Day 1 December 5: Shanghai/Beijing → Addis Ababa ★ Meeting day at Shanghai Pudong International Airport
All day
Reference flights for the outbound international segment:
Departing from Shanghai:
First leg (with tour leader): December 5, ET685, Shanghai Pudong to Addis Ababa, 23:30-06:40 (+1), flight time: 12h10min
Second leg (with tour leader): December 6, ET506, Addis Ababa-Buenos Aires, 9:50-19:55, flight time 16h5min
Departing from Beijing:
First leg (without tour leader): December 6, ET605, Beijing Capital - Addis Ababa, 00:10-07:15, flight time 12h5min
Second leg (with tour leader): December 6, ET506, Addis Ababa-Buenos Aires, 9:50-19:55, flight time 16h5min
Day 2 December 6: Addis Ababa → Buenos Aires
All day
The second flight landed in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.
After a long flight, we can take a good rest today and make full preparations for the exciting Antarctic photography trip.
Day 3 December 7: Buenos Aires Full Day
All day
After breakfast, we will have a full-day tour of Buenos Aires (about 2 hours): visit the Congress Square, Café des Centenarios, Avenida da 9 de Julio, the Independence Monument, the Colon Theater (one of the three largest theaters in the world), the Presidential Palace (Casa Rosada) (exterior), the Buenos Aires Cathedral, Plaza de Mayo, the Boca District and the Caminto Trail, the birthplace of TANGO.
After dinner, check in to the hotel and rest.
In the evening, you can enjoy an Argentinian dinner (at your own expense) and watch an authentic Argentinian tango performance (at your own expense). After the performance, return to the hotel to rest.
Note 1: Due to limited capacity, advance reservations are required. Please confirm and pay for this optional activity at the same time as registering. A supplementary fee of US$170 per person is non-refundable once confirmed.
Note 2: The Argentina section is a group tour, and you may share a car, table, room, and tour guide with guests outside your group.
Day 4 December 8: Buenos Aires → Ushuaia (Reference flight: TBD)
All day
After lunch, we'll fly to Ushuaia, Argentina's southernmost port. To ease your travel fatigue and flight fatigue, we'll arrange pre-departure accommodations at the scenic Arakur Hotel. Upon arrival, you can enjoy the hotel's amenities, such as a bath, a swim, or a spa treatment, giving you some time to adjust to jet lag before boarding the ship. You can also stroll through the world's southernmost streets and purchase your favorite souvenirs from the small shops along the way.
Day 5 December 9: Ushuaia → Port → ★Seaventure embarkation day
All day
After breakfast, we will visit and photograph the world's southernmost national park, Tierra del Fuego National Park (tour duration: approximately 2 hours). It is a nature reserve in the southernmost part of the world, dotted with snow-capped peaks, mountains, lakes, and forests. The straw huts of ancient Indians are faintly visible, and the polar scenery is endless and the views are very charming.
Then take a car to visit the southernmost end of the world's highway - Argentina Highway 3, the world's southernmost freshwater lake, etc.
After lunch, we'll proceed to Ushuaia Port for boarding. Our expedition team and onboard staff will welcome you, followed by a brief safety briefing. Then, we'll enjoy a welcome dinner with the captain. Afterward, we'll relax and enjoy the evening scenery. Our cruise will pass through the Beagle Channel, home to a colony of Magellanic penguins, rock cormorants, and sea lions.
Day 6 December 10: → First day of crossing the Drake Passage
All day
Our ship braves the winds and waves as we sail south, crossing the Drake Passage, the famous waterway between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. Named after Sir F. Drake, the Drake Passage is the world's greatest seaway, connecting South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet. Its waters, sometimes calm and sometimes turbulent, are legendary and renowned.
You won't feel bored while crossing the Drake Passage, as the ship will arrange a series of exciting lectures based on the situation of the day.
In your free time, you can enjoy a cup of coffee and leisurely admire the endless ocean scenery. Birdwatchers can also keep their telephoto lenses ready to capture large birds such as wandering albatrosses, royal albatrosses, Antarctic giant shearwaters, and pied shearwaters. Of course, if you're lucky, you may spot spouting whales from the deck, or a family of killer whales sailing alongside the cruise ship.
