Please make your way to the Port of Ushuaia at 3.30pm in order to board the 'Plancius' on Day 1 at 4pm

Depart from Ushuaia.  In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located in the shadow of the Andes and right at the Beagle Channel shore. We’ll sail through this scenic waterway during the evening.

Falkland Islands.  In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with Water Fowl and Night Herons and Passarines.

In addition, on Saunders we will be able to observe four species of breeding penguins (Gentoo, King, Magellanic and Rockhopper), Black-Browed Albatrosses and King Cormorants.

At Sea.   At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop by as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrels, Prions and Skuas.

At Sea.  As we continue our voyage towards the Antarctic Peninsula, there are plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife.

Drake Passage.  On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage. 

The Drake Passage is named after the renowned explorer, Sir Frances Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578. The Drake Passage also marks the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern waters. This creates a great upwelling of nutrients, which sustains the biodiversity of this region. The Drake Passage also marks the northern limit of many Antarctic seabirds.

When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may meet Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black-browed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels.

Port of Ushuaia

Please note that your contract for this tour is with  a third party operator. Kumuka  is acting as the agent for the operator. The operator's terms and conditions apply. A rise in the price of a barrel of oil may result in a fuel surcharge being applied to this trip. Any fuel surcharge applied by the operator of the ship would be passed to the client, who in turn would be responsible for paying this prior to the trip departure.

A 20% deposit is required to secure your booking, as well as full payment at least 2 months prior to departure.
 
Special cancellations conditions apply.
Cancellations received 60 days prior to departure are subject to loss of deposit.
From 59 days up to and including the day of departure all deposits and tariffs are forfeited.
If cancellation occurs within the 59-day period and full payment has not yet been received, the full penalty will still apply and unpaid monies are due immediately.
These cancellation conditions override Kumuka's standard Booking Conditions.

• Airfares, pre and post land arrangements.
• Transfers to and from the port.
• Government arrival and departure taxes (the airport departure tax from Ushuaia airport is US$4).
• Visas and travel insurance (please check and ensure that your travel insurance policy covers medical evacuation from Antarctica). 
• Tips (these are at your discretion although are customary at the end of the voyage)
• Meals unless stated in the itinerary, bar and beverage charges
• Personal spending money
• Telecommunication charges

M/v "Plancius" was built in 1976 as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy and was named "Hr. Ms. Tydeman". The ship sailed for the Dutch Navy until June 2004 and was eventually purchased by Oceanwide Expeditions.

The vessel was completely rebuilt as a 114-passenger vessel in 2009 and complies with the latest SOLAS-regulations (Safety Of Life At Sea). M/v "Plancius" is classed by Lloyd's Register in London and flies the Dutch flag.

M/v "Plancius" accommodates 114 passengers in 53 passenger cabins with private toilet and shower in 4 quadruple private cabins, 39 twin private cabins (ca. 15 square meters) and 10 twin superior cabins (ca. 21 square meters). All cabins offer lower berths (either two single beds or one queen-size bed), except for the 4 quadruple cabins (for 4 persons in 2x upper and lower beds).

The vessel offers a restaurant/lecture room on deck 3 and a spacious observation lounge (with bar) on deck 5 with large windows, offering full panorama view. M/v "Plancius" has large open deck spaces (with full walk-around possibilities on deck 3), giving excellent opportunities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife.

She is furthermore equipped with 10 Mark V zodiacs, including 40 HP 4-stroke outboard engines and 2 gangways on the starboard side, guaranteeing a swift zodiac operation.

M/v "Plancius" is comfortable and nicely decorated, but is not a luxury vessel. Our voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are and will still be primarily defined by an exploratory educational travel programme, spending as much time ashore as possible. This vessel will fully meet our demands to achieve this. The vessel is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system which reduces the noise and vibration of the engines considerably. The 3 diesel engines generate 1.230 horse-power each, giving the vessel a speed of 10 - 12 knots. The vessel is ice-strengthened and was specially built for oceanographic voyages.

M/v "Plancius" is manned by 17 nautical crew, 19 hotel staff (6 chefs, 1 hotel manager, 1 steward-barman and 11 stewards / cabin cleaners), 8 expedition staff (1 expedition leader and 7 guides-lecturers) and 1 doctor.

In keeping with the expedition’s atmosphere, the dress code on board is very informal. Bring casual and comfortable clothes to lounge around onboard, in the communal bar area, and in your cabin. Keep in mind that much of the spectacular scenery is best appreciated from the deck. It is recommended that you bring a good pair of sturdy shoes/boots for walking about outside on the deck, preferably with good tread to prevent slipping.

