Antarctica O3C Photo Tour Itinerary - February 21st to March 7th, 2023

Welcoming fully vaccinated guests on all our tours.

Day One: Tuesday February 21st, 2023: Late afternoon departure offered from Staybridge Suites London to Toronto pick-ups available en route. Toronto and area guests will meet at Pearson International. We fly from Toronto to Buenos Aires via Air Canada our fight departs at 10:15 p.m. Our overnight flight will see us arriving the following day.

Day Two: Wednesday February 22nd, 2023: Arriving in Buenos Aires we clear customs, and transfer to our hotel. We will have time to relax, see a little if Buenos Aires and in the evening attend our group welcome meeting. Discover the 'Paris of South America, the city of Buenos Aires.

Day Three: Thursday February 23rd, 2023: After breakfast, our Antarctic adventure begins. Check-out, and transfer to the airport for our morning flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, our ship the hybrid electric-powered MS Fridtjof Nansen awaits our arrival. Once on board, settle into our cabins, set sail, and then kick off our journey with a welcome-on-board dinner. Our sailing time this eveing is 8:00 p.m. (B) (D)

Day Four and Day Five: Friday February 24th & Saturday February 25th, 2023: At sea. Prepare yourself for Antarctica as we cross the infamous Drake Passage. Take it all in on as the MS Fridtjof Nansen had a glassed in over the bow, wall-to-wall windowed deck that provide extraordinary views, the deck has stair access to an outdoor deck above. Sea birds in this region include the albatross and petrels as well as different species of whales. Icebergs and small islands will fade in the south as we sail towards Cape Horn and Port Williams. We will hold briefings and nature talks that pertain to our visit. During our sailing we will issue rubber boots for our landings and complementary windproof jackets. (B) (L) (D)

Day Six: Sunday February 26th, 2023: Breakfast, as our cruise continues, You are now in one of the most remote areas on earth! There have been spectacular photo opportunities so far, but Antarctica itself is in a whole different category. Come ashore to explore the breath taking Antarctic scenery and to come close to penguins and seals. You will feel like a real explorer from the moment you set foot on the endless expanse of snow and ice. Prepare for an amazing experience and outstanding  photo opportunities. (B) (L) (D)

Day Seven: Monday February 27th, 2023:  Breakfast. From the deck there will be ample opportunities for whale sightings, February and March are ideal times for whale watching to the hight content of Krill in the waters. Enjoy close encounters with wildlife and glaciers, old whaling stations and relics. Trust us when we say that every second of this journey has something new to offer. One of the highlights of the South Shetlands is Deception Island. When we sail into the natural harbour of this volcanic island, you will see an abandoned whaling station known as Hektor and a derelict British base. Another day of Antarctica photography. (B) (L) (D)

Day Eight: Tuesday February 28th, 2023: Breakfast then a day of exploration. We are certain you will enjoy a visit to Half Moon Island. A staggeringly photogenic island blessed with some of the most beautiful Antarctic scenery imaginable. Yankee Harbour, with its large colony of Gentoo penguins, estimated to be 4,000 breeding pairs. (B) (L) (D)

Day Nine: Wednesday March 1st, 2023: Breakfast then shore excursion to Cuverville Island, home to another of the largest known colonies of Gentoo penguins. Neko Harbour is beautifully located in the innermost part of Andvord Bay. Paradise Harbour got its descriptive name from the whalers during the last century. Wilhelmina Bay has stunning scenery and is often called “Whale-mina Bay”, because of the large number of humpback whales spotted here. (B) (L) (D)

Day Ten: Thursday March 2nd, 2023: Breakfast then the majesty of the Antarctic Peninsula’s mountains will enchant as you scramble up snowy pathways to vantage points offering you 360° views of your surroundings. One of these in particular, in Danco Island, affords us the opportunity to visit a penguin colony high up on a ridge. Here, you’ll have the choice between hiking to the island’s summit or spending time sitting quietly on a pebbled beach, enjoying and photographing the antics of curious penguins. Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier in Neko Harbour. Our day in Antartica continues, back on board we also have activities that will satisfy a whole range of interests in the Science Centre.(B) (L) (D)

