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Peregrine Travel Centre

Expedition to Southern Lands – Antarctica & South Georgia Luxury Expedition

Expedition to Southern Lands – Antarctica & South Georgia Luxury Expedition

From AUD $32,480

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Description

In South Georgia and on the shores of the White Continent, follow in the footsteps of the greatest explorers during a 17-day polar expedition cruise. Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache, Ernest Shackleton, these legendary names evoke the most prodigious adventures, which PONANT is offering you the chance to discover during an unforgettable trip.

Le Lyrial will leave Ushuaia, for South Georgia. It is there, amid the snow-covered mountains, that Sir Ernest Shackleton miraculously ran aground during the famous Endurance Odyssey in 1916, before returning to rescue the rest of his crew, left behind on the remote Elephant Island. You will travel back in time to (re)discover this fabulous saga and life at this little-known time in history.

You will sail on the Southern Ocean to reach the frozen shores of the nearly inaccessible White Continent, Antarctica. White shades take on a thousand nuances as it covers the icebergs, glaciers, mountains and frozen sea all around you. You will be one of the rare few travellers to have laid eyes on this legendary land, the theatre of the greatest expeditions and the witness of the most extraordinary adventures.

Throughout your trip, our team of naturalist guides will share with you the secrets of these faraway lands inhabited by unique wildlife. Discover the vast territory of the penguins – Adelie, king, chinstrap, Gentoo, Magellanic, southern rockhopper – albatrosses, numerous species of seals, and majestic whales blowing on the horizon.

To disembark in Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego, you will have to sail along Drake Passage. At the border between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, you will enter this mythical maritime route. The wind blows, the waves crash against the stem of the ship, and the cape petrels keep you company overhead until the end of your expedition.

Trip Name
Expedition to Southern Lands - Antarctica & South Georgia Luxury Expedition
Days
19
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 264 (200 in Antarctica) Built: 2011 This superb mega-yacht with 132 cabins is the result of the expertise of the Italian Fincantieri shipyard and French sophistication, as interpreted by designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. L'Austral has a unique atmosphere, a subtle blend of luxury, intimacy and well-being. A sleek silhouette softened by elegantly smooth contours and large, arched windows opening up to the sea and the light: so many features come together to give L’Austral her distinctive shape. Precious materials, discreet elegance and a perfect balance between chic and casual, combine to make you feel as if you are on your own private yacht. A design blending tradition and innovation, where a nautical mood has been subtly recreated. Precious materials in smoothing neutral tones are brought to life with splashes of cheerful reds. So many personal touches create the spirit of a “private yacht”. Cuisine Loyal to the great French tradition, the haute cuisine on board is worthy of the finest restaurants, where discreet, attentive service is the hallmark. Our two restaurants welcome you for breakfasts, lunch and dinner. The Gastronomic Restaurant, with a capacity of 268 persons, is situated on Le Liberté Deck and serves you French and international cuisine accompagnied by fine wine. On the Grill Restaurant, you will have the opportuniny to eat outside and enjoy buffet lunch and themed dinner. Life On Board Whether you want to join other guests in the theatre or games area (Wii™ consoles, etc), or relax on your own in a quiet corner of the library, L'Austral has been designed to meet the needs of every guest. Everything has been done to preserve the independence of each guest to suit their personal tastes: lounges for lectures and shows, a spa in partnership with Sothys™, but also more intimate spaces such as the library and internet corner. Comfortable cabins, nearly all with private balcony, are available for families either as triples or as communicating cabins. There is also a games area with Wii™ consoles, children’s menus, and a baby-sitting service. Just as if you were on a private yacht, your time is your own to do as you please. Fitted with the latest equipment (Kinesis Wall, running machine) and in partnership with the famous Sothys™ brand, the Beauty Centre on L'Austral welcomes you for some unforgettable moments of relaxation and pampering (beauty treatments, hairdresser).

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 BUENOS AIRES
The day before embarkation – Buenos AiresMeet at Ezeiza international airport in the arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative.A shuttle from the airport will permit you to join your hotel.Check-in from late morning.Lunch on your own and time at leisure in the afternoon. Dinner.Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Day 2 USHUAIA
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
Day 3 - Days 3 - 5 AT SEA
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Day 4 - Days 6 - 8 SOUTH GEORGIA
Aboard your ship, discover South Georgia, a region formed by an underwater mountain chain that extends from the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula. All the wildlife of the Far South can be found there: king and Gentoo penguins, elephant seals, fur seals… You might get the chance to discover the majestic glaciers of Gold Harbour and the vast plains of Fortuna Bay. If you are fortunate enough to land at Salisbury Plain, you can expect a wonderful spectacle: more than 300,000 king penguins, which you will recognise by the bright orange mark on their head and neck, have taken up residence there.
Day 5 - Days 9 - 10 AT SEA
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Day 6 - Days 11 - 15 ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.
Day 7 - Days 16 - 17 CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE
If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
Day 8 - Day 18 USHUAIA
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
Day 9 - Please Note:
We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the IAATO.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $32,480Superior Stateroom
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $34,880DeLuxe Stateroom
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $82,180Owner’s Suite
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $36,590Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $37,280Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $38,300Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $55,440Deluxe Suite
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $57,840Prestige Suite - Deck 5
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $62,845Privilege Suite
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $77,380Grand Deluxe Suite
25-11-202412-12-2024AUD $79,780Grand Privilege Suite
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $34,290Superior Stateroom
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $36,830Deluxe Stateroom
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $38,660Prestige Stateroom Deck 4
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $39,380Prestige Stateroom Deck 5
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $40,480Prestige Stateroom Deck 6
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $58,690Deluxe Suite
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $61,230Prestige Suite Deck 5
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $64,510Prestige Suite Deck 6
05-12-202423-12-2024AUD $81,980Owner's Suite
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $38,860Superior Stateroom
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $41,780DeLuxe Stateroom
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $43,860Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $44,690Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $45,940Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $66,750Deluxe Suite
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $69,660Prestige Suite - Deck 5
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $73,410Prestige Suite - Deck 6
27-12-202414-01-2025AUD $93,380Owner’s Suite
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $34,290Superior Stateroom
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $36,830DeLuxe Stateroom
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $38,660Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $39,380Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $40,480Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $58,690Deluxe Suite
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $61,230Prestige Suite - Deck 5
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $64,510Prestige Suite - Deck 6
12-02-202502-03-2025AUD $81,980Owner’s Suite

Inclusions

    • An expedition cruise to explore the stunning natural settings of South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, in the wake of the great explorers of the high southern latitudes.
    • Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
    • Enjoy a magical experience as you are introduced to sea kayaking. Lead by experienced, State-Certified kayak guides, you will skim the water’s surface amid the ice. For more information about your kayak tour, please go to the section ‘PONANT activities’ and to book your kayak tour, contact your cruise advisor.
    • Hiking opportunity.
    • Lectures and information sessions hosted by our naturalist guides, covering wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate, environmental protection and educational discovery in the respect of environment.
    • Landscapes: drifting icebergs, ice floe, glaciers and snow-capped mountains in the Antarctic Peninsula; alpine landscapes, lush green plains and suspended glaciers in South Georgia.
    • Wildlife: humpback whales; Gentoo, Adelie, and chinstrap penguins; leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals in the Antarctic Peninsula; king and macaroni penguins; elephant and fur seals in South Georgia.
    • For your comfort, your cruise package includes an overnight in Buenos Aires the day before embarkation and the flights to/from Ushuaia (for details, see the “Included in your cruise” tab).

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