21 February 2017
ANTARCTICA
THE GREAT ADVENTURE
Exclusively Escorted by Brett & Louise Dann~
USHUAIA • MONTEVIDEO
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PA RK
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P ED TI O
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U RA LI
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URUGUAY
A O FF
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LE SOLEAL: FEBRUARY 21 2017
16 DAYS / 15 NIGHTS
MONTEVIDEO
ARGENTINA
USHUAIA
Drake Passage
Antarctica
The Great Adventure
Wilhelmina
Fortuna Bay
Grytviken
Gold Harbor
SOUTH
GEORGIA
Deception Island
Neko ANTARCTICA PENINSULA
Hosted by Brett and Louise Dann~
YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES:
Exclusively Escorted by Brett &
Louise Dann
Return International Flights with
LAN Airlines
15 nights onboard Le Soleal
All taxes port charges and fees
Gratuities
HIGHLIGHTS:
Wildlife: Huge colonies of King
Penguins, many Elephant Seals
basking on the black sandy
beaches, large populations of Fur
Seals and Macaroni Penguins in
South Georgia. Also, hundreds
of Gentoo Penguins, Adelie
and Chinstrap and the majestic
Humpback Whales in Peninsula.
Landscapes: Mountain chains,
imposing glaciers, lush green
pastures. Abandoned former
whaling stations and historic
centers. Drifting icebergs and sea
ice in Peninsula.
SOUTH GEORGIA
In 1914, Endurance, the ship captained by
Sir Ernest SHACKLETON, sank during its
journey, a prisoner of the Antarctic ice.
After having sailed a lifeboat a number of
kilometres, the crew finally made it to the
shores of a pristine and wild land. They did
not know that they had set foot on South
Georgia... A Subantarctic region formed
by an underwater mountain chain, South
Georgia is an essential destination in an
Antarctic journey. In symbiosis with the sea
and the soaring mountains, this island offers
a wide variety of landscapes and reliefs, a
blend of extensive beaches, vast plateaux
and mountain ranges. Whales, Mammals,
Penguins and other Sea Birds have made
this island at the edge of the world into a
paradise for nature lovers.
WILHELMINA BAY
“It was with pleasure and surprise that we
found ourselves in Wilhelmina Bay, where
the ice floe is still very present. During our
approach, we encountered some Humpback
Whales and observed them for a while.
Nicolas, our Expedition Leader, and our
Captain offered us a unique experience:
disembarking on the ice floe! So, after a
short ride in a Zodiac® dinghy through the
sheets of floating ice, peopled with small
Rorquals, Fur Seals and Leopard Foxes,
we could finally set foot ourselves on the
ice that doubles the surface area of the
Antarctic during the Winter...the fresh snow
that covered the ice almost allowed us to
forget that under our feet, below a metre and
a half of ice lay the Ocean depths“!
Extract from the diary of a Naturalist - Guide
aboard L’Austral.
DECEPTION ISLAND
Nestled at the heart of the South Shetland
Islands, Deception Island is easy to recognise
for its horseshoe shape. This island was once
an active volcano whose crater collapsed
some 10,000 years ago. This produced a
caldera which was then flooded by the sea
creating a natural port. Entrance to the port
is via a narrow channel called Neptune’s
Bellows. For a long time this was an
important whaling station and the intensity
of this activity has left traces that have
withstood the passage of time. On the black
sand of the volcanic beaches lie the ruins of
abandoned huts, and the place is teeming
today with extraordinary wildlife. Excursions
aboard our Zodiac® dinghies will allow you to
set foot on this expanse of land where more
than 100,000 pairs of Chinstrap Penguins,
Elephant Seals and Fur Seals live side by side.
Sailing beyond the roaring fifties and the screaming sixties, your ship will take you into an uninhabited World.
Journey in the footsteps of the great explorers as far as the Antarctic Peninsula, with its icy panoramas
of iridescent colours. To South Georgia, a land of adventure whose grandiose landscapes are home to an
abundant wildlife.
16 Days | South Georgia | Wilhelmina Bay | Deception Island | Cuverville Island
CUVERVILLE ISLAND
DAY ITINERARY
“The afternoon found us at nearby Cuverville
Island. It is the site of the largest Gentoo
colony in Antarctica and has approximately
5,000 pairs. The backdrop though of sea
and icebergs and peaks and glaciers was
spectacular. From the beach we could walk
either to the right or to the left but it didn’t
really matter which way we went as there
were Gentoos in both directions. There
were some very nice photographs to be had,
particularly of Penguins with icebergs behind
them. Another attraction was a short Zodiac®
cruise amongst the ice on the way back to
the ship and it was a very popular option. The
shapes, textures and colours of the ice were
breath - taking. One of the boat drivers went
right under the bow of the ship, to give a
“whales- eye view” of our home-from-home”.
Day 1: Tuesday 21st February 2017
Buenos-Aires/Ushuaia (Argentina) direct
flight (1).
Naturalist onboard Boreal
Excursion to Tierra del Fuego National
Park with lunch OR direct transfer on board
including lunch.
