Finally, we're going to the end of the world...ANTARCTICA..2019 £7,399

*** PLEASE NOTE: THIS TRIP IS FOR MARCH 2019!! MEETUP DOESN'T GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY OR TOOLS TO ANNOUNCE A TOUR LATER THAN A YEAR IN ADVANCE.

*** ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DATES ARE ALL CORRECT, WE HAVE TO FIND THE BEST FLIGHTS TO ACCOMMODATE THESE DATES BUT WE WON'T KNOW THESE UNTIL SPRING 2018 ***

Now then, here we go, finally, after nearly a year planning and talking about it, we're finally going to the most southern point of the planet (other than the South pole of course!), to a region that is one of the least visited places in the world, to a continent that symbolises pristine white ice shelves, penguins, whales and which is possibly one of the single highest 'bucket list' destinations you ever dreamed of visiting....... ANTARCTICA!

Antarctica is an extremely difficult place to reach, but it needs to be. If anyone could go at any time then we'd all have been there. It's location alone requires international flights to Argentina, followed by a domestic flight to Ushuaia.

As you'll all be aware, Antarctica voyages are very very expensive, but this is purely because ships are limited to how many voyages they can do in any one season. Therefore, some companies prefer to use huge ships with capacity for 200+, but this then makes it feel more like a cruise than an expedition, so we discounted all of those. Then some companies use only very small ships which hold approx 60 passengers, the trouble with this is that it makes the voyage almost double the cost.

Therefore, we've chosen a company who instantly jumped out at us the first time we spoke to them. They have a long history of conservation in the region and also because this voyage will much more of a science based expedition as opposed to a holiday. They even hold regular talks to explain to all potential adventurers what they can expect to see and discover in Antarctica. They've even kindly invited all who sign up to this once in a lifetime trip, the opportunity to go and spend a weekend kayaking in Cornwall, where they're based. This, they feel, would give all those going the chance to learn some kayaking (which you'll be doing in Antarctica!), bond us a group, learn more about the environment there and also to give you any advice or assistance you feel you may need whilst on the expedition.

With many of their team being marine biologists, conservationists and scientists, we're extremely proud to be bringing you this adventure through our friends at Aqua Firma

***N.B: We must just stress at this point, that the tour is not absolutely confirmed. Aqua Firma are holding the places for us, but this tour can ONLY go ahead if we get the full capacity of 12 that's required for this trip, hence launching it so far in advance. If when Aqua Firma come to us for confirmation on the numbers we haven't managed to get the magic 12 required, the trip 'may' be cancelled and ALL MONEY PAID WILL BE REFUNDED IN FULL. So you can't lose anything at all, but if you are thinking about, then RSVP and just go for it, as that's the only way it's going to happen :-) ***

As mentioned in the introduction, the following is the planned and actual itinerary, however the exact times will depend on the flights chosen which will be announced and confirmed in the spring of 2018.

Day 1 - 4th March 2019 - Departure Day

We'll be leaving the UK on our way to Buenos Aires. The exact timings and flights to be confirmed in May/June 2018.

Day 2 - 5th March 19 2019 - Buenos Aires

The supplier requests that all visitors doing an Antarctica trip arrive in Argentina AT LEAST 2 days before the expedition starts, just in case they miss their connecting flight to Ushuaia. So on our arrival into Ezeiza International airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Your driver will be holding a 'Travel Together' sign.

Overnight Accommodation: The Pulitzer Hotel http://www.hotelpulitzer.com.ar/en/

Day 3 - 6th March 2019 - Buenos Aires - Ushuaia

Today after breakfast you'll be collected from your hotel and taken to the airport for your flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.

Once you arrive in the Southernmost city in the world, you'll be transferred to your hotel. The day is your own, to explore at your leisure, as it's all about the EPIC journey you're about to take tomorrow.......

Overnight Accommodation: Alto Andino Hotel https://www.altoandinohotel.com/ushuaia/index.html

Day 4 - 7th March 2019 - Ushuaia - Beagle Channel - Your expedition starts here

After breakfast you'll have a little time to say goodbye to Ushuaia and check out. In the afternoon you'll be collected from the hotel and transported to the ship to embark and check in. The rest of the afternoon and evening will be spent sailing through this scenic waterway of the Beagle Channel.

