The Full Circumnavigation of Antarctica

"New Zealand - Antarctica - Ushuaia"

This is an unique 66 days and 13,000 miles expedition to a very little explored world. This voyage of exploration is only organised for the second time in Antarctic tourism history and one of only a few such voyage since Cook`s epic journey. The first one was performed in 1997, and our itineray will be even more intrepid.
You witness extraordinary vestas of vast ice shelves along little explored coasts, cruise among immense, blue brilliant tabular icebergs, experience spectacular helicopter overflights of the white continent, encounter Antarctica`s amazing and prolific wildlife, seee historic sites and expeditions hutsof the heroic ages of Antarctica Exploration, venture as south as 700 miles from the South Pole and sail with an outstanding team of lecturers and naturalists leading your expedition.
The journey consists of 2 parts. The adventure starts in Lyttleton at the southern tips of New Zealand and finishes in Ushuaia in Argentina, the southermost permanent setlement of the world, where the second part starts till we complete the circumnavigation of the white continent being back in New Zealand. You can join us either for the first part, second part or the whole expedition. (Click on the map to enlarge in a new window)

There is only an Semi-Circumnavigation in 2006/2007 from Ushuaia to Lyttleton (Nez Zealand). Contact us for the exact itinerary. The price table below features dates and prices for 2006-07

First Itinerary: From New Zealand to Ushuaia (Argentina)

November 26, Auckland, New Zealand Today you meet your fellow adventurers in Auckland, New Zealand. Overnight accommodations are provided but the rest of the day is at your leisure.

November 27, Lyttelton, New Zealand This morning after breakfast fly* to Christchurch and transfer by coach to the port of Lyttelton. We embark the Kapitan Khlebnikov and sail in the late afternoon.

November 28-29, At Sea & Auckland Islands As we cruise these wildlife-rich waters, our expedition staff introduces the various species of birds and marine life that we will encounter on our voyage. Our lecture program begins on 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 but we hope to land on Enderby Island.

November 30-December 1, Southern Ocean We follow in the wake of Scott, Shackleton, Mawson and Amundsen south towards the Antarctic Circle. A dramatic drop in water temperature representing the Antarctic Convergence and our first icebergs herald the frozen splendor of Antarctica ahead of us. Our naturalists will be on deck to help spot and identify seabirds and marine mammals. Our ship's historian will begin recounting the history of the Ross Sea region and Antarctica.

December 2-5, Balleny Islands, Mertz Glacier & Commonwealth Bay We pass the rugged, remote Balleny Islands on our way to the George V Coast. It is here that we plan to complete our historic circumnavigation on our way back to Lyttelton. We then approach the 25-mile-long Mertz Glacier Tongue and, weather permitting, hope to land by helicopter. Spectacular Commonwealth Bay has often been referred to as the windiest place on earth. We will need some good luck to land on the shore fronting Sir Douglas Mawson's wind-eroded hut. Our exact landings vary to take best advantage of local conditions

December 6, South Magnetic Pole The South Magnetic Pole is a wandering location on the Earth's surface where conventional lines of magnetic force enter. The south seeking end of a compass needle points to this pole. It was first attained during Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition in 1909 when it was well inland beyond the Transantarctic Mountains. Subsequently it has migrated northwards into the Southern Ocean, and is located now at approximately 64°40'S and 138°10'E. We will carefully mark the position on our charts and proceed westward towards the little explored Banzare Coast and Wilkes Land.

December 7-9, Wilkes Land & Casey Station Continuing along the ice edge, our naturalists will be on deck to help spot and identify seabirds and marine mammals that are indigenous to these waters. En route to the Australian Casey Base, we traverse the spectacular Petersen Bank, a region where large concentrations of tabular icebergs lay grounded on the shoals below. Should conditions permit, you will board the helicopter for a thrilling view of the Kapitan Khlebnikov sailing through this fairyland of ice. Adélie Penguins and South Polar Skuas nest on nearby islands.

December 10-14, Shackleton Ice Shelf & Queen Mary Coast Depending on the often challenging ice we plan to skirt the massive Shackleton Ice Shelf searching for the rare Ross seal. Orcas and Minke whales patrol the edge of the permanent fast ice in search for food. We will also look out for large numbers of blue whales seen here in earlier years and plan to sail south to Mirny, the first Russian base on the continent. We continue cruising west along the King Leopold and Queen Astrid Coast.

