Antarctica

Antarctica - Including Buenos Aires
& Tierra del Fuego

Discover the magic and wonder of the “White Continent” aboard the stylish and comfortable MS Fram. Jump off from Ushuaia, Argentina and explore vistas of blue white glaciers and busy penguin rookeries. See breaching whales crashing and scenes of pure ice walls. Cruise through the Lemaire Channel, where steep, sheer cliffs rise above the narrow iceberg-filled passage. Zip by zodiac boat into small bays and harbors, for personal and in-depth exploration. Make your way to Whalers Bay on Deception Island with its warm springs and black volcanic sand. Relax for 2 nights in Buenos Aires, “The Paris of South America”.

15 Days
January 7 - 21, 2011

Your Tour Includes

Round trip air from Ottawa

Door to Door Sedan Service to/from the Ottawa Airport (within a 100km radius)

Hotel transfers, port taxes, air taxes and fuel surcharges (subject to increase until paid in full)

Highlights Include: Buenos Aires, Tango dinner show, Tierra del Fuego National Park, the Drake Passage, Half Moon Island, Deception Island, Paradise Harbour, Port Lockroy, Antarctic Sound.

9 night cruise aboard the MS Fram

Hotel accommodation for 3 nights in Buenos Aires and 1 night in Ushuaia

13 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 12 dinners (including the Tango dinner show)

Fully guided

Tour Pricing
Double (2 per room) - $10,999 per person
SIngle (1 per room) - $16389 per person
(all prices are in Canadian $)

Insurance
Deluxe Cancellation and Full Medical flat rate Insurance of $350 per person (regardless of age).

Booking Details
To reserve this tour, a deposit of $250 per person plus insurance (if purchasing) must be provided by August 3, 2010. Bookings made after this date are subject to availability and change in price. Balances are due September 1, 2010.

Please Note: For this tour, deposits are fully refundable up until August 3, 2010 minus $20 pp admin fee. There are no refunds after this date. Cancellation insurance is highly recommeded for all participants on this tour.

Itinerary

DAY 1 - Friday, January 7, 2011
Depart From Home - Overnight Flight
Begin your journey to the "White Continent" with an overnight flight to Buenos Aires.

DAY 2 - Saturday, January 8, 2011
Buenose Aires, Argentina
Arrive this morning in Buenos Aires, the "Paris of the South", and home of the tango. Enjoy a Porteños tour, viewing the Teatro Colon, opera house; Avenida 9 de Julio honouring Argentinean independence; the Recoleta Cemetery, where 'Evita" rests in her tomb; the Presidential Palace, the Casa Rosada; and the San Telmo barrio lined with cobblestone streets. Today, dinner will be included.

DAY 3 - Sunday, January 9, 2001
Buenos Aires
Today is at leisure to experience this lively city. Perhaps choose to visit the pampas to enjoy a typical asado lunch and traditional gaucho music, hallmarks of Argentine culture. Today, breakfast will be included.

DAY 4 - Monday, January 10, 2011
Buenos Aires - Ushuaia
This morning you fly to Ushuaia,t he world's southernmost city situated on the Patagonian peninsula overlooking the historic Beagle Channel. For those who love the Canada's east coast, this portside "city" is reminiscent of St. Johns, NFLD mixed with a distinctive European flare. Spend the afternoon roaming the town, exploring the docks and seeing the Antarctic expedition ships preparing for departure.This evening, experience a home-hosted dinner with a local Fuegon family. Today, breakfast and dinner will be included.

DAY 5 - Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ushuaia - Embark Ship
Journey into the "Land of Fire" at Tierra del Fuego National Park to visit "La Roca". Enjoy free time in this famous port town before boarding the state-of-the-art MS Fram expedition vessel. Today, breakfast and dinner will be included.

DAY 6 - Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Drake Passage
Cruise south through the fabled Drake Passage, named for the legendary Sir Francis Drake. Warmer waters of the north meet the colder, denser waters of the south here in the Antarctic Convergency, making eh area rich in marine life. Spot whales and sea birds as you begin this voyage of exploration. Experts provide presentations on history, biology and geology throughout your adventure. Today, all meals will be included.

DAY 7 - Thursday, January 13, 2011
The Drake Passage - Antarctica
Arrive in Antarctica - the last great wilderness stretching across the ice-covered desert and mountains for over five million square miles. The ethereal beauty and immense scale of the continent is like nowhere else on the planet. Today, all meals will be included.

DAY 8-12 - Friday to Tuesday, January 14-12, 2011
Antarctica
The next five days are filled with discovery! Weather conditions determine each sailing's final itinerary. Cruise through the astounding, glacier-lined Lemaire Channel - "Kodak Gap" - and enter the majestic Neumayer Channel with its imposing cliffs. Humpback, Killer and Minke whales, as well as icebergs, are common sights. PolarCirkel (urgged zodiac) boats take you to incredible locations along the Antarctic Peninsula, which could include Half Moon Island - a small island in the South Shetland chain boasting mountainous views and a nesting place for Chinstrap penguins, Kelp Gulls and the Antarctic Tern; Whalers Bay, Deception Island - featuring an active volcanic caldera. Zodiac into Whalers Bay where ruins from a 20th century whaling station rest ashore. The black volcanic sand and waters upon the beach are warmed by geothermal vents; Almirante Brown Research Station in paradise Harbour, where Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins nest; Neko Harbour, part of the Antarctic mainland nestled in the fjord-like Andvord Bay, where penguins plus elephant and weddel seals are often spotted; Port Lockroy, a harbour on Goudier Island and former British base hosting cormorants and surrounded by glaciers and ice shelves. Here you can mail home a postcard with a rare Antarctic stamp!; Wilhelmina Bay, where mountains and high glaciers create dramatic scenery. View the 1915 wreck of the Norwegian ship, Guvern?ren; Antarctic Sound & Brown Bluff - stroll the beach with cute adélie penguins and hear the tale of the 1903 Swedish polar expedition which met its fate here at "Iceberg Alley". Each day, all meals will be included.

DAY 13 - Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Antarctica - Drake Passage
Leave Antarctica, crossing the southern waters of the Drake Passage. participate in engaging lectures on Antarctica's wonders. Today, all meals will be included.

DAY 14 - Thursday, January 20, 2011
Drake Passage - Ushuaia, Arngentina (Disembark Ship) - Buenos Aires
Disembark the ship in Ushuaia. Transfer to the airport for our return flight to Buenos Aires where you will have the afternoon to spend at leisure. This evening for our farewell dinner, relish a dinner featuring Argentine favourites and tango performance!Today, breakfast and dinner will be included.

DAY 15 - Friday, January 21, 2011
Buenos Aires - Tour Ends
Board your overnight flight to return home. Today, breakfast will be included.