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Peregrine Travel Centre

WILDLIFE, HISTORY AND RUGGED BEAUTY – SOUTH GEORGIA

WILDLIFE, HISTORY AND RUGGED BEAUTY – SOUTH GEORGIA

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Description

There are wildlife destinations, and then there is South Georgia.
This is the Kingdom of Kings, a journey into one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth. Sail across the Southern Ocean to an island where hundreds of thousands of king penguins gather beneath glacier-covered mountains, chicks crowd the colonies and beaches pulse with wildlife.
January and February bring South Georgia’s brief but extraordinary summer to life. King penguin colonies contain birds at different stages of their remarkable breeding cycle, including fluffy brown chicks, while fur seals, elephant seals and countless seabirds occupy the coastline.
But South Georgia is only part of the story.
Our journey also takes us through the wildlife-rich Falkland Islands and across the Scotia Sea before continuing south to the Antarctic Peninsula, where immense glaciers, sculpted icebergs, penguin colonies and whales await.

Experience South Georgia at the height of the austral summer, when its extraordinary wildlife colonies are alive with activity

Stand before some of the world’s greatest king penguin colonies, with adults and chicks gathering in staggering numbers
Witness different stages of the penguin breeding season, from busy colonies to growing chicks
Explore wildlife-rich beaches populated by king penguins, fur seals and elephant seals
Discover the Falkland Islands, home to spectacular seabird colonies, penguins and rugged coastal landscapes
Cross the Scotia Sea, one of the Southern Ocean’s most productive marine environments and an exceptional area for seabirds and marine mammals
Follow in the footsteps of Antarctic explorers and, conditions permitting, visit Grytviken and Sir Ernest Shackleton’s grave
Continue south into Antarctica, exploring a world of glaciers, icebergs and wildlife
Watch for whales throughout the voyage, with the later Antarctic summer offering excellent opportunities for marine mammal encounters
Explore by Zodiac and on foot, with each day determined by the best wildlife, weather and ice conditions
Kayak among icebergs and along remote coastlines, included at no additional cost
Learn from our expedition team through lectures, interpretation and presentations throughout the journey

This 21-day / 20-night expedition operates from Ushuaia to Ushuaia. The day allocations shown above reflect the planned itinerary and are approximate. Dates, operational days, landing locations and time spent in each destination are dependent on weather, sea, ice and other operational conditions. Our aim is to maximise the experience in each region rather than guarantee a fixed number of days, landings or activities in any particular location. The Captain and Expedition Leader will adapt the programme throughout the voyage to make the most of conditions, wildlife and expedition opportunities.

