Weddell Sea & South Sandwich Islands

Ponant Cruises
Duration 19 days - 18 nights
Departure Santiago, Chile
penguins South Sandwich islands

From Patagonia, to the Antarctic peninsula, via South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, this all-new Weddell Sea & South Sandwich Islands itinerary will take you into the heart of the Scotia Arc.

This volcanic archipelago at the junction of the Andes cordillera and the Antarctandes will be revealed to you in all its riches and splendour. All the wildlife of the Far South can be found there: king and gentoo penguins, elephant seals, fur seals mingle on the beautiful dark sand beaches… At sea, orcas, humpback whales and other cetaceans will escort you along your navigation through frozen waters.

This cruise will also be an opportunity to discover four very different ecosystems, from the wooded heights of the Tierra del Fuego and the table top icebergs of the Weddell Sea to the glacier-covered mountains of the South Sandwich Islands and the snow-capped summits of South Georgia.

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’AustralLe 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 Weddell Sea & South Sandwich Islands itinerary is right for you? Review our Antarctica destination page for full details on seasonality, routes, ship selection, pricing, expedition inclusions and how North South Voyages can help make your Antarctica dream become reality.

Departures

No departures scheduled yet. Please contact us for more information

Overview

Day 1
Arrival into Santiago
Overnight Santiago
Day 2
Fly from Santiago to Ushuaia and embark cruise
Day 3 - 4
Crossing the Drake Passage
Day 5
South Shetland Islands
Day 6
North Antarctic Peninsula
Day 7 - 8
The Weddell Sea
Day 9
South Sandwich Islands
Day 10 - 11
South Sandwich Islands
Day 12
At Sea
Day 13 - 14
South Georgia
Day 15 - 18
At Sea
Day 19
Disembark at Montevideo

Itinerary

Inclusions:

  • Transfer from airport to PONANT selected hotel in Santiago
  • 1-night accommodation in a 5* hotel In Santiago the night before embarkation
  • Return flights Santiago/Ushuaia/Santiago selected by PONANT, in economy class
  • Dinner in Santiago
  • Airport transfer from Santiago to Airport and from Ushuaia pier to airport
  • Voyage aboard the indicated vessel as indicated
  • Lectures and information sessions hosted by our naturalist-guides, covering wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate, environmental protection
  • Expedition programmes include activities such as Zodiac® outings and landings all accompanied by your expedition team of naturalist guides
  • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
  • A PONANT polar water-resistant parka is offered on board for all departures with an expedition programme
  • Boot rental will be offered onboard on Expedition cruises
  • PONANT activities including: kayaking, hot air ballooning, snowmobiles, hovercraft activities and hiking

Exclusions:

  • International airfares
  • Tips for the local guide on the mainland
  • Personal expenses
  • Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme.
  • Ponant activities- polar diving is an optional extra
  • Mandatory waterproof and windproof over-trousers
  • Passport and visa expenses and any Government arrival and departure taxes
  • Staff gratuities
  • Personal insurance (which is strongly recommended)

Optional Extras:

  • Diving

*Note that we will quote flights for you when provided with your desired travel dates. Costs will vary depending on your travel dates. 

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