Total Solar Eclipse: Antarctica & South Georgia

Total Solar Eclipse: Antarctica & South Georgia
November 25 – December 13, 2021

Overview:

Witness the magic of a Total Solar Eclipse at the bottom of the world, truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. View the vast penguin colonies of South Georgia—king, macaroni, gentoo, and chinstrap—as well as large numbers of elephant and fur seals crowding the beaches. Set foot on the Antarctic continent and revel in the incredible scenery of snowcapped peaks, mighty glaciers, and glistening icebergs—a photographer’s dream. Learn about early polar exploration and whaling history, including a visit to the burial site of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

*This expedition will be operated by Zegrahm’s sister-company Quark Expeditions, leaders in polar exploration. You will be accompanied on board this voyage by a dedicated Zegrahm leader, who will be with you every step of the way, offering insights on the nature and wildlife of this pristine wilderness.

Brief Itinerary:
Day 1-2: Depart USA / Buenos Aires, Argentina / Ushuaia
Day 3: Ushuaia / Embark the World Explorer
Day 4-5: Drake Passage
Day 6-7: Antarctica Peninsula
Day 8-9: Cruising the South Scotia Sea
Day 10: Solar Eclipse
Day 11-13: South Georgia
Day 14-17: At Sea
Day 18-19: Ushuaia, Argentina / Disembark / Buenos Aires / USA

Interested in more information? Please contact Expedition Easy by telephone at 1-800-617-2319 or e-mail [email protected].

Total Solar Eclipse: Antarctica & South Georgia
November 25 – December 13, 2021

Day-By-Day Itinerary:

Day 1-2 – Depart USA / Buenos Aires, Argentina / Ushuaia
Board your independent flight via Buenos Aires, arriving in Ushuaia the next day. Transfer to the hotel with the rest of the day at leisure. Join your leader and fellow guests at the hotel this evening for a welcome dinner and briefing.

Day 3 – Ushuaia / Embark the World Explorer
Choose to relax at the hotel this morning, or explore Ushuaia on your own. Board the World Explorer this afternoon and set sail down the historic Beagle Channel.

Day 4-5 – Drake Passage
As the ship navigates the legendary Drake Passage, watch for wandering and black-browed albatross, sooty shearwaters, and white-chinned petrels. Whales are also frequently seen in these waters. You’ll also have the opportunity to attend lectures on the natural and historical highlights ahead.

Day 6-7 – Antarctica Peninsula
When cruising the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula and its adjacent islands, landings are dependent upon weather and ice conditions. Explore the world of dramatic scenery and massive icebergs by Zodiac and on foot. Chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins are found here, along with Weddell, fur, crabeater, and leopard seals. Keep a lookout for Antarctic whales, such as minke, humpback, orca, which feed near the offshore islands. We hope to cruise through the beautiful Lemaire Channel, one of the most visually impressive areas of the Antarctic Peninsula. Steep mountain peaks jut out of the sea on both sides, and the waters are often choked with icebergs and frequented by crabeater seals. There is also the possibility that you may visit a research station and witness the scientific activities conducted by the multinational community of scientists working there.

Day 8-9- Cruising the South Scotia Sea
As the ship cruises toward the best viewing area, lecturers recap your experiences and prepare you for the Total Solar Eclipse.

Day 10- Solar Eclipse
Rise early this morning, and gather on deck to witness the extraordinary, much-awaited moment of experiencing a Total Solar Eclipse. The very brief period (1 minute, 40 seconds) when the moon blocks the sun’s light and plunges everything into darkness. You will be provided with a pair of eclipse glasses before the momentous event. Savor the stillness of this magical moment with your fellow umbraphiles (eclipse chasers), knowing you’re among the few to have witnessed this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon at the bottom of the world. As with all eclipse sightings, visibility is influenced by the weather and cloud conditions. Unique to this experience will be its location at sea, and the more extreme latitude which places the eclipse low on the horizon, making a successful sighting that much more difficult, and more rewarding should all the stars align for the eclipse to be visible. After the eclipse concludes make a special celebratory toast and head into the dining room for a hearty breakfast. Spend the rest of the day attending lectures from the team, scanning the skies for seabirds, and enjoying the ship’s many amenities.

