Expedition Voyages on MS FRAM
All voyages on MS Fram include a minimum of 6 landings on the continent (weather permitting).
Call Toll Free 1 800 345 3324 (within India) or 033 2473 8096 or click here to enquire online.

Be captivated by the magic of the Deep South!

Complete your Antarctic experience by including a visit to the friendly Falkland Islands/Malvinas and the remote islands of South Georgia and South Orkneys. Enjoy the diverse wildlife, friendly faces, and haunting scenery of these South Atlantic islands as we travel to the great White Continent of Antarctica. MS Fram has been specially designed for a safe and comfortable voyage in Polar Regions. Our journey to the Antarctic Peninsula will take us to the seabird colonies and sheep farms of the Falklands/Malvinas and the remarkable beauty of the islands that are the jewel in Antarctica’s crown – South Georgia and South Orkneys. To enrich our experience, MS Fram’s expert team of expedition staff and lecturers will offer presentations on history, biology, and geology along the way. Come ashore with our team in sturdy polarCirkel boats for a close-up look at penguin colonies, modern research facilities, and historic whaling stations. Marvel at the mountainous scenery and icebergs floating by from the comfort of our observation lounge. Join us for a voyage of exploration and discovery to the far corners of the earth!

Day and ports of call

Day 1: Buenos Aires/Ushuaia
Day 2: At sea
Day 3-4: Falklands/Malvinas
Day 5-6: At Sea
Day 7-8: South Georgia
Day 9: At sea
Day 10: South Orkneys
Day 11-15: Antarctica
Day 15–16: Drake Passage
Day 17: Ushuaia/Buenos Aires

Day 1: Buenos Aires/Ushuaia
Our voyage departs from the Island of Tierra del Fuego and the southernmost city in the world – Ushuaia.

Cruise&flight guests:
At Buenos Aires’ Aeroparque Domestic Airport you will find the check in counter for our charter flight to Ushuaia. The flight duration is approximately 4 hours during which a light meal will be served.
Our local representatives will greet you at the airport and conduct you on a short sightseeing tour of Ushuaia. Time permitting; you will have a chance to explore Ushuaia on your own before embarkation at 1700.

Cruise-only guests:
Please present yourself at the pier for embarkation at 17:00h

Once onboard there will be a welcome meeting during which the Captain will present his officers and expedition staff. They will introduce you to the ship’s safety procedures and outline the programme for the coming days.
In the evening we set a course for the Southern Ocean and the adventure that awaits us.

Optional excursion: To be confirmed

Day 2: At sea
Enjoy our onboard lecture series as we head across the open seas and spot for wildlife.

We set course for the Falkland Islands/Malvinas located 480 km (300 mi) east of the southern tip of Argentina and approximately 1000 km (600 mi) north of the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica. The Falklands Islands/Malvinas consist of two large islands and around 700 smaller ones with an estimated population of 3060. Captain John Strong of HMS Welfare made the first recorded landing here in 1690. We will begin our lecture series with a focus on the dramatic history and diverse wildlife of the islands as we keep a watch for wandering albatross and dusky dolphins.

Day 3-4: Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas
This unique Sub-Antarctic environment is home to more than 70 animal and bird species including king penguins and albatross.

After a day’s sail we reach the westernmost settled outposts in the Falklands/Malvinas. Some of these remote farms have been family owned for six or seven generations. The sheep graze alongside immense colonies of Albatross and Rockhopper, King, and Macaroni penguins while predatory Striated Caracaras patrol overhead and Upland Geese forage at the water’s edge. A visit to one of these homesteads often includes an invitation for cakes and a cup of tea and a chance meet those who have chosen to live on the edge of Antarctica.

First settled in the early 1840’s, Stanley was chosen as the seat of government for its sheltered harbour and access to fresh water. In earlier years Stanley existed as a provisioning and repair stop for ships battered by Cape Horn and achieved a notorious reputation as a haven for vagabond seamen. This reputation is long gone and the 2000 current residents of Stanley are warm and inviting. The town is easy enough to discover in a day on foot as most shops and services are centered on the port. The museum, the post-office featuring first day covers, plenty of shops with locally made wool items, and perhaps most importantly Stanley’s lively pubs are all centered on the port.

Optional excursions: To be confirmed

Day 5-6: At Sea
During the time at sea, our continuing lecture series will help prepare you for the wonders of South Georgia.

