January 2 - 14, 2008

This mid-winter adventure to the underside of the world will actually be in summer time in Antarctica. TourMagination alumni have been urging us to plan this trip so the following itinerary is the tentative schedule. We say tentative because it will depend on the weather and the dates may change slightly when the 2008 schedule is published. This excursion is limited to 15 persons so it is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The hull of the ship is specifically designed to bring you closer to the Antarctic landscape and its many photo opportunities. The experienced captain, who has navigated Antarctic water dozens of times, knows the many ins and outs of this magnificent land. Naturalist excursions make face-to-face encounters with local wildlife a reality. Don’t miss this opportunity to be one of the few to visit Antarctica!

Wednesday & Thursday, January 2 & 3

Evening departure from Philadelphia on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires on Sunday, you will be transferred to the hotel. The group will gather together for the evening meal and to get acquainted.

Friday, January 4 – Buenos Aires

This morning there will be a city tour of Buenos Aires, the capital of the Republic of Argentina. Approximately three million people live in the city and over ten million in the greater Buenos Aires area. Most of the country’s activity is highly concentrated in this city and the surrounding area. In the afternoon, we plan to meet with and learn about Mennonites in this city and the country of Argentina.

Saturday, January 5 – Fly to Ushuaia

Today we will fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, which sits at the edge of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s “Land of Fire,” so named because of fires lit by Indians to warn of the arrival of Magellan’s ship. Surrounded by dense forest, snow-capped mountains, rivers and waterfalls, the town has a frontier spirit. Embark ship for cruise expedition to the Antarctic.

Sunday, January 6 – Cruising Drake Passage

On Sunday, we will cruise across the Drake Passage. A naturalist will preview some of the sights we will encounter and share the secrets of the region’s fascinating natural history.

Monday, January 7 – Cruising Deception Island & Cuverville Island

Today’s cruising takes us to Deception Island, an active volcanic island where multicolored rock formations provide a ring of sheer cliffs. The afternoon will be spent iceberg spotting near Cuverville Island.

Tuesday, January 8 – Lemaire Channel – Port Lockroy (Jougle Point)

The ship follows the course of the Lemaire Channel today between sheer cliffs and glaciers. This is the day to watch out for several varieties of whales and seals. This may also be the day to see penguins and blue-eyed shags.

Wednesday, January 9 – Paradise Harbor

This protected harbor lives up to its name. Ringed by hanging ice cliffs and dotted with floating bergs reflecting every color of the spectrum, it has a heavenly aura about it. At the sometimes occupied Chilean station, we’ll be entertained by the gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and have the chance to set foot on the Antarctic continent itself.

Thursday, January 10 – Half Moon Island

One of the most pleasant landings in Antarctica, Half Moon Island has a sizeable rookery of chinstrap penguins as well as nesting Antarctic terns and kelp gulls. Whales are quite often seen patrolling the shores, and this small island offers stunning views of surrounding mountains.

Friday, January 11 – Cruising Drake Passage/Cape Horn

We need to start north through the waters of Cape Horn, the only link between the Pacific and the Atlantic before the advent of the Panama Canal. Enjoy the panoramic views from the deck or spend some time relaxing indoors.

Saturday, January 12 – Ushuaia, Argentina

We will return this morning to Ushuaia along the deep green waters of the Beagle Channel. We will have an orientation tour of Ushuaia and spend our last night on the ship.

Sunday & Monday, January 13 & 14

On Sunday morning we will disembark from the ship and transfer to the airport for our flights to North America. It will be Thursday when we arrive in Philadelphia and continue onward to our home cities.

Your Tour Leader

Wilmer Martin, Waterloo, Ontario, will be your leader as you venture way down under to discover life on the Antarctic continent. Wilmer is the president and co-owner of TourMagination and has led many tours all over the world. He will help to make this expedition a memorable experience for you.

For further information regarding the complete tour fare, please This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . We would be happy to be of assistance.