02 / The journey south
Our journey begins and ends in Ushuaia, Argentina. Beyond the Drake Passage lie the South Shetland Islands and the bays and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula. The final route takes shape around the weather, ice, local access and safe anchorages.
Indicative route — not for navigation. Landings and station visits are subject to conditions and permission.
Deception Island, Paradise Bay, the Lemaire Channel and the Melchior Islands are among the areas described in our expedition plan. They are possibilities, not a fixed sequence of stops. Weather, ice and permissions determine what is possible on each voyage.
The voyage returns to Ushuaia. Allow flexibility in your onward travel: discuss an appropriate time buffer with the team before booking flights.
Talk to our team
Places along the route
These are the places planned for the voyage. The visiting plan is decided after arrival in Antarctica and adjusted to weather, ice and access; visiting every point is not guaranteed.
Polar research
King George Island brings Antarctic landscapes and international polar research into view. Bellingshausen Station stands on the Fildes Peninsula; any station visit depends on permission and operational conditions.
Island landscapes
Greenwich is one of the South Shetland Islands, with ice-covered slopes rising above its rocky coast. Its southwestern Yankee Harbour combines gentoo penguin habitat with traces of early sealing history.
Penguins & rocky shores
This crescent-shaped island lies between Greenwich and Livingston, with cobbled beaches and striking rock outcrops. Chinstrap penguins breed here, alongside seabirds and delicate patches of Antarctic vegetation.
Ice & wildlife
Livingston offers a broad South Shetland landscape of mountains, ice and exposed coastal rock. Sites such as Hannah Point are known for varied wildlife and vegetation, with access shaped by breeding activity and landing conditions.
Volcanic landscapes
Deception Island is the flooded caldera of an active volcano, entered through the narrow opening of Neptune’s Bellows. Around Whalers Bay, dark volcanic shores hold the remains of an earlier whaling and research era.
Harbours & polar history
Mikkelsen Harbour indents the southern coast of Trinity Island, enclosed by Antarctic ice and mountains. Nearby D’Hainaut Island holds a refuge and historic whaling remains beside gentoo penguin habitat.
Research & nearby islets
Argentina’s seasonal Primavera Station stands at Cierva Cove on the Antarctic Peninsula. The planned area also includes nearby Moreno Islet, with the precise approach and any visit determined locally by the captain and subject to station permission.
Maritime history
The partly submerged Gouvernøren wreck is a striking remnant of the whaling era around Enterprise Island. If conditions allow, we can view it from the water among the small islands of Foyn Harbour.
Mainland bay
Orne Harbour is a mainland bay on the Antarctic Peninsula, ringed by glaciers and steep peaks. Its rocky slopes support chinstrap penguins, with views towards the Gerlache Strait and Errera Channel.
Penguins & icebergs
Cuverville rises from the northern Errera Channel, its cobbled shore backed by steep slopes and an ice cap. A large gentoo penguin colony and surrounding glacial scenery make this a memorable place for quiet observation.
A bay & a research station
Paradise Bay frames glacier-lined water and the Chilean Gabriel González Videla Station on the Antarctic mainland. The bay is part of our planned area, while access to the station depends on permission and its operating schedule.
Polar heritage
On Goudier Island, the restored British Base A tells the story of early Antarctic science. Its museum and post office offer a distinctive glimpse of polar history when the site is open and a visit is approved.
A passage through the mountains
The Lemaire Channel runs between Booth Island and the mountainous coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Ice and weather determine whether this narrow passage can be navigated during our voyage.
Wildlife & exploration
South of the Lemaire Channel, Petermann Island combines rocky coves with gentoo and Adélie penguin breeding sites. A cairn and other traces connect the island with Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s second French Antarctic expedition.
Islands & research
The Melchior Islands form an archipelago off the Antarctic Peninsula, with snowy shores and sheltered waterways. Argentina’s seasonal Melchior Station stands on Observatorio Island, and any station visit requires permission.
Location photographs are credited individually. Yacht, crew and other expedition photographs were supplied by the owner.
Photographs resized, compressed and cropped for display; each image retains its linked license.
Your journey starts with a conversation
Travelling solo, with a partner or with friends? Share your preferred dates and questions. We will help you understand the expedition, accommodation and preparation involved.
+44 75 20641700adventure@drakepass.com