No journey is the same as flexibility is the key to success in Antarctica. The Expedition Team sets the voyage route to take advantage of the ever-changing opportunities provided by nature, crafting a unique and extraordinary experience each time.
While the exact itinerary changes with each expedition, you will explore several locations that offer the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment. Your voyage may include visits to sites such as Paulet Island, Hope Bay, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Deception Island, the Lemaire Channel, or many other magnificent places. Our adventure will be very active, with several daily landings and cruises in Zodiac boats, lectures, and a very enjoyable time on board.
Your journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina. Board Magellan Explorer and sail along the Beagle Channel towards Antarctica. Important note: Boarding in Ushuaia is exclusively between 15:00 hr. and 16:00 hr. At 16:00 hr. boarding will close. Please be on time. Keep your passport on hand and allow enough time to clear port security and to reach the vessel.
Sail towards Antarctica across the famous passage named in honor of Sir Francis Drake, the great 16th-century British explorer. As you sail en route to the South Shetland Islands, attend an engaging program of lectures and presentations. In the company of expert guides, watch for wildlife from the glass-enclosed lounge or the outside decks. You may spot magnificent sea birds, such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as different species of whales on their way south to Antarctica. After crossing the Antarctic Convergence, the environment changes noticeably. Keep your camera ready, as this is the time to watch for the first icebergs and the sight of Antarctic land.
Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and among spectacular icebergs while enjoying the company of sea birds, penguins, seals, and whales. Each day, disembark by Zodiac boat and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. Enjoy spectacular vistas from the glass-enclosed lounge from the ship while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests.
Your voyage may include visits to sites such as Paulet Island, Hope Bay, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Deception Island, the Lemaire Channel, or many other magnificent places. Our adventure will be very active, with several daily landings and cruises in Zodiac boats, lectures, and a very enjoyable time on board. Departure from Antarctica will be in the afternoon or evening of Day 8, depending on weather conditions.
Return to South America with a northbound Ocean Nova crossing of the Drake Passage. Relax and take the time to watch for wildlife from the bridge or outside decks, and participate in the presentations offered on Antarctic topics in the lounge.
The program ends upon arrival at the port in Ushuaia.
Wow, wow and wow! What an amazing experience we had with Ice Tracks. We have a smile on our faces from ear to ear.
Many thanks to the team! You informed us so completely, so honestly and shared your own experiences what made us feel assured. Your enthusiasm made us feel excited from the first moment we had contact, even till now when we share our voyage with friends and family. For us this trip was the closure of a backpacking voyage, which we started in Mexico. The vessel and expedition team made us feel like part of the family during 11 days. Our room was spacious and clean. Staff and food were great. The lectures during days at sea were nice. This once in a lifetime experience was mind blowing!
Monique and Steve from Belgium traveled with us to the Antarctic Peninsula
How do you describe it all to people that were not there? I’ve found it difficult, but very willing to try. Well, in retelling the (fairy) tale the last few days, the highlights are starting to cement in together with some new friendships!
· The hair-raising off-roading trip to the lake
· That amazing Argentinian braai in the woods & the beautiful snowy wonderland around us.
· To see how much Brian enjoys ships (although saying what a lovely cruise it was coming back, while some were dreadfully sick – he was perhaps living dangerously!)
· The first sighting of that whiter than white …
· The crystal, crystal clear waters
· My excitement at the first landing on the iced, uninhabited continent
· The colours & the moods & the vastness!
· Our South Africans taking the first dive in that colder than cold water!!!
· The amazing strength & stamina of those penguins. I do tell the tale of the solitary soul waiting to greet those mountaineers at the top of Spiget!
· The comraderie in our group
· Our “tea break” on the zodiac with irish coffee & green tea – where Caro asked Chicken to “duck”!
· The photo of the campers sitting around the “campfire” was an absolute winner …
· The soft snow on our last landing & trying to walk in that!
We reiterate our thanks to Mandy, Guts & Caro – you put a huge amount of work into making it a dream holiday for us – and it was, & we are truly grateful.
We are now back indeed, and slowly coming to grips with the ‘real’ world. As you may imagine, there is little one can really say about Antarctica of which you are not fully aware. If it were in any way possible I for one would never go anywhere else on this planet. Ute had reservations about going South as she does not like the cold, but after our experience in Patagonia in southern Chile and Argentina, she also wanted to be in the pure untainted and pristine world of Antarctica. Now Ute even says she could happily go back. Unfortunately, we can only be very thankful that we even once had the opportunity to make this dream come true. Thank you very much for your part in making that happen. We were cared for graciously by Ice Tracks and without their expert and very able assistance our trip might never have taken place. I warmly recommend Ice Tracks guidance to anyone wishing to go South. The whole experience we had was more akin to friendship than business, and we do hope that we may one day meet again on the high seas!
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