The Great Austral Loop with Ponant
Join Ariane Henry on this exceptional polar expedition cruise to discover the most beautiful sites of these southern lands.
PONANT brings you a 16-day itinerary between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. An exceptional polar expedition cruise to discover the most beautiful sites of these southern lands. You will set sail from the fascinating city of Ushuaia, which the Argentinians call El fin del mundo (the end of the world).
THE GREAT AUSTRAL LOOP
January 28 - February 13, 2023 | Hosted by Ariane Henry | Onboard L'Austral
16-day land and cruise Roundtrip Ushuaia, Argentina
Includes Night in Buenos Aires + flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia + visit + flight Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Deluxe Stateroom US $14,646* per person inc. taxes and fees
Prestige Stateroom (Deck 4) US $16,023 per person inc. taxes and fees
Prestige Stateroom (Deck 5) US $16,711 per person inc. taxes and fees
Prestige Stateroom (Deck 6) US $17,533 per person inc. taxes and fees
First, you will chart a course for the Falkland Islands, whose wild beauty and lush moors are sure to captivate you, before heading to South Georgia, its impressive glaciers, and its black-sand beaches where large colonies of king penguins have taken up residence.
You will then sail to the White Continent, the realm of the unexpected. Weather and ice conditions permitting, this extreme environment where nature reigns supreme will reveal to you its most beautiful secrets through numerous discoveries. Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins, humpback whales, seals, and seabirds: these are some of the encounters you will most likely have the chance to experience in the Antarctic Peninsula, creating indelible memories.
Each day, whether on land, aboard your ship, or during a Zodiac® outing, you will be surrounded by a grandiose decor ranging from icebergs to ice floe and ancient glaciers.
EXCLUSIVE BONUS: $100 per person onboard credit ($200 per couple)
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS
- One night at a deluxe hotel in Buenos Aires
- Round-trip charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, including transfers
- Comprehensive 15-night cruise aboard L'Austral. All accommodations are outside staterooms and suites and 95% feature a private balcony.
- Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides
- All meals aboard the ship including coffee & pastry, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and sweets from Ladurée
- French-inspired gourmet cuisine, with menu creation and chef training by Ducasse Conseil
- Complimentary open bar aboard ship, including select wines served with lunch and dinner
- Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
- 24-hour room service
- Unlimited WiFi
- Airport/hotel/pier transfers and handling of luggage
- Gratuities to shipboard personnel, porters, guides, and drivers
Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest Zodiac® outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache, and Sir Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.
L'AUSTRAL
The deluxe, five-star L'Austral is one of the most beautifully conceived and technologically sophisticated small ships afloat. Designed in France and built in Italy, L'Austral combines an elegant, understated aesthetic with fine European craftsmanship. Guests enjoy attentive service, gourmet French-inspired cuisine, and a relaxed, congenial ambiance. The PONANT ships have received accolades from Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, and others. They are certified as “Clean Ships” and meet the highest environmental standards for energy conservation and resource management.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Buenos Aires, Argentina
January 28, 2023Arrival in Buenos Aires, One night Deluxe Hotel
Ushuaia, Argentina
January 29, 2023Embarkation | Departs 6:00 pm
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible.
Day at Sea
January 30, 2023During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Grave Cove, New Island, Falkland Islands
January 31, 2023Make your way through the turbulent Woolly Gut strait and emerge in the stillness of Grave Cove. Located in the northern edge of the Falkland Islands, this bay owes its name to the vestiges of whalers’ graves that overlook the beach. As you step off the boat and onto the white-sand beach, you might find yourself escorted by a few hospitable Commerson's dolphins, elegantly adorned in black and white. A stroll along the grassy dunes will lead you to a vast plain of lush green grass, tended by a few sheep. On the other side of the island you'll find one of the largest gentoo penguin colonies in the area. With some luck, you'll also glimpse a sea lion scouring the waves for his next meal.
2 Days at Sea
February 1 - 2, 2023During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
South Georgia
February 3 - 5, 2023Aboard your ship, discover South Georgia, a region formed by an underwater mountain chain that extends from the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula. All the wildlife of the Far South can be found there: king and Gentoo penguins, elephant seals, fur seals… You might get the chance to discover the majestic glaciers of Gold Harbour and the vast plains of Fortuna Bay. If you are fortunate enough to land at Salisbury Plain, you can expect a wonderful spectacle: more than 300,000 king penguins, which you will recognise by the bright orange mark on their head and neck, have taken up residence there.
2 Days at Sea
February 6 - 7. 2023During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Antarctic Peninsula
February 8 - 10, 2023Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these extreme parts.
Crossing The Drake Passage
February 11 - 12, 2023If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don't forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.
Ushuaia, Argentina
February 13, 2023Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
PONANT has been sailing the seas of the world offering guests the French “art de vivre” for over 30 years. Every PONANT cruise is a blend of adventure, exploration, and discovery — all experienced in luxurious comfort, even in the heart of the most remote regions. Each year PONANT offers more than 400 awe-inspiring cruises, calling at over 450 ports on all seven continents. PONANT is committed to preserving and protecting oceans and marine life as well as the biodiversity encountered on land. The fleet carries the international “Clean Ship” label, certifying minimal environmental disruption. Their fleet of 12 purpose-built intimate ships call at iconic, international ports as well as secret harbors accessible only to smaller-sized ships.
Terms & Conditions
All fares are per person, based on double occupancy and in U.S. Dollars. Fares include flights Buenos Aires to Ushuaia roundtrip. International flights are not included. Please ask for fares. We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the IAATO.