Day 7 December 11: → Second day of crossing the Drake Passage
All day
As our cruise ship approached the Antarctic Convergence Zone, where cold and hot ocean currents meet, the sea conditions were poor, but the air gradually began to smell the unique fresh cold air of Antarctica.
Depending on the natural conditions in Antarctica, we may arrange landings or cruises to various locations on the Antarctic Peninsula, including the South Shetland Islands, Paradise Bay, Nicol Port, Lemaire Channel, Deception Island, Brown Bluff, Cuverville Island, Gerash Strait, Half Moon Bay, and Hannah Point.
The daily itinerary will be flexibly adjusted according to weather and sea conditions. Embracing unknown changes and surprises with an adventurous mindset is the key to Antarctic travel, and this is also the charm of Antarctica.
The expedition team will plan the itinerary based on weather, ice conditions and rich experience, allowing us to have a unique and extraordinary Antarctic journey. The daily route will be adjusted according to the content of the expedition to allow us to experience as many different Antarctic beauty as possible.
Special Note: Due to the unique characteristics of Antarctica, factors such as weather, wind and ice conditions, and booking status (without further notice) will determine our final itinerary and schedule. We do not make any promises regarding the number of landings, cruises, island introductions, or the order of visits. The final itinerary is subject to notification from the captain and expedition leader.
Day 8 December 12: → First day of Antarctic Peninsula cruise
All day
Over the next few days, we will explore the scenic spots between the South Shetland Islands and the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, cruising in this white land with thriving marine life, surrounded by glaciers, rich cultural and historical sites, and spectacular scenery.
As you marvel at the tranquil, snow-covered fjords and the eerie, blue, and ghostly icebergs of a thousand years old, you'll enjoy the company of Antarctica's iconic seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. You'll brush past seals and whales, and see Adélie penguins strolling freely. Each day, we'll trek across the frigid glaciers in a Zodiac with professional polar guides. We'll visit Antarctic research stations and see penguin and seal colonies, including chinstrap, Gentoo, and Adélie penguins, as well as Weed seals. Humpback and minke whales are common sights in Antarctic waters, and curious minke whales will be drawn closer by our Zodiac.
Some attractions introduction:
Cuverville Island: This island is home to the largest colony of Gentoo penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula. It's also a great place to spot giant petrels, blue-eyed cormorants, black-backed gulls, southern gulls, and skuas. The shallow waters surrounding the island often cause icebergs to run aground, forming spectacular icebergs. Arriving at Cuverville Island, where the Gentoo penguins gather, you'll find yourself surrounded by ice and snow. Cuverville Island is actually a black rock island, nestled in the Errera Channel between northern Ronge Island and the Aktoski Peninsula. Black reefs can be seen along its washed shoreline.
Deception Island: A famous tourist destination in Antarctica, it is world-famous for its hot springs and krill. The mountains on the seashore are majestic and ancient, large flocks of seabirds roam on the sea, and a large number of krill are within easy reach on the shore.
Port Lockroy/British Station: Port Lockroy was established in 1941 as a British base. In 1996, the Antarctica Heritage Trust transformed it into a museum where you can experience life in Antarctica in the 1950s. More importantly, you can send authentic Antarctic postcards to friends and family from here.
Paradise Bay: Named for its stunning scenery, Paradise Bay protects the Gerlache Strait during storms, providing shelter for visitors. It's the perfect spot for viewing the Antarctic Peninsula.
Peterman Island and the Lemaire Channel: Peterman Island offers beautiful views of the Penola Channel, where you can watch whales swimming among the ice floes and experience the beauty of nature. Here are Adélie penguins, the blue-eyed cormorant empire, and the world's southernmost colony of Gentoo penguins.
Neko Harbour: Neko Harbour is an inlet on the Antarctic Peninsula in Andvord Bay, on the west coast of Graham Land. Neko Harbour was discovered in the early 20th century by Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache. It was named after the Scottish whaler Neko, which operated there from 1911 to 1924.
