
Even today after many decades of exploration, Antarctica still remains a world apart, a majestic last frontier surpassing even the most jaded of travellers’ expectations. For this expedition we are working with our German associates at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises who operate the five-star Hanseatic Inspiration, and we will follow in the footsteps of researchers, pioneers, adventurers and discoverers on this expedition to the sixth continent. It is hard to put into words the sheer grandeur of an Antarctic landscape. This most southern of continents, this desert of ice, is so unique and uncommon to man’s experience, that even the most dramatic of photographs pale into insignificance when one is confronted by the sheer magnitude, beauty and wonder of an Antarctic landscape. Enormous icebergs rise from the sea, hillsides are covered with thousands of penguins and seals bask on icebergs dotted in the ocean; the sights, sounds and emotions will stay with you forever.
This expedition aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration also features magnificent South Georgia where you will experience one of the world’s natural wonders, the ‘Alps in mid-ocean’, offering remarkable concentrations of wildlife against a backdrop of glaciers and snow-covered mountains. Hugging the coast to the wildest reaches of the island, see beaches alive with rampaging fur seals, somnolent elephant seals and truly astonishing numbers of king penguins. Enjoy two days of exploration in this unique animal paradise and using the Zodiacs the aim will be to land each day allowing you the optimum time ashore to experience this rich animal kingdom. In between the landings and while at sea, you can pass the time on deck looking for wildlife, attend the series of lectures by members of the expedition team and simply relax on board enjoying the facilities.
For most travellers, the Antarctic experience is a once in a lifetime visit; it is therefore important that the trip should be as rewarding as possible and the Hanseatic Inspiration is an ideal vessel both in terms of the educational experience on board and the number of opportunities to go ashore. Antarctica is to be experienced, not just to be seen, and we believe the only way to do this is on board a small ship. To enjoy the wonders of this icy paradise in the company of a small and enthusiastic party aboard a luxuriously appointed vessel designed for expedition cruising is the perfect way to achieve the most from a visit to this extraordinary place.
Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature
Operated by our German associates, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, these three Hanseatic expedition class vessels – Inspiration, Nature and Spirit - are five-star vessels that were launched between 2019 and 2021. With a maximum of just 230 passengers (199 passengers in Antarctica and circumnavigation of Spitsbergen), these unique vessels offer plenty of open deck space including a walkway that allows access to the bow of the ship for front row wildlife sightings and incredible views. There is a qualified expedition team of naturalists who will accompany you ashore and provide informative talks in the comfort of the well-designed HanseAtrium, and a crew of 175 offering the most exquisite and attentive service on board.
Itinerary
Please note that flexibility is key to a successful expedition in Antarctica. Although an itinerary is outlined below, this is only a preliminary plan and the exact route will depend on ice, weather conditions and the wildlife encountered.
Day 1 London to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Day 2 Buenos Aires.
Arrive this morning and transfer to our centrally located hotel for an overnight stay. The afternoon and evening are free for independent exploration of the city at your own pace, or to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities.
Day 3 Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our specially chartered flight to Ushuaia. On arrival transfer to the Hanseatic Inspiration and sail this evening.
Days 4 to 6 At Sea.
Enjoy three relaxing days on board as we sail towards South Georgia. Watch out for wildlife, such as the albatrosses, prions and petrels that frequently follow the ship, join one of the lectures in the HanseAtrium or relax with a book in the Observation Lounge.
Days 7 & 8 South Georgia.
We spend the next two days in South Georgia which is home to hundreds of thousands of king penguins which live side by side with elephant seals and fur seals on the coasts and cliffs. These amazing natural spectacles will be observed from a respectful distance after landing on one of the black shores. In addition, at Grytviken we trace the footsteps of the explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, who found his final resting place here in 1922.
Day 9 At Sea.
There will be plenty of wildlife spotting as we make our way south. Shipboard presentations will continue with briefings on the exciting history and abundant wildlife of this region.
Days 10 to 14 South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Weddell Sea & the Antarctic Peninsula.
