10 NIGHT ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

Day 1 Depart Argentina

Embark Silver Endeavour or the Silver Cloud at the colourful and quite charming city of Ushuaia, the world's most southernmost city, and begin your voyage out to the Drake Passage. After dinner you will meet members of the crew and the expedition team.

Overnight: Silver Endeavour or Silver Cloud

Day 2 Drake Passage

Cross the Drake Passage where the cold water of the cold polar region converges with the warmer equatorial water attracting a variety of sea life. Familiarise yourself with the Silver Endeavour and meet your fellow passengers, crew and specialist guides and lecturers.

Overnight: Silver Endeavour or Silver Cloud

Day 3 Drake Passage

Second day of Drake Passage with time to experience the southern ocean from deck and observe seabirds following in the Endeavour's wake. Look out for sooty shearwaters, white-chinned petrels and black-browed albatross. The Drake Passage is viewed by expeditionists as a 'rite of passage' for anyone who visits Antarctica. There will be lectures and discussions on board conducted by naturalists and guest lecturers to prepare you for your arrival in Antarctica.

Overnight: Silver Explorer or Silver Cloud

Day 4 - 8 Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsular will come into view beginning with pack ice followed by vast sculptured towering icebergs.Silver Endeavour will spend five days navigating the channels and inlets of the Antarctic peninsula observing the rich bird and marine life as well as the spectacular scenery. Watch for Minke and Orca whales breaking the waters or seals stretched out on ice floes. Landing sites (subject to weather and sea conditions) are scheduled to include nine areas, each of a specific interest for their native marine life, geology, glaciology and history. Step aboard a Zodiac to visit the Aitcho and South Shetland Islands, where Gentoo and Chinstrap penguin colonies make their home alongside leopard and southern elephant seals. See Brown Bluff, a flat-topped mountain on the Tabarin Peninsula where Adelie and Gentoo penguins breed. Visit Paradise Bay, where Argentina's Base Brown research station is situated and where it may be possible to set foot on the continent. The bay is famous for its magnificent mountains, icebergs and glaciers. Continue to Paulet Island, home to 80,000 - 90,000 Adelie penguins, and on to Deception Island, where you sail through a narrow breach known as Neptune's Bellows into the waters of a collapsed volcano. Witness the influences of human activity over the centuries from the early explorers to the British-built listening station constructed during World War II, now a museum. Evenings on board will include lectures and images relating to the day's activities and briefings on the days ahead.

Overnight: Silver Endeavour or Silver Cloud

Day 9 - 10 Drake Passage

Return crossing across the Drake Passage where you may keep watch for indigenous bird life.

Overnight: Silver Endeavour or Silver Cloud

Day 11 Arrive Ushuaia

Arrive into port in Ushuaia, Argentina and disembark.