Expeditions to Antarctica Emperor Penguins Cerro Nevado Island

EMPEROR PENGUINS

Snow hill island watching: the triumph of life itself

14 days - 13 nights

Making this amazing trip to Antarctica true is exciting and part of the travel legacy of the Safari expedition to Snow Hill Island. We will never be completely sure that we will reach our goal in the polar expedition. To make the ideal trip possible we should be flexible about weather conditions and adjust to them. We intend to visit the Emperor chick’s rookeries, as we have done on other trips. We will see the chicks sitting by the foot of the adults which are protecting them.

We will use helicopters to go to the disembarking area near the rookery (1.2 miles). And walk through a marked path that takes us along a stunning ice garden which looks like beautiful sculptures. We will witness the moment in which Emperor Penguin adults plunge into the cold sea waters in quest of food for their chicks.

	14 days.
	3 departures – October 10-23 – October 22 November 4 – November 3-16, 2009.
	Departure and destination: Ushuaia.
	Embarkation and disembarkation: Ushuaia.
	Icebreaker Adventure.

	Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego Big Island, Argentina Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, will welcome us with its picturesque picture, its stunning view to the Beagle Channel and its excellent gastronomy options. We will spend the night in in this city.
	Starting our Trip to the Antarctic Before embarking, we will have the opportunity to visit Ushuaia on our own: among the excursions available, we recommend visiting the Tierra del Fuego National Park to reach Lapataia Bay. We will start our expedition trip on the icebreaker that will cross the waters of the Beagle Channel heading for the turbulent Drake Passage.
	Crossing the Drake Passage When crossing the Drake Passage, we will have the opportunity to learn about the biology, the habitat and the behavior of the Emperor Penguin. Our photographer will help us enjoy to the full the landscape taking into account the special light conditions that we will find during our visit to the penguin rookeries. The Drake Passage, also called the Hoces Sea, divides South America from the White Continent; it is located between Cape Horn (Chile) and the South Shetland Islands (the Antarctic), connecting the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Scotia Sea in the east.
	Wildlife Watching in Snow Hill We will set out for our destination: reach the Snow Hill rookery under the best weather conditions possible. We will depend on the Captain and Expedition Leader charts, as well as weather reports and satellite images. So we will know where to leave the icebreaker to start out flights in helicopter towards the Emperor Penguin rookery. According to our planned route, we would spend three days in the rookeries enjoying nature to the full.
	The Antarctic Peninsula Although our priority is the Emperor Penguin, we will not leave without visiting the Antarctic Peninsula. The route is not always the same; that is to say, it is never exactly defined since it depends on the weather conditions. We intend to sail along the Iceberg Alley. This will be a perfect moment to take good pictures of the icebergs. Once into the Iceberg Channel, we will see magnificent ice sculptures from pure white to deep blue. We will be captivated by a moving silence, unless a glacier ice calves or overturns, and then all we hear is silence and waves. In our visit to the Peninsula, we will explore the Penguin rookeries under construction. Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins court, nest and raise their chicks during the southern summer. This trip occurs when these small penguins pick their partners and the place to nest their young.
	Returning to Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel We will return by the Drake Passage; the details about this expedition to Snow Hill and the Antarctic Peninsula will be on our minds. The life of the Emperor Penguin here is not just a story about survival and resistance; it is the triumph of life itself.

KING AND EMPEROR PENGUINS
SNOW HILL AND SOUTH GEORGIA

	22 days.
	November 15 – December 6, 2009.
	Departure: Ushuaia, Argentina.
	Destination: Santiago, Chile.
	Embarkation: Ushuaia, Argentina.
	Disembarkation: Stanley, the Falkland Islands.
	Icebreaker Expedition.

PLANNED EXPEDITION OUTLINE

Day 1 Night in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Day 2 Embarking Day.
Days 3-4 Crossing the Drake Passage.
Days 5-6: Antarctic Peninsula.
Days 7-9: Visiting the Emperor Penguin Rookery in Snow Hill Island.
Days 10-11: Sailing towards South Georgia through the Southern Ocean.
Days 12-16: Visiting the King Penguin rookeries in South Georgia.
Days 17-18: Sailing towards the Falkland Islands.
Day 19: Stop to watch the wildlife in the Falkland Islands.
Day 20: Flight from Stanley to Santiago, Chile.
Day 21: Night in Santiago.
Day 22: Return to the starting point.

Take into account that the description of the itinerary will be announced by June 20, 2009.

Special Guests:
In this singular and unforgettable trip, we will enjoy the presence of special guests: Robert Bateman and Birgit Freybe Bateman. The Batermans have been worldwide recognized as artists and conservationists. They will share with us two onboard presentations, a unique experience.

Services

	The rates include (2008-2009):
	One-night hotel with breakfast included before the expedition as set forth in the itinerary.
	Accommodation aboard with daily cleaning service.
	Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard.
	All coastal landings and excursions on Zodiac ships are scheduled according to a daily program.
	All helicopter transfers and air observations according to the daily program.
	The guide throughout the trip will be a skilled Expedition Leader, even in the coastal landings and other activities.
	The formal and informal presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers will be made according to the program.
	Photographic album on DVD.
	Polar Arts Program with interactive workshops.
	Water-proof expedition boots will be lent for coastal landings.
	A Quark Expeditions jacket for customers in Clipper Adventurer.
	Coffee, tea, cocoa and mineral water are available 24 hours a day.
	A Quark Expeditions jacket.
	Group transfers from the hotel to the ship at the embarkation port, and from the ship to the local airport after disembarking, plus all baggage handling aboard.
	All taxes of miscellaneous services and port expenses during the program.

	The rates include (2009-2010):
	One-night hotel with breakfast included before the expedition as set forth in the itinerary. (The number of guests per room is the same as the ship’s cabin space). Owing to the limited availability, the travelers booking a suite aboard will be given a standard room in the hotel.
	Accommodation aboard with daily cleaning service.
	Breakfast, lunch and dinner aboard. (Please let us know about any feeding requirement as soon as possible). Unfortunately, the kitchens of the ships cannot prepare kosher food (in accordance with Jewish dietary laws).
	All coastal landings and excursions on Zodiac ships are scheduled according to a daily program.
	The guide throughout the trip will be a skilled Expedition Leader, even in the coastal landings and other activities.
	The formal and informal presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers will be made according to the program.
	Photographic album on DVD.
	Water-proof expedition boots will be lent for coastal landings.
	Hairdryers in each cabin.
	A Quark Expeditions jacket.
	Coffee, tea, cocoa and mineral water are available 24 hours a day.
	All necessary materials before departure, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader.
	Group transfers from the hotel to the ship at the embarkation port, and from the ship to the local airport after disembarking, plus all baggage handling aboard.
	All taxes of miscellaneous services and port expenses during the program.
	Evacuation Insurance in case of Emergency for all passengers up to US$100,000 per person.
	All helicopter transfers and air observations according to the daily program.