Ortelius was originally the Marina Svetaeva. Built in Gdynia, Poland in 1989, it served as a special-purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science. Later it was re-flagged and renamed after the Dutch/Flemish cartographer Abraham Ortelius (1527 – 1598), who in 1570 published the first modern world atlas: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or Theatre of the World. At that time, his atlas was the most expensive book ever printed. Ortelius is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and flies the Cyprus flag.

The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1, equivalent to 1A) and is therefore suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice as well as loose multi-year pack ice.

Specifications:

Passengers - 116 in 53 cabins

Staff & crew - It is manned by 22 highly experienced nautical crew members, 19 hotel staff, eight expedition specialists (one expedition leader, one assistant, and six lecturer-guides), and one doctor.

Length - 90.95 meters

Breadth - 17.20 meters

Draft - 5.4 meters

Ice class - UL1 (Equivalent to 1A)

Displacement - 4090 tonnes

Propulsion - 6 ZL 40/48 SULZER

Speed - 10.5 knots average cruising speed

Though the voyages are primarily meant to offer passengers an exploratory wildlife program with as much time ashore as possible, Ortelius offers all the comforts of a standard hotel ― along with a bar and lecture room. Flexibility assures maximum wildlife opportunities. As such, Ortelius carries 10 Zodiacs with 60bhp Yamaha engines.

USEFUL INFORMATION FOR ON BOARD THE SHIP

Soft drinks, alcohol, refreshments or souvenirs will be charged to your cabin. The day before departure you will settle your bill with the hotel manager, paying by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or cash (euro, or in some cases, dollars). The ship does not accept cheques. Though the prices and standard currency on board is in euros, other currencies may be accepted at the discretion of the hotel manager, at prevailing rates.

Electric Current - The electrical supply aboard ship is 220v, 60Hz. Electrical outlets are standard European with two thick round pins, so some passengers may need a 220v/110v converter.

Non-Smoking Policy - There is anon-smoking policy inside the vessel, although you can smoke in certain designated areas. They do ask that you please respect the wishes of non-smokers.

Days 5 & 6 - 8th & 9th March 2019 - Drakes Passage

When you cross the Antarctic Convergence, you'll arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area you may see 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, you'll spot your first icebergs. The Drake passage is known for being one of the roughest seas in the world and somewhat unpredictable. Days 7 - 12 - 10th - 15th March 2019 - Antarctica

Today you will sail directly to "High Antarctica", passing the Melchior islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Island.

You will sail to the Neumayer Channel, where they position the ship for the multi activity base camp. The protected waters around Wiencke Island will become our playground for all activities.

In this alpine environment there are great opportunities to scout the region on foot, per zodiac and during kayak trips.

Walkers will find opportunities to use snowshoes on hikes near the shore lines and the mountaineers will find their challenge by climbing hills and view points further inland, i.e. Jabet Peak (540 m)

(All climbs and excursions can only be conducted in good weather conditions).

We plan to stay two overnights at anchor in order to implement two camp nights and two full activity days. You will visit the British research station and the post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island.

Close to Port Lockroy you may also offer a landing on Jougla Point with Gentoo Penguins and Imperial Shags. Also look out for leopard seals, crabeater seals and whales.

In good conditions and time allowing you'll sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Booth Island, Pleneau and Petermann Island, where you may find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales too.

For this evening, another suitable camp site will be chosen which is close to the next day's activity.

At Neko Harbour you'll have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of a huge glacier and enjoy the landscape during zodiac cruises, hikes and kayak excursions. A small group of glacier walkers may climb up on higher grounds of the glacier. You'll spend the night at Neko or near Paradise Bay with a camp erected ashore. You'll leave early morning after breaking our last camp. You'll then sail via Melchior Islands towards the open sea of the Drake Passage. You'll once again have a chance of seeing many seabirds.

Days 13 & 14 - 16th & 17th March 2019 - At sea

On our way north, you'll again be followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage. You'll also get your very last glimpses of what you're all coming here to see....... mental images that you'll never be able to articulate or describe with any degree of justice and that will stay with you forever.....

Day 15 - 18th March 2019 - Ushuaia - The adventure sadly ends

You'll arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.

N.B We will try and connect to a flight to take us back to Buenos Aires that day, probably mid afternoon to get us in to Buenos Aires for approx 6-8 p.m, but to be confirmed

Upon arrival into Aeroparque Airport and after collecting your luggage, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by your driver who will be holding a 'Travel Together' sign.

