Explore Antarctica with Girls LOVE Travel and Oceanwide Expeditions 🇦🇶🐧

This 19-day, 18-night expedition to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and an animal-lover’s dream. As GLT’s first-ever trip to visit all three destinations, this journey takes you to some of the most remote places on Earth.

Your adventure begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, aboard the m/v Ortelius, a polar expedition vessel with the highest ice-class notation (UL1 / equivalent to 1A)—built to safely navigate solid one-year sea ice and loose multi-year pack ice. With a maximum of 108 passengers, the Ortelius offers an intimate, immersive experience as you explore the vast beauty of Antarctica.

• Explore the wildlife-rich Falkland Islands

• Witness massive penguin colonies and history in South Georgia

• Discover the icy landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula

• Encounter penguins, seals, whales, and seabirds in their natural habitats

• Travel with expert guides through one of the world’s last true wildernesses

An unforgettable expedition to the edge of the world.

Click here to learn more about the expedition and our ship!

GLT first partnered with Oceanwide in 2018, beginning our journey to Antarctica with 1/2 of the ship's 115 passengers being GLTers!!  Since then, we’ve sent over 150 GLT members and their families on incredible adventures with Oceanwide. 

Oceanwide not only delivers excellent service to ensure a seamless experience throughout your journey, but they also offer great value, now featuring FREE Wi-Fi and complimentary excursions* as part of your package! On other vessels, each activity may cost you between $300-2000 depending on the activity. It's complimentary when you book with Oceanwide!

CAMPING

For those craving a truly immersive polar adventure, the open-air camping activity gives you the chance to experience the Antarctic wilderness as few travelers have. You'll camp out under the Antarctic night sky and wake up the next morning to enjoy some of the cleanest air in the world.

OEX will provide the necessary camping gear, including breathable bivouac bags that are wind and waterproof and a lightweight alternative to tents. Their polar sleeping bags will keep you warm, dry, and comfortable during the enchanting Antarctic night.

All campers will be assisted and supervised by experienced expedition guides.

Click here to learn more about camping on your expedition.

KAYAKING

Polar kayaking is a great way to tour the blue-and-white beauty of the polar seas up close, visiting stunning ice formations and waterways too small for the big ships to enter. You do not need to have experience sea kayaking, however depending on conditions, staff may require more experience for the excursion. On basecamp trips, we aim for each guest to kayak once.

Click here to learn more about kayaking on your expedition

SNOWSHOEING

If you goal is to physically set foot on Antartica and explore this beautiful landscape, you'll have the opportunity to explore your way inland from the Polar shorelines with a wide variety of snowshoeing expeditions built for everyone. The snowshoe activities last usually somewhere between 2 and 6 hours. Keep in mind that there are no paths and that you will be travelling over fairly rugged terrain and will be taking on some hills on longer excursions. 

Click here to learn more about snowshoeing on your expedition

HIKING

Another opportunity to feel the frozen ground beneath your feet and explore some of our planet's most stunningly beautiful environments by foot with our hiking expedition. OEX usually offer one to three different types of walks per landing site, ranging from a casual stroll to a challenging hike. 

Click here to learn more about hiking on your expedition

PHOTO WORKSHOP

It is impossible to fully describe the experience of visiting the polar regions. Fortunately, OEX's photography workshops will help you add incredible photos to your poetic descriptions. This workshop consists of two parts: part one of the photo workshop takes place on the vessel and the second takes place in the field, where our guide-photographers will help you practice your photo skills in real polar conditions. You must have your own photography equipment.

Click here to learn more about the photo workshop on your expedition

MOUNTAINEERING

This exhilarating activity lets you venture beyond the shorelines and into Antarctica’s higher ground, gaining vistas and viewpoints unavailable anywhere else. Mountaineering knowledge is preferable, but not required. Physical fitness is essential.

Click here to learn more about the mountaineering on your expedition

*All activities are complimentary as part of our Basecamp package but are weather permitting.  This will ONLY be available and allowed if the staff onboard the ship find that it is safe to add this to the trip. No refunds will be given if activity is not able to be completed due to the staff deeming the activity unsafe.

However that being said - it is the goal of the leaders on the ship to get you all on as many excursions and activities when it is safe and possible. 