Special note: The above referenced docking, cruise, and landing locations are for reference only and cannot be used as the basis for the final trip. Due to the special nature of Antarctica, factors such as weather, wind and ice conditions, and booking status (without further notice) will determine our final itinerary plan and schedule. We do not make any promises about the number of landings, cruises, island introductions, and the order of visits. The captain and expedition team will carefully analyze the daily situation and flexibly arrange daily activities, including landing and cruises by landing boat, visits to wildlife habitats, scientific research stations of various countries, or historical sites. All landings, cruises, and onboard activities are subject to the notification of the captain and expedition leader.
Day 9 December 13th: → Second day of Antarctic Peninsula cruise
All day
We will continue to cruise through this white land where marine life is thriving, glaciers are everywhere, cultural and historical sites are abundant, and extreme natural scenery can be seen everywhere.
As you marvel at the tranquil, snow-covered fjords and the eerie, blue, and ghostly icebergs of a thousand years old, you'll enjoy the company of Antarctica's iconic seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. You'll brush past seals and whales, and see Adélie penguins strolling freely. Each day, we'll trek across the frigid glaciers in a Zodiac with professional polar guides. We'll visit Antarctic research stations and see penguin and seal colonies, including chinstrap, Gentoo, and Adélie penguins, as well as Weed seals. Humpback and minke whales are common sights in Antarctic waters, and curious minke whales will be drawn closer by our Zodiac.
Special note: Due to the particularity of Antarctic tourism, the itinerary of each Antarctic expedition will not remain the same. The ship will design a corresponding itinerary based on the ever-changing actual weather and ice conditions of nature and combined with years of rich professional expedition experience to create a unique Antarctic adventure experience for you.
Day 10 December 14th: → Day 3 of Antarctic Peninsula Cruise
All day
We will continue to cruise through this white land where marine life is thriving, glaciers are everywhere, cultural and historical sites are abundant, and extreme natural scenery can be seen everywhere.
As you marvel at the tranquil, snow-covered fjords and the eerie, blue, and ghostly icebergs of a thousand years old, you'll enjoy the company of Antarctica's iconic seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. You'll brush past seals and whales, and see Adélie penguins strolling freely. Each day, we'll trek across the frigid glaciers in a Zodiac with professional polar guides. We'll visit Antarctic research stations and see penguin and seal colonies, including chinstrap, Gentoo, and Adélie penguins, as well as Weed seals. Humpback and minke whales are common sights in Antarctic waters, and curious minke whales will be drawn closer by our Zodiac.
Special note: Due to the particularity of Antarctic tourism, the itinerary of each Antarctic expedition will not remain the same. The ship will design a corresponding itinerary based on the ever-changing actual weather and ice conditions of nature and combined with years of rich professional expedition experience to create a unique Antarctic adventure experience for you.
Day 11 December 15th: → Day 4 of Antarctic Peninsula Cruise
All day
We will continue to cruise through this white land where marine life is thriving, glaciers are everywhere, cultural and historical sites are abundant, and extreme natural scenery can be seen everywhere.
As you marvel at the tranquil, snow-covered fjords and the eerie, blue, and ghostly icebergs of a thousand years old, you'll enjoy the company of Antarctica's iconic seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. You'll brush past seals and whales, and see Adélie penguins strolling freely. Each day, we'll trek across the frigid glaciers in a Zodiac with professional polar guides. We'll visit Antarctic research stations and see penguin and seal colonies, including chinstrap, Gentoo, and Adélie penguins, as well as Weed seals. Humpback and minke whales are common sights in Antarctic waters, and curious minke whales will be drawn closer by our Zodiac.
Special note: Due to the particularity of Antarctic tourism, the itinerary of each Antarctic expedition will not remain the same. The ship will design a corresponding itinerary based on the ever-changing actual weather and ice conditions of nature and combined with years of rich professional expedition experience to create a unique Antarctic adventure experience for you.
Day 12 December 16th: → Day 5 of Antarctic Peninsula Cruise
All day
We will continue to cruise through this white land where marine life is thriving, glaciers are everywhere, cultural and historical sites are abundant, and extreme natural scenery can be seen everywhere.
