Objective 66°33′: The Antarctic Circle

STOPS AND EXCURSIONS

Every day, depending on the ice conditions, we will offer landings or Zodiac outings to discover the infinite richness of Antarctica: glaciers, sea ice, icebergs, tabular icebergs, steep mountain peaks plunging into the water, volcanic beaches, scientific research stations, enchanting bays, and even remnants of the whaling industry. However, we are primarily privileged guests in these extreme lands where nature dictates its laws. The programs may vary from day to day, making each cruise a unique experience.

Day 1 – Buenos Aires, Argentina Accommodation at the Hotel Palladio MGallery 5* (or similar)
Day 2 – Ushuaia, Argentina Flight Buenos Aires / Ushuaia (Argentina) Excursion and lunch in Ushuaia Boarding in the late afternoon
Day 3 – At Sea
Day 4 – At Sea
Day 5 – Antarctic Peninsula
Day 6 – Antarctic Peninsula
Day 7 – Antarctic Peninsula
Day 8 – Antarctic Peninsula
Day 9 – Antarctic Peninsula
Day 10 – Antarctic Peninsula
Day 11 – Antarctic Peninsula
Day 12 – At Sea
Day 13 – At Sea
Day 14 – Ushuaia, Argentina Disembarkation in the morning and transfer to the Ushuaia / Buenos Aires (Argentina) flight

Excursion
(included on day 2)
A full day of exploring the Land of Fire with lunch, until the late afternoon boarding

The above itinerary is indicative.

We are primarily privileged guests in these extreme lands where nature dictates its laws. The programs may vary from day to day, making each cruise a unique experience.

Your Itinerary

DAY 1 | Buenos Aires, Argentina

Accommodation at the Hotel Palladio MGallery 5* (or similar) Free evening.

DAY 2 | Ushuaia, Argentina

In the morning, an internal flight to Ushuaia. After your excursion to explore the Land of Fire, Exploris One awaits you, moored at the foot of the city of Ushuaia. Its captain and crew welcome us aboard for our first night in the Antipodes. The end of the world is already changing our perspective: the city is tiny, and the horizon is vast. From tonight, we sail in the Beagle Channel, the most important maritime route in Tierra del Fuego – except for the Strait of Magellan.

DAYS 3 and 4 | At Sea

During this crossing, we clean our expedition equipment to prevent any foreign dust or microfragments from being spread in the Great South. This is an opportunity to get to know our expedition team by working on a common task: preserving the white continent from the impact of our visit. Another part of these days is detailing our itinerary while rejoicing that any opportunity may modify it. Setting sail in the ice is always an invitation to be surprised by the sudden possibility of uncertainty.

DAY 5 | Navigation in the Antarctic Peninsula

During these full seven days, Exploris One sails from wonder to wonder. Sea conditions and weather determine the captain and expedition leader’s decisions regarding our stops. Below is a possible program, adjusted day by day to take advantage of any unexpected encounters. In the Gerlache Strait, a Zodiac outing allows us to observe a whale feeding session, while in Paradise Bay, the approach of a cliff offers us a view of blue-eyed shags nesting on their nests in the dark rock. At Neko Harbour, a glacier calves icebergs before our eyes. We hear the ice melting into the sea with crackling sounds reminiscent of champagne glasses.

DAY 6 | Navigation in the Antarctic Peninsula

Booth Island and Petermann Island were wintering sites for Jean-Baptiste Charcot (between 1905 and 1909). During that time, the crews left their mark; the French built a cairn on a hill on Booth Island. From there, Antarctica offers us a view of an infinite “cemetery” of icebergs stranded on the shallows of a bay. Exploring this labyrinth by Zodiac confirms our amazement. Petermann Island was home to the southernmost colony of Adélie penguins, a species used to lower latitudes. Climate change disrupts these habits. Antarctica, seemingly eternal, reveals itself here as sensitive to what affects the rest of the world. Feeling this evolution on the spot is also a commitment to curb it once we return.