The staff on board the ship have final say about the itinerary.  Girls LOVE Travel is not responsible for changes or alterations made by the staff as a result of things such as but not limited to: weather, ice, wildlife, and/or safety of the passengers on board.  All activities are complimentary and will be done in addition to the voyage when they are safely available.  

Verbiage direct from Oceanwide Expeditions: 

During this voyage, Oceanwide Expeditions will attempt landings that have rarely if ever been offered by Oceanwide Expeditions – or any other Antarctic cruise operator.  Flexibility is key during these thrilling expeditions. Since information about most of the landing sites is limited or unknown, this target itinerary can only mention scheduled landings and general information. All itineraries are for guidance only. Programs may vary depending on local ice, weather, and wildlife conditions. 

The on-board expedition leader will determine the final schedule and itinerary. Flexibility is paramount for expedition cruises. 

- Arrivals: You MUST be in Ushuaia no later than one day before departure.  This is written into the agreement from Oceanwide Expeditions. Overnight accommodation for this night is not included in the trip. If you are able to come a day or two earlier I would encourage it. Reason being is that there are limited flights to / from Ushuaia. Last fall there were unexpected air strikes with Aerolinas Aregntinas Airlines which caused a lot of delays and delays = stress. We had one GLTer miss the trip entirely at the last minute due to flight cancelations. No one wants that! Also there tends to be some more discounts and options to use a lot less frequent flyer miles if you come a little early or stay a day or two after.  

- Departures: Oceanwide Expeditions encourages choosing departure flights on the last day no earlier than 1pm.  The ship will arrive back in Ushuaia and all will exit the boat after breakfast. If you have a flight out that same day, you can take the courtesy bus supplied by Oceanwide Expeditions to the airport. Since this is Antartica, there is a chance that weather might cause delays - which is why the company encourages that after-lunch flight time just in case.  

We have collected your non-refundable deposit to hold your spot. Payment plans are automatically set up for you already, however if you have any concerns regarding the plan, please let GLT know and we can work out an alternative plan that works for you.  

- ALL payments must be paid in FULL no later than 90 days before the mandatory date of arrival. 

- At time of booking: 20% non-refundable deposit (of original package price) to hold your spot  

- ALL payments must be paid in FULL no later than 90 days before the mandatory date of arrival. 

If you need to cancel for any reason at any time, please contact GLTtrips@gmail.com right away! Unfortunately the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. If we are able to help secure a transfer, there may be a $100 rebooking fee.

Now-100 days before departure - will allow refund of any amount paid over the non-refundable deposit. 

99-76 days before departure - 50% of the package price will be able to be refunded. 

75 days-day of departure - package price is non-refundable in its entirety. No refunds will be given.

If the payment was made with a credit card, the refund amount issued will be the total original purchase price minus any credit card processing fees incurred by the company at the time of the transaction. These fees may include transaction fees, chargeback fees, or other related charges from the payment processor.

Additionally please note that no refunds will be given for weather cancelations of any of the complimentary free add-on activities. 

This is Antarctica and part of this experience is the unpredictable weather. The staff on the ship are dedicated to do everything in their power and abilities so that you have a safe, and enjoyable experience!   You might get sea sick.  You might not camp or kayak or be able to get off the boat on certain days  - this is all a gamble due to the inconsistencies of Antarctica.   

Girls LOVE Travel and Oceanwide Expeditions are not responsible for the activities you are able to do, nor are we responsible for the weather conditions you might encounter. 

While we strive to ensure this trip goes as planned, unforeseen complications may arise, particularly due to inclement weather or unexpected circumstances like COVID-19.

Please note that Girls LOVE Travel will not provide refunds for cancellations due to illness, missed flights, or other reasons. Travel insurance is MANDATORY per Oceanwide policy.

Your travel insurance must provide at least the following coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation:

• Antarctica & sub-Antarctic islands: minimum EUR/USD 100,000 per person

If you have an annual travel and/or cancellation insurance policy, carefully check whether:

• this trip falls within the policy conditions

• expedition cruises to polar regions are included

• the required coverage amounts are met

If the coverage is insufficient, you must take out an additional, separate insurance policy for this trip.

