Worldwide Quest - Epic Antarctica with the Falklands & South Georgia
Call 1-800-387-1483 or email us

Epic Antarctica with the Falklands & South Georgia

Oct 24 - Nov 13, 2024

21 days | Antarctica | Alumni Expeditions

UPCOMING WEBINAR:
The Invisible World of Antarctica’s Marine Ecosystems: From plankton to whales (and everything in between) with UBC Professor and Antarctic expedition leader Philippe Tortell, Wednesday, March 27 at 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET. Register now (it's free)!

Since 2011, hundreds of adventurous travellers have enjoyed Worldwide Quest's expedition cruises to the Polar regions. We invite you to join us in 2024 on our next grand adventure as we return to Antarctica, along with the legendary Falklands and the superlative island of South Georgia. This is where signature wildlife, epic history, and majestic topography come together in an environment of unmatched grandeur.
  • Walk in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton
  • Discover the thrill of ice on the Antarctic Peninsula
  • Gaze in awe at some of the most dramatic scenery on the planet
  • Encounter King Penguins and Southern Elephant Seals on South Georgia
Experience the thrill and pristine beauty of early season exploration in the company of a stellar roster of Canadian university study leaders, Worldwide Quest naturalists, and our onboard team of expedition staff. You will be among only 88 participants aboard our exclusively chartered vessel. Get special access and insights from your learning team during excursions and through engaging presentations throughout the voyage. 
 
You'll be aboard the M.V. Magellan Explorer, a modern vessel custom-built for Antarctic expedition cruising. Enjoy excellent access to landing sites, marvel at the views from your cabin's private balcony, the glass-enclosed observation lounge, or the forward viewing deck. Enjoy comfort without losing that expeditionary feel.
 
Cruise by 12-person Zodiac through a field of icebergs; immerse yourself in a landscape brimming with tens of thousands of King Penguins; hike a segment of Shackleton's epic South Georgia crossing. Innumerable experiences await. The expedition schedule is flexible to take advantage of the unexpected, adapting course to the opportunities that arise.
 
Little can compare to this small-ship, custom experience for curious and adventurous travellers. Please join us for this magnificent once-in-a-lifetime journey and unleash your inner adventurer with an expedition like no other.
 
For more information about this expedition cruise, download the Detailed Itinerary below or call Worldwide Quest at 1-800-387-1483.
 
This expedition is presented by the alumni associations of the University of Alberta, the University of Saskatchewan, Western University, McMaster University, McGill University, York University, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Guelph. All curious travellers are welcome!
 

 
Study Leader Professor Bruno Tremblay presented a webinar, "Antarctic and Arctic Sea Ice: A Story of Differences" on November 23, 2023. You can view it here
 
Study Leader Professor Brent Sinclair presented a webinar, "Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic: The Small Stuff " on December 5, 2023. You can view it here.
 
Alumni Expeditions Quest Nature Tours Expedition Cruise alumni UBC Travel Club University of Guelph Alumni Tours
Tour Cost (per person):
US$19,750 - 28,250
Group Size:
Limited to 88 participants

What’s included: One pre-cruise hotel night in Punta Arenas, based on double occupancy; accommodation in selected cabin, based on double occupancy; welcome dinner ashore; all meals onboard: breakfast, lunch, and dinner; house wine and beer with dinner; happy hour beverage at cocktail hour recap sessions; coffee, tea, chocolate, cappuccino, water, and snacks on board ship; complimentary Expedition jacket to keep; complimentary use of thermal rubber boots; all group Zodiac excursions and landings; educational presentations and tutorials by study leaders and expedition staff; video journal of the voyage; port dues and taxes; special access permits and fees; services of on-board expedition staff; transfer from ship to Ushuaia airport on disembarkation day

Arriving at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia to watch the sunrise with the cacophony of hundred of thousands of king penguins and their chicks took my breath away! - Worldwide Quest Traveller
Though penguins are the best and the other birds amazing, I was awestruck by the majesty and beauty of the ice. I was very touched by the staff attentiveness and consideration, all very professional - both Worldwide Quest and the A21 personnel. - Worldwide Quest Traveller
[Favourite moments] Sea kayaking, hiking through incredible colonies of penguins, albatross, fur seals, elephant seals etc Walking in the footsteps of Shackleton & visiting his grave etc. Breathtaking scenery! - Worldwide Quest Traveller

