Life Returns | Springtime Expedition to Antarctica
Cruise Overview
Antarctica Cruise | Life Returns - Springtime Expedition to Antarctica
Late spring expedition gives you five days in Antarctica during its late spring as the glaciers and icebergs are at their most sparkly and pristine.
Visit the beautiful, windswept Falkland Islands and the 'Serengeti of the Southern Ocean' South Georgia at the height of mating season.
Over three weeks exploring some of the most remote and beautiful places on Earth, with abundant wildlife.
Southern Ocean islands of wonder
Setting off from Buenos Aires, we head to the windswept green hills and the white-sand beaches of the Falkland Islands. And while the wildlife here is plentiful, South Georgia is in a class of its own, and the beaches heave with seals, penguins and other seabirds.
Amazing Antarctic wildlife
At this time of year, the snow is fresh from winter, and in the sea towering icebergs glisten in their newly sculpted grandeur while on land the penguins are courting and nest-building. Over the next five days, we'll explore several landing sites where you can truly experience the frozen continent up close. Your voyage ends in Chile’s Patagonia region.
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Practical information you need to know
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Itinerary
We'll help you plan where to go, when to visit and how long to stay
The beat of Buenos Aires
Day 1
The beat of Buenos Aires
Feel the rhythm of bustling Buenos Aires
Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or ‘people of the port’, Buenos Aires is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendour and Latin American panache.
There are plenty of places to explore, including many parrillas serving authentic Argentine steak. Or maybe you’d like to practise your dance moves in the famed birthplace of the tango.
Your Expedition Ship will be awaiting you for embarkation.
Preparing for adventure
Day 2-4
Preparing for adventure
Get into expedition mode
Over the next days at sea, you'll learn more about the wonders we'll encounter during our trip.
Members of the Expedition Team will start their lecture series on topics like oceanography, geology, ornithology, and history. Pop into the Science Center for hands-on presentations as well.
Grab a pair of binoculars and scan for rare wandering albatrosses and petrels. Make the most of your onboard facilities and enjoy the hot tubs, panoramic sauna and gym.
Wildlife of the Falklands
Day 5-7
Wildlife of the Falklands
Enjoy birding and hiking on these green islands
The Falkland archipelago is filled with seamless horizons and white sand beaches teeming with birdlife. Only the occasional farm dots the landscape amid grassy hills and wildflowers. Enjoy a community walk around Stanley, taking in the Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Historic Dockyard Museum.
Our landings, hikes, and excursions are – as always – subject to weather conditions. We hope to visit albatross and penguin colonies, where seals can often be found as well, getting as close as possible without disturbing them.
Adventure lies ahead
Day 8-9
Adventure lies ahead
Cruising the South Atlantic
After the Falkland Islands, we will spend two days cruising toward beautiful South Georgia. Look forward to seeing an archipelago filled with diverse wildlife.
The Expedition Team will prepare you for what lies ahead. They will tell you everything they know about South Georgia, including information about the area’s wildlife, polar history, geology, glaciology, and stories of Norwegian whalers.
You’ll also learn how to make your visit as safe and as low impact as possible. You can join our Citizen Science programs to help collect data for global research projects.
The southern Serengeti
Day 11-13
The southern Serengeti
Visit a wildlife watcher’s paradise
South Georgia’s abundant wildlife has earned it the nickname ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’. Its unique position free from sea ice makes the island a breeding site for large colonies of penguins, other seabirds and seals. In fact, it’s an Important Bird Area, home to albatrosses, petrels, shags, skuas and terns.
Throughout our three days in the area, we’ll land as often as we can to explore the wilderness and wildlife. We’ll also try to reach Grytviken, the final resting place of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Our expedition route will as always be guided by nature, responding to daily conditions to seek out the best possible experience.
Antarctica bound
Day 13-14
Antarctica bound
Time to relax and reflect
After visiting the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, take time to relax and reflect on your journey so far as we head toward Antarctica.
Antarctica is a continent dedicated to peace, science, and wildlife. As we approach, the Expedition Team will talk about the IAATO environmental guidelines and sustainability rules that we follow when visiting. We leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but pictures.
Another world
Day 15-19
Another world
Experience Antarctica in all its majesty
Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica’s immense, frozen beauty. Icebergs, sculpted by nature, float in the straits. Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins watch erect from the shores. Countless seabirds wheel overhead. Nature is in charge.
You’ll spend five exciting days exploring several possible landing sites, on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Wherever we go and whatever we do, each day will offer something different and thrilling.
We might sail into a flooded volcanic caldera or land in icy bays, where remnants of whaling paraphernalia lie abandoned. You may also get a chance to go kayaking among icebergs and seals, or snowshoe to a stunning viewpoint.
Bird enthusiasts should look skywards for Antarctic seabirds such as skuas, petrels and terns. Through onboard lectures and onshore talks, you'll learn more about this precious habitat and how we can all protect it for the future
The passage back
Day 20-22
The passage back
Looking for land ahead
Five unforgettable days in Antarctica are over, and your ship now embarks upon our final adventure together: the Drake Passage. Known for its potentially high winds and strong currents, the passage can also be silent and still, inspiring the nicknames ‘The Drake Shake’ and ‘The Drake Lake’ respectively.
But don’t worry, even if we experience rough seas, your ship is perfectly equipped for this leg of the adventure exploring the Southern Ocean. During our crossing, the Expedition Team will recap our experiences, making it possible to keep your head in the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica a little while longer.
Arrival in Punta Arenas
Day 23
Arrival in Punta Arenas
Onward from Punta Arenas
Your Antarctica expedition cruise comes to an end in Punta Arenas. Catch a flight here to Santiago de Chile and then your connecting flight home, taking fantastic memories with you.
If you’re not ready for your adventure to end just yet, we recommend extending your trip and joining our optional Post-Program.
What's included
Flights
- Flight in economy class from Punta Arenas to Santiago de Chile
Transfer
- Transfer from the ship to the Punta Arenas airport after the expedition cruise
Expedition Cruise
- A stay in a cabin of your choice
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Wine, beer and spirits available at meals and throughout the day and evening (subject to licensing laws; excludes premium drinks)
- All day coffee, tea, and soft drinks
- Fine dining in restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests
- A complimentary water bottle to refill on board and take home
- A polar expedition jacket, a backpack, or another piece of HX gear
- Professional photos from your trip taken by our onboard photographer
- Complimentary Wi-Fi. Please note that streaming is not supported.
- Use of sauna, hot tubs, fitness room, lounges, and more
- Gratuities included. Fantastic service is standard at HX (though if you’d like to leave something extra, it’s always appreciated).
- Range of included activities
Onboard Activities
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
- Full access to the ship’s Science Center
- The Citizen Science Program allows guests to assist with ongoing scientific research
- An onboard professional photographer will give tips and tricks for taking the best landscape and wildlife photos
- Informal gatherings with the crew for daily briefings
Landing Activities
- Escorted landing with small expedition boats
- Loan of boots, trekking poles and all equipment for activities
- Expedition photographers on hand to assist you
Notes
- All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
- Excursions and activities are subject to change
- Please make sure you meet all entry and boarding requirements
- Depending on your flight times, an additional overnight stay might be needed (not included)
What's not included
International flights
Additional overnight(s) if required due to international flight timings
Travel insurance
Luggage handling
Optional shore excursions with our local partners
Optional small-group activities with our Expedition Team
Special offers
Expedition exclusive cost savings and rare opportunities.
* Certain offers may not be combinable, up to two savings opportunities except where noted otherwise
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