Day Twelve and Day Thirteen: Friday March 3rd and Saturday March 4th, 2023: Heading back to civilization. After exploring this exhilarating continent, we set course back to Ushuaia. Spend the day at sea recapping your experiences with fellow explorers, attending lectures or just relaxing on deck. (B) (L) (D)

Day Fourteen: Sunday March 5th, 2023: Breakfast, Ushuaia/Buenos Aires  - The End of our Adventure. Sadly, every adventure must come to an end. It is time to say goodbye to the crew and all your new friends when we reach Ushuaia. We will transfer to the airport for our flight back to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival we will meet our local guide and transfer to our hotel. This evening will visit one of the local restaurant for dinner. (B)

Day Fifteen: Monday March 6th, 2023: Breakfast, check-out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for Air Canada overnight flight back to Canada. Our flight departs at 4:30 p.m.

Day Sixteen: Tuesday March 7th, 2023: Our Air Canada flight arrives at 5:30 a.m into Toronto. After cleaning customs, we will say good-bye to our connecting and GTA guests and board our motor coach for our drive back to London, with any drop offs en route arriving at approximating 10:00 a.m.

Antarctic Peninsula in February has an annual temperature range of -5.3C to 13.6 we will also experience 24 hours of sunlight this time of year. Therefore packing winter gear like you would wear in Canada will work fine for your Antarctic expedition. You will also need to pack a pair of splash pants to wear over your clothing. Included with your package is a HH Expedition Jacket which you will receive once onboard our ship. You will also be suppled with rubber boots for our landings.

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Antarctica Registration Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy

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The cost of our Antarctica Photo Tour is $9,995.00 CAD based on double occupancy Outside Cabin RR, including your international air from Toronto, plus air tax $727.03 and $17.55 HST, single supplement available upon request.

A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 CAD is due at the time of booking an additional deposit of $1,000.00 CAD is due July 2nd, 2022 based on the base cabin price, deposit will be adjusted for upgrades. Final payment is due 180 days prior to departure. Cancelations 50% refund between 180 and 90 day before departure, 25% refund between 89 and 61 days prior to departure, less than 60 days 100% non refundable.

You may also choose to pay over 12 monthy payments through our Uplift finance program estimate -  $957 per month. You select 12 month payment option under the payment section during registration.

Includes:

• Round trip coach  for departures from London to Pearson Airport
• Other pick-up locations available upon request along the 401 corridor
• Round Trip Airfare via Air Canada to Buenos Aries
• Round Trip Airfare from Buenos Aries to Ushuaia
• 11 days 10 nights onboard MS Fridtjof Nansen
• 2 nights pre and post Antarctic cruise accommodations according to itinerary 
• All airport and hotel transfers
• Breakfast included each day
• All meals onboard the ship
• Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware we sail in remote areas with limited connection. Streaming not supported
• Complimentary reusable water bottle to use at water refill stations on board
• Complimentary wind and water-resistant expedition jacket
• Loan of boots, trekking poles, and all equipment for activities
• English speaking expedition guides
• Photo Workshops
• Tour hosted and escorted by photographer James Cowie

Excludes:

• Items of a personal nature, laundry, phone calls, etc.
• Local guide tips and gratuities
• Current Port Taxes and Visas for Argentina
• Alcoholic beverages purchased on land or at the ships bar
• Personal Travel and Medical Insurance

** Schedule may vary according to weather - please note landings in itinerary are at the ships captain descrection and decisions are made according to weather and ice flows always make travel safetly the first priority.

Tourcan Vacations and Photo Tour Trekkers recommends the purchase of travel and health insurance as our tour takes us out of the country. Health insurance is highly recommended. Please note your passport expiry date must be valid for 6 months past our return date of March 07, 2023.

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