Solar Eclipse 2021: Totality in Antarctica, with South Georgia
Solar Eclipse 2021: Totality in Antarctica, with South Georgia
Solar Eclipse 2021: Totality in Antarctica, with South Georgia
17 Days Starting and ending in Ushuaia
Visiting: Antarctica, Argentina, South Georgia
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PUD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 176
Physical rating:
Leisurely
Age range:
18 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Total Solar Eclipses are rare in Antarctica, and 16 years ago, a group of Quark Expeditions passengers became the first humans ever to witness a Total Solar Eclipse on the 7th Continent. In 2021, we are reuniting some of the same eclipse experts who were on our 2003 expedition for a new voyage: Solar Eclipse 2021: Totality in Antarctica, with South Georgia. This voyage will be the perfect opportunity to be rendered awestruck by the overwhelming enormity of Antarctica: towering icebergs, mammoth glaciers and ice-covered mountains. You’ll hike pristine glaciers, relax on a Zodiac cruise or enjoy comedic encounters with inquisitive penguins.Also, you’ll learn about wildlife and Polar history during onboard presentations by Expedition team members, as well as two widely-respected eclipse experts who will prepare you for your total eclipse experience: award-winning National Geographic night-sky photographer Babak Tafreshi, who participated in the 2003 voyage, and American Eclipse author David Baron, who is featured in the popular TED Talk, “You owe it to yourself to experience a total solar eclipse.” From Antarctica, you’ll sail north, and on December 4th you’ll become part of a select few to experience a Total Solar Eclipse in Antarctica. To enhance your eclipse experience, you will receive a pair of eclipse glasses, and an invitation to a special evening celebration to commemorate your Total Solar Eclipse voyage. You will then complete your voyage by departing for South Georgia, known as the “Galapagos of the South Seas,” where you’ll explore a region rich in wildlife and Polar history.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Ushuaia, Argentina
Begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small but bustling port town at the tip of
South America. This Argentine town is an ideal gateway for you to explore the
southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Get
active in the mountains or enjoy handcrafted chocolate at a café in town.
Day 2 : Embarkation Day
Meals Included: breakfast, dinner
Embarkation will occur in the late afternoon, after which your vessel will
sail down the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego
archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of
anticipation as you depart!
Day 3 - 4 : Crossing The Drake Passage
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Your days at sea are filled with presentations led by your Expedition Team
who will prepare you for the wildlife, glaciology and history that will greet
you upon your arrival. In between presentations, spend time on deck looking
for wildlife or chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar.
Day 5 - 7 : Antarctic Peninsula
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of
reverence and awe. The experience is hard to put into words, since few places
are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica.You will discover that Antarctica
is a land of extremes. At one moment you’ll be overcome with a feeling of
complete isolation and silence, and at the next moment you’ll be inspired
by nature as a calving glacier crashes into a brilliant blue sea or a penguin
waddles by to inspect your footwear.Your Expedition Team will take care of
you at each excursion, whether you are Zodiac cruising, visiting a historical
site or consorting with penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie and Gentoo
penguins are found here, along with Weddell, Fur, Crabeater and Leopard
seals. Keep a lookout for Antarctic whales, such as Minkes, while on a Zodiac
cruise. Each day and each excursion will present a new collection of
creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy.As exciting as the Zodiac
excursions and landings are, perhaps you’ll treat yourself to an
extra-special Antarctic experience by partaking in an optional paddling
excursion (at an extra cost) or cast reason aside and jump into Antarctic
waters for the Polar Plunge!
Day 8 - 9 : At Sea
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Say goodbye to the Antarctic Peninsula, as your next destination is the
Scotia Sea, between the South Orkney Islands and South Georgia, where
you’ll witness a rare natural phenomenon: a total eclipse of the sun in
Antarctica! Our Expedition Team will prepare you in advance with
presentations and workshops on astronomy, meteorology and other related
topics to help prepare you for that once-in-a-lifetime event: total solar
eclipse in Antarctica. Two world-renowned eclipse experts will also be
onboard: award-winning National Geographic night-sky photographer Babak
Tafreshi (who participated in the 2003 voyage) and American Eclipse author
David Baron, who is featured in the hugely popular TED Talk, “You owe it to
yourself to experience a total solar eclipse.”
Day 10 : Solar Eclipse At Sea
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Early this morning, you will be summoned on deck to witness an extraordinary,
much-awaited moment: a solar eclipse, the very brief period (1 minute, 40
seconds) when the moon blocks the sun’s light, plunging the Polar regions
into darkness. Every guest will be provided with a pair of eclipse glasses
before the momentous event. You’ll savour the stillness of this magical
moment with your fellow umbraphiles (eclipse chasers), knowing you’re among
the few to have witnessed this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. As with all
eclipse sightings, visibility is influenced by the weather and cloud
conditions. Unique to this experience will be its location at sea, and the
more extreme latitude which places the eclipse low on the horizon, making a
successful sighting that much more difficult, and more rewarding should all
the stars align for the eclipse to be visible. After the eclipse concludes
around breakfast time, feel free to celebrate the unforgettable moment or
return to your bed. In addition to the eclipse glasses, guests will also
receive an invitation to a special evening celebration to commemorate their
special total eclipse voyage.
Day 11 - 12 : South Georgia
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
South Georgia is one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world for
sub-Antarctic wildlife, with beaches blanketed with penguins. It won’t take
you long to realize that you are in a bird paradise, as burrowing seabirds,
albatross and petrels can be seen in abundance.You’ll find that South
Georgia, once a popular base for whalers and sealers, is also scattered with
abandoned relics and evidence of human activity from centuries gone by. Your
Expedition Team will help bring those days to life while you visit old
whaling stations and enjoy presentations on the South Georgia of then and
now.One of the most significant sites you will visit on the island is
Grytviken. This settlement is one of the first whaling stations established
in sub-Antarctic waters. Many travelers find that this place has a special
appeal, as it is home to the remains of Sir Ernest Shackleton, one of the
most famous Antarctic explorers.
Day 13 - 16 : At Sea
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
After more than a dozen days of of unique wildlife encounters and remarkable
landscapes, your journey home begins. Spend time on deck watching for
seabirds and whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team, or simply
relax and reminisce about your experiences.
Day 17 : Disembark In Ushuaia
Meals Included: breakfast
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning, which allows for you to continue
your adventure on land or catch your flights home.
What's Included
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We can include flights from the UK. Please contact us for a quote.
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Tour leader throughout and qualified Expedition Staff
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All meals while on the ship
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Meals
8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners.
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All meals while on the shipAll accommodationAll transport and listed activitiesTour leader throughout and qualified Expedition StaffWe can include flights from the UK. Please contact us for a quote.
What's Not Included
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Visas or vaccinations
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Travel insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
Food
All meals while on the ship included.Typical MealsThe ships galley offers good quality service and cuisine throughout, with excellent chefs preparing international menus including vegetarian dishes, accompanied by a wide variety of drinks from around the world on sale.Breakfast: Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, a selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, a selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal.Lunch: Three course set meal or buffet, or the occasional BBQ.Dinner: Three or four courses with a starter of soup and/or salad, a choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and a dessert, with tea and coffee.Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so that our local team can be well prepared.
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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