Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetlands and the Antarctic Circle

11-13 nights from £3,960

Ships following this route cover the same ground (and water) as the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands itinerary but then proceed south in the attempt to reach and cross the less-visited Antarctic Circle(January, February and March only). The cruise is therefore typically 3 days longer, more time to contemplate the fabulous scenery and wildlife. There's a sense of camaraderie on board as you venture that little bit further south, leaving most other boats behind, cameras at the ready to snap the moment the ship’s computerised instruments on the bridge record the latitude: 66 °32’ S. It should be borne in mind that even on Antarctic Circle cruises, the ultimate aim of crossing that imaginary line can be thwarted by the forces of nature. As with all expeditions, there are no guarantees!

Travelling by sea, to get here - and to all Antarctic destinations - you must cross through the Drake Passage where conditions range from lake-like placid to stormy, and where a multitude of birds are likely to accompany the vessels.

On the way south ships pass close to - or drop anchor at - the South Shetland Islands, much visited long ago by scientists and whalers, where towers of black rock shield the flooded caldera of an active volcano and wildlife abounds.

You do not have to travel deep into the continent to see and feel the sheer scale and majesty of Antarctica. The Antarctic Peninsula, a slim finger of land pointing up towards the southernmost tip of South America and defined by mountains considered to be the extension of the Andes, is the ultimate destination of many expeditionary cruises. It is the most accessible and mildest region, adorned with hundreds of tiny islands, and a rich breeding ground for Antarctic wildlife: seabirds, penguins and seals. Ships edge their way south through the slush and abstract patterns formed by the fractured ice and, like the early whalers, visitors may be excited to spot a humpback, orca or Minke or two. Place names recall the early explorers: Neumeyer Channel, Lemaire Channel, Petermann Island.

Visits to the Peninsula typically include Port Lockroy, Cuverville Island, Gerlache Strait, Neumeyer Channel , Neko Harbour, Paradise Bay and the Melchior islands. Stops on the South Shetlands may include Deception Island. Further south pass close to Stonington Island with its expedition bases.

Return by ship to Ushuaia.