South Georgia and Antarctica Shackleton Special Expedition Micro Cruise

Follow in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton exploring the Falkland / Malvinas Islands, South Georgia, Elephant Island, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Experience extraordinary wildlife, pristine ice, and rich polar history.


Falkland, South Georgia, Antarctica
© SAT

Duration: 20 days / 18 nights on board
Starts: Port Stanley, Falkland / Malvinas Islands
Ends: Ushuaia, Argentina
Language: English speaking voyage

The itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather and ice conditions. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible experience.


Included


Follow in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton on this unique expedition following his legendary survival route in sequence. The voyage begins in Port Stanley in the Falkland / Malvinas Islands and sails across the Southern Ocean to South Georgia, visiting remote King Haakon Bay, Grytviken, and Fortuna Bay to trace the hike to Stromness. Next, the navigation continues toward Elephant Island and historic Point Wild, before venturing into the pristine waters of the Antarctic Peninsula.

With just 36 guests on board and six Senior Polar Guides, this journey offers an intimate and uncrowded experience. Throughout the voyage, travelers will witness massive king penguin colonies, elephant seals, and albatrosses in South Georgia, as well as Adélie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguins, leopard seals, and humpback whales in Antarctica. Designed for passionate explorers, the expedition combines polar history, environmental conservation, photography workshops, and simultaneous Zodiac landings.

Highlights:
Comprehensive journey along Shackleton's historic survival route through South Georgia, Elephant Island, and Antarctica.
Guided hike from Fortuna Bay to Stromness retracing the final leg of Shackleton's mountain crossing.
Observation of vast king penguin colonies, elephant seals, and nesting albatrosses in South Georgia.
Zodiac cruising and continental landing on the Antarctic Peninsula and the Gerlache Strait.
Exclusive micro-cruise experience for just 36 guests with simultaneous Zodiac landings.

Itinerary

© SAT
© SAT
© SAT

Day 1: Port Stanley, Falkland / Malvinas Islands
Embarkation day
Most guests fly into Mount Pleasant Airport, where the expedition team will meet you. Luggage is transferred directly to the vessel. A charter bus into Stanley together with the team, the first chance for introductions. If you are already on the Falkland / Malvinas Islands, join us at the Tourist Office from 15:00. Aboard by 18:00 for mandatory safety briefings. Welcome cocktail, dinner, and the official start of the expedition.

Day 2-3: Southern Ocean
Scotia Sea crossing
The Scotia Sea passage. Aureum's wing stabilisers manage the crossing; the onboard programme holds your attention between polar science lectures, photography workshops, and personal accounts from the expedition team. On day 3, we hope to cross the Antarctic Convergence and pass Shag Rocks; jagged, isolated islets alive with seabirds, seals, and whales. South Georgia is one day ahead.

Day 4-9: South Georgia
Shackleton's history and abundant wildlife
The approach takes us past Bird Island to observe wandering albatrosses. King Haakon Bay is where Shackleton's party made landfall after the open-boat crossing from Elephant Island. Grytviken is a formal customs stop to visit the museum, the abandoned whaling station, and the cemetery holding Shackleton and Wild. The remaining days move between St Andrews Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour, Cooper Bay, Fortuna Bay, and Drygalski Fjord, featuring the hike toward Stromness following Shackleton's 1916 mountain crossing.

Day 10-11: Southern Ocean & Elephant Island
Heading toward Elephant Island
Aureum turns south-west across the Southern Ocean toward Elephant Island. Lectures and workshops continue on board. On day 11 or 12, we hope to reach Elephant Island—Point Wild specifically, where 22 men waited under two overturned lifeboats for four months. We aim to land or conduct a Zodiac cruise, subject to conditions.

Day 12-16: Antarctic Peninsula
Ice, glaciers, and continental landing
South into Antarctic waters. Over four days, Aureum works through narrow channels and hidden bays: the Antarctic Sound, Weddell Sea, Gerlache Strait, and Deception Island. Enjoy leopard seals on ice floes, Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adélie penguins, calving glaciers, and the defining moment of stepping ashore on the seventh continent.

Day 17-18: Drake Passage
Northbound ocean crossing
Cape Horn ahead. The Drake Passage, two days of sailing among the albatrosses with the programme continuing as it has throughout: lectures, workshops, time on deck.

Day 19: Ushuaia, Argentina
Disembarkation
Disembarkation after breakfast, typically from 09:00 once the ship is cleared.

Day 20: Ushuaia, Argentina
Departure Day
After breakfast, a complimentary transfer to Ushuaia Airport is provided according to your flight schedule. Your expedition comes to an end in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, concluding an extraordinary journey through South Georgia, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. We hope to welcome you on another Secret Atlas expedition in the future.

Itinerary

Day 1: Port Stanley, Falkland / Malvinas Islands
Embarkation day
Most guests fly into Mount Pleasant Airport, where the expedition team will meet you. Luggage is transferred directly to the vessel. A charter bus into Stanley together with the team, the first chance for introductions. If you are already on the Falkland / Malvinas Islands, join us at the Tourist Office from 15:00. Aboard by 18:00 for mandatory safety briefings. Welcome cocktail, dinner, and the official start of the expedition.

