Wildlife Worldwide Voyages Brochure 2024

Wildlife Voyages

Alaska - Antarctica - Arctic - Australia - Brazil - Canada - Costa Rica - Dominican Republic - Falklands & South Georgia - Galápagos Islands - Indonesia - Mexico - Norway

WELCOME After the success of our first Wildlife Voyages brochure, we’re delighted to unveil our second issue.

It has been an exciting year, during which we’ve launched new voyages in various destinations around the globe.

In this brochure we reveal new trips to Svalbard and the Norwegian fjords, the wild coast of Tasmania, and an epic expedition across the Ross Sea to Antarctica. In the Americas, we‘ve added new voyages in South-east Alaska, Costa Rica and the Galápagos Islands.

Join us on an unforgettable adventure and delve into the world of expedition cruising. Our small ships offer a unique way to explore some of the world's most extraordinary wildlife destinations. With a limited number of passengers on board, the atmosphere is always relaxed and friendly, allowing you to connect with fellow travellers.

The greatest advantage of travelling aboard a small ship is being able to visit remote locations which are impossible to reach by land and inaccessible for larger vessels.

Imagine sailing amidst vast fjords, anchoring in a different secluded spot each evening, and exploring picture-perfect landscapes. From the waterways and estuaries of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest to remote atolls in the South Pacific, the possibilities are endless.

Expedition cruising is also a fantastic way to connect with nature and witness a wide array of species in their natural habitat. Whether you’re watching polar bears on the Arctic tundra or swimming with humpbacks in the Caribbean, our voyages offer the possibility of unique and intimate wildlife encounters.

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, such as sailing beyond the Subantarctic Islands to the world’s largest ice shelf, visiting seldom-seen corners of the Amazon Rainforest, or exploring the volcanic wonderland of the Galápagos. Led by experienced guides, our small ship expeditions provide unparalleled access to untouched landscapes and rare wildlife.

We look forward to helping you plan your next voyage.

Chris Breen Founder

CONTENTS NEW Unexplored Costa Rica

4-5

Great Whales of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Baja

6-7

Bears & Whales in South east Alaska

8-9

Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon

10-11

Great Bear Rainforest

12-13

Snorkelling with Humpbacks on Silver Bank

14-15

Wildlife of Indonesia with Mike Dilger

16-17

Raja Ampat’s Birds of Paradise & Wildlife

18-19

NEW Coastal Wilds of Tasmania

20-21

Galápagos Islands Intro

22-23

Galápagos Islands Calendar

24-25

Galápagos Wildlife Cruise

26-27

Highlights of the Galápagos Islands

28-29

NEW Ultimate Galápagos Luxury Expedition

30-31

Galápagos Vessels

32-33

Worldwide Calendar

34-35

Polar Voyages Intro

36-37

Arctic Intro

38-39

NEW Fjords Orca & Aurora Photography Expedition 40-41 Svalbard Wildlife Expedition

42-43

Around Spitsbergen

44-45

NEW Svalbard in Depth

46-47

Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland

48-49

Antarctic and the Southern Ocean

50-51

Festival of Wildlife Falklands & South Georgia

52-53

Classic Antarctica

54-55

Great Antarctic Voyage

56-57

Classic Antarctica Fly-Sail

58-59

NEW Ross Sea Expedition Voyage

60-61

Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea

62-63

Our Polar Cruise Vessels

64-65

Polar Voyages Calendar 2024-2025

66-67

OUR EXCLUSIVE WILDLIFE VOYAGES Our collection of Wildlife Voyages includes specially chartered exclusive trips which are highlighted in this brochure. Destinations include the Arctic, Southern Ocean and the Falklands, the Galápagos Islands, Baja California, Norway and Indonesia. These departures offer a unique opportunity to travel with an expert Wildlife Worldwide Tour Leader (or team) together with an onboard team of experts. All our exclusive voyages are planned to maximise phenomenal wildlife encounters.

TRAVEL INSPIRATION We send regular e-newsletters with all our latest holidays, news, offers and events, to sign up visit our website.

OPENING HOURS We're open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Unexplored Costa Rica

This luxury small-ship expedition explores the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, a destination renowned for its intense concentration of biodiversity.