December 15-16, Davis Station & Larsemann Hills Davis Station is often referred to as the 'Riviera of the Antarctic' because of its relatively mild climate. We then make for the Larsemann Hills, a bizarre moonscape of rolling hills that is one of the few ice-free oases of Antarctica. The Chinese built their base Zhongshan in this region, and Russia's Progress Station is nearby. Thousands of Emperor Penguins and their chicks congregate in a fairy tale setting of granite islands, glaciers and icebergs at Amanda Bay. Here we also encounter abundant seals and marvel at the lines of penguins trekking over the ice to their colonies.

Emperor Penguins The Emperor, 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. We are fortunate to visit in December when large numbers of appealing grey 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 colonies 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 appealing chicks.

December 17-18, Amery Ice Shelf & Fram Bank Depending on ice conditions we plan to approach the Amery Ice Shelf, a massive glacier system that drains 20-30 percent of the East Antarctica ice sheet, one of the world's largest. The heavily crevassed face of the shelf extends 200 miles from the coast. Using the awesome power of the Kapitan Khlebnikov we cut our way through thick pack ice along the edge of the continent. Enormous icebergs lie stranded in the shallow coastal waters of the Fram Bank. Weather permitting we board the helicopters for exciting views from the air, and even land on top of an iceberg for a celebration! We also plan to visit the Flutter Rookery where up to 5,000 Emperor Penguins nest in some years.

December 19-21, Mawson Coast These days should be exciting although the exact route depends on the often challenging ice. It was the Kapitan Khlebnikov that first explored this area during its pioneering 1992 'Far Side' voyage. Scullin and Murray Monoliths are impressive rocky towers, which are a magnet for seabirds. Clouds of Antarctic Petrels, southern fulmars, Snow Petrels and Storm Petrels darken the skies. We also plan to explore Mawson Station, the oldest continually operating base in East Antarctica, and call at either Auster or Kloa Point Rookery where towering icebergs provide shelter for thousands of breeding Emperor Penguins.

December 22-28, Enderby Land & Queen Maud Land We plan a landing at Proclamation Island, not discovered until 1930 by Sir Douglas Mawson. From its summit, a vast area of the continent was claimed for Australia. Continuing anticlockwise around Antarctica, we enter a rarely explored sector of the continent. Syowa Station has been Japan's headquarters for Antarctic science since 1957. Further to the west, substantial numbers of Emperor Penguins are believed to breed in the area of the Lazarev Ice Shelf which we hope to explore for the first time.

December 29-31, Cape Norvegia & Neumayer Station During these days we enter a sector of Antarctica claimed by Norway, Great Britain, Germany, South Africa and India who maintain active research stations that are built directly on or beneath the ice in this region. Depending on conditions we hope to land atop the towering coastal glacier at Cape Norvegia. The scenery and the soft golden light in the early morning or late evening hours can be magical. We also plan to visit the Emperor colonies at Atka Bay or Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelf. Here again these amazing birds congregate in a stunning setting of deep blue icebergs. Nearby we hope to explore Neumayer Station, a remarkably modern and well-organized German base which is built under the surface beneath about 15 feet of ice. It consists of a series of tunnels with containers installed and fitted end to end.

January 1 - 4, Weddell Sea Venturing through the dense ice pack of the Weddell Sea, we recount the epic voyage of the 'Endurance', Shackleton's ship which was caught in the ice and drifted helplessly until it was crushed and sank in November 1915. Shackleton and his men finally reached Elephant Island and were eventually rescued. Much of the Weddell Sea remains permanently frozen. No other passenger vessel can dare to safely penetrate this great ocean. Sometime during these days, our Captain and expedition leader will search for a large ice floe suitable to moor along the ice edge for a unique party. If conditions are in our favor, we may even plan a barbecue on the ice.

January 5, South Orkney Islands Great Britain and Argentina maintain research stations in the South Orkney Islands, an archipelago with abundant wildlife and magnificent glaciers that was discovered by Nathaniel Palmer and George Powell in 1821. We may have the opportunity to visit Coronation Island, home to large numbers of Chinstrap and Adélie Penguins.

January 6 - Elephant Island Approaching the rugged South Shetland Islands we also hope to land on Elephant Island where Shackleton and his men sought refuge after their years in the ice. Weather conditions are a factor here so our schedule for today will remain flexible.

January 7, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands We sail into the flooded caldera at Deception Island, an active volcano said to be one of the most remarkable crater islands in the world. Steam rises from the black sand beaches along its shores.