Day 11-13 – South Georgia
South Georgia is a nature lover’s paradise, with massive colonies of king penguins, as well as healthy populations of gentoo, macaroni, and chinstrap. You’ll step ashore on beaches covered with elephant and fur seals and discover a wealth of breeding seabirds. We plan to visit several islands, bays, and coves, however flexibility in this area is a must. Your leaders will take advantage of every opportunity for exploration, if the weather is in our favor, they may offer a landing before breakfast or even after dinner. While we can never guarantee specific stops, the following is a list of places we hope to visit on South Georgia; some of them are pending final government approval:

Gold Harbour – At the foot of the Bertrab Glacier, Gold Harbour is often referred to as the “jewel in the island’s crown.” In addition to a large king penguin colony, you are likely to see elephant and fur seals, gentoo penguins, giant petrels, and with luck, light-mantled albatross.

Grytviken – Go ashore to discover the ruins of this abandoned whaling station. The cemetery holds a special fascination, as it is here that Shackleton is buried. Seabirds, penguins, and marine mammals can also be found here.

Stromness Bay – The site of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his party’s arrival after their harrowing crossing of the island’s glaciers on foot, Stromness offers views of cliffs and a glacier from which the adventurer and his companions descended.

Salisbury Plain – Two glaciers flank Salisbury Plain on South Georgia’s north coast. Here, more than 200,000 king penguins congregate and breed, and you are greeted by one of the more remarkable sights—and sounds—on Earth.

Day 14-17 – At Sea
Naturalists recap your memorable visit to South Georgia and join you on deck to search for seabirds and marine mammals.

Day 18-19 – Ushuaia, Argentina / Disembark / Buenos Aires / USA
Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, connecting with your independent overnight flight home.

*Please note: This itinerary is subject to change. Expedition highlights and wildlife listed here are possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed. Your Expedition Leader and Captain will work together to ensure opportunities for adventure and exploration are the best possible, taking into account the weather, wildlife activity and ice conditions.

ZOE-SD2021

Total Solar Eclipse: Antarctica & South Georgia
November 25 – December 13, 2021

Rates:

November 25 – December 13, 2021
Category 1: $23,995
Category 2: $24,995
Category 3: $26,995
Category 4: $31,995

Aboard 140-Guest World Explorer

*Above rates are per person, based on double occupancy.
*Please contact us for single rates.

Rates are approximate until the time of booking. Please note rates are subject to change without prior notice due to circumstances beyond our control; i.e. fuel increases, currency fluctuations, etc.

Included:

Daily activity options including Zodiac cruises, nature walks, and cultural tours; all gratuities; all accommodations; world-class lecture and expedition team; all onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner; all entrance fees, taxes, and landing and port charges; arrival and departure transfers on group dates; complimentary parka; and medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance.

Not Included:

– Airfare from your home city/Buenos Aires/Ushuaia and Ushuaia/Buenos Aires/home city; kayaking and paddle boarding (you must also pre-register for these activities); excess baggage charges; airport arrival and departure taxes; transfers for independent arrivals and departures; passport and/or visa fees; travel insurance; items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages (other than listed above), and other incidentals; email/Internet/fax/telephone charges.

Deposit & Payments

A completed & signed Expedition Easy Reservation Form, along with your 25% trip deposit and full regional and/or domestic air payment (if applicable) is required at the time of booking.

Reservations

This itinerary is subject to the availability of all services at the time of making a
reservation. No space is being held at this time. Please contact Expedition Easy for the full
terms and conditions that apply. We are happy to answer questions and discuss your trip.

To reserve space on a trip on the Expedition Easy website, please contact Expedition Easy by telephone at 1-800-617-2319 or e-mail [email protected].