With its focus on discovering a mind-boggling array of brilliant wildlife amidst lush tropical rainforest, misty mountains and simmering volcanoes, this expedition certainly goes beyond the ordinary. The carefully designed itinerary encompasses the very best of Costa Rica’s nature, wildlife and adventure activities, but is underpinned by environmentally conscious travel and meaningful experiences.

Visiting protected ecological reserves, you explore pristine beaches and tropical mangrove forests which are bursting with wildlife. Travelling at a slow pace, you can immerse yourself in the local culture and way of life.

Starting in Golfito Dulce, you hike in Corcovado National Park, which is home to howler, spider and squirrel monkeys,

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plus sloths, Baird’s tapirs and an abundance of birdlife. Yellowthroated toucans gaze from the treetops and scarlet macaws squawk raucously as they fly above the forest canopy. In the water, spinner, bottlenose and spotted dolphins are all likely sightings, and depending on the season, humpback whales may also be seen (Dec-Apr).

silky - can also be seen here.

During daily excursions with your expert expedition team and naturalist guides, either on foot or in Zodiac boats, you have plenty of opportunities to swim, snorkel,

kayak or paddleboard. Back on board, enjoy the comfort of your luxury yacht, relax in the spa, admire the splendid seascape from the hot tub, or select a bottle of something special from the wine cellar!

Further north, on Isla del Caño, you can encounter green and hawksbill turtles, brown pelicans and spotted sandpipers, and if conditions allow, swim with spinner dolphins.

Continuing to Manuel Antonio, enjoy waterfall hikes or - for the more adventurous - canyoning or rappelling in the jungle. Here you are likely to see capuchin monkeys, brown pelicans diving for fish, and a variety of toucans and toucanets with their striking bills.

Another highlight is Isla Tortuga, where bottlenose, spotted, spinner and common dolphins are all possible, and with any luck, you may also see Risso’s dolphins. A variety of sharks such as reef, hammerhead and

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

E EW G N YA VO

Itinerary Days 1-3: Embark in Golfito Dulce. Explore Corcovado National Park. Enjoy guided hikes, dolphin watching, kayak excursions, and a unique cocoa experience.

Day 4: Discover the wonderful Isla del Caño, a biological reserve with extensive coral formations. Enjoy snorkelling and the chance to swim with spinner dolphins.

Days 5-6: Visit Bahía Drake / Manuel Antonio. Enjoy waterfall hikes, snorkelling, and adventure activities.

Day 7: Experience snorkelling and guided activities at Isla Tortuga (only accessible by boat).

Day 8: Disembark in Los Sueños

Why book Unexplored Costa Rica?

Discover an untouched wilderness with exotic wildlife encounters. ཀྵ Intense concentration of biodiversity ཀྵ Array of marine wildlife ཀྵ Abundance of exotic birdlife

“The forests of Corcovado National Park are home to an incredible diversity of species. You have the chance to encounter tapir, gartered trogon, Geoffroy's spider monkey and an array of other species.”

Chris Smith, Product Manager

Nicaragua

Wildlife Highlights Costa Rica

ཀྵ Spinner and bottlenose

dolphins ཀྵ Howler, capuchin, spider and squirrel monkeys ཀྵ Chestnut-mandibled and

Isla Tortuga

keel-billed toucans ཀྵ Olive ridley, green, and

8 days, from £6,250 (voyage only) Departure dates: Dec-Jun See pages 34-35 for dates Embark/Disembark: Marina Bahía Golfito/Los Sueños or vice versa Vessel: Kontiki Wayra, a 40-metre luxury expedition yacht, hosting a maximum of 18 guests.

Los Sueños

San José airport

Manuel Antonio National Park

hawksbill sea turtles

Panama Bahia Drake

Activities

Isla del Caño Puerto Jimenez

Snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, panga rides

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Golfito airport Golfito Dulce

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Great Whales of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, Baja

Sail down the Baja peninsula in search of cetaceans, seals and seabirds for the whale adventure of a lifetime.

This voyage heads along the west coast of Baja California and offers the best opportunity for close-up encounters with whales anywhere in the world. In San Ignacio Lagoon, about halfway down this bony finger of desert land, you can gaze eyeball-toeyeball with female grey whales and their newly-born calves, an experience like nothing else on Earth.

