Snow Hill Island – Icebreaker Voyages

The largest and most enigmatic of the penguins, the majestic Emperor is the only animal to breed in the harsh, cold, dark Antarctic winter. As recently so well depicted in the film ‘March of the Penguins’, when the Antarctic spring sun finally returns, the female Emperors return from the sea to relieve the males, who have spent the winter huddled together on the ice, incubating their single egg on their feet. These unique Icebreaker voyages plan to visit Snow Hill Island, in the northern Weddell Sea in early spring, when the chicks are starting to be fed by both parents. Watch and photograph their daily lives at close range, the adult’s greeting and courtship displays, communal creches of chicks, adults tobogganing on their bellies and you may even see them shoot in and out of the sea at the ice edge! The icebreaker will approach to the area as close as it can get allowing for ice and weather conditions and then three days are planned with the Emperors themselves, flying in close to the colony by helicopter and then a short walk to the birds themselves. All operations will be conducted with the welfare of the colony (estimated to be 4000 pairs) first and foremost and strict rules on passenger conduct at the colony will apply. In addition these voyages feature a double crossing of the Drake Passage with it’s seabirds and cetaceans and two days are planned in the northern Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands including a landing on the continent itself. Other penguins you can expect to see on these voyages would be Gentoo, Adelie, Chinstrap and Magellanic. Emperors do not breed in the Antarctic Peninsula area, occuring there only as vagrants. These voyages offer the best way to fully experience these unique birds. A top flight team of expedition staff will accompany these ultimate natural history adventures, including for 2009, our very own Tony Marr as the ship’s ornithologist. The icebreaker is due to return to government duties from March 2012 so the next few years will be the last chance to go on these amazing voyages.

 

NEW! Emperors and Kings… a very rare new opportunity to see both Emperor and King Penguins in the same voyage. In November 2009, the KK will visit both Snow Hill Island and South Georgia and the Falklands. The voyage is also due to include the onboard presence of Robert Bateman and his wife, one of the world’s leading wildlife artists. Full details on request from us.

 

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Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Ushuia. Overnight hotel.

Day 2 Embark in the afternoon and sail.

Days 3-4 At sea, Drake Passage.

Day 5 - 7 Snow Hill Island Emperor Penguin colony.

Days 8-11 Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.

Days 12-13 At sea, Drake Passage.

Day 14. Disembark Ushuaia.

 

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Dates

 2010

13^th – 26^th October and 25^th October – 7^th November

Triple berths from £9379 per person, twins from £12,139 per person, singles on request.

 

These are guide prices only, please contact us for the best prices in the UK for these voyages!

 

All voyages aboard Kapitan Khlebnikov include a pre-cruise hotel stay for one night with breakfast, group transfers to/from vessel, comprehensive pre-trip information, all meals aboard ship, coffee/tea and bottled water aboard ship, services of expedition team, Zodiac and helicopter excursions and landings, boot loan service, complimentary parka coat and post-trip CD with photos and video. Emergency evacuation insurance, up to US$100,000pp.

Excludes: Flights (UK – Ushuaia available from £965 return including taxes, current fuel surcharges and fees), gratuities (suggested US$10 pp per day aboard vessel), fuel surcharges, other airport transfers, travel insurance and other drinks and items of a personal nature.

Previous Quark Expeditions passengers qualify for a 5% discount on these or other future voyages. More detailed information and a full colour brochure is available from us.

Please note that the other Antarctic Icebreaker voyages available (see left) would also all expect to encounter Emperor Penguins.

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Other Voyages

Some of our ice-strengthened ships are running 10 night voyages from Ushuaia in November and December towards the same area of the northern Weddell Sea in search of Emperors. These vessels cannot penetrate fast ice nor are they equipped with helicopters, so cruising amongst the icebergs and ice edge is the plan. There is no guarantee of seeing Emperors on these voyages however and more than likely immature birds will be encountered (which are black and white and lack the yellows tones of the adults) whilst of course there would be no chance of seeing chicks. Some of these voyages have certainly encountered adults on ice in the past however so you just never know..

2010

From £4607 triple share, twin share from £5291 twin share and singles on request.

Full details available from us. 

 

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 Air Safaris

Travelling from Chile via Patriot Hills, a tented camp by a blue ice runway on the continent, you will fly on in a specially adapted light aircraft on to the edge of the Weddell Sea and spend days with breeding Emperors standing in their icy home with their new chicks. A true expedition, camping in this frozen wilderness with the Lords of Antarctica will not be forgotten experience, ever. Weather permitting, short walks will be undertaken, with many of the Emperors likely to follow you, in a surreal setting of icebergs and coastal ice cliffs. An utterly unique travel and wildlife experience from start to finish! WildWings Tour Leader Dick Filby has led this trip a number of times and may do so again in the future.

 

12 days duration from Punta Arenas, Chile, from £26,899 per person. Departures 12^th – 27 November 2009 and  TBA November 2010.

Note some time flexibility is needed on the part of Antarctic air expedition participants, weather delays currently average three days per expedition (additional to planned duration). Contact us for full details.