Passenger Transfer at Deception Island

Second Itinerary: From Ushuaia (Argentina) to New Zealand

Here we will meet the Professor Multanovskiy carrying new expedition members who will join us for the second leg of our journey. As the departing expeditioners take with them great memories of their adventure aboard the Kapitan Khlebnikov, their journey will continue through the Drake Passage en route to Ushuaia, Argentina. Upon arrival on January 10 they disembark and will transfer independently to the airport for flights* bound for home.


Passenger Transfer At Deception Island
Expeditioners joining for the second segment of our voyage will arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina on January 3 and transfer independently to a local hotel. Embarking aboard the Professor Multanovskiy on January 4 they sail in the afternoon. The adventure begins on deck navigating the Beagle Channel accompanied by a myriad of seabirds. Over the next two days the journey continues through the Drake Passage en route to our rendevouz with the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov at Deception Island on January 7.

January 8, Antarctic Peninsula This area is of substantial historical interest and has been extensively explored by several expeditions during the last century. You will certainly feel the same sense of excitement as the early explorers as you keep a lookout from the Bridge or other vantage points while your icebreaker threads her way through this dramatic and pristine region. We navigate dramatic Neumayer Channel where Great Britain established an early meteorological station at Port Lockroy - a favorite anchorage of the whalers and home to a thriving colony of Gentoo Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. Later we will cruise Lemaire Channel, a narrow geological fault between the towering mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Booth Island - some of the most dramatic scenery in all of Antarctica. We may also visit Vernadskiy Station where the depletion of the world's ozone layer was first discovered in 1983 by British scientists. Today operated by the Ukraine, we are warmly welcomed by the station members and shown around their base.

January 9-10, Crystal Sound & Marguerite Bay We continue across the Antarctic Circle to a rarely-visited region of pack ice, impressive mountains, huge icebergs and amazing wildlife far to the south. Only a fully classed polar icebreaker can safely navigate this area. You experience firsthand the expert abilities and the power of the Kapitan Khlebnikov in polar, ice clad waters and learn how the ship breaks and navigates through ice. We also keep watch for Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals on the ice floes. Depending on conditions, we enter the extremely narrow Tickle Channel and continue to the British Rothera Station, scenically located in the northern part of Marguerite Bay.

January 11-13, Bellingshausen Sea & Peter I Island En route to the pack ice of the Amundsen Sea we hope for good conditions and a landing at Peter I Island, a remote outpost discovered by Bellingshausen in 1821. Few have ever seen the magnificent mountains and glaciers of this island, home to Adélie and Chinstrap Penguins, Storm Petrels and southern fulmars.

January 14-19, Amundsen Sea & Phantom Coast During these days we expect thrilling hours breaking through the pack - and perhaps Emperor Penguins and Ross seals. 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 excursions, using the continuous daylight to maximize time ashore. Should conditions permit, you will also board the helicopter for views of the Kapitan Khlebnikov sailing through this remote fairyland of ice. We hope to be able to approach the Phantom Coast and Getz Ice Shelf, a virtually unexplored and exciting sector of the continent. The Kapitan Khebnikov returns here for the first time since the pioneering voyage in 1999. Depending on ice conditions which can be very challenging, we will attempt to approach Siple Island and see the peak of Mount Siple . This massive, snow-covered mountain rises to more than 10,000 feet and dominates the island, named after Paul A.Siple, American Antarctic explorer, who was in command of Little America from 1939-41. He was also navigator on all major exploratory flights from the base, including the flight on which Mount Siple was discovered. En route to Cape Colbeck, we hope to traverse the spectacular region off Cape Burks where large concentrations of tabular icebergs lay grounded on the shoals below.

January 20-21, Bay of Whales & Ross Ice Shelf Excitement builds as we approach the Bay of Whales, the furthest south possible for a ship, less than 700 miles away from the South Pole. From here Amundsen started his way to the Pole, pioneering a new route up to the polar plateau from the Ross Ice Shelf. Eighteen years later the Bay of Whales became the starting point for another triumph, when American flyer Richard Byrd, together with three other men, reached the Pole on November 29, 1929. Sailing along the immense Ross Ice Shelf which is equivalent to the size of France, we hope to land by helicopter on top of the 100-foot high ice barrier.