Itinerary at a Glance

DayActivity
1Meet in Punta Arenas
2 Embark the M/V Magellan Explorer, Strait of Magellan
3 At sea towards the Falklands
4 Saunders Island and Carcass Island
5 Bleaker Island
6-7Towards South Georgia, cross the Antarctic Convergence
8Towards South Georgia, cruising at Elsehul Bay
9Grytviken and Fortuna Bay / Stromness
10Salisbury Plain and Prion Island
11St. Andrews Bay and Cooper Bay
12-13Cruising towards the Antarctic Peninsula
14 Cruising, Elephant Island
15-18Antarctic Peninsula
19-20Cruising North to South America
21Disembark at Ushuaia
Download Itinerary

Ship Information

With a maximum of 96 passengers and 60 crew, the M/V Magellan Explorer is a new and modern vessel custom-built for Antarctic expedition cruising up to the latest Polar Code specifications. All cabins (except Porthole cabins) feature private balconies with seating. Most cabins have two twin beds that can be configured as one queen-size bed. All cabins feature a wardrobe, individually controlled heating system, a sitting area, and a private bathroom with a shower and heated floors.

The ship features a glass-enclosed observation lounge and presentation room with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, a spacious and stylish dining room, a well-stocked bar, a library, a meeting room, a professionally designed fitness centre, a sauna, and a medical clinic. The forward-facing observation deck leads to the bow of the ship, which is accessible to guests to offer proximity to marine wildlife. The ship has a state-of-the-art mudroom and a fleet of 10 Zodiac boats and that are well suited for quick disembarkation and wildlife watching.

Your Tour Leaders

Philippe Tortell is a Professor of Oceanography at UBC, and Head of the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. He has conducted oceanographic research expeditions around the world from the Arctic to the Antarctic, measuring marine biological productivity and the oceanic concentration of dissolved ‘climate-active’ gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. His work focuses on the development of ship-board automated sensors, field experiments and the use of satellite-based remote sensing observations.

Professor Bruno Tremblay, McGill University, is an associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. His current research focuses on the presence of sea ice and snow at high latitudes and their effect on global climate and climate change. Bruno will discuss Antarctic ice sheet history and sea ice trends.

Marc Webber is a marine mammal specialist with an undergraduate and graduate degree from San Francisco State University. He has worked as a biologist and refuge manager for non-profit organizations and the US government for his entire career in places all over the United States.

Justin Peter is a Principal of Worldwide Quest and Director of its Quest Nature Tours branch. Prior to joining the company, Justin was the senior naturalist at Ontario’s world-renowned Algonquin Park, where he coordinated the park’s interpretive program and acted as lead howler for the celebrated Public Wolf Howl events.

Catherine Jardine is a staff ornithologist and data analyst with Birds Canada, based at the organization’s National Data Centre in Delta, B.C. She has conducted field projects in remote locations around the world and is the Bander-in-Charge at the Iona Island Bird Observatory.

Brent Sinclair is a Professor of Biology at Western University. Brent’s research on the physiology and ecology of insects and other arthropods has led him to spend more than a year of his life in the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic.

Email Us

Or call 1-800-387-1483 with any questions or to reserve your spot!

Alumni Expeditions Quest Nature Tours Expedition Cruise alumni UBC Travel Club University of Guelph Alumni Tours
Tour Cost (per person):
US$19,750 - 28,250
Group Size:
Limited to 88 participants

What’s included: One pre-cruise hotel night in Punta Arenas, based on double occupancy; accommodation in selected cabin, based on double occupancy; welcome dinner ashore; all meals onboard: breakfast, lunch, and dinner; house wine and beer with dinner; happy hour beverage at cocktail hour recap sessions; coffee, tea, chocolate, cappuccino, water, and snacks on board ship; complimentary Expedition jacket to keep; complimentary use of thermal rubber boots; all group Zodiac excursions and landings; educational presentations and tutorials by study leaders and expedition staff; video journal of the voyage; port dues and taxes; special access permits and fees; services of on-board expedition staff; transfer from ship to Ushuaia airport on disembarkation day

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Epic Antarctica with the Falklands & South Georgia

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