Day 2-3: Southern Ocean
Scotia Sea crossing
The Scotia Sea passage. Aureum's wing stabilisers manage the crossing; the onboard programme holds your attention between polar science lectures, photography workshops, and personal accounts from the expedition team. On day 3, we hope to cross the Antarctic Convergence and pass Shag Rocks; jagged, isolated islets alive with seabirds, seals, and whales. South Georgia is one day ahead.

Day 4-9: South Georgia
Shackleton's history and abundant wildlife
The approach takes us past Bird Island to observe wandering albatrosses. King Haakon Bay is where Shackleton's party made landfall after the open-boat crossing from Elephant Island. Grytviken is a formal customs stop to visit the museum, the abandoned whaling station, and the cemetery holding Shackleton and Wild. The remaining days move between St Andrews Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour, Cooper Bay, Fortuna Bay, and Drygalski Fjord, featuring the hike toward Stromness following Shackleton's 1916 mountain crossing.

Day 10-11: Southern Ocean & Elephant Island
Heading toward Elephant Island
Aureum turns south-west across the Southern Ocean toward Elephant Island. Lectures and workshops continue on board. On day 11 or 12, we hope to reach Elephant Island—Point Wild specifically, where 22 men waited under two overturned lifeboats for four months. We aim to land or conduct a Zodiac cruise, subject to conditions.

Day 12-16: Antarctic Peninsula
Ice, glaciers, and continental landing
South into Antarctic waters. Over four days, Aureum works through narrow channels and hidden bays: the Antarctic Sound, Weddell Sea, Gerlache Strait, and Deception Island. Enjoy leopard seals on ice floes, Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adélie penguins, calving glaciers, and the defining moment of stepping ashore on the seventh continent.

Day 17-18: Drake Passage
Northbound ocean crossing
Cape Horn ahead. The Drake Passage, two days of sailing among the albatrosses with the programme continuing as it has throughout: lectures, workshops, time on deck.

Day 19: Ushuaia, Argentina
Disembarkation
Disembarkation after breakfast, typically from 09:00 once the ship is cleared.

Day 20: Ushuaia, Argentina
Departure Day
After breakfast, a complimentary transfer to Ushuaia Airport is provided according to your flight schedule. Your expedition comes to an end in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, concluding an extraordinary journey through South Georgia, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. We hope to welcome you on another Secret Atlas expedition in the future.


© SAT
© SAT
© SAT


INCLUSIONS

Scheduled transfer between Mount Pleasant Airport and the vessel in Stanley, as specified in the itinerary.
Complimentary transfer from Arakur Hotel to Ushuaia Airport provided according to your flight schedule.
One post-expedition hotel night at the Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, including breakfast, as specified in the itinerary.
Access to the fitness centre, indoor swimming pool, indoor/outdoor relaxation pool, outdoor hot tubs and pool bar.
Unlimited access to the Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve walking trails.
Welcome refreshments on embarkation.Leadership throughout the voyage by the experienced Expedition Team, including lectures, workshops, Zodiac cruising and shore landings.
All scheduled Zodiac cruises, transfers and shore landings, subject to weather, sea, ice and operational conditions.
Shipboard accommodation with daily cabin service and full board, including tea, coffee and drinking water; selected beverages served with meals.
Complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi; availability and speed cannot be guaranteed in remote polar regions.
Complimentary use of rubber expedition boots for shore landings.
Access to the ship's medical facilities and expedition doctor; treatment and medication may be chargeable.
Photography guidance and workshops, plus IAATO fees, permits, landing fees, port charges and applicable operational fees.
Comprehensive pre-departure information and assistance from the Secret Atlas team.

EXCLUSIONS

International and domestic flights, including flights to the Falkland / Malvinas Islands and from Ushuaia, unless expressly listed as included.
Passport, visa, vaccination, reciprocity and other entry requirements or charges.
Comprehensive travel insurance, as required under the Secret Atlas Terms and Conditions.
Excess baggage charges and luggage exceeding any published flight allowance.
Additional accommodation, meals and transfers not expressly listed as included.
Personal expenses, including laundry, bar purchases outside the included service, telephone charges and optional premium internet services.
Personal clothing and equipment not specifically listed as provided.
Medical treatment, medication, evacuation or repatriation costs.
Optional activities, private arrangements or independent excursions not expressly listed as included.
Gratuities for shipboard crew and Expedition Team.


Dates & Rates


Ship: MY Aureum | Date: 30 Oct 2027 - 18 Nov 2027 (5527)
Classic Twin
$22,995
Signature Twin
$25,995
Classic Single
$27,995
Signature Single
$29,995
Signature Suite
$31,995
Ship: MY Aureum | Date: 28 Oct 2028 - 16 Nov 2028 (5528)
Classic Twin
$23,995
Signature Twin
$27,500
Classic Single
$29,500
Signature Single
$31,500
Signature Suite
$33,500

* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** Rates are correct at the time of publication. All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.

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