The itinerary

Day 1:  Ushuaia - Thursday 28 February 2013
We will fly into Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world.

This windy and desolate outpost is tucked into the Beagle Channel and surrounded by peaks and glaciers.


We will meet at the airport by Robert Swan and his team leaders and taken to our hotel. We will stay three nights in our hotel high up on the mountain above town. Depending on our arrival time, the remainder of the day is for us to relax and get ready to begin our expedition. 
One of our 2041 Team Leaders will check our clothing and gear to ensure we have everything we need for our Antarctic journey.  Then dinner.
Day 2:  Ushuaia - Friday 1 March 2013
The “Leadership on the Edge” program begins today with a “meet and greet” session and team introductions.  We have the afternoon to get settled, purchase gear and relax. The dinner.
Day 3: Ushuaia - Saturday 2 March 2013
Today begins with a hike up the Martial Glacier on the  Martial Mountain  behind town. We will work together in teams to reach the top!  Once we return to the hotel, we will regroup to review our team  work on the mountain and continue with our Program.  Tonight is an introductory team dinner.
Day 4: Antarctic Departure Day - Sunday 3 March 2013
We prepare for our departure today. We will have a few hours after lunch to go into town and do any final shopping, make calls home, etc.  In the late afternoon we embark our ship the Sea Spirit.  As we step aboard, we will realize just how far we have come - and the adventure has just begun!  We enjoy our first dinner on-board after we attend the Antarctic safety briefing on the deck of the ship.  It’s time to start our voyage south!
Day 5: The Drake Passage - Monday 4 March 2013
Cape Horn, the most southerly point of the Americas, has stimulated the imagination of mankind since Sir Francis Drake inadvertently circumnavigated it in 1580.  Sometimes misty and grey, other times calm and clear, crossing the legendary Drake Passage is unforgettable, a milestone in any adventurer’s personal travel history. 
Despite its reputation, there are times when it is called the “Drake Lake”; at other times previous expeditions have encountered rough crossings with large waves.  Regardless, the size of the waves and the force of the gale winds will take on gigantic proportions when relayed to folks back home.  As we cross the Drake Passage, there will be a selection of multimedia lectures about Antarctica, the timing of which is dependent on safety and weather conditions.  We will also learn about the wildlife, geology, history and geography of the Antarctic Peninsula from our on-board experts. We will be given IAATO guidelines for approaching the wildlife and begin to discuss the importance of renewable energy and how it plays a vital role in the preservation of Antarctica.
Day 6-11:  Tuesday 5 March 2013 – Sunday 10 March 2013
Depending on ice and weather conditions, the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula is for us to explore.  Our experienced leaders will use their local knowledge to design our voyage from day to day capitalizing on the best weather and ice conditions. Once we arrive in the calmer waters of the Peninsula, we will make numerous shore landings in inflatable rubber boats called zodiacs.  Cruising along spectacular ice shelves or following whales that are feeding near the surface, we will soon appreciate the distinct advantage of being on a small vessel, which gives everyone the opportunity to experience these very special close encounters with the environment.
There are many exciting places that we MAY visit if time and weather permit.  Shore excursion decisions will be made daily on-board.  Below are some places we may visit:
Cuverville Island:  Cuverville Island is a domed shape 250m tall island hosting several large gentoo rookeries, making it one of the largest gatherings of this penguin in Antarctica at 40,000 strong.  
We take this opportunity to closely observe them and their habits as we stand beneath the giant peaks that rise around the island.
Neko Harbour:  Named after the Norwegian whaling ship working in these waters at the beginning of the 20th century, Neko Harbour gives us an opportunity to enjoy a true continental landing.  
Our time among its calving glaciers and statuesque icebergs is a clear reminder of our goal of respecting and protecting this beautiful continent for future generations.
Paradise Harbour:  Named by the whalers for its stark beauty, Paradise Harbour is arguably one of the most aptly named spots on earth!
Surrounded by glaciers that dramatically calve into the sea, Paradise Harbour offers breathtaking mountain reflections into clear, unspoiled waters.  
During our visit, we embark on a group hike and enjoy an incredible vista above the bay, towering over Argentina’s now abandoned Brown Station.  Whales often seek shelter in this bay, and as we explore the shoreline by zodiac boat, we may be lucky enough to encounter a few humpback or minke whales up close.
The Lemaire Channel:  Surrounded by near vertical peaks on either side, this extremely steep sided channel is only visible once you are almost inside providing one of the most dramatic landscapes to sail through.
Sometimes blocked by ice, the Lemaire reminds us that we must always be ready to adapt to the Antarctic elements.
Camping in the Antarctic Robert and his team leaders will take the team on an overnight camping expedition on the Antarctic ice, weather permitting.  This gives us the chance to experience the Antarctic night as the early expeditions did at the turn of the century; however we are fortunate to have the latest expedition equipment provided.
Day 12:  King George Island - Monday 11 March 2013
The largest island the South Shetland Islands of the Peninsula, King George Island is also the location of the 2041 E-Base, the first education station built in Antarctica of sustainable products and run on renewable energy.  
We will have a chance to visit the site of Robert Swan’s 2008 “E-Base Goes Live” mission where he successfully became the first person in Antarctic history to live for two weeks solely on renewable energy. Later in the day we enter the Drake Passage.
Day 13:  At Sea - Tuesday 12 March 2013
Sailing home towards Argentina, team members enjoy a day at sea to with fellow team members and reflect on all that has taken place during the expedition. A final wrap up and award ceremony takes place as we leave Antarctic waters
Day 14:  Ushuaia – Disembark - Wednesday 13 March 2013
We disembark in Ushuaia in the early morning.  A location that mere days ago seemed wild and remote is now, in contrast to the isolation of Antarctica, cozily familiar.  We say our farewells all around and make our way to the airport with the 2041 Team Leaders who will assure your safe departure.

2 comments:

  1. Very interesting itinerary. I'm so jealous... and the best thing is that you're doing it for a good cause, rather than just an adventure.

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  2. Passing by, My prayers with you guyz!

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