ANTARCTICA

Anytime you want!

Falkland Islands

South Georgia

South Shetlands

The Drake Passage

Neko Harbor, Antarctica

Deception Island, Antarctica

Weddell Sea

Ross Sea

Campbell Island

 

We took over 25 people in 2013 and we’re offering it again: Antarctica. For those of you who want an experience that’s totally out of this world and to come back with stories to impress, this one’s the trip.

We have teamed up with OceanWide Expeditions and are working with them to get an excellent discount just for those who book with us at The Monsoon Diaries for ALL their Antarctica voyages (over 20+ a year!) through 2016-2107.

Witness humpback whales in their natural habitat, see penguins at the height of their mating season, and be one of the privileged few who can say they’ve visited the beautiful continent of Antarctica. Our special deal includes all meals and snacks, so all you’ll need to bring is a camera and a thirst for adventure. You’ll also get an opportunity to hear talks by noted naturalists (free of charge) to guarantee you the best experience possible.

For a day-by-day visual experience of one of our Antarctica trips, click here: Antarctica
…or start with our first day: Crossing the Drake Passage For Antarctica

 

For a day-by-day visual experience of one of our Antarctica trips, click here: Antarctica
…or start with our first day: Crossing the Drake Passage For Antarctica

 

SAMPLE 10-DAY ITINERARY (We also offer longer and shorter tours!)

March 17th: Depart Ushuaia

  • In the afternoon, we embark on our ship in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel
  • We sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening

 

March 17th – 18th: At Sea

  • During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage.
  • When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may see the Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black- browed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels.
  • Near the South Shetland Islands, we spot our first icebergs.

 

March 19th-23rd: Antarctica

  • We will sail directly to “High Antarctica”, passing the Melchior islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Island.
  • On Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island, we will find a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas.
  • If we land on Danco Island we can observe Chinstrap Penguins and possibly Weddell and Crabeater Seals.
  • In Neko Harbour we will have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glacier and enjoy the landscape during zodiac cruises.
  • When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we will have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area we have good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.
  • After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, we hope to get permission to visit the British research station and post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island.
  • Close to Port Lockroy we may also offer a landing on Jougla Point with Gentoo Penguins and Imperial Shags.
  • We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. In this area, there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales.
  • A visit to one of the scientific stations in Antarctica will give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent.
  • Further south we may visit the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station, where we will receive a warm welcome from the station crew.
  • Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape with icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales.

 

March 24th-25th: At Sea

  • On our way north we are again followed by a great variety of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

 

March 26th: Return to Ushuaia

  • We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.
WHY SHOULD I GO?

“Momentum comes from pushing, not from planning. Confidence comes from scars and risk, not from indecision.” – Life Doesn’t Start Tomorrow.

It starts with *you*. None of the following will ever matter unless you commit to your decision. Yes, dropping everything for something totally new and unknown can be scary! But nobody ever learned how to ride a bike by reading about it; you have to get on the damn thing! So get on and go!

You might respond with “Yeah, but…” “’Yeah, but…’ is pernicious. Because it makes it sound like we have the best of intentions when really we are just too scared to do what we should. It allows us to be cowards, while sounding noble.” – 3 Reasons to Travel While You’re Young.

Let’s entertain the possibility that you’ll skip out. Then watch us as we come back safe and sound, share our stories, show you our photos, and talk about how our lives have changed. Whether or not you will realize it then, when you have your first child, when in your midlife crisis, or on your deathbed, you’re inevitably going to regret that you missed out on an epic once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This could set the tone for the rest of your life. Don’t let this happen. Starting slowly never ever works in travel and habits become harder to break once you’ve accustomed yourself to a way of approaching new experiences.

Do you think that to skydive you first have to look it up on Wikipedia, or learn to fall off a table? No. You simply jump. So those of you who want to travel, travel. And imagine how easy traveling will seem to you afterwards. Imagine how much confidence you’ll gain in yourself. Imagine the bragging rights and stories you’ll have when you come home. Not many people realize that the opportunity for a tremendously positive life change is right in front of their faces: This could be the very moment where you turn your life around and finally do something *epic*. The world won’t wait for you.