And this is just one highlight of a trip that takes us from San Diego in California more than 1,000 kilometres south following the route taken by grey, humpback and blue whales on their annual migration from northern feeding grounds to warm-water locations where they mate and give birth.

Our first stop is Isla San Benito, where we hope to find rare Guadalupe fur seals and northern elephant seals, one of the world’s largest pinnipeds, with

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the heaviest weighing more than 2 tonnes. Here, some females are nursing pups, while males compete for territory and the right to a harem.

From there, we carry on to San Ignacio Lagoon and the affable grey whales. There’s no need for us to approach them, they come to us - quite why they're happy to interact in such an intimate way, no one quite knows. Whatever the reason, you’ll surely never forget the experience of watching the world’s friendliest 30-tonne leviathans rub themselves against your dinghy.

indulging in their spectacular breaching behaviour.

For our finale we continue onto the Sea of Cortez for two days of exploration, where there's the possibility of other cetacean

species including sperm, Bryde's and fin whales. There may also be the opportunity for snorkelling and encounters with California sea lions. Finally, there's a good chance of seeing whale sharks before heading home.

A few hundred kilometres further south are the nutrient-rich waters of Magdalena Bay. Offshore we hope to encounter blue whales - the biggest animals that have ever lived.

As we reach the bottom of the peninsula, we come to Cabo San Lucas, and head to Gorda Banks, where there's a good chance of seeing humpbacks, which come here to mate,

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

VE SI E LU G C YA EX VO

Itinerary

San Diego

USA

Mexico

Wildlife Highlights Isla San Benito

a

ni

Activities

Magdalena Bay

Whale watching, bird walks, snorkelling, island landings

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r fo

San Ignacio Lagoon

li Ca

ཀྵ Grey & blue whales ཀྵ Northern elephant seals ཀྵ Guadalupe fur seals ཀྵ California sea lions ཀྵ Nesting ospreys

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Departure date: 15 Mar 2024 & 8 Feb 2025 Embark/Disembark: San Diego/Los Cabos (Mexico) Vessel: MV Searcher Tour Leader: Chris Breen

Helen Bryon, Product Executive & Tour Leader

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12 days, from £7,395 (incl. flights) £6,795 (excl. flights)

For the extraordinary opportunity of unparalleled interactions with grey whales, plus the chance to see blue, fin and humpbacks. ཀྵ Close-up and personal ཀྵ Unique wildlife encounters ཀྵ Suitable for most ages ཀྵ Warm climate ཀྵ Incredible seascapes

There’s no other voyage like this! While searching for multiple cetacean, pinniped and seabird species, we spend two full days in San Ignacio Lagoon, hoping to interact with Baja’s friendly grey whales - an experience like no other.

Gu

Day 1: Depart UK for San Diego.

Day 2: Board the MV Searcher & depart after dinner.

Day 3: Sail past Islas Todos Santos.

Day 4: Isla San Benito for northern elephant & Guadalupe seals.

Days 5-6: San Ignacio Lagoon for close encounters with grey whale.

Day 7: Offshore Magdalena Bay for humpbacks, dolphins, turtles & sharks.

Day 8: Cabo San Lucas to see possible humpbacks breaching.

Day 9: Los Islotes for possible whale shark encounters.

Day 10: Isla Cerralvo in the Sea of Cortez.

Day 11: Depart Los Cabos for return to London overnight via Phoenix.

Day 12: Arrive UK.

Why book Great Whales of Mexico’s Pacific Coast?

Cabo San Lucas

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7

Bears & Whales in South-east Alaska

Explore South-east Alaska on board a small twomasted sailboat in search of cetaceans, pinnipeds and two impressive bear species - the majestic black bear and magnificent grizzly.

One-fifth of the size of continental USA, Alaska has the world’s highest coastal mountain range and over half of the world's glaciers. Amidst the grandeur of its ancient tidewater glaciers and snow-capped mountains lives a healthy population of both black and brown bears (also known as grizzly bears), easily distinguishable due to their welldeveloped shoulder muscle.

