Epic Antarctica
Itinerary - Season 2009/10
Day 1
Santiago, Chile
Arrival in Santiago, Chile, where you spend the night at our host hotel.
Day 2
Embarkation Day
Fly to Stanley, Falkland Islands. In the late afternoon, you will board the icebreaker for the voyage to Antarctica.
Days 3-8
South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula.
Seabirds accompany the ship across the Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands, your first landfall in Antarctica. We plan to visit penguin colonies and deploy Zodiacs to cruise through ice floes where seals lounge in the Antarctic summer sun.
Days 9-16
The Phantom Coast and Amundsen Sea
As we follow the Phantom Coast, we expect to visit Peter I Island. In 2006, the last time we landed successfully, our historian noted that only 800 people in all human history have been known to visit the island. Look forward to several adventurous days of breaking through the Amundsen Sea pack ice. We'll deploy our helicopters so you can witness the power of the icebreaker from the air.
Days 17-21
Ross Ice Shelf, Ross Island and McMurdo Station.
Be on the alert for Emperor Penguins. The water around the Ross Ice Shelf is known to be the habitat of the largest species of penguins. Ross Island is home to the U.S. research base McMurdo Station and to Scott Base, New Zealand's research station. Nearby is Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery Hut (1901–04). Our planned visit is carefully controlled to ensure that the impact of our exploration is negligible.
Days 22-24
Cape Royds and Cape Evans
At Cape Royds, we'll visit Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod Hut (1907–09). At Cape Evans, we'll visit a hut associated with Shackleton and Scott. A century after its construction, the Cape Evans hut is considered one of the ten most-endangered monuments in the world. The Antarctic Heritage Trust (UK and NZ) are raising funds for its restoration. Quark Expeditions supports the project through onboard charity auctions, visitor admission fees and corporate donations.
Days 25-30
Southern Ocean, Campbell and Enderby Islands
Heading north, we pause to visit Campbell Island, a nature preserve where Royal Albatross nest. You'll follow boardwalks through lush greenery to observation points, from which you can photograph wildlife. Yellow-eyed Penguins, Royal Albatross and New Zealand sea lions share Enderby Island with Red-crowned Parakeets. If the conditions are right, we'll go ashore to explore the protected environment.
Day 31
Lyttelton - Christchurch, New Zealand
Upon disembarking in Lyttelton, New Zealand, we will transfer our travelers as a group by motor coach from the dock to the Christchurch airport.