Overnight Accommodation: The Pulitzer Hotel

Day 16 - 19th March 2019 - Buenos Aires

After breakfast you'll have the whole day to explore Buenos Aires at your leisure.

And not forgetting ........ Havana may have the salsa, but now you're in the home of the Tango!

Not forgetting that Argentina is the HOME of the Steakhouse!! If you like your meat, if you like it big, like it grilled, then you really are going to be in BBQ HEAVEN

Overnight Accommodation: The Pulitzer Hotel

Day 17 - 20th March 2019 - Buenos Aires & Departure

After breakfast, you'll have the last opportunity to soak up the last of the incredible city as we aim to be leaving around midday/early afternoon.

*** Again, flight times to be announced and confirmed in spring 2018***

This is the sad day you'll say goodbye to not only Buenos Aires, Argentina, Patagonia, but probably to the one adventure that very few will ever get to experience.

The distant, the breathtaking, the at times inhospitable, the wild, the serene and possibly the most beautiful and untouched place in the world...ANTARCTICA

The total cost for this once in a lifetime expedition is £7,399 based on sharing a quad room on the boat and a twin room in the hotels

There is no option to request a single supplement on this trip

You will need to pay a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of £1399 to secure your place on the trip via a bank transfer directly in to our Trustee Account, the details of which are below.

As previously mentioned, ALL MONIES will be fully refunded if we don't reach 12 people and have to cancel

The 2nd payment of £1500 will be due NO LATER than Monday 30th April 2018

The 3rd payment of £1500 will be due NO LATER than Tuesday 31st July 2018

The 4th payment of £1500 will be due NO LATER than Wednesday 31st October 2018

The final balance of £1500 will be due by NO LATER than Monday 31st December 2018

All payments are your responsibility and must be paid in to our Trustee account before the dates given above. Failure to pay on time may result in your place being cancelled and a loss of your deposit.

TTA Travel Together Trustee Account: 46082670

Sort: 50-41-01

What IS included in the price:

• Return international flights from UK to Buenos Aires

• Domestic flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia

• Domestic flight Ushuaia to Buenos Aires

• 3 nights accommodation with breakfast in Buenos Aires sharing a twin room

• 1 nights accommodation with breakfast in Ushuaia sharing a twin room

• 11 nights accommodation on board The Ortelius sharing a quad cabin

• Tea & Coffee on board the ship

• All meals on the boat

• All activities whilst on the expedition. Including camping, kayaking, photography workshops and hiking (Weather permitting)

• All basic clothing and equipment needed for the activities, including your own wellies to use whilst on the expedition.

• All airport transfers throughout the tour

• All local taxes

What is NOT included in the price:

• Personal spending money

• Any cold drinks, refreshments or alcohol on the ship

• Any entrance fees for activities in your spare time that are NOT in the itinerary in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia

• Any meals not included in the itinerary

• Any tips for the crew on the ship. These are completely optional, but are usually collected at the end of the voyage and distributed between the crew. The average on these voyages is between 5-8 euros a day per passenger, but again, absolutely your choice and at your discretion.

• Travel Insurance. You are responsible for your OWN travel insurance

Flights:

TO BE ANNOUNCED IN SPRING 2018

Health & Your Physical Condition

You must be in good overall health and be able to walk several hours per day. The expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding, but we spend as much time as possible on shore. You are, however, welcome to remain aboard the ship if you prefer. To join most excursions, you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway ― from the ship to the water level ― to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats, and boarding will become progressively easier with practice, but conditions on shore can be slippery and rocky. Remember, you will be traveling in remote areas without access to sophisticated medical facilities, so you must not join this expedition if you have a life-threatening condition or need daily medical treatment.

Rooms

We have booked 3 x QUAD cabins on the boat, so we do need the gender split to work for this. However, in the eventuality that we have 4 of each in one cabin and we get to four spaces left, we will ask you whether you potentially mind sharing with a different gender or not, thus giving you the option.

All accomodation in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia will be twin rooms.

So here it is, finally, possibly the most anticipated trip we've ever done. Who's coming to the edge of the world with us?

Andy, Charlotte & the team

'Join as a solo, experience as a group'