January 22-23, Ross Island & McMurdo Sound Pushing south we anchor along the ice fronting McMurdo Station, the sprawling United States facility in the shadow of Mount Erebus. We are invited to tour the station, a center for logistics that houses 1,000 people in summer. The base surrounds Scott's remarkably preserved 1901-1904 Discovery Hut. The New Zealanders may also offer a tour of Scott Base, their station a few miles away on the other side of the bay. Pods of orcas are often seen along the ice edge where Minke whales and Weddell seals patrol in search of food. We also plan to visit the site of Sir Ernest Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds which was built during his Nimrod polar attempt, 1907-1909. Though the legendary explorers are long gone from the area, the hut is far from deserted. It has been reclaimed by the original inhabitants of the area - thousands of Adélie Penguins - in the world's southernmost penguin rookery. At Cape Evans we have the opportunity to visit the historic site of Scott's hut which has been beautifully preserved by staff from the Antarctic Heritage Trust based in New Zealand. It stands as a testimony to the rigors faced by pioneering explorers. Inside the hut you witness the living conditions almost exactly as they were when Scott, Wilson and Ponting occupied these quarters almost a century ago. Behind the hut, famous Mount Erebus looms above us. Weather and ice conditions permitting, we also hope to offer helicopter flights to one of the most spectacular and seldom-visited areas of Antarctica, the Dry Valleys. This remote region offers an amazing landscape of wind-eroded rocks and desert scenery unlike anywhere else in the world. Weather and ice conditions permitting, we also hope to offer helicopter flights to one of the most spectacular and seldom-visited areas of Antarctica, the Dry Valleys. This remote region offers an amazing landscape of wind-eroded rocks and desert scenery unlike anywhere else in the world.

January 24-26, Ross Sea & Cape Adare Located between Cape Washington and the Drygalski Ice Tongue, Terra Nova Bay was discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition under Scott in 1901-04. The Bay is the site of an Italian summer research station. Dense pack ice often challenges vessels 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 now surrounded by Adélie Penguins. Views of the 12,000-foot Admiralty Range herald our arrival at Cape Adare. Behind the broad open beach, you see the 1899 hut where Carsten Borchgrevink was the first to overwinter on the Antarctic Continent. Cape Adare is home to 260,000 pairs of Adélie Penguins, the largest colony anywhere of this species - an absolutely staggering sight.

January 27-29, Balleny Islands & the Southern Ocean It is here, along the shores of the Balleny Islands, that we plan to 'tie the knot' on our way back to Lyttelton, thereby completing the second Full Circumnavigation of Antarctica - after nearly two months and many incredible adventures all around the continent! We prepare for celebrations before heading north into the Southern Ocean. During the following days our lecture program introduces you to the wildlife rich Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand, classified as nature reserves, and protected and managed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

January 30, Campbell Island, New Zealand We sail into Perseverance Harbour, a drowned volcanic caldera that cuts across the island, and anchor off the small New Zealand meteorological station located here. A boardwalk leads you from the station over the tussock grass to the hilltop observatories of the Royal Albatross. Each austral summer, 15,000 of these huge birds nest among clusters of brightly colored megaherbs.


January 31, At Sea From the decks of the Kapitan Khlebnikov, we watch numerous seabirds trailing in our wake welcoming us home from our adventurous journey. Plan to spend time on deck with naturalists who help us to identify the various species: White-chinned and Giant Petrels, Wandering, Black-browed and Sooty Albatrosses and shearwaters. Having experienced one of the most extraordinary places on earth, we reflect on the past, present, and future of these fragile wilderness areas.

February 1, Lyttelton, New Zealand Arriving in Lyttelton today, we disembark in the late morning and transfer to Christchurch airport for our flights* to Auckland. We continue home individually. *Airfare is not included in the program. Some group flights are available on request.

Please note: Read this 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.

General Information

Photo courtesy of P.S. Kristensen, Galen Rowell, Gerald Cubitt, Bradley W. Stahl, B&C Alexander, Frank S. Todd and Martin Enckell

Rated: Easy

Aboard Khlebnikov
November 13, 2006 - December 12, 2006 - 30 days
Deck	Cabin Type	30 days
5/8	Triple with private bathroom	$ 17995
		€ 14935
		£ 10077
5/6/7/8	Twin with private bathroom	$ 24995
		€ 20745
		£ 13997
6/7/8	Suite with private bathroom	$ 31995
		€ 26555
		£ 17917
6/7	Corner Suite with private bathroom	$ 33995
		€ 28215
		£ 19037

Included: • Voyage aboard the expedition vessel as indicated in the itinerary
• Pre-cruise hotel accommodations on a share basis 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
• Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by an experienced expedition staff
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials and Antarctic handbook
• Transfers and baggage handling between the hotels, airports and ship for those traveling on the group flights
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
• 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; 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 telecommunications charges; and the customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for those who have served you aboard (guidelines will be provided).

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