Each spring, the buzzy call of the varied thrush announces the arrival of warmer weather, and by midsummer, the bears gather along the rivers and creeks to eat the bountiful wild berries and fish for salmon. The salmon run occurs when these fish swim upstream to return to their breeding ground, often in such large numbers that the rivers appear a shade of pink! Nothing

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quite beats the thrilling sight of grizzlies feasting on this natural bounty.

Besides the enthralling bear watching, another highlight is observing the marine mammals.

An abundance of marine life feeds in these rich waters, with likely species including humpback whale, orca, Dall’s porpoise, sea otter and Steller sea lion. There’s a particular focus on seeing humpback whales, arguably the most entertaining species of cetacean, and with luck, we may see them breaching or bubble-net feeding. This unique behaviour is a wonderful sight to behold, as the whales create "nets" of rising bubbles that enclose shoals of krill or small fish. Trapped in the centre of the "net" the shoals are driven to the surface where the whales erupt, mouths agape, to consume their quarry.

Petersburg, or vice versa. You visit a variety of wonderful locations: from Admiralty Island, with its high concentration of grizzly bears and bald eagles, to the spectacular LeConte Glacier, and Anan Creek, where you

may see black bears fishing for salmon. Each evening the vessel anchors in a secluded bay, where you can explore by kayak, or discuss the wildlife seen during the day with your superb expedition team.

Much of this wildlife watching extravaganza occurs within North America’s immense Tongass National Forest, with voyages sailing from Prince Rupert to

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Board your vessel in Petersburg (or Prince Rupert) Days 2-10: Cruise the waters of South-east Alaska, visiting areas such as Anan Creek (to see black and grizzly bears) and core feeding locations for humpback whales (such as Frederick Sound, Chatham Strait and Stephens Passage). Possible sightings include orca, Dall’s porpoises, which often play in the boat’s bow wave, and huge Steller sea lions basking along the shores.

You visit LeConte Glacier and an old Native American settlement at Ketchikan. Explore by Zodiac, enjoy shore landings, or admire the scenery while kayaking.

Day 11: Disembark in Prince Rupert (or Petersburg).

11 days, from £6,405 (voyage only) Departure dates: 5, 16 & 28 Jul & 8 Aug 2024; 5, 16 & 28 Jul & 8 Aug 2025 Embark/Disembark: Petersburg/Prince Rupert or vice versa Vessels: Island Roamer, a 21-metre ketch-rigged yacht, with a maximum of 16 guests.

Why book Bears & Whales in South-east Alaska?

To encounter humpback whales and orcas in their natural environment and watch bears congregating along the rivers and creeks as they fish for salmon. ཀྵ See grizzly bears ཀྵ Humpbacks and orcas ཀྵ Wild and remote location

South-east Alaska is arguably one of the most magical wilderness areas on Earth. The stunning fjords, forest-clad slopes and rugged peaks all play host to a staggering diversity of wildlife. Whether you love birds, bears or whales, I urge you to visit this wild paradise.

Bret Charman, Product Executive and Tour Leader

Admiralty Island

Stephens Passage

Canada

Hobart Bay Frederick Sound

Wildlife Highlights

LeConte Glacier Petersburg

ཀྵ Humpback whale ཀྵ Black and grizzly bears ཀྵ Orca and other dolphins ཀྵ Steller sea lion and sea

otter ཀྵ Bald eagle

Anan Creek

Alaska

Activities Shore landings and Zodiac excursions, whale watching, sea kayaking, bear watching.

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Chatham Sound

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Prince Rupert

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Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon

Take to the waterways of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in search of its unique wildlife, including river dolphins, giant river otters, primates, caimans and a wide variety of birds.

Whilst recognised as the world's largest rainforest and one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, the Amazon does not give up its secrets easily. There's one guaranteed way to unlock its timeless mysteries, however, and that’s to get on a boat.

Starting in Manaus, the gateway of the Amazon, this voyage takes us up the Rio Negro, the Amazon tributary that tumbles out of Colombia and into undisturbed areas of a region nearly 30 times the size of the UK. Here, in sundappled patches of virgin forest, we’ll encounter some of the most iconic as well as surprising species of this celebrated biome.