The South Orkney Islands, a small group of islands with a surface area of around 620 km², are located in the Scotia Sea. A lonely, glaciated world with ice deserts, and more animal species than on the Galapagos Islands, the islands are home to numerous varieties of penguins, whales and seals, as well as leopard seals. We hope to gain an insight into the everyday lives of polar researchers when, weather permitting, we will visit the Argentinian Orcadas station (subject to authorisation). Enjoy the pure fascination of the drifting tabular icebergs. The bizarre blocks that have broken off the shelf ice and their huge archways shimmer a mystical shade of blue in the cool polar light. Experience the South Shetland Islands and awe as we sail into the centre of the flooded caldera of Deception Island. Enjoy unforgettable moments when, for example, you set foot on legendary Elephant Island, where history surrounds you. Polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew spent months here after abandoning their ship in the ice. You, too, will be enchanted by the scenery. Jagged crags loom fiercely on the horizon, and the evening sun casts a delicate pink glow over the snowfields. This expedition then takes you on a flexible route through the Weddell Sea which is home to spectacular ice formations, from majestic tabular icebergs occupied by Adelie penguins to ice shelves as tall as white cliffs and dense carpets of pack ice. The ice cracks and crunches around the ship’s reinforced bow, conveying just how challenging the hardships were that the pioneers of polar research had to endure. Weather and ice conditions dictate the route and the experienced crew will react flexibly and spontaneously to provide you with unforgettable moments. The Antarctic Peninsula, part of the coldest continent on Earth, may seem inhospitable at first glance, but it is actually a paradise for countless animal species that have adapted perfectly. Enjoy unforgettable moments when, for example, you set foot on the Antarctic mainland. Snow-covered peaks, imposing icebergs and towering glaciers surround you. On Petermann Island, keep an eye out for gentoo and Adelie penguins and the blue-eyed cormorants that have their breeding colonies here.
Days 15 & 16 Drake Passage.
Enjoy two days to relax on board and reminisce with your fellow travellers about all you have seen and experienced during the expedition. Look out for wildlife or simply relax as we make our way across the Drake Passage towards Ushuaia.
Day 17 Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our chartered flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. This evening is free for independent exploration; you may wish to watch a local tango performance or enjoy the hotel facilities.
Day 18 Buenos Aires to London.
After a free morning to explore or relax in the hotel we transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Day 19 London.
Arrive today.
Dates and Prices
| 5 to 23 January 2028 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
| 1 Outside cabin Deck 4, 5 & 6 | £15495 | £14995 |
| 2 Panoramic cabin Deck 4 & 5 | £15995 | £15495 |
| 3 French balcony cabin Deck 6 | £16495 | £15995 |
| 4 Balcony cabin Deck 5 | £17795 | £17295 |
| 5 French balcony cabin Deck 7 | £16995 | £16495 |
| 6 Balcony cabin Deck 6 & 7 | £17995 | £17495 |
| 7 Balcony cabin Deck 6 | £18495 | £17995 |
| 8 Balcony cabin Deck 7 | £19995 | £19495 |
| 9 Junior suite with balcony 6 & 7 | On Request | On Request |
| 10 Grand suite with veranda Deck 6 & 7 | On Request | On Request |
| 4 (Sole) Balcony cabin for Sole Use Deck 5 | £21995 | £21495 |
Tour Reference Code: SCHI050128
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel between London & Buenos Aires • Chartered flight between Buenos Aires & Ushuaia • Two nights hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires with breakfast • 14 nights aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration on a full board basis • Selection of soft drinks on board • Mini-bar with soft drinks in your cabin restocked each day • Zodiac excursions • Expedition team including onboard lectures • Gratuities • Transfers • Landing fees • Port taxes • Airport taxes • Loan of waterproof boots and parka during cruise.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
Please note that all bookings (including those made by Commodore Club members) are subject to a 20% deposit and that the balance payment will be due 150 days before the date of departure. Please also note that between 149 and 70 days before the date of departure, cancellation charges shall be 40% of the total holiday price payable.
During this expedition you will be visiting out of the way destinations and will be accompanied by an expedition team. Landings and excursions will be made by Zodiac landing craft. The use of Zodiacs will be key to the operation of the itinerary as shown. If you have any queries pertaining to the use of Zodiacs or the level of fitness required for this voyage, please do not hesitate to ask one of our experienced travel consultants.