Day 7 & 8: Monday 28th February &
Tuesday 1st March 2017
At sea
Day 9: Wednesday 2nd March 2017
Cooper Bay - Gold Harbour (South Georgia)
Embarkation from 17.00 to 18.00.
Day 10: Thursday 3rd March 2017
Day 2 & 3: Wednesday 22nd & Thursday
23rd February 2017
At sea - Drake Passage
Grytviken (South Georgia)
Day 4: Friday 25th February 2017
Neko - Paradise Bay (Antarctica)
Day 5: Saturday 26th February 2017
Port Lockroy - Wilhelmina (Antarctica)
Day 6: Sunday 27th February 2017
Deception Island (Antarctica)
Day 11: Friday 4th March 2017
Fortuna Bay (South Georgia)
Day 12, 13, 14 & 15: Saturday 5th Wednesday 8th March 2017
At sea
Day 16L Thursday 9th March 2017
Montevideo (Uruguay). Disembarkation.
16 DAY ANTARCTICA - THE GREAT ADVENTURE
$
From
12,945*
THE TRAVEL BY RACT DIFFERENCE
Australian personalities and celebrity guests
Experienced Tour Director
Exclusive itineraries and experiences
per person, twin share
Pre tour functions
Based on Superior Cabin
24/7 emergency assistance
*Price includes return international flights with LAN Airline including Taxes
Taxes are subject to change.
Travel with RACT Travel Group, recently recognised
as Australia’s Best Travel Agent at the 2015 AFTA
National Travel Industry Awards!
Departs 21st February 2017
General Information & Conditions
The following terms and conditions are an
agreement between you, our company and tour
operator Ponant Yacht Cruises Expeditions . When
you make a deposit payment you thereby agree to
accept the terms and conditions of this contract.
This agreement should be read in conjunction with
the full Ponant booking conditions. Please refer
to www. http://en.ponant.com/ for full terms &
conditions.
Prices:
We reserve the right to adjust prices whether or
not you have already made full payment. We will do
everything within our control not to adjust prices
and will generally only amend prices in the event
of market fluctuations in exchange rates, fuel
costs and other operating costs on which prices
are based. Tour price are also subject to minimum
numbers.
Deposit / Final balance:
A NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of $1,200 per
person is required within 5 days of confirmation.
If deposit is not received by the due date, the
booking will be cancelled without notification.
Final balance payment will be due no later than
21st November 2016. If the final balance payment
is not received by the due date, your booking will
be cancelled and initial deposit forfeited.
Cancellations:
For bookings cancelled before 21st November
2016, 50% of your tour payment will be forfeited,
minimum of $1,200 For cancellations made after
21st November 2016, 100% of your tour payment
will be forfeited. Cancellations must be received in
writing and are not effective until this notification
has been received.
Group conditions:
~A minimum number of passengers are required
to operate this tour. Should minimum passenger
numbers not be met we will review the operation
of this tour, and additional costs may apply. Host
attendance is subject to minimum numbers.
Amendments:
Changes made after deposit has been paid will
incur a $250 per person amendment fee. In
addition, a cancellation fee may be payable.
*Airfares and Transfers:
International flights are ex SYD and are included in
the published price. internal airfares are included.
Price includes taxes and subject to change. Flights
are with LAN Airlines, based on a group airfare,
subject to minimum numbers. Guests must travel
on group flights to received Newcastle to Sydney
transfers or surcharges may apply.
Tour itinerary adjustments:
We reserve the right to alter the itinerary
including sight-seeing, schedules, hotels, and
other tour inclusions to accommodate unforeseen
circumstances or events beyond our control.
Single Rooms:
A limited number of rooms are available at the
single supplement price. If you are willing to share
with another person of the same gender, we will
do all possible to match you up. Single supplement
will apply unless we are successful in finding
another passenger to share. Once on tour, should
either passenger decide they no longer wish to
share, additional cost will apply to secure single
rooms, and will be subject to availability.
For further information please call 1300 368 111 or contact your nearest branch
a member of
Burnie
Devonport
Launceston
Ulverstone
6434 2955
6421 1977
6335 5655
6425 8050
Hobart - Murray St 6232 6455
Kingston
6242 3211
Rosny
6212 6777
www.ract.com.au/travel
Passports/Visas:
All passengers must have a valid passport that
is valid for at least six months after the holiday
package return date. Passengers must consult
with the appropriate consulates to ensure that
they have any applicable visas for countries
included in the holiday package prior to departure.
Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance is compulsory for all Signature
Journeys. Please ensure you arrange this prior to
departure. Travel insurance is not included in the
tour cost, and is at an additional expense.
Tipping and gratuities:
Tipping and gratuities for tour director, local
guides, drivers and porterage are NOT included
and are payable on tour at your discretion. Unless
specified in the itinerary inclusions.
Documentation:
Your documentation will be available
approximately two weeks prior to your departure.
Your consultant will contact you when your travel
documents are ready for collection.
RACT Travel Pty Ltd. ABN 45 144 538 803.
ATAS No A11479