Antarctic Travel without the Antarctic Continent? - The Special Routes
"Only when I have gotten to Antarctica, that I realized I wanted MORE PENGUINS."
credit: antarctica.gov.au
For readers visiting Antarctica for the first time, we usually recommend choosing a single-island itinerary that visits the Antarctic continent, offering both affordable length and price. However, some readers, after disembarking, feel unsatisfied and would like to visit the Falkland Islands and South Georgia without revisiting the continent. Is there such an itinerary?
Yes, there are more and more cruise lines that are offering different itineraries for the Falkland Islands and South Georgia (hereinafter referred to as the "Twin Islands"). The following are the three most common ones:
1. Twin islands only
credit: world.expeditions.com
This relatively simple itinerary requires a flight from Chile to the Falkland Islands, or a cruise from Argentina. After arriving at the Falkland Islands, a 2-day cruise journey to South Georgia follows. This itinerary typically departs, around late October, at the start of season, or late February, with prices starting at US$10,395. In the coming season, an operator with ships fewer than 50 passengers will offer in-depth, single-island itineraries that only visit South Georgia.
2. Twin Islands + Argentina + Brazil
credit: asia.ponant.com
The second option combines with a trip to South America. Possible departure points for this option include Chile and Argentina. After going for the Twin islands, the ship goes to Argentina, then possibly Brazil. Departures typically take place in March, at the end of the season. Prices start at $12,100 USD, and trips can last up to a month.
3. Twin Islands + Tristan da Cunha
credit: oceanwide-expeditions.com
The third route is quite unique. After visiting the Twin islands from Ushuaia, it continues to Tristan de Cunha, known as the "most remote island"—it's only accessible by two round-trip cruises per year from Cape Town, South Africa. The itinerary's final destinations include, but are not limited to, St. Helena, where Napoleon died; Cape Town, South Africa; and Portugal. This itinerary charges within US$10,000 and takes around 25 days.
Regardless which of the above three routes you prefer, we only recommend readers who are not newbies and have already been to Antarctica to choose it. After all, Antarctica is the soul of the Antarctic itinerary, somewhere you must visit once in your lifetime.
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