South Georgia And Antarctica Trip 2028
February 01 - February 29 , 2028
Off the Beaten Track
Group Trip
Great for Non-divers
Why Join This Trip- Inclusions & Exclusions
- Trip Type
- Trip Overview
- Accommodations
- Photo Gallery
- About the Trip Leader
- How to Get There
- Payment Schedule
Why join this Trip?
EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT
Get 5% Off When You Book Before December 31, 2025
This trip will run in February 2028. Exact dates will be confirmed no later than 18 months before departure.
Prices listed are an estimate based on latest rates. The final price of your trip may change, but no later than 18 months before departure.
Quad Porthole Cabin (Mixed Gender)
Air Conditioning (AC)En Suite BathroomToiletShowerDouble Occupancy
$14,900 per person
Twin Porthole Cabin
Air Conditioning (AC)En Suite BathroomToiletShowerDouble Occupancy
$18,100 per person
Twin Window Cabin
Air Conditioning (AC)En Suite BathroomToiletShowerDouble Occupancy
$19,000 per person
Superior Cabin (Double Bed)
Air Conditioning (AC)En Suite BathroomToiletShowerDouble Occupancy
$22,000 per person
Optional Diving Add-On
Double Occupancy
$1,100 per person
OptionalLand Extensions
Inclusions
Exclusions
Trip type
Guided Group Trip
Led by an experienced Bluewater Trip Leader who will provide logistical assistance and support throughout the trip. While you are welcome to bring your underwater photography equipment, the Trip Leader is not necessarily a photo expert and is unable to offer much in the way of photography advice. Our Guided Group Trips provide an excellent opportunity for guests who enjoy meeting and traveling with other like-minded individuals or for those who benefit from the additional reassurances of group travel.
Read more about the trip
Trip Overview
Trip Overview
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Antarctica's pristine landscapes and encounter a diverse array of wildlife, from humpback whales to penguins. Our expedition cruise offers exhilarating activities such as hiking, whale watching, and even polar plunging for the adventurous at heart. Immerse yourself in the stunning ice wildernesses, explore colossal glacier fronts and dazzling berg-filled bays, and marvel at the towering snow-swept mountains that surround the shoreline. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to explore one of the last remote areas of wilderness on earth!
This trip is perfect for divers and non-divers!
Note to divers: Polar diving is not for beginners. Polar diving is meant for experienced divers who are familiar with cold-water, dry-suit diving. Divers must have logged at least 30 dry-suit dives in cold water to participate. More info on polar diving, including gear requirements can be found here: https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/outdoor-activities/polar-diving.
Check out some of Antarctica's wildlife.
Read the full trip report here: Antarctica Trip Recap March 2025.
Marine Life To Photograph
Antarctica's marine life offers a unique and rewarding diving experience for those who are up to the challenge. Some of the species you might encounter include colorful Nudibranchs, crabs, and shrimp, swaying sea anemones capturing plankton, colorful sea stars clinging to rocks, large fish such as the 1.5m-long Antarctic cod, and Giant kelp growing in dense forests in shallow water.In addition you may encounter leopard seals, penguins, and even whales. On land, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of birds such as albatross and elder ducks, along with the popular emperor, gentoo, chinstrap, macaroni, and adelie penguins. The region is also home to bearded seals, elephant seals, fur seals, and other fascinating wildlife.
Read more about scuba diving in Antarctica here.
Sample Itinerary
- Day 1: End of the world, start of a journey
- 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.
- Day 2: The winged life of the westerlies
- Several species of albatross follow the vessel into the westerlies, along with storm petrels, shearwaters, and diving petrels.
- Day 3: Finding the Falklands
- 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.
- Day 4: The seat of Falklands culture
- 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.
- Day 5 - 6: Once more to the sea
- 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.
- Day 7 - 10: South Georgia Journey
- 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.
- Day 11: Southward bound
- 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.
- Day 12: The scenic vistas of South Orkney
- 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.
- Day 13 - 14: Entering the Antarctic
- 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.
- Day 15 - 16: Awe-inspiring Antarctica
- 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.
- Day 17 - 18: Familiar seas, familiar friends
- 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.
- Day 19: There and back again
- 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.
Accommodations
About the M/V Ortelius
M/V Ortelius is an expedition vessel designed for polar adventures, offering comfortable accommodations, expert-guided explorations, and unforgettable wildlife encounters in Antarctica and the Arctic regions. The vessel offers 4 quadruple porthole, 28 twin porthole, 12 twin window, 2 twin deluxe, and 6 superior cabin options, all featuring ensuite showers and toilets. There are 52 cabins available for a maximum of 108 guests.
Read more about the M/V Ortelius.
Photo Gallery
About the Trip Leader
Tim Yeo
Tim grew up in tiny Singapore, where driving for more than an hour meant you would need a passport. Traveling was always his passion, but Tim became addicted to dive travel soon after he got scuba certified in Malaysia. As his diving addiction grew, Tim eventually became a Staff Instructor with PADI and an Instructor Trainer with SDI. After getting his instructor certification, Tim spent time teaching scuba in Malaysia and Vietnam.
Tim serves as General Manager and COO at Bluewater Travel and is the company's most seasoned trip leader. With a portfolio of leading over 30 group trips, his extensive expertise encompasses a variety of popular dive destinations such as the Galapagos, Raja Ampat, French Polynesia, Fiji, the Red Sea, Palau, Maldives, among others. His travels have taken him across all seven continents and allowed him to dive in all five oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic.
How to Get There
Flight Information
This trip departs from Ushuaia, Argentina (USH). Guests coming from the USA will typically fly via Buenos Aires (flight time approximately 9 - 13 hours), where there are several options for connecting flights to Ushuaia (flight time approximately 3 hours). We strongly advise planning to arrive at least 1 day prior to embarkation. Guests should be in Ushuaia on the first day of the trip ready to drop their luggage for transfer to the boat between 8 and 11.30am. Embarkation is between 4 and 5pm.
At the end of the trip a bus transfer will take guests from the pier to the airport. The bus leaves between 8.30 and 9am and guests should book a return flight after 12pm.
NOTE: We recommend arriving into Ushuaia 2-3 days early and we will arrange 1-2 days of diving in the Beagle Channel to check that all your gear is in good working order before we depart for Antarctica. The expedition vessel does not carry spare diving equipment.
Flight Package
Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.
However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.
If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a ticketing fee for this service. Contact Us for more information.
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $5,000 to book your spot
- Payment 1: $5,000 due on 1 February 2027
- Balance: due on 1 September 2027
South Georgia And Antarctica Trip 2028
Book now and experience adventure
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by timyeo
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