The Great Antarctic Explorers

"Hobart (Tasmania) - Macquarie Island - Ross Sea - Pack ice - Lyttelton (New Zealand)"

In a stunning setting of tabular icebergs and an endless expanse of pack ice, you belong to the few privileged visitors to the 'White Continent' fortunate enough to encounter the Emperor Penguin in Day. Large numbers of appealing gray chicks in different stages of development still huddle on the ice protected by the nurturing adults. To stand within an Emperor Penguin rookery surrounded by beautifully sculptured icebergs, beset in mile after mile of endless ice, is simply without equal!

The Itinerary

Please read the itinerary as a guide only; our exact route and program varies according to ice and weather conditions - and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition. Visits to research stations and the sub-Antarctic islands depend on final permissions. For exact itineraries and conditions, please download brochures
on the Antarctica page

Day 1 - Hobart, Tasmania
Today you meet your fellow adventurers in historic Hobart. Overnight accommodations are provided at the Grand Chancellor Hotel.

Day 2 - Hobart
Embark the Kapitan Khlebnikov and sail in the late afternoon. Plan to be on deck as we negotiate the Derwent River en route to the Tasman Sea.

Days 3-4 - Tasman Sea
Numerous seabirds accompany us to Macquarie Island, 850 miles to the south. Join our naturalists in the lecture room for presentations on the unique wildlife of the Far South, geology, glaciology, oceanography and polar history.

Days 5-6 - Macquarie Island
A remote island sanctuary recently classified as a World Heritage Site, Macquarie Island is home to an unbelievable three million Royal Penguins (virtually the entire world population) and 100,000 King Penguins. Large groups of southern elephant seals slumber on the island's sandy beaches and there is a rich variety of other wildlife to find and observe. Our landings depend on permissions as well as local weather and sea conditions which can be challenging.

Days 7-8 - Southern Ocean
Soaring albatrosses and petrels circle the vessel, as we follow in the wake of Scott, Mawson and Shackleton south to the Ross Sea. A dramatic drop in water temperature representing the Antarctic Convergence and our first icebergs herald the frozen splendor of Antarctica directly ahead of us. Our naturalists will be on deck to help spot and identify seabirds and marine mammals that are indigenous to these waters. Our ship's historian will begin recounting the history and heroic tales of the Ross Sea region and Antarctica.

Days 9-11 - Entering the Ross Sea
At this time of the year, a broad band of very heavy pack ice will guard the entrance to the Ross Sea. You experience firsthand the expert abilities and the power of the Kapitan Khlebnikov in ice-choked waters. Learn how the ship breaks and navigates through ice and keep watch for Weddell, leopard, crabeater, or the elusive Ross seals, on ice floes.
Should conditions permit, you will board the helicopter for a thrilling view of the Kapitan Khlebnikov battling the pack ice of this remote world. There will be special celebrations as we pass the Antarctic Circle, heading for Victoria Land and into Antarctica's realm of 24-hour daylight.

Days 12-18 - Coast of Victoria Land, Ross Sea
This week will be spent exploring the coast along Victoria Land with one of the world's most powerful icebreakers. Because of the nature of this polar expedition, flexibility with regard to the day-by-day schedule of activities is a must. The Captain and expedition leader will assess daily conditions and take full advantage of every opportunity to make landings with our Zodiacs or helicopters. Our program will emphasize visits to a choice of several rookeries of Emperor and Adélie Penguins, as well as the breathtaking scenery, glaciers and tabular icebergs in the area. Weddell and crabeater seals will be abundant. Weather, sea and ice conditions will determine our exact itinerary. The following is a selection of possible landing sites:

Cape Adare
Views of the 12,000-foot Admiralty Mountains herald our arrival at Cape Adare, discovered in 1841 by Captain James Ross. Behind the broad open beach you see the 1899 hut where Carsten Borchgrevink was the first to over winter on the Antarctic Continent. Cape Adare is home to 260,000 pairs of Adélie Penguins, the largest rookery anywhere of this species - an absolutely staggering sight.
Cape Hallett
Dense pack ice often challenges our icebreaker near Cape Hallett, the site where the United States and New Zealand established a now-abandoned base during the 1957-58 International Geophysical Year. We hope to land near the former base, which is surrounded by over 55,000 pairs of Adélie Penguins, and offer helicopter flights around Edisto Inlet, an amphitheater of glaciers and mountains.
Possession Islands
The Possession Islands were first discovered by James Clark Ross and Francis Crozier in 1841, on their first attempt to locate the South Magnetic Pole. An impressive Adélie Penguin rookery covers Foyn Island.
Terra Nova Bay
Located between Cape Washington and the Drygalski Ice Tongue, Terra Nova Bay is the site of an Italian summer research station. We also plan to navigate the spectacular Campbell Glacier Tongue.
EMPEROR PENGUIN ROOKERIES
The Emperor Penguin, largest of the penguins, is the only bird to breed on the frozen sea in the shelter of stunningly sculptured icebergs - an extraordinary feat of endurance accomplished during the dark, extremely cold winter months. In Day, large numbers of appealing gray chicks in different stages of development still huddle on the ice. Their hardworking parents trek miles over the pack to bring food to their fast growing young. From our closest approach by ship, we walk over the ice to the rookeries or land by helicopter at a safe distance. We take great care not to disturb the penguins. Because of their nesting habits and inaccessibility, only a fortunate few have ever encountered Emperor Penguins and their charming chicks.
Cape Washington
Here at this frozen cape, Emperor Penguins and their chicks congregate in a stunning setting of glaciers and icebergs. The far-carrying trumpeting vocalizations and loud chick whistles are symbolic of the Antarctic. A Weddell seal may unexpectedly pop his delightful round face through the sea ice in an attempt to keep his breathing hole open.
Coulman Island
This is an unusually scenic island, with impressive mountains and cliffs thickly capped by ice. The Emperor Penguin rookery is nearby on the fast ice of Glacier Strait.
Cape Roget
A steep rock cape at the southern tip of the Adare Peninsula, Cape Roget marks the north entrance to Moubray Bay along the East Coast of Victoria Land. Cape Roget is the site of an Emperor Penguin rookery.