Please be aware that our website does not display real-time availability. As a result, the categories and prices listed above are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please call us at 020 7752 0000 and speak with one of our experienced Travel Consultants.
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Deckplan
Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature
Operated by our German associates, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, these three Hanseatic expedition class vessels – Inspiration, Nature and Spirit - are five-star vessels that were launched between 2019 and 2021. With a maximum of just 230 passengers (199 passengers in Antarctica and circumnavigation of Spitsbergen), these unique vessels offer plenty of open deck space including a walkway that allows access to the bow of the ship for front row wildlife sightings and incredible views. There is a qualified expedition team of naturalists who will accompany you ashore and provide informative talks in the comfort of the well-designed HanseAtrium, and a crew of 175 offering the most exquisite and attentive service on board.
What to Expect
Every expedition to Antarctica and South Georgia is unique and no two days are the same. Flexibility is key, and often the whole day’s schedule will be changed to maximise your experience based on weather conditions or wildlife sightings. Each day holds something new and here are some extracts from previous Antarctic expedition logs which will provide you with an idea of what to expect.
South Georgia – January 2026: At 06:30, we drop anchor off Gold Harbor, a bay on the northeast coast of South Georgia. We first take a short Zodiac cruise along the beach. As we approach, we can already see that the beach is covered with animals. It takes some effort to find a suitable landing site where the animals have left us some space. From the landing site, the experts and the expedition leader have marked out a path that leads to a colony of king penguins, where around 25,000 breeding pairs are busy raising their young. The entire beach is filled with their trumpet-like calls, with which they reassure themselves of their bond with their respective partners. Some animals are moulting and stand in a stream to cool off. In addition to the calls of the penguins, we also hear the calls of the elephant seals, which sound more like a huge burp. Young animals are lying on the beach and are currently molting. A very large elephant seal lies among the group of adolescents who are testing their strength in a wrestling match. A few gentoo penguins have also mixed in with the king penguins. The backdrop is also beautiful. The Bertrab Glacier stretches from the mountains down to sea level in the background. We can see the old terminal moraine of the last glacier maximum in 1960, which lies like a mountain range in the bay. But what is particularly beautiful is the trustfulness of the animals, which show their normal behaviour without any shyness in front of us. A leopard seal is up to mischief at the landing site and even comes up onto the beach, where a cheeky fur seal approaches it. It is difficult for us to tear ourselves away from Gold Harbor and we will cherish the memory of this landing.
South Shetland Islands – January 2026: Entering the volcanic caldera of Deception Island is a nautical challenge and, although thick fog hides the island, we hear from the bridge when the manoeuvre is over. We sail a little way into the caldera, called Port Foster. We want to go to Pendulum Cove where, in 1829, Henry Foster used a gravitational pendulum in this bay to measure gravity anomalies that indicated the extent and location of this volcano’s magma chamber. Our aim is to go swimming here today because the water temperatures are around 50°C due to the still active volcano. We don’t want to miss this opportunity to join the Antarctic Swimming Club. But before we plunge into the waves, we can take a short hike to one of the two nearby hills. Our expert Christian Pötschke is standing at the former Chilean research station Pedro Aguirre Cerda. The station was installed in 1955 as a research station for meteorological and seismic measurements and was destroyed again in 1967 by a volcanic eruption. We can still see layers of volcanic ash piled on top of each other, eloquent testimony to the volcano’s activity. But now we return to the beach and, watched by a lone gentoo penguin, we can jump into the waves. The pleasure is short-lived, but it’s the joy and adrenaline rush that counts. The certificate is well deserved. A total of 25 passengers took part in the fun. Before lunch, we weigh anchor and head for the neighbouring bay, Whalers Bay. Here lies an old Norwegian whaling station, which was the southernmost whaling station in the world. Today, the rusty remains offer bizarre photo opportunities of an industrial wasteland. On the beach lie old whalers’ water boats, which were used to bring water on board their ships. We return to the ship by Zodiac and as we leave the caldera again through Neptune’s Bellows, we learn where this narrow passage gets its name.
Also of Interest
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Itinerary at a glance
- Buenos Aires / Ushuaia / Cape Horn / Chilean Fjords / Torres del Paine National Park / Chiloe Island / Puerto Montt / Valdivia / San Antonio / Santiago
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