The aim on this voyage is to travel as far south as the ice and weather will permit and to make the crossing of the Antarctic Circle. You will sail further down the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula than the ‘Classic Antarctica’ cruise (see page 170) and you will certainly feel an added sense of excitement as you push towards the Antarctic Circle. The temperature will drop noticeably as you cross the Circle and enter into the rarely visited waters beyond. South of the Circle a landing on the continent will be attempted and you may have the chance to visit a research station. On your journey south you will navigate some of the world’s most scenic waterways, many littered with huge icebergs, and experience some of the most dramatic and awe-inspiring terrain the continent has to offer. The narrow Lemaire Channel has steep glacial walls towering on both sides leading to a jigsaw of jewel-like islands, home to penguin rookeries, whales and elephant seals – a true paradise for photographer’s. You will have plenty of time to explore this great white continent or you can just sit on a rock and amuse yourself at the penguins’ antics: Adélie, Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins are all possible sightings en-route. To make the crossing of the Antarctic Circle is still a rare and impressive achievement and you will celebrate with a well-earned glass of champagne, raising your glass to the intrepid explorers who have gone before. The actual route is dependent on ice and weather and some departures may visit the Peninsula on the way back to Ushuaia. Crossing the Polar Circle Become one of the lucky few to have ventured south of the Antarctic Circle into a rarely visited area of magnificent mountains and colossal icebergs. F O R R E S E R V A T I O N S C A L L U S O N 0845 130 6982 Itinerary Day 1. Embark in Ushuaia Days 2 & 3. Drake Passage Days 3 & 4. Falkland Islands Days 4 to 7. Antarctic Peninsula Days 8 & 9. The Antarctic Circle Days 10 & 11. Loubert Coast Days 12 & 13. Drake Passage Day 14. Ushuaia and disembark Vessel Adventure ships: Akademik Ioffe, Akademik Sergey Vavilov, Alexsey Maryshev, Grigoriy Mikheev, Ocean Nova Expedition ship: Polar Star (see Vessel pages for more details). Things you need to know Embark Ushuaia, Argentina Disembark Ushuaia, Argentina Voyage nights 11 & 13 nights Departure dates 13 night voyage: 14 to 28 Dec 08, 2 to 16 Jan, 24 Jan to 7 Feb, 2 to 16 Feb, 9 to 23 Feb 09 11 night voyage: 23 Jan to 3 Feb, 3 to 14 Feb, 27 Feb to 10 Mar, 10 to 21 Mar 09 Price From £3,295 in a triple share cabin From £3,495 in a twin share cabin Single supplement On request. If you are travelling alone ask about our request share programme which enables solo travellers to share a cabin with another solo traveller. What’s included Some departures include a pre-cruise hotel night in Ushuaia, voyage including guided shore & zodiac excursions, all meals onboard & transfers. Adventure options • Camping included in the cruise price • Kayaking supplement £395 Guide price for flights & accommodation package Around £1,250 including return flights from the UK, 1-night in Buenos Aires & 1-night in Ushuaia. [We recommend at least one night in Buenos Aires. One pre-cruise night in Ushuaia is essential.] 176

Sailing onboard a powerful purpose-built icebreaker with the ability to penetrate the ice of the Weddell Sea, you can now visit the Snow Hill Emperor Penguin rookery and observe these extraordinary creatures early in their breeding season. This safari is ideal for photographers and nature lovers as you will have extended time in the rookery with plenty of chances to record the Emperor’s life in its natural environment. The Emperor Penguin is one of the most fascinating and also one of the hardest birds in the world to see. The only ‘true’ Antarctic bird, Emperor Penguins breed in the middle of winter, when night lasts for months and temperatures reach minus 60°C. They have no nest and the female lays a single egg that is incubated by the male on his feet for nine weeks. The Emperor Penguin safari is timed for early spring, when the chicks have hatched and the colony is alive with activity. Reaching the Snow Hill rookery under the best possible conditions is the goal of the expedition. The Captain and Expedition Leader consult charts, weather bulletins and satellite images to determine where to position the icebreaker for efficient helicopter flights to the rookery. The icebreaker’s helicopters will ferry you to a landing site about two kilometres or more from the rookery and you will walk a well marked path across the metres-thick sea ice to within a short distance from the penguins. Visiting early in the breeding season the Emperor chicks are still young, so you may see them brooding on their parents’ feet or huddling together in large, communal crèches. Nothing can match the sight of these remarkable creatures tobogganing, with surprising speed, across the ice – or shooting out of the sea onto the shore. While the Emperors are the priority on this voyage, you may also have an opportunity to visit colonies of Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins at the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula. Your exact route will be determined by the conditions encountered during the voyage. Snow Hill Island Emperor Penguin Safari In 2004, 4,000 pairs of Emperor Penguins were confirmed at a previously unknown site near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea – this voyage will take you there! S E E U S O N T H E W E B AT wildlifeworldwide.com Itinerary Day 1. Ushuaia Day 2. Embark in Ushuaia Days 3 & 4. Crossing the Drake Passage Days 5 to 7. Snow Hill Island rookery Days 8 to 11. Antarctic Peninsula Days 12 & 13. Return to Ushuaia Day 14. Ushuaia and disembark Vessel Kapitan Khlebnikov (see Vessel pages for more details). Things you need to know Embark Ushuaia, Argentina Disembark Ushuaia, Argentina Voyage nights 12 nights Departure dates 8 to 21 Oct, 20 Oct to 2 Nov, 1 to 14 Nov Price From £6,395 in a twin share cabin Single supplement On request. If you are travelling alone ask about our request share programme which enables solo travellers to share a cabin with another solo traveller. What’s included Pre-cruise hotel night in Ushuaia, voyage including guided shore, helicopter & zodiac excursions, all meals onboard & transfers. Guide price for flights & accommodation package Around £1,250 including return flights from the UK, 1-night in Buenos Aires & 1-night in Ushuaia. [We recommend at least one night in Buenos Aires. One pre-cruise night in Ushuaia is essential.] 177 You can also join a land-based trip where you will fly by specially equipped ski-aircraft to the remote Weddell Sea coast and camp with the Emperor Penguins for four to six days. Your small group will be fully immersed – day and night – in the sights and sounds of the Emperor colony as literally thousands of birds call, display and feed their young. Prices from Punta Arenas £21,395 (8 to 20 November). The Alexsey Maryshev will operate a 12-day voyage in search of the Emperor Penguin, 21 November to 1 December, prices from £3,195. Please ask us for further details. Photo David Rootes