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Great Antarctic Explorers
Visit historic huts left behind by the expeditions of Scott and Shackleton as well as the surreal Dry Valleys and the worldrenowned McMurdo Station.
This is an unusual and utterly fascinating icebreaker expedition to the incredible icy realms of the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. Focusing on the historic huts and celebrated sites from the Heroic Age of early Antarctic Exploration, this voyage will have a special guest onboard. Adrian Raeside is the grandson of Sir Charles Wright, who was a physicist and glaciologist on Robert Falcon Scotts 1910 expedition. Adrian is writing a book to celebrate the centenary of the expedition and whilst on board will recount some previously unknown details found whilst researching his book. During the voyage you will visit Scotts famous hut at Cape Evans and his remarkably preserved 1901-1904 Discovery Hut at McMurdo Sound, the site of Sir Ernest Shackletons hut at Cape Royds (built during his Nimrod polar expedition in 1907-1909) and the 1899 hut at Cape Adare where Carsten Borchgrevink was the first person to overwinter on the Antarctic continent. Some of these huts are still stacked with tinned goods, along with seal blubber that was hoarded as emergency fuel. Sailing from Lyttelton, New Zealand on a fully classed polar icebreaker, your first stop will be the wildlife-rich sub-Antarctic islands of Campbell and Enderby for Royal Albatross and the rare Yellow-eyed Penguin. Your icebreakers onboard helicopters will be utilised for passenger flightseeing and landings at otherwise inaccessible locations. One such place is the remote and seldomvisited Dry Valleys with its amazing otherworldly landscape of wind-eroded rocks and desert scenery unlike anywhere else in the world. As you approach in helicopters from the sea, the expanse of fast ice stops abruptly revealing a parched land with no vegetation other than lichen that grows inside rocks. Whilst sailing through the breathtaking scenery of mountains, glaciers and mile-long tabular icebergs of the Ross Sea, you will hear more about the many discoveries of James Ross after whom the sea and the ice shelf are named. Minke and Orca Whales are commonly found in this area and you will land at Cape Adare, home to over half a million Adélie Penguins. On your return journey, and subject to permissions, you will land on Macquarie Island a UNESCO World Heritage Site where huge numbers of Royal Penguins live. Your voyage ends in Hobart, Tasmania.
Itinerary
Day 1. Day 2. Days 3 to 5. Days 6 to 9. Day 10. Days 11 & 12. Days 13 & 14. Days 15 & 16. Days 17 to 21. Days 22 & 23. Days 24 to 26. Christchurch, New Zealand Embark in Lyttelton Campbell & Enderby Islands Sailing to the ice edge Drygalski Ice Tongue McMurdo Station, Scott Base, Cape Evans & Cape Royds The Dry Valleys & the Ross Ice Shelf The Bay of Whales The Ross Sea Macquarie Island North to Hobart and disembark
Vessel
Kapitan Khlebnikov (see Vessel pages for more details).
Whats included
Pre-cruise hotel night in Christchurch, voyage including guided shore, helicopter & zodiac excursions, all meals onboard & transfers.
Things you need to know
Embark Lyttelton, New Zealand Disembark Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Voyage nights 24 nights Departure dates 13 Dec 2008 to 7 Jan 2009 Price From £10,295 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.
Guide price for flights & accommodation package
Around £1,495 including return flights from the UK & 1-night in Hobart.
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FOR RESERVATIONS CALL US ON
0845 130 6982
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