 

DO YOU HAVE PHOTOS FROM YOUR PREVIOUS TRIPS?

Start here and work your way forward: First Landing In Antarctica

 

WHAT ARE WE SAILING ON?

We will sail on either The Plancius or The Ortelius. Sample pictures & layout of our cabins: Cabins aboard m/v Ortelius

 

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Depends on how long you want to go and when you want to go! Either way, we get a huge discount (up to $5000 USD!) OFF the original price. Significant discounts for groups (of 8 or more) and previous monsooners are also offered (email me for more information: calvin[at]monsoondiaries[dot]com!)

This is a trip that was co-planned and co-led by The Monsoon Diaries, Young Pioneer Tours, and Oceanwide Expeditions in 2013. Crediting to that trip’s enormous success, we are happy to sponsor this as a recurring trip led and planned fully by Oceanwide Expeditions. Therefore, this is now a trip separate from The Monsoon Diaries (hereafter referred as “MD”) with no MD staff present on tour. We secure exclusive sales agreements with Oceanwide Expedition whereby we can advertise and sell these tours at a significant discount to the customer.

Please note that this discount can only be secured when the booking is made though The Monsoon Diaries. Contact us for information on other tours run by these companies as we may be able to offer further discounts across all tours!

Click here for full list of reviews.

“This was such an amazing trip and I’m so glad that we had a perfect mix of new friends that came together that made it so fun and memorable. Definitely surreal and felt like a dream with TONS of photos and videos.” – Simon Lu

“Thanks to everyone part of the Monsoon Diaries/YPT Antarctica trip for making the experience even more memorable and fun. Keep striving!” – Grace An

“It’s the most epic trip I’ve ever taken.” – Tabitha Shook

“My trip was amazing. What an incredible end to the year with an expedition to Antarctica and a floating party. Can’t imagine a more perfect mix of friends to experience Antarctica with.” – Scott Frazier

“…an epic trip to Antarctica.” – Vineet Devaiah

“We had wonderful days in Antarctica with lovely and stinky penguins.” – Arti B

“Ice and penguins and more ice and snow and glaciers and a perfect honeymoon.” – Dennis

“Special thanks to The Monsoon Diaries and Young Pioneer Tours for making this the trip of a lifetime!” – Tabitha Shook

“Unforgettable trip to the white desert!” – Joreen Tay

“Have safely returned from the most remote place on earth with Young Pioneer Tours and the Monsoon Diaries — 😀 feeling great.” – Alex Hardy

“Antarctica is met stip binnen gekomen als de indrukwekkendste ervaring tot nu toe.” – Esther Wisse

“…an amazing Antarctican adventure!” – Patrick Le Quere

 

Price Includes:

  • Voyage aboard the designated vessel as indicated in the itinerary.
  • All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea.
  • Free use of rubber boots aboard Plancius & Ortelius and snowshoes aboard ‘Plancius’.
  • Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation).
  • All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac.
  • Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff.
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
  • Comprehensive pre-departure material.

Price Excludes:

  • Any airfare whether on scheduled or charter flights.
  • Pre- and post Ushuaia arrangements.
  • Transfers to the vessel at Ushuaia
  • Passport and visa expenses.
  • Government arrival and departure taxes.
  • Meals ashore at Ushuaia.
  • Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended).
  • Excess baggage charges.
  • All items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.
  • The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided).
  • Possible fuel surcharges; It is agreed that if world fuel prices will reach or exceed US Dollar 90 per Barrel Brent (US Dollar 120 for season 2013-2014) 90 days prior to departure Oceanwide Expeditions reserves the right to levy a fuel surcharge of US $ 25 per passenger per night for bookings outside Europe and EURO 18 per passenger per night for bookings within Europe, to be paid by the contracting party of Oceanwide Expeditions.

Interested In Antarctica!

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