PONANT brings you The Great Austral Loop a 16-day itinerary between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. An exceptional polar expedition cruise to discover the most beautiful sites of these southern lands. You will set sail from the fascinating city of Ushuaia, which the Argentinians call El fin del mundo (the end of the world).

First, you will chart a course for the Falkland Islands, whose wild beauty and lush moors are sure to captivate you, before heading to South Georgia, its impressive glaciers and its black-sand beaches where large colonies of king penguins have taken up residence. You will then sail to the White Continent, the realm of the unexpected. Weather and ice conditions permitting, this extreme environment where nature reigns supreme will reveal to you its most beautiful secrets through numerous discoveries.

Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins, humpback whales, seals and seabirds: these are some of the encounters you will most likely have the chance to experience in the Antarctic Peninsula, creating indelible memories. Each day, whether on land, aboard the ship or during a Zodiac outing, you will be surrounded by a grandiose decor ranging from icebergs to ice floe and ancient glaciers.

Ponant Cruises operates this itinerary. The company features a range of medium-sized ships designed for expedition cruises. The whole fleet is fitted with cutting-edge equipment, from the brand new Le Commandant-Charcot, their first electric hybrid polar expedition vessel, to their other 5* ships including L’Austral, Le Boreal and Le Lyrial. Ponant ensures both the safety of their passengers while respecting the areas visited through sustainable ships designed for environmental protection.

Unsure if this The Great Austral Loop itinerary is right for you? Review our Antarctica destination page for full details on seasonality, routes, ship selection, pricing, expedition inclusions and how Travel Just 4U can help make your Antarctica dream become reality.