Trip Name
WILDLIFE, HISTORY AND RUGGED BEAUTY - SOUTH GEORGIA
Days
21
Overview
Built for adventure Ice-strengthened hull, deep draft, and powerful engines built for the Southern Ocean. British built and flagged — purpose-made for long ocean voyages, not converted from a cruise ferry! Onboard facilitiesPanoramic observation lounges, two Jacuzzis, gym, spa, and a full science lab with a resident expert science team. More space per guest than almost any comparable vessel. Cabins & suites All en-suite with ocean views, updated in the 2022 refit. Single cabins with no supplement. Interconnecting cabins available for families and groups.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1: Ushuaia embarkation
Your journey into the Kingdom of Kings begins at the southern tip of South America.Board Terra Nova Adventurer in Ushuaia, settle into your cabin and meet your expedition team and fellow travellers.After our safety briefings and introduction to expedition life, we leave the Beagle Channel behind and begin our journey into the South Atlantic.Ahead lie three of the Southern Ocean's great wilderness regions: the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica.
Day 2 - Day 2-3: Falkland Islands
Our first expedition experiences take us amongst the remote islands and rugged coastlines of the Falklands.These islands support an extraordinary variety of wildlife, including several species of penguin, enormous seabird colonies and marine mammals.We'll explore by Zodiac and on foot, choosing our locations according to the conditions and wildlife activity on the day.Along the way, our expedition team will introduce the natural and human history of an archipelago shaped by its isolation in the South Atlantic.
Day 3 - Day 4-5: Scotia Sea
Leaving the Falklands behind, we turn east and begin our crossing towards South Georgia.But the crossing is not simply a way of getting from one destination to another.The Scotia Sea is an incredibly productive part of the Southern Ocean, supporting vast numbers of seabirds and marine mammals. Albatrosses and petrels may accompany the ship for hours, while whales and other marine life can appear at any time.Our expedition team will be out on deck helping spot and identify wildlife, while presentations introduce the remarkable ecology, history and wildlife of South Georgia.Then, after days surrounded by ocean, mountains begin to rise from the horizon.Welcome to the Kingdom of Kings.
Day 4 - Day 6 - 9: Kingdom of Kings - South Georgia
Few wildlife experiences compare with stepping ashore on South Georgia.Glacier-covered mountains rise behind sweeping beaches. Rivers of meltwater run towards the sea. Fur seals and elephant seals occupy the shoreline.And then there are the penguins.South Georgia is home to some of the largest king penguin colonies on Earth, where birds can gather in numbers that stretch almost beyond sight.At this time of year, the colonies are particularly fascinating. The king penguin's unusually long breeding cycle means we may encounter birds at several different stages of their lives, including adults tending eggs and dense gatherings of unmistakable fluffy brown chicks.The sights are extraordinary. The sound is unforgettable.Over several days, we'll explore South Georgia by Zodiac and on foot, seeking out the best wildlife encounters available to us.Our exact programme remains deliberately flexible, allowing the Captain and Expedition Leader to respond to weather, swell and wildlife activity.Beyond its wildlife, South Georgia has one of polar exploration's most remarkable histories.Conditions permitting, we hope to visit Grytviken, where we can learn about the island's whaling past and pay our respects at the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton.South Georgia rewards time and patience, and our aim is to make every possible moment here count.
Day 5 - Days 10-11: South Across the Scotia Sea
Eventually, we leave South Georgia behind and turn south-west towards another of the planet's great wildernesses.These days at sea give us time to reflect on South Georgia while looking ahead to Antarctica.The expedition programme continues with lectures and presentations on Antarctic wildlife, history, glaciology and conservation.Outside, keep watching the horizon as we move deeper into Antarctic waters.The first iceberg is always worth waiting for.
Day 6 - Days 12-16: South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica doesn't need an introduction.Towering mountains rise directly from the sea. Glaciers fill entire valleys. Icebergs drift through channels in shapes that seem almost sculpted.And in the height of the Antarctic summer, the continent is alive.Penguin colonies bustle with activity and growing chicks, seabirds patrol the coastline and whales are increasingly active in the productive waters surrounding the Peninsula.For the next several days, there is deliberately no fixed daily schedule.Instead, our Captain and Expedition Leader will use their experience, together with the latest weather and ice information, to determine where each day can take us.We may cruise by Zodiac beneath immense glaciers, step ashore at a penguin colony, navigate among spectacular icebergs or simply stop the ship because whales have appeared nearby.Where conditions permit, opportunities may include kayaking, hiking, photography, Zodiac cruising and the polar plunge.The goal isn't to tick off a predetermined list of places.It's to experience the best of Antarctica that the conditions give us.
Day 7 - Days 17-18: Antarctica
Our exploration continues.By now, the rhythm of expedition life has become familiar: waking each morning without knowing exactly what the day will bring, watching the landscape from the outer decks and listening for the announcement that it's time to head to the Zodiacs.Perhaps we'll find whales feeding in a sheltered bay. Perhaps the weather opens a route towards a spectacular landing site. Perhaps an iceberg-filled channel becomes the day's destination.These unscripted moments are often the ones that stay with us longest.With long summer daylight and wildlife at its most active, we'll continue making the most of every opportunity Antarctica offers.
Day 8 - Day 19-20: Drake Passage
Eventually, we leave Antarctica behind and turn north across the legendary Drake Passage.These final days at sea are an opportunity to absorb just how far we've travelled — from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia's immense king penguin colonies and finally into the ice of Antarctica.Join the expedition team's final presentations, exchange photographs with fellow travellers or head outside for one last chance to watch the albatrosses and petrels of the Southern Ocean.As South America draws closer, we round Cape Horn and enter the sheltered waters of the Beagle Channel.
Day 9 - Day 21: Ushuaia disembarkation
This morning, we arrive back in Ushuaia.After breakfast, say goodbye to Terra Nova Adventurer, your expedition team and the people you've shared this extraordinary journey with.You return having crossed some of the wildest waters on Earth and experienced three remarkable regions — but for many, one image will remain above all others:

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
15-10-202704-11-2027USD $0Discovery Quad
15-10-202704-11-2027USD $0Discovery Triple
15-10-202704-11-2027USD $0Superior Cabin
15-10-202704-11-2027USD $0Superior Single
15-10-202704-11-2027USD $0Deluxe
15-10-202704-11-2027USD $0Premium Suite
05-02-202825-02-2028USD $0Deluxe
05-02-202825-02-2028USD $0Premium Suite
05-02-202825-02-2028USD $0Discovery Quad
05-02-202825-02-2028USD $0Discovery Triple
05-02-202825-02-2028USD $0Superior Cabin
05-02-202825-02-2028USD $0Superior Single

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