Argentina/Antarctica
Beyond Antarctica: South Shetlands, South Georgia & the Falklands
Program No. 23704RJ
Sail to the Antarctic on an expedition to the South Shetland Islands, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, learning about the wildlife and geologic forces that shaped Antarctica.
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24 days
23 nights
60 meals
21B 19L 20D
1
In Transit for Program
In Flight
4
Flight to Ushuaia, Free Time
Ushuaia
6
Drake Passage.
Drake Passage
8
Antarctic sound and Weddell Sea.
At Sea - Antarctica
9
Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea
At Sea - Antarctica
10
Antarctic sound and Weddell Sea.
At Sea - Antarctica
11
Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea
At Sea - Antarctica
12
Drake Passage, South Georgia
South Georgia Islands
13
South Georgia
South Georgia Islands
14
South Georgia
South Georgia Islands
15
At Sea, South Georgia.
At Sea
16
South Georgia
South Georgia Islands
17
South Georgia
South Georgia Islands
18
Cruising South Atlantic
At Sea - Antarctica
21
Falkland Islands, At Sea
At Sea
At a Glance
As you cross the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, you’ll sail past towering icebergs slowly drifting away as the Antarctic finally comes into view — it’s like a dream come true. Penguins waddle through the snow and seals snooze on the sea ice, but when you see them up close from a kayak or Zodiac, you’ll be in awe of the natural wonderland that is Antarctica. With seasoned experts, navigate past whales feeding in rich waters and the delight in vivid hues of icebergs bobbing in the sea while comparing the landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. While at sea and on land, learn from naturalists who will reveal the true nature of the world’s driest desert and the ecosystem that thrives there.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles at a time over varied terrain including hills, mud, gravel, and ice. Most embarkations and disembarkations will be via Zodiacs requiring the ascent and descent of steep stairs between the Zodiacs and the ship. Zodiac landings will generally entail disembarking onto wet surfaces which may be slippery. Wind and choppy water may result in more turbulent Zodiac transfers.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Explore Tierra del Fuego before embarking your expedition ship and conquering the Drake Passage.
- Step foot on the Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands to see penguin rookeries, research stations and abandoned whaling stations.
- Enjoy lectures about geology, wildlife and issues facing the Antarctic.
Suggested Reading List
(28 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Beyond Antarctica: South Shetlands, South Georgia & the Falklands
Program Number: 23704
Travelers' Tales Central America
Organized thematically with contributions set in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, this collection of eyewitness reports includes Joan Didion, P.J. O'Rourke and Paul Theroux.
Antarctic Explorer Map
A full-color map of the Antarctic Peninsula, including Tierra del Fuego, the Falklands and South Georgia, at a scale of 1:2,750,000. With a map of the Antarctic continent on the reverse.
The Penguin History of Latin America
Beginning with the Spanish conquest, this brisk history covers questions of empire, colonialism and nationalism through the 1980s.
Antarctica, A Guide to the Wildlife
Designed for the field, this compact handbook features all the species of birds, seals and whales the traveler is likely to encounter on an Antarctic voyage.
1912, The Year the World Discovered Antarctica
Turney looks at the great leap forward in Antarctic science that was made 100 years ago with the expeditions of not just Scott and Amundsen but also those of Mawson, Filchner and Shirase. A brisk and engaging history of science and exploration in the Antarctic. An Australian scientist himself, Turney sees Mawson as the scientific hero of the age.
Buenos Aires, A Cultural History
An exhilarating, erudite guide to Buenos Aires as it has been portrayed by writers, poets and thinkers; serves well as a guidebook, too, with a street map and detailed neighborhood descriptions.
Melting Away, Images of the Arctic and Antarctic
In her masterful series of 75 portraits and essays, Camille Seaman shows how climate change has wreaked havoc on both the North and South Poles.
Destinations of a Lifetime, 225 of the World's Most Amazing Places
Ideal for inspiring and planning a dream trip, this National Geographic bucket list brings readers a little closer to visiting 225 of the world’s most breathtaking natural and man-made locales.