As you marvel at the tranquil, snow-covered fjords and the eerie, blue, and ghostly icebergs of a thousand years old, you'll enjoy the company of Antarctica's iconic seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. You'll brush past seals and whales, and see Adélie penguins strolling freely. Each day, we'll trek across the frigid glaciers in a Zodiac with professional polar guides. We'll visit Antarctic research stations and see penguin and seal colonies, including chinstrap, Gentoo, and Adélie penguins, as well as Weed seals. Humpback and minke whales are common sights in Antarctic waters, and curious minke whales will be drawn closer by our Zodiac.
Special note: Due to the particularity of Antarctic tourism, the itinerary of each Antarctic expedition will not remain the same. The ship will design a corresponding itinerary based on the ever-changing actual weather and ice conditions of nature and combined with years of rich professional expedition experience to create a unique Antarctic adventure experience for you.
Day 13 December 17: → First day of crossing the Drake Passage
All day
Nowadays, visiting Antarctica is no longer exclusive to explorers and adventurers. On Antarctic nights when the sky is still bright, as dusk falls, the golden light gradually dyes the deep blue sea surface, and even the white clouds are dyed with a touch of red.
Bidding farewell to the tranquility, the pristine beauty, the desolate yet magnificent Antarctica, I felt fortunate to be one of the few lucky enough to have set foot in the Antarctic polar region. Visiting this breathtaking polar region is like a dream, a dream that allows us to realize and witness, while also bringing a clearer understanding of the fragility of the Antarctic environment and the importance of protecting it.
This will be an unforgettable experience for us, and it can be regarded as a completion of our life practice!
Day 14 December 18: → Second day of crossing the Drake Passage
All day
That evening, the waves calmed, signaling our successful crossing of the Drake Passage and the beginning of our journey into the Beagle Passage. The next morning, our ship would return to the Ushuaia dock, and that evening, the ship would host a celebratory dinner to celebrate the successful completion of our Antarctic journey.
Day 15 December 19: → Port → Ushuaia → Buenos Aires ★ Disembarkation day
All day
After breakfast, we'll disembark and step onto solid land in Ushuaia, concluding our exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula. We'll then fly back to Buenos Aires and be transferred to our hotel upon arrival.
Note: Due to the unique nature of Antarctic travel, flight availability is subject to weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances. This constitutes force majeure and cannot be planned in advance. If force majeure impacts subsequent itineraries or return flights, our agency will adjust the itinerary accordingly and reserves the right to charge any additional airfare, hotel, meal, and other expenses.
Day 16 December 20: Buenos Aires → Addis Ababa
All day
After breakfast, we will visit the Athenian Bookstore, followed by the Puerto Madero New Port area, the elegant Women's Bridge, and Plaza San Martín (Falkland Islands Martyrs Monument).
After lunch, we'll visit the famous Florida pedestrian street, where we'll browse the elegant shops and purchase world-famous brand names, local Argentine specialties, and souvenirs. We'll then be transferred to our flight back to China.
Note: The pedestrian street has a wide range of dining facilities. In order not to interfere with your free shopping time, please arrange your own dinner on the day.
Reference flights for the return international segment:
Departing from Shanghai:
First leg (with tour leader): December 20, ET507 Buenos Aires - Sao Paulo (stopover) - Addis Ababa 21:30-19:30 (+1), flight time 16 hours
Second leg (with tour leader): December 22, ET684, Addis Ababa to Shanghai Pudong, 00:50-16:30, flight time 10h40min
Departing from Beijing:
First leg (with tour leader): December 20, ET507 Buenos Aires - Sao Paulo (stopover) - Addis Ababa 21:30-19:30 (+1), flight time 16 hours
Second leg (without tour leader): December 22, ET604 Addis Ababa-Beijing Capital, 01:40-17:55, flight time 10h30min
Day 17 December 21: Buenos Aires → Addis Ababa
All day
Under the guidance of the team leader, we took the second international flight back to Shanghai.
Day 18 December 22: Addis Ababa → Shanghai ★ Shanghai Pudong International Airport meeting and disbanding day
All day
Arrived at Shanghai Pudong Airport, concluding our dreamy, magical, magnificent, and delightful photography trip to Antarctica and South America. Remember to come back and share your wonderful photos on China-TravelNote Photography Network!