The tour is offered as a package, with no price adjustments for those who choose to “opt-out” of included activities. Additionally, no refunds or adjustments will be made if on-board staff decide to cancel an activity or landing due to adverse weather conditions.

Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening. 

Several species of albatross follow the vessel into the westerlies, along with storm petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels. 

The Falkland Islands offer an abundance of wildlife that is easily approachable, though caution is always advised. These islands are largely unknown gems, the site of a 1982 war between the UK and Argentina. Not only do various species of bird live here, but chances are great you’ll see both Peale’s dolphins and Commerson’s dolphins in the surrounding waters.  

During this segment of the voyage, you may visit the following sites: 

Carcass Island – Despite its name, this island is pleasantly rodent-free and hence bounteous with birdlife and many endemic species. Anything from breeding Magellanic penguins and gentoos to numerous waders and passerine birds (including Cobb’s wrens and tussock-birds) live here.   

Saunders Island – On Saunders Island you can see the black-browed albatross and its sometimes-clumsy landings, along with breeding imperial shags and rockhopper penguins. King penguins, Magellanic penguins, and gentoos are also found here.

The capital of the Falklands and center of its culture, Port Stanley has some Victorian-era charm: colorful houses, well-tended gardens, and English-style pubs are all to be found here. You can also see several century-old clipper ships nearby, silent witnesses to the hardships of 19th century sailors. The small but interesting museum is also worth a visit, covering the early days of settlement up to the Falklands War. Approximately 2,100 people live in Port Stanley. Admission to the museum is included. 

En route to South Georgia, you now cross the Antarctic Convergence. The temperature cools considerably within the space of a few hours, and nutritious water rises to the surface of the sea due to colliding water columns. This phenomenon attracts a multitude of seabirds near the ship, including several species of albatross, shearwaters, petrels, prions, and skuas.

Today you arrive at the first South Georgia activity site. Please keep in mind that weather conditions in this area can be challenging, largely dictating the program. Over the next several days, you have a chance to visit the following sites: 

Fortuna Bay – A beautiful outwash plain from Fortuna Glacier is home to a large number of king penguins and seals. Here you may also have the chance to follow the final leg of Shackleton’s route to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness. This path cuts across the mountain pass beyond Shackleton’s Waterfall, and as the terrain is partly swampy, be prepared to cross a few small streams.  

Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour – These sites not only house the three largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia, they’re also three of the world’s largest breeding beaches for Antarctic fur seals. Literally millions breed on South Georgia during December and January. Only during the mid-season do they peak in their breeding cycle. There will be some young adult Elephant seals as well as this seasons ‘Weaner’s; the young Elephant Seals that have been left to fend for themselves. Watch your step and stay cool when walking the beaches during this time.   

Grytviken – In this abandoned whaling station, king penguins walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place – because they basically do. Here you might be able to see the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave. 

In the afternoon of day 10 and depending on the conditions, we will start sailing southwards in the direction of the South Orkney Islands.

There may be sea ice on this route, and at the edge of the ice some south polar skuas and snow petrels could join the other seabirds trailing the vessel south.

Depending on the conditions, you might visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine scientific station on Laurie Island in the South Orkney archipelago. The personnel here will happily show you their facility, where you can enjoy expansive views of the surrounding glaciers. If a visit isn’t possible, you may instead land in Coronation Island’s Shingle Cove.

Enormous icebergs and a fair chance of fin whale sightings ensure there’s never a dull moment on this last sea voyage south. Also, your best chance to spot Antarctic petrels is here. Depending on conditions, we aim to begin activities the afternoon of day 14.

If the ice conditions permit, you now sail into the Weddell Sea. Here colossal tabular icebergs herald your arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Paulet Island, with its large population of Adélie penguins, is a possible stop. You might also visit Brown Bluff, located in the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound, where you could get the chance to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself. 

If conditions aren’t favorable to enter the Weddell Sea from the east, the ship will set course for Elephant Island and head into the Bransfield Strait, between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Here you can attempt to access the Antarctic Sound from the northwest.  

The breathtaking scenery continues in the Bransfield Straight and, if conditions allow further South in the Gerlache Strait. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.