Birds of Southern America & Antarctica
With color plates, range maps and brief descriptions, this is a compact regional guide
End of the Earth, Voyaging to Antarctica
In this fine book, the result of two voyages, Matthiessen captures the magic of polar landscapes and wildlife, along with the camaraderie of a ship-based polar expedition.
Antarctica, A Call to Action
Copeland's collection of striking photographs includes a three-page list of sensible suggestions to protect the planet.
Forgotten Footprints, Lost Stories in the Discovery of Antarctica
A frequent lecturer aboard expedition ships to the Antarctic, John Harrison mixes his own adventures with tales of the seamen, sealers, whalers and plain lunatics who have journeyed to the Ice to make their fame and fortune. He focuses not on Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen but lesser-known tales of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetlands and Weddell Sea.
The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning, A Polar Journey
An insightful miscellany from a 55-person environmental cleanup expedition in Bellingshausen, Antarctica. The authors’ travelogue is supplemented by 42 recipes, anecdotes, journal entries, vignettes and captivating photography.
The Oceanites Site Guide to the Antarctic Peninsula
The guide, which supports the Antarctic Site Inventory Project, covers 40 prime visitor sites in detail. It also includes some of the best photography we've seen. Second edition.
Alone in Antarctica, The First Woman to Ski Solo Across the Southern Ice
In this inspirational memoir, Felicity Aston describes her pioneering journey -- skiing across the whole of Antarctica -- while meditating on human vulnerability, struggle and the experience of solitude in the Information Age.
Patagonia, A Cultural History
A journalist with the Buenos Aires Herald, Moss follows a colorful cast of characters -- from Magellan and Darwin to mad kings, gauchos, and Nazi fugitives -- in this vivid overview of the culture and history of Patagonia.
Moon Handbook Patagonia
A practical guide in the Moon series, packed not only with travel necessities (hotels, restaurants, sights), but also with a good overview of history and destinations throughout Patagonia.
Southern Light, Images from Antarctica
Photographer David Neilson has turned his six journeys to the ice over the last 20 years, often with the Australian Antarctic Program (and sometimes lugging a 30-pound large format camera), into a coffee-table tribute to the continent and its wildlife. Includes 130 color and 100 rich black-and-white oversized photographs, gate-folds and double-page spreads that portray the drama and beauty of the Antarctic.
Where the Earth Ends, A Journey Beyond Patagonia
A spirited tale of adventures in the southern tip of South America, south from the Pampas and Patagonia to Punta Arenas, the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia -- and Antarctica.
Lonely Planet Antarctica
Alexis Averbuck, author of the new edition of this compact and surprisingly handy guide, expands coverage of Ushuaia, the Falklands and South Georgia. With a wildlife guide and contributions from 26 Antarctic experts on the history, geology, wildlife and future of Antarctica.
Tropical Nature
Two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists offer a lucid portrait of the tropics through 17 marvelous essays that introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforests.
Hoosh: Roast Penguin, Scurvy Day, and Other Stories of Antarctic Cuisine
Antarctic traveler Jason Anthony tells the story of the continent's exploration through the celebrated 'hoosh' of early days and other polar fare.
Penguins, The Ultimate Guide
Featuring more than 400 photographs, this is the traveler's ultimate guide to the world's 18 species of penguins. Includes scientific discussions on penguin conservation, profiles, facts and tips on where to see them in Antarctica.
Frozen in Time, Murder at the Bottom of the World
A scientist with the 16th Chilean Antarctic Expedition in the 1960s, Professor Cohen turns his experiences and actual events from the time into a novel with a strong setting at Deception Island and the South Shetlands.
Antarctic Marine Wildlife: Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea & Scotia Sea
Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego Map
This handy map shows all Patagonia on one side (1:2,000,000), with a more detailed map of Tierra del Fuego (1:750,000) on the reverse.
Endurance, Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Lansing's gripping day-by-day story of Shackleton's legendary perseverance is essential reading for any Antarctic traveler.
Antarctic Wildlife
Produced by a shipboard naturalist, this handy identification guide focuses on the Beagle Channel, Drake and Peninsula regions.