Days 19-20 - Pack Ice
Sometime during these days, our Captain and expedition leader will search for a large ice floe suitable to moor alongside for a unique farewell to Antarctica party. If conditions are favorable, we plan to have a barbecue on the ice.

Days 21-22 - Southern Ocean
As we continue north, marine mammals and seabirds lure us to the decks. Our lecture program continues and you are introduced to the wildlife rich Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand, classified as nature reserves, and protected and managed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Permissions, weather and landing conditions will determine specific landing sites.

Day 23 - Campbell Island
We sail into Perseverance Harbour, a drowned volcanic caldera that cuts across the island. A boardwalk leads us from a small meteorological station over the tussock grass to the hilltop observatories of the Royal Albatross. Each austral summer, 15,000 of these impressively huge birds nest among clusters of brightly-colored plants.

Day 24 - Enderby Island (Auckland Islands)
Today we arrive at Enderby Island, an enchanting site renowned for its southern rata forest, richly covered with lichens, mosses and ferns. We hope to encounter nesting Royal Albatrosses, endangered Yellow-eyed Penguins, Red-crowned Parakeets and a host of other endemic and indigenous wildlife. The increasingly rare Hooker's sea lions joust and spar on the wide, sandy beaches (Enderby is the epicenter of the world's Hooker's sea lion population).

Day 25 - The Snares
Sooty Shearwaters, Buller's Albatrosses and Cape Petrels accompany us to this well protected nature reserve where landings are not permitted. From our Zodiacs we admire Snares Crested Penguins - which only breed on this island - and New Zealand fur seals.

Day 26 - At sea
As always on these sea crossings, whales, dolphins and seabirds continually lure us to the decks. Meanwhile, our lecturers recap the memorable and fascinating adventures of our 5,000-mile journey to the Southern Ocean, Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands.

Day 27- Lyttelton, New Zealand
Today we bid farewell to the Kapitan Khlebnikov and transfer by coach to nearby Christchurch airport for our flights* to Auckland.

General Information

Rated: Easy

This journey may be operated in the reverse order from Lyttleton to Hobart.
Unique Zodiac and helicopter excursions
Zodiac landing craft take us to remote beaches, and enable us to cruise among floating ice or close to Antarctic wildlife. We also carry helicopters for ice and wildlife reconnaissance. The aerial views of our ship breaking through thick ice in the otherworldly polar landscapes are unforgettable. (The Kapitan Khlebnikov may not carry helicopters on board all the time and, in some cases, local helicopters may be used; the exact make and model of helicopters will be determined prior to the voyage; all helicopter flights are weather-dependent).

Expedition team and guest lecturers
Accompanying the voyage will be a dedicated and experienced staff of expedition leaders, naturalists and lecturers. We will also be joined by special guest lecturers.

Included:
• Voyage aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov as indicated in the itinerary.
• Pre-cruise hotel accommodations in a shared twin room with breakfast as indicated in the itinerary.
• All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship.
• All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac and helicopter (as included in group excursions with no specific amount of helicopter time guaranteed).
• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
• Transfers and baggage handling between the hotel and ship and between the ship and airport as indicated in the itinerary.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials and Antarctic handbook.
• Special expedition jacket.
• Detailed post-expedition log.


Not Included Any airfare, whether on scheduled or charter flights; passport and visa expenses; government arrival and departure taxes; meals ashore and supplement for single hotel accommodations; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar and beverage charges and telecommunication charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided). Any possible helicopter flying time in excess of that offered for the group will be charged at an hourly rate available onboard.

Special booking & cancellation conditions

Each vessel has special booking and cancellation conditions. Upon reservation we will inform you about the specificities of each vessel.