South Georgia’s rich historical tapestry of exploration, whaling, and conflict lends a powerful backdrop to its rugged scenery and bustling wildlife. Our expedition team is well versed in every facet of South Georgia from its geology and glaciology to the mating rituals of sooty albatross and king penguins to the legends of the Norwegian whalers. One story that is sure to be told is that of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the men of the ill-fated Endurance.

Day 7-8: South Georgia
The wild rocks raised their lofty summits till they were lost in the clouds and the valleys lay buried in ever-lasting snow. - Captain James Cook, upon his discovery of South Georgia in 1775.

There is nowhere, in any latitude, quite like South Georgia; magnificent mountain scenery with glaciers galore and beaches teeming with wildlife. Its unique position inside the Antarctic ecosystem yet outside the limit of the yearly sea ice makes this 3,755 square kilometer (1500 sq mi) island home to tens of millions of breeding penguins, seals, seabirds, and even reindeer brought as a renewable food source by the early whalers. We plan to cruise through the mountainous Drygalski Fjord at the southern end of the island. We hope to visit Fortuna Bay where huge Elephant seals lounge on the sand, Fur seal pups race in and out of the water, Albatross soar overhead, and King penguins can be seen in the thousands. We also plan to visit some of South Georgia’s abandoned whaling stations such as Stromness and the historic Grytviken, founded by legendary Norwegain sea captain C.A. Larsen. At Grytviken we will find the whaling museum, Norwegian seaman’s church, and the tiny graveyard where we can pay our respects to the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Day 9: At Sea
As we continue to Antarctica, we learn more about the wonders of the Deep South.

In addition to spotting for the magnificent wandering albatross and other seabirds, we continue our lecture series focusing on the history, environment, and wildlife of Antarctica. Our series includes a thorough introduction to the Antarctic visitor guidelines from the Antarctic Treaty and International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

Day 10: South Orkneys
A day in the area of the deserted South Orkney Islands

The South Orkney Islands lie in the Scotia Sea about 600 km north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula. They were discovered by American and British sealers in 1821 and have since served as a base for Scotch, French and Argentine sealing and scientific expeditions. We will cruise by the Washington Strait and Coronation Island before setting course towards Elephant Island and Antarctica where we hope to arrive on the morning of Day 12.

Day 11-15: Antarctica
The continent is an endless white wilderness full of fantastic impressions of nature. We will learn the history of the great explorers as we travel in their footsteps and see the landscape as they saw it - unchanged, remote, and awe inspiring.

Weather, wind, and ice conditions will determine our program and our schedule. Safety is always the first priority and the final sailing itinerary will be decided by the ship’s Captain during the voyage. We will attempt to visit some of the places below, among others:

Deception Island, South Shetland Islands
When British merchant William Smith was rounding Cape Horn in February 1819 in his brig Williams, a powerful storm drove the ship southward and brought about the discovery of the South Shetland Islands. Together with British naval officer Edward Bransfield, Smith sailed even farther south was initially credited with the discovery of Antarctica. It was later discovered by historians however that an ethnic German in the Russian Navy named Thaddeus von Bellingshausen had seen Antarctica a mere three days before.

One of the highlights of the South Shetlands is Deception Island. The island is a distinctive ring-shaped volcanic caldera approximately 12 km (7 mi) in diameter. A portion of the caldera wall has collapsed and created a navigable opening into the flooded interior. The natural harbour inside the island includes Whalers Bay, home to an abandoned whaling station known as Hektor and a derelict British base. The Norwegian manned Hektor operated from 1912 to 1931 processing the meat and bones of whales left as refuse by nearby factory whaling ships. The British base was established in 1941 and destroyed when the island erupted in the late 1960’s. We are free to visit the relics at Whalers Bay if weather conditions permit.

Half Moon Island, South Shetland Islands
A small 2 km (1.2 mi) long island in the shadow of picturesque Livingston Island, Half Moon is a jewel of diversity in the polar landscape. The serrated and crevassed cliffs are home to a large colony of chinstrap penguins as well as Antarctic terns, kelp gulls, snowy sheathbills, Wilson’s storm petrels, and several species of seals are regular visitors. There is a derelict wooden boat rotting on the beach and farther along the western end is Teniente Camara station with its huge Argentine flags emblazoned on the orange buildings. Half Moon presents many photographic opportunities with its varied wildlife posed against scenic backgrounds and Antarctic highlights.

