once in A Lifetime adventure to see the eclipse in antarctica

An amazing opportunity to go on an extra-special luxury cruise with Quark Expeditions to Antarctica in 2021, and witness an eclipse on 4 December in one of the world’s most stunning and remote destinations.

About this unique luxury experience

You will sail past otherworldly landscapes of ice-covered mountains and glassy waters, hike pristine glaciers, venture out on a Zodiac, and see penguins and whales. Learn about wildlife and polar history with expert members of the expedition team, which on this special cruise will include eclipse experts who will help you make the most of this spectacular natural phenomenon as the polar regions are plunged into darkness. You will be among the privileged few to experience it. 

On this cruise, the World Explorer travels around Antarctica, including the Antarctic Peninsula, the Drake Passage, South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands. The World Explorer is a supremely luxurious and comfortable floating hotel, which has been specially built for this unique environment, and has everything from Rolls Royce engines to plush suites, a spacious observation deck and a large heated swimming pool.

This trip includes a 16-day cruise aboard the World Explorer, staying in a Veranda Cabin, 1 night in Ushuaia at the Albatros Hotel and 3 nights in Buenos Aires at the Sofitel Buenos Aires Recoleta (2 nights pre-cruise and 1 night post-cruise), plus a half-day city tour of Buenos Aires.

You will receive a special pair of eclipse glasses and will be invited to a celebratory toast to commemorate the voyage.

This extraordinary adventure is hard to beat!

21 Nights from £20,700pp

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Highlights

  • Explore Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
  • Learn about wildlife and polar history
  • Eclipse experts will help you make the most of this spectacular natural phenomenon
  • Sail onboard the World Explorer around Antarctica, including the Antarctic Peninsula, the Drake Passage, South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands

What's Included?

  • Various meals
  • Expert Guides
  • Flights incl. internal
  • Stay 3 nights at the Sofitel Recoleta in a superior room
    (2 nights pre-cruise and 1 night post-cruise)
  • Stay 1 night at the Albatros Hotel in a Standard Room
  • 15 nights cruise aboard the World Explorer staying in a Veranda Cabin

Trip Details

Itinerary

Fly from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires on a British Airways overnight flight in economy.

You will be met on arrival in Buenos Aires and assisted to your hotel. Stay 2 nights at the Sofitel Recoleta in a superior room (Bed & Breakfast).

Enjoy a half day tour of the city this morning.

Fly to Ushuaia and stay 1 night at the Albatros Hotel (Standard Room; Bed & Breakfast)

Embarkation will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will sail down the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart!

Today you will have a free day with the opportunity to visit the Brazilian side of the falls (optional) which gives a panoramic view of these mighty cataracts. Four times wider than Niagara, the falls hurtle over high cliffs into a marvellous curved amphitheatre several miles wide – a breathtaking sight. The noise is tremendous and huge clouds of mist are churned up by the cascade. The surrounding spray-soaked forest is alive with brightly plumaged toucans, parrots, hummingbirds and colourful butterflies. This afternoon there are a number of optional trips, for a more spectacular view of the falls you may like to take a 10 minute helicopter flight. Or you could always visit the Tropicana Bird Park lying in the rainforest near the entrance gate – this is a must for ornithologists and anyone interested in local wildlife. Another option this afternoon is an excursion to the 65 stories high Itaipu Dam, the largest hydroelectric plant in the world, with an 8km long dam and a reservoir that covers 1400 square kilometres. The output from the plant, supplies some 80% of Paraguay’s electricity and 25% of Brazil’s.

The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is hard to put into words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica.

You will discover that Antarctica is a
land of extremes. At one moment you’ll be overcome with a feeling of complete isolation and silence, and at the next moment you’ll be inspired by nature as a calving glacier crashes into a brilliant blue sea or a penguin waddles by to inspect your footwear.

Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each excursion, whether you are Zodiac cruising, visiting a historical site or consorting with penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins are found here, along with Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals. Keep

a lookout for Antarctic whales, such as minkes, while on a Zodiac cruise. Each day and each excursion will present a new collection of creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy.

As exciting as the Zodiac excursions and landings are, perhaps you’ll treat yourself to an extra-special Antarctic experience by partaking in an optional paddling

excursion (at an extra cost) or cast reason aside and jump into Antarctic waters for the Polar Plunge!

Say goodbye to the Antarctic Peninsula,
as your next destination is the Scotia Sea, between the South Orkney Islands and South Georgia, where you’ll witness a
rare natural phenomenon: a total eclipse of the sun in Antarctica! Our Expedition Team will prepare you in advance
with presentations and workshops on astronomy, meteorology and other related topics to help prepare you for that once- in-a-lifetime event: total solar eclipse
in Antarctica. Two world-renowned eclipse experts will also be onboard: award-winning National Geographic night-sky photographer Babak Tafreshi (who participated in the 2003 voyage) and American Eclipse author David Baron, who is featured in the hugely popular TED Talk, “You owe it to yourself to experience a total solar eclipse.”

Early this morning, you will be summoned on deck to witness an extraordinary, much-awaited moment: a solar eclipse, the very brief period (1 minute, 40 seconds) when the moon blocks the sun’s light, plunging the polar regions into darkness. Every guest will be provided with a pair
of eclipse glasses before the momentous event. You’ll savor the stillness of this magical moment with your fellow umbraphiles (eclipse chasers), knowing you’re among the few to have witnessed this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.
As with all eclipse sightings, visibility
is influenced by the weather and cloud conditions. Unique to this experience
will be its location at sea, and the more extreme latitude which places the eclipse low on the horizon, making a successful sighting that much more difficult, and more rewarding should all the stars align for the eclipse to be visible. After the eclipse concludes around breakfast time, feel free to celebrate the unforgettable moment or return to your bed. In addition to the eclipse glasses, guests will also receive an invitation to a special celebratory toast to commemorate their special total eclipse voyage.

South Georgia is one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world for sub- Antarctic wildlife, with beaches blanketed with penguins. It won’t take you long to realize that you are in a bird paradise, as burrowing seabirds, albatross and petrels can be seen in abundance.

After more than two weeks of unique wildlife encounters and remarkable landscapes, your journey home begins. Spend time on deck watching for seabirds and whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team, or simply relax and reminisce about your experiences.

You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning. Fly to Buenos Aires for another night at the Sofitel Recoleta (Superior Room; Bed & Breakfast).

Fly overnight from Buenos Aires to London Heathrow with British Airways (economy)

Arrive London Heathrow

How it works

Call us on 01730 711 010 or enquire online about your dream holiday

Our team will work with you to put together a tailor-made package

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