ROFF SMITH

Writer and adventurer Roff Smith has traveled to the South Pole, to the top of Mount Erebus (Antarctica’s great live volcano), and around the Antarctic Peninsula. Author of six articles for National Geographic magazine, his recent article described Antarctica’s wildlife and environmental challenges. Roff is an expert on the continent’s history of exploration and the scientific research being conducted there. He has recently completed a National Geographic book about his travels, Life on the Ice.

Roff will accompany the February departure.

CHRIS RAINIER

Chris Rainier has traveled to all seven continents, and his photography has been seen in numerous leading publications including Time, Life, Smithsonian, the New York Times, Outside, National Geographic Traveler magazine, and various other publications. An acclaimed documentary photographer and a contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler, he has worked in Antarctica on many occasions.

Chris will accompany the November departure.

Day 1 and 2 Miami/Santiago, Chile
Depart Miami on an overnight flight to Santiago. The next day, enjoy a tour of Santiago—a mix of European, Spanish, colonial, and modern architecture, then gather for a welcome reception and dinner.
Hyatt Regency Hotel (D)

Day 3 Santiago/Ushuaia
This morning, fly to Ushuaia and embark the National Geographic Endeavour.
(B,L,D)

Day 4 and 5 At Sea
While crossing the Drake Passage, keep a lookout for seabirds and other marine life that glide alongside the ship. The passage, with its spectacular seascapes is usually quite breathtaking, especially if you spot whales.
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Day 6 to 10 Exploring Antarctica
With nearly 24 hours of daylight at this time of year, we make the most of the following days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands. In keeping with the nature of an expedition, the schedule is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of the unexpected—pausing to watch whales performing off the bow, taking an after-dinner Zodiac cruise or an extra landing during the day. Those interested will have the opportunity to kayak among the icebergs. In close encounters during hikes, we’ll learn to identify penguins, seals, and dozens of bird species. Several landings are planned each day in Zodiacs to hike, encounter wildlife, and experience this vast land.

Depending on weather and sea conditions, we plan to make the following stops:

Deception Island
Part of the South Shetland Islands, this island is a giant caldera—a volcano that has collapsed into its underground magma chamber. It measures more than four miles in diameter and is still volcanically active. Sail right inside the flooded crater center, passing through the narrow entrance known as Neptune’s Bellows. At nearby Pendulum Cove, it may be possible to take a token “swim” in the shallows, heated by fumaroles.

Paradise Bay
The bay is aptly named because the surrounding mountains look as though they rise straight to heaven. Stretch your legs on a hike to a nearby summit for a breathtaking view, or slip into a kayak to quietly paddle along a cliffside rookery in search of blue-eyed shags.

Lemaire Channel and Petermann Island
Cruise through the narrow Lemaire Channel between towering snow-covered mountains and spectacular blue icebergs. Step ashore at Petermann Island to the cries of thousands of gentoo penguins that await you standing along the shoreline. This tiny island is the site of a major penguin study, and we will have the opportunity to visit the scientists there.

Neko Harbor
Step ashore in the spectacularly beautiful Neko Harbor. Enjoy an up close encounter with the penguins on the beach or climb high onto an ice field for a panoramic vista of untouched peaks surrounding this idyllic bay.