DAY 7 | Navigation in the Antarctic Peninsula

Will there soon be Adélie penguins beyond the Antarctic Circle? We hope not to make this sad observation to enjoy this mythical moment: the crossing of the line, that fantasized border beyond which the pole seems to offer itself… even though it is still about 3000 km away! Exploris One sails through the Crystal Sound, which the Antarctic Circle divides in two. Whether crystalline or not, ice is everywhere here: in glaciers carving the valleys of the Peninsula, in icebergs interacting with our ship. A peaceful dialogue thanks to the bridge team’s vigilance, allowing us to share the intensity of their task in a simultaneously hostile and beautiful environment.

DAY 8 | Navigation in the Antarctic Peninsula

This is our southernmost day. Beyond this point, the maze of islands and icebergs between Adelaide Island and the continent does not allow passage. Charcot found it. But Exploris One, despite its ice certification, is wider than the Pourquoi Pas? Our captain and expedition leader take us as far as we have dreamed, while prioritizing our safety. On Detaille Island, the British station West has been uninhabited since 1966, but it is well-preserved and emblematic of the scientific research bases of that time. Only a few geodetic researchers came this far in the past. Ah, and also, the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, played tennis there. This makes us truly feel like a “happy few” in a world inaccessible to many others.

DAY 9 | Navigation in the Antarctic Peninsula

Sooner or later, we must head north. In small steps, we submit to this requirement. Prospect Point is still at 66° South latitude. Located on Graham Land, the site is a unique opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic continent. Here, the Peninsula is only 80 km wide. But 3000 m high summits make crossing it impossible. The British base J was established here in the 1950s. Nothing remains of it because the Antarctic Treaty requires the decontamination of a site when it is permanently abandoned. Thus, from humble visitors like us to the great international institution, everyone upholds this common pact to preserve Antarctica from everything except our emotions and curiosity.

DAY 10 | Navigation in the Antarctic Peninsula

Here is Port Lockroy, Base A, certainly British but in a place that smells like France. Because Port Lockroy is not pronounced “lock-roy” but “lock-ruwa,” named after a minister who supported Charcot. Cocorico? It’s more like the squawks of young Adélie penguins and Antarctic skuas demanding their feed that provide the soundtrack for this stop. We witness their feeding right before our eyes, on the steps of the British station, which includes a shop, a post office, and a museum. A Zodiac ride in this sheltered harbor allows us to approach a colony of blue-eyed shags and maybe even observe a leopard seal resting on a snowy slope. Awakened, this predator could provide us with the view of its own feeding… on penguins. Bon appétit to all.

JOUR 11| Navigation en Péninsule Antarctique DAY 11 | Navigation in the Antarctic Peninsula

In addition to its Adélie penguins and whale archaeology sites, the South Shetland Islands provide a grand lesson in natural volcanism. Deception Island, for instance, is a collapsed volcanic cone whose crater was invaded by the sea. Our unforgettable entry aboard Exploris One into this perfectly sheltered port is awe-inspiring. At the entrance to the bay, basalt needles are petrified volcanic conduits, similar to what we observe on Half Moon Island. There, a long crescent-shaped beach welcomes us to a black-and-white world, where the orange cabin of an Argentine station stands out, open during some summers. This color contrasts with the hues of lichens covering the rocks and the red spot on the beaks of Dominican gulls. We appreciate this communion with wildlife, made possible by our respectful presence within it.

DAY 12 and 13 | At Sea

It takes two full days at sea to reverse the scale of our emotions and descend from the heights of our unforgettable discoveries to more everyday sensations. The comfort of Exploris One helps soften this return journey. The crew takes care to provide us with the best services – in cabins, lounges, the spa, or the fitness center – during the passage of Drake. As amazed as we are by our Antarctic experience, they are now our exploration counterparts: together, we have crossed the Circle.

DAY 14 | Ushuaia, Argentina

Disembarkation in the morning. Transfer to the airport for the internal flight to Buenos Aires.

Your boat

EXPLORIS ONE

Number of passengers: 144 (120 in polar regions)
Length: 108 meters
Ice class: 1A
Classification: Lloyd’s Register
Crew: 102
French Flags (2023)
Tonnage: 6,158 GT
Passenger decks: 5
French Officers
Width: 16 meters
Zodiacs: 12
Average speed: 12.5 knots