Slipping gently through the quiet backwaters of the Rio Negro, toucans and kingfishers are regular sightings. Caimans

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nose silently into the water as they hear us approaching, while capybara - the world’s largest rodents - sit proudly in family groups along the riverbank.

We spend our time in a number of different craft - we’ll live and sleep aboard a traditional riverboat, MY Tucano, purpose built for Amazon exploration.

But to access the narrowest, shallowest creeks and allow us to set foot on dry land when needed, we’ll take to motorised canoes or even pilot ourselves in small river kayaks.

the branches while colourful macaws make daily flyovers.

Other charismatic species are present but rarely seen - jaguars haunt the shorelines in search of prey, while Brazilian tapirs wander the dark forest interiors.

We return to Manaus via the ‘meeting of the waters’, where the Amazon and Negro flow alongside each other for several miles before finally merging into one river - leaving us with the memories of a lifetime.

We visit oxbow lakes, geological features of meandering rivers cut off from the main channel.

Here, giant river otters forage for piranhas and even the occasional caiman. In this, their natural habitat, we’ll see why they're called the Amazon’s river wolves.

Rainforest monkeys will be a regular feature in the canopy with howler, squirrel, capuchin and saki monkeys all likely to be seen.

In cecropia trees we may be fortunate enough to find a threetoed sloth ambling slowly through

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Board MY Tucano & head upstream on the River Negro, visiting some of the seldom-seen corners of the Amazon Rainforest.

Days 2-5: Explore the network of forested islands, flooded varzea & dense terra firme forests of the Rio Negro catchment in motorised canoes, kayaks & on foot. Search for a wealth of birdlife, primates & of course Amazon river dolphins in the company of an expert naturalist guide. In the evenings, we enjoy night walks or boat trips for nocturnal wildlife, enjoying the magnificent starlit skies if conditions allow.

Day 6: Return downstream to the confluence of the Amazon & Negro & spend the evening docked at Manaus.

Day 7: Disembark in Manaus.

7 days, from £3,095 (voyage only) Departure dates: Jan-Dec See pages 34-35 for dates Embark/Disembark: Manaus/ Manaus Vessel: MY Tucano, a traditional Amazon riverboat with 9 cabins

Why book Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon?

To explore the largest tropical rainforest on Earth and visit its seasonally flooded forests and oxbow lakes. ཀྵ Immersive rainforest experience ཀྵ Iconic flora & fauna ཀྵ Traditional riverboat

From Amazon river dolphins splashing next to the boat to a pair of scarlet macaws flying overhead or waking to the sound of howler monkeys, this special cruise along the spectacular Rio Negro is the perfect introduction to the world's greatest rainforest.

Ian Loyd, Wildlife Product Manager

Brazil

Wildlife Highlights Rio Negro

ཀྵ Giant river otters ཀྵ Macaws, toucans &

kingfishers ཀྵ River dolphins ཀྵ Reptiles & amphibians ཀྵ Amazonian monkeys

Rio Solimoes

Manaus

Activities Motorised canoe trips, forest walks, kayaking, swimming, indigenous village

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Great Bear Rainforest

Journey to the north-east Pacific to discover the incredible wildlife of British Columbia’s true wilderness, including the extraordinary honey-coloured spirit bear.

Spread over 70,000 square kilometres - that’s more than three times the size of Wales - of British Columbia’s west coast, the Great Bear Rainforest is the world’s most intact temperate rainforest.

And while renowned for its wildlife that includes predators such as wolves and pumas on land, and humpback whales and orcas in the seemingly endless network of sea channels, this area is most famous for one very rare and special inhabitant - the Kermode or spirit bear.

The spirit bear is a striking, creamy-white ‘morph’ of the black bear that’s found on a few islands off British Columbia's coast. An estimated 10% of these bears possess a double recessive gene that produces their unlikely coloured offspring,

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up to 500 individuals in total.

Our trip takes us right into the heart of the rainforest, where moss and lichen-clad Sitka spruces and 1,000-year-old western red cedars create a primaeval environment for our adventure.

While cruising, we're constantly on the lookout for humpback whales which come here to feed on krill that proliferate in the cold, rich waters, plus killer whales, or orcas, Dall’s porpoises and

Pacific white-sided dolphins.