Historic Port Lockroy
The great French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot named Port Lockroy a century ago. In 1944, the British government instituted the top-secret expedition code-named Operation Tabarin, creating a series of base stations in Antarctica. Base A, at Port Lockroy, was the first and now serves as a museum and Antarctica’s only public post office where we can send mail to be postmarked in Antarctica.
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Day 11 Elephant Island
After giving the order to abandon the expedition ship Endurance in 1916, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew drifted by lifeboat and landed on Elephant Island. From here, Shackleton and five others set off in one of the lifeboats to South Georgia in search of rescue, ultimately bringing every member of his crew safely back home after a two-year ordeal.
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Day 12 At Sea
As we sail around the Scotia Sea, search the horizon for seabirds and look out for humpback and southern right whales. Enjoy talks by our experts on the history, wildlife, and geography of this remote region.
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Day 13 South Orkney Islands
Once known as the "inaccessible Islands," the remote and rugged South Orkney are rarely visited as they are so isolated and often icebound. The wildlife is surprisingly abundant, with penguins floating by on icebergs and snow or pintado petrels animating the skies as they weave through the air.
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Day 14 At Sea
Set sail for South Georgia, "the jewel of the sub-Antarctic" and keep a lookout for seabirds and other marine life that glide alongside the ship.
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Day 15 to 18 South Georgia Island
The following days are devoted to exploring the spectacular coastline of South Georgia Island. In keeping with the nature of an expedition, the schedule is flexible. Throughout our journey there will be opportunities for walking, hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac excursions.

Depending on weather and sea conditions, we plan to make some or all of the following stops:

King Haakon Bay
Site of Shackleton’s landfall after his rigorous voyage in the 23-foot lifeboat, James Caird. The untouched beaches, headlands, mountains, glaciers, and nesting wandering albatrosses are a great introduction to the wilds of South Georgia.

Grytviken/Shackleton’s Grave
Wander on foot, visiting the ruins of the abandoned whaling station of Grytviken and its fine museum about whaling and the island’s natural history. A host of seabirds, penguins, and marine mammals can be seen as we hike along the coast to the cemetery where Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried.

Salisbury Plain/Elsehul Bay
At the height of breeding season, the northern tip of South Georgia is said to have more wildlife per square foot than any place else on Earth. We are likely to be greeted by thousands of king penguins. Visit a colony of wandering albatrosses and see colorfully crested macaroni penguins, fur and elephant seals, and gray-headed and black-browed albatrosses on their nests.

Right Whale Bay
Land on black sand beaches, inhabited by southern fur seals, elephant seals, and king penguins, plus dozens of other bird species.

St. Andrews Bay
St. Andrews Bay is teeming with wildlife. Hike past fur and elephant seals and a colony of more than 35,000 king penguins.

Gold Harbour
Gold Harbour is home to elephant seals, thousands of fur seals and tens of thousands of penguins, including a colony of aristocratic king penguins.

Cooper Bay
Whalers once sought shelter in this small bay. Here we are likely to encounter king, gentoo, and macaroni penguins; prions; petrels; and terns; and perhaps Weddell seals.

Stromness Bay
Stromness offers views of cliffs and glaciers that Shackleton and his companions descended to complete their famed crossing. Explore the glacier’s ice face by Zodiacs. Walk along a pebble beach, passing king and gentoo penguins, and hundreds of fur seals.
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Day 19 and 20 At Sea
Spend some time resting and enjoying the view as the ship heads toward the Falkland Islands.
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Day 21 and 22 Falkland Islands
At Port Stanley, take in the photogenic tin-roofed, Victorian-style houses, and stop by the Britannia House Museum and the Cathedral. Cruise around islands such as Carcass and New to look for species you won't find anywhere else in the world. Discover the wildlife-rich Falkland Islands and meet with island residents, while visiting the Anglican Cathedral with its organic archway of whalebones and the Falkland Islands Museum.
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Day 23 At Sea
Set sail for Ushuaia and enjoy a final day at sea.
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Day 24 and 25 Ushuaia/Santiago/Miami
Disembark in Ushuaia and fly to Santiago to connect with your overnight flight to Miami.
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The National Geographic Endeavour is a one-class ship with 62 outside cabins. It is fully stabilized, enabling it to navigate constricted waterways while providing comfort. It carries kayaks and a fleet of Zodiac motorized landing craft. An undersea specialist operates sophisticated underwater video equipment, extending access to the underwater world. Public areas include a lounge and bar, library, fitness center, and sauna. Services include a full-time doctor and massage therapist, guest e-mail, and laundry.

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