elephant Island, where history surrounds you, is legendary: polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew spent months here after abandoning their ship in the ice. You, too, will be enchanted by the scenery: jagged crags loom fiercely on the horizon and the evening sun casts a delicate pink glow over the snowfields.