Looking upwards, we should see plenty of bald eagles, as well as woodpeckers, owls and seabirds such as common murres and rhinoceros auklets.

The best chance of finding bears is from viewing platforms beside salmon streams where during the late summer and early autumn, all bears (black, brown and white!) feast on salmon in preparation for their winter hibernation. This is the most critical time of year for all of them because, in just a few short weeks, the huge influx of spawning salmon provides an incredible 30-60% of their annual calorie intake.

We explore around the islands of the Great Bear Rainforest aboard one of three beautiful motor sail boats. Though there's no strict schedule, we visit both Princess Royal Island and the Fjordland Conservancy at some point during the trip.

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Board your vessel in Terrace or Bella Bella & set sail for the Great Bear Rainforest.

Days 2-4: Explore Fjordland Conservancy, looking for bears feeding on salmon.

Days 5-6: Sail around the Central Coast visiting places such as Campania Sound & Whale Channel - excellent areas for spotting humpback whales & Steller sea lions.

Day 7: Navigate the Princess Royal Island coastline for bears & whales. Visit platforms within the forest to see spirit bears.

Day 8: Return to Terrace or Bella Bella & disembark.

8 days, from £5,845 (voyage only) Departure dates: Aug-Oct See pages 34-35 for dates Embark/Disembark: Terrace/ Bella Bella or vice versa or Terrace/Terrace Vessels: Island Odyssey, Island Solitude & Island Roamer

Why book Great Bear Rainforest?

To cruise the myriad sea channels in the world's most intact temperate rainforest and to see the rare spirit bear, as well as a host of other wildlife. ཀྵ True wilderness ཀྵ Dramatic scenery ཀྵ Wildlife of the north-east Pacific ཀྵ Intimate small vessel

Bears are perhaps the most endearing of all land mammals, whales the most endearing in the sea, and the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia is the very best place to encounter both.

Chris Breen, Wildlife Worldwide Founder

Terrace

Canada

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Spirit or Kermode bear ཀྵ Grizzly & black bears ཀྵ Humpback whales ཀྵ Orcas & other dolphins ཀྵ Bald eagles

Bella Bella Princess Royal Island

Activities

Pacific Ocean

Shore & forest excursions, bear watching, sea kayaking, First Nations village visit

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Snorkelling with Humpbacks on Silver Bank

North of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, the seabed forms an underwater bank where North Atlantic humpback whales gather to give birth, resulting in vast numbers of mothers and calves. Swimming with the humpbacks of the Silver Bank Sanctuary is one of the most remarkable whale watching experiences anywhere in the world.

In the four months from January to April, up to 3,000 individuals gather here - pregnant mothers to give birth, others to meet and mate - making it the largest gathering of this species in the North Atlantic.

Every care is taken to ensure our presence does not negatively impact the whales in any way with visitor numbers to Silver Bank being very carefully controlled. With only three commercial ecotourism vessels permitted here, it's perhaps the most exclusive whale watching destination in the world.

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So imagine the scene - you’re in a gentle swell in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, out of sight of land and wearing a mask and snorkel. You duck under the surface to scan the water and initially, it’s just deep, deep blue all around you. Then, from the depths below comes a hard-todistinguish shape that you realise is a humpback whale. And, not only that, it’s accompanied by a calf that would have been born here at Silver Bank earlier in the year.

If this wasn’t enough, it’s not just humpback whales you can expect to encounter here as the marine sanctuary is also a refuge for dolphins and rays. With twice-daily excursions, there are plenty of opportunities

to immerse yourself in the wonders of the Atlantic Ocean.

This is perhaps one of the most unusual of the trips that we offer anywhere on Earth.

The pair slowly approach to within 10 metres or so, then effortlessly move away again.

And for half an hour or so the pair are content to be watched by us human interlopers in their environment.

And being in the water with the whales, we won't just be able to watch them, we can listen to them too - their haunting song echoing through the water, and the sound of their pectoral fins and tails as they slap them on the surface of the water.

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Board Turks & Caicos Aggressor in Puerto Plata.

Depart for Silver Bank around midnight.

Days 2-6: Morning & afternoon excursions to swim with humpback whales. Our objective will be for you to spend as much time in the water as possible with the whales as long as they're comfortable with it.

