Sporty Basecamp in the Antarctic

Over the next two days in the Drake Passage, you'll get a glimpse of life from the perspective of the polar explorers who first braved these regions: cool salt breezes, rushing seas, maybe even a fin whale surfacing between the waves.

After passing the Antarctic Convergence, which is the natural boundary of Antarctica, you will find yourself in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. This is formed when cold water flowing northwards collides with warmer sub-Antarctic water masses.

This changes not only marine life but also bird life. Wandering albatrosses, gray-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, sooty albatrosses, cape petrels, southern fulmars, black-legged petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels are just some of the birds you can see.

Gray stone peaks covered in snow, towers of broken blue-white ice and a very diverse flora and fauna. We first pass the snow-covered Melchior-Islands and drive through the Schollaert Channel, which is located between Brabant- and Anvers-Island.

Places that can be visited include:

Neumayer Channel

The ship can anchor here for the varied basecamp offer in the sheltered waters around Wiencke Island. You can enjoy the splendor of this alpine environment from the water on Zodiac and kayak trips. Or you can explore the area on land and go hiking. There are also opportunities for snowshoe hikes and mountain climbs (easy climbing) further inland. Of course, weather conditions determine the activities available.

Port-Lockroy

After the ship has sailed through the Neumayer Channel, you can visit the former British research station - now a museum and post office - at Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You can also take part in activities around Jougla Point and encounter gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. At nearby locations such as Damoy Point, you may have the opportunity to go snowshoeing to the old ski trail. This is also one of our favorite campsites.

Pléneau & Petermann Islands

If ice conditions allow, the ship can sail through the Lemaire Channel and you can go in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There is also a good chance of seeing humpback whales, minke whales and leopard seals. Kayaking, glacier hiking and ambitious mountaineering are among the potential activities at this location.

Neko Harbour

An epic landscape of huge glaciers and endless wind-sculpted snowfields. A Zodiac excursion or shore leave will give you the best perspective of the ice-encrusted mountain peaks.

Paradise Bay

Here you have the chance to camp like a real polar explorer and experience the ultimate Antarctic adventure overnight.

Errera Channel

Possible places you can visit in this area are Danco Island and Cuverville Island, but also the lesser known (although equally picturesque) Orne Island and Georges Point on Rongé Island.

On our last day of coastal activities, you will pass the Melchior Islands towards the open sea. There is a good chance of spotting humpback whales in Dallmann Bay. A detour to Half-Moon Island, which is part of the South Shetland Islands, would also be an option for activities.

The conditions in the Drake Passage determine the exact departure time.

Your return journey is anything but lonely. As the ship crosses the Drake Passage, you are again greeted by a multitude of seabirds that remind us of the passage south. But this time they seem a little more familiar.

Every adventure - no matter how big - must come to an end at some point. Now it's time to disembark in Ushuaia - but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure takes you.