We advise you to pack warm and comfortable clothing as well as wind and waterproof outer layers. Several layers of light clothes are preferable to one heavy layer. This also gives you flexibility to take off a layer if you are too warm, or to put on an additional layer if you are cold. The most important layer is the outer waterproof and windproof shell.

We recommend packing the following:

· Warm Trousers - eg ski pants or sturdy trousers that can be layered between your long thermal underwear and rain over-trousers

· Waterproof Trousers - water resistant over-trousers are essential

. Thermal Underwear - silk or polypropylene underwear is highly recommended

. Sweaters - wool sweaters or a polar fleece of medium weight are recommended

· Mittens and Gloves, Hat, Scarf - thin polypropylene gloves can be worn under mittens, and kept on whilst operating cameras. A warm cap is essential to protect your ears

· Warm Socks - wool socks over a thin pair of polypropylene or cotton/wool socks should provide enough insulation for your feet

. Waterproof & Windproof Jacket - a well fitting jacket with attached hood. This garment needs to be thoroughly waterproof and is the most important layer of clothing

. Backpack - waterproof nylon backpack/rucksack or similar bag with shoulder straps for carrying your camera and other gear during shore excursions. It is vital that you have some means of keeping your camera dry especially when in the Zodiacs

· High Factor Sunscreen and Sunglasses - good quality sunglasses are very important due to the glare from the water and snow/ice

· Personal medical kit (the ship’s medical kit is for emergencies only) including seasickness tablets

. Binoculars - highly recommended

. Camera & Film - it is advisable to bring an extra camera in case of malfunction or accident. Bring plenty of film or memory cards as well as spare batteries or chargers

. Teva Sandals - useful to wear around the ship

. Sturdy Shoes/Boots - for walking about outside on the deck, preferably with good tread to prevent slipping

. T-Shirts - recommended to wear inside the vessel as temperatures are comfortably warm

· Toiletries

. Rubber Boots – (Please note that Expedition Rubber Boots are available free of charge if your departure is on board the M/V Plancius.) Please advise Kumuka of your shoe size when booking. Your boots are probably the most important item you need to bring. They need to be a pair of pull-on rubber, unlined and completely waterproof boots that are mid-calf or higher with a strong, ridged non-skid sole for landings onshore. Stepping out of the Zodiacs to shore almost always involves stepping into water, so it is important that the boots are high enough to avoid water going over the top and into the boots. Aslo, expect poor footing on the ice and ashore. for this reason boots such as Sorrels, snow boots, hiking boots or low rubber boots are not satisfactory, as you will get your feet wet. Make sure your boots are not too tight or too sloppy. If they are too tight you will get cold feet. If they are too loose you can, within reason, add an insole or extra socks to take up the space. For maximum warmth, wear loose-fitting boots and two pairs of socks.

Don’t forget your swimming gear as there is a possibility that you can take a Polar Plunge!

All meals are included and are eaten communally. Normally breakfast is served at 7.30am, lunch at 12.30pm and dinner at 7pm. Please inform the purser in due time if you have any dietary requirements so the chefs have enough time to prepare something special for you. Water from the tap is safe to drink.

Wines, beers and spirits are also available and payable onboard the ship at the end of your trip in USD/Euro/Credit Card.   Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are also available throughout the day at no extra cost.

Vegetarians are catered for: Please advise Kumuka or your agent at the time of booking if you are vegetarian. 

Conditions at sea can be rough, especially whilst crossing the Drake Passage, which has a reputation for rough conditions (although it is true to say that conditions out on the Drake Passage can also be calm!) thus we urge you to ensure that you are prepared for the possibility of suffering from seasickness during this two-day crossing.

As the vessel is faster than many of its competitors in the same class, it reaches the Antarctic in the late afternoon of Day 3, whereas many other vessels do not reach the Antarctic until the morning of Day 4.

All personal expenses incurred, such as refreshments from the bar or souvenirs from the on-board shop will be charged to the cabin. All prices on board are in Euros. On the penultimate day of the tour, you can settle your bill with the purser and pay by credit card (VISA or Mastercard) or cash in US Dollars or Euros. You cannot use travelers cheques on board the ship.

Due to wind, salt and spray, it is recommended that you bring protective casing for your camera. We urge you not to bring plastic bags, which can blow away in the high winds. Please bring extra film or memory cards and spare batteries or chargers.

Kumuka can arrange pre or post tour accommodation at a comfortable hotel in Ushuaia for you. Please contact Kumuka or your agent for further details. We strongly recommend that you spend 2-3 extra days in Ushuaia to visit the town’s museums and the beautiful Tierra del Fuego National Park. 

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com