Schedules may vary slightly depending on how the whales behave.

Day 7: Final excursion into the water, before departing for Dominican Republic at lunchtime.

Day 8: Disembark in Puerto Plata.

8 days, from £3,745 (voyage only) Departure dates: Jan-Apr See pages 34-35 for dates Embark/Disembark: Puerto Plata/Puerto Plata Vessel: Turks & Caicos Aggressor, a comfortable motor cruiser accommodating 18 passengers

Why book Snorkelling with Humpbacks on Silver Bank?

For the most intimate of encounters with one of the largest animals on the planet in the safe surroundings of the Caribbean Sea. ཀྵ Bucket-list adventure ཀྵ Wildlife encounters ཀྵ Caribbean experience

This is surely the most incredible of all the whale watching trips that are possible to enjoy - snorkelling in the Caribbean with humpback whales, seeing them underwater and even hearing them singing. It must go right to the top of the bucket list!

Chris Breen - Wildlife Worldwide Founder

Silver Bank

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Humpback whales ཀྵ Bryde’s whales ཀྵ Bottlenose & spinner

Puerto Plata

dolphins ཀྵ Southern stingrays

Haiti Dominican Republic

Activities Boat excursions, swimming & snorkelling, whale watching, birdwatching

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15

Wildlife of Indonesia with Mike Dilger

Visit the remote islands of southern Indonesia for fascinating encounters with Sumatran orangutans, black-crested macaques and one of the world's most extraordinary reptiles.

It’s not just the world’s largest lizard, a 3-metre behemoth that inspired stories about mythological dragons, but it’s also the top predator on the islands where it lives. And while the Komodo dragon may not be able to breathe real fire, it does possess a toxic bite that's just as deadly to its prey.

If an encounter with such a beast is not a reason to fly halfway around the world, then the rest of this trip with renowned wildlife expert and presenter Mike Dilger certainly is. The strange, unique fauna of Sulawesi, the aweinspiring Sumatran orangutan in one of the world’s oldest rainforests or the fabulous snorkelling on the island of Komodo itself, are just a few of the many highlights.

This unique trip will also be an introduction to Alfred Russel Wallace. It was Wallace’s natural history expeditions to the Malay Archipelago that helped him establish a theory of evolution that almost stole Darwin’s thunder.

to Flores, where we board a traditional Indonesian phinisi - a two-masted wooden yacht - and set sail for Komodo itself. It won’t be long before we encounter the dragons that bear the island’s name. We have ample opportunity

to admire the magnificent lizards, while looking out for the other wildlife. During our final days cruising, we have the chance to enjoy world-class snorkelling, where we’ll find a great diversity of corals, fish and even manta rays.

We first explore Tangkoko National Park at the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, where the endemic black-crested macaques, along with the tiny insectivorous spectral tarsier, curious bear cuscus and colourful knobbed hornbill will be among our targets.

From Tangkoko, we fly to northern Sumatra to discover the biologically complex rainforests of the vast Leuser ecosystem.

Here we explore Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the last strongholds for some of the island's most iconic, yet endangered mammals. The awe inspiring Sumatran orangutan and acrobatic siamang gibbon will be among the targets.

For the finale, we head south

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Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

VE SI E LU G C YA EX VO

Itinerary Day 1: UK to Jakarta.

Day 2: Overnight in Jakarta.

Day 3: Fly to Manado, Sulawesi.

Days 4-5: Excursions in Tangkoko National Park.

Day 6: Return to Jakarta.

Day 7: Jakarta to Medan & on to Bukit Lawang, Sumatra.

Days 8-10: Excursions in Gunung Leuser National Park.

Day 11: Return to Jakarta.

Day 12: Fly to Labuan Bajo.

Day 13: Board the Tiger Blue & sail to Sabayor Kecil.

Day 14: Day to explore Rinca & Manta Point.

Day 15: Mauan & Kode’s reefs.

Day 16: Komodo & Padar Islands.

Day 17: Final morning on Komodo. Sail back to Labuan Bajo for flight onto Jakarta.

Day 18: Return to UK, via Dubai.

18 days, from £9,995 (incl. flights) £9,195 (excl. flights) Departure date