Itinerary

Day 1.Buenos Aires.Arrive this morning in Argentina’s capital and transfer to your hotel, where immediate check-in has been arranged. Enjoy some time to relax before this afternoon’s city tour. As complex as it is energetic and seductive, this port city has been the gateway to Argentina for centuries, bringing manyporteños (as locals are known) into its boundaries. Although it is reminiscent of a European city, the spirit of Buenos Aires is evident in its diverse and distinctly local neighborhoods. Meet your fellow adventurers this evening for a welcome cocktail reception.Accomodation Four Seasons Buenos Aires 

Day 2: Ushuaia.Transfer as a group to the airport for the charter flight* to Ushuaia - the world's southernmost city. You are met and taken on a scenic drive followed by lunch, prior to embarkation. MV Le Boreal is a stylish passenger-friendly vessel and the first all-balcony stateroom and suite vessel to travel to Antarctica. Wander the decks, relax in the lounge and mingle with fellow adventurers in anticipation of your voyage

Days 3-4: Cruising the Drake Passage.The southward journey toward Antarctica is an exciting one. An important trade route in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Drake Passage is a 600-mile-wide swath of water where the Southern Ocean currents are squeezed between South America’s southern tip and Antarctica’s northernmost reaches. Its stormy waters and icy conditions often made the journey a difficult one, though the stabilizer-equipped ‘Le Boreal’ handles it with ease. As you travel in the comfort of your luxury cruiser, enjoy enriching lectures from members of the Expedition Team on topics ranging from bird life and geology, to photography and history. After lunch, join your naturalists on the deck to look for various species of whales and abundant seabirds, which join other mammals in feasting on the krill-rich waters of the Drake Passage; it’s all just a taste of the wildlife you will encounter in the days to come. Later in the evening, chat with experts about the wildlife spotted today and discuss the next day’s itinerary.

Days 5-9.Antarctica.As the Antarctic Peninsula and its offshore islands appear on the horizon, a sense of excitement begins to build. While day-to-day itineraries depend on weather, water and wildlife conditions, two excursions are carefully planned for each day by the captain and expedition leader. Each cruise day begins with an early breakfast. Afterward, venture out to a number of sites in swift Zodiacs (sturdy inflatable boats). You’ll be guided by expert drivers and accompanied by lecturers, in groups of no more than 10 guests. These sites may include the penguin-filled islands in the South Shetlands of Half Moon, Penguin or Deception; islands off the continental coastline such as Cuverville, Paulet or Vortex; and, weather permitting, the fabled Antarctic Peninsula. You may also sail through Paradise Bay and the Lemaire Channel, referred to as “Kodak Alley” for its stunning, camera-ready vistas of towering icebergs and deep blue waters.After a morning exploring native species and terrain, return to 'Le Boreal' for lunch. In the afternoon, set out for the day's second excursion, which may include a visit to a scientific research station or the remains of turn-of-the-century whaling and sealing stations. Return to your vessel for cocktails and dinner. Afterwards, recap the day's discoveries with your naturalist guides

Days 10-11.Drake Passage.The ship's return through the Drake Passage is an interlude for recap and reflection, with time to compare notes with your lecturers on the wildlife, history and geology of the White Continent. While cruising through this historic passage, named in honour of Sir Francis Drake's voyage in the 16th century, you may be able to spot whale and seabirds such as albatross and skua 

Day 12 - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires.Disembark after breakfast, and transfer to the airport to board your flight back to Buenos Aires where arrangements end.