Paradise Harbour
The harbour is paradise not only in name but in splendor and scenery as well. Protected from the winds of the nearby Gerlache Strait, Paradise Harbour offers another rare opportunity for a mainland landing and some of the finest vistas the Peninsula has to offer. Here we can find the Argentine base Almirante Brown and the Chilean base Gonzalez Videla with their neighboring penguin colonies. Gonzalez Videla is situated at Waterboat Point, so named for the two members of a failed expedition that spent the cold winter of 1922 living there underneath a small upturned boat. Named for the Irish-born founder of Argentina’s navy, Almirante Brown had to be rebuilt after the crazed base doctor set fire to the buildings in 1984.

Petermann Island
Also discovered by Dallman and named for German geographer August Petermann, the island is better known for its association with Jean-Baptiste Charcot and the French Antarctic Expedition of 1908. Charcot and the crew of the Pourquoi Pas? wintered here among the Adélie penguins and imperial cormorants (blue-eyed shags). It’s location in the picturesque Penola Channel makes Petermann a great spot for iceberg and whale spotting and offers spectacular views across the channel to the Antarctic Peninsula. The island is also home to an Argentine refuge hut, a commemorative plaque from the French expedition, and a cross erected in the memory of three men from a nearby British base.

Port Lockroy
The British base on Goudier Island in Port Lockroy was built in 1941 and abandoned in 1962. It then lay empty until 1996 when it was refurbished as a museum by the Antarctic Heritage Trust. It has since become one of the most popular sites in Antarctica and offers a peek into life on an Antarctic base in the 1950’s. Pemmican and tinned custard line the old cupboards and 1950’s books and magazines can be found in the lounge. The nesting Gentoo penguins surrounding the main building have become accustomed to the frequent human visitors. The museum operates a post office and souvenir shop with caps and shirts and postcards. In addition to postal service, the shop offers first-day covers and rare Antarctic stamps. All mail sent from Port Lockroy has a special Antarctic stamp and frank.

Lemaire Channel
Lemaire Channel was discovered by German explorer Eduard Dallman in 1873 but not traversed and charted until 1898 by Adrien de Gerlache, who named it after his Belgian colleague Charles Lemaire. This 11 km (7 mi) long and 1.6 km (1 mi) wide channel is commonly known as one of the most beautiful passages in Antarctica. The reason for this reputation cannot be described in words or captured on film. It bestows upon the traveler a glimpse into what fascinates us about Antarctica; that it is at once sublime and imposing, delicate and daunting, inviting and inhospitable. On a clear day, the Lemaire Channel is the entire Antarctic experience writ small.


We plan to leave Antarctica in the late morning of day 15. The final departure time depends on the weather forecast and is decided by the ship’s Captain.


Day 15-16: Drake Passage
With our bow pointed north and unforgettable images and experiences in our souls, we are invited to a new understanding of the Antarctic.

The voyage from the Antarctic Peninsula to Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina is roughly 950 km (600 mi) or 40 hours sailing time in good weather. During the voyage north, we will continue our lecture series and recap our experiences of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands/Malvinas, and wonderful South Georgia and South Orkneys.


Day 17: Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
After spectacular Antarctica and its endless impressions, we make landfall at the world’s southernmost town.

We arrive at the Argentinian town of Ushuaia in the morning. Ushuaia is counted as the world’s southernmost town and lies on Tierra del Fuego, south of the Magellan Strait and here our voyage ends.

Disembarkation will be after breakfast, in the morning hours.

For guest with cruise&flight programme:
After breakfast you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Buenos Aires (approx. 4 hours). A simple meal will be served on the flight.

Optional excursions: To be confirmed
Price includes: 16 night voyage Ushuaia to Ushuaia in cabin grade of your choice including full board and domestic charter flights between Ushuaia and Buenos Aires.
Not included: travel insurance, international flights, luggage handling, optional excursions, gratuities, fuel surcharges

Call Toll Free 1 800 345 3324 (within India) or 033 2473 8096 or click here to enquire online.
Kolkata: +91 98300 53005            Jaipur: +91 94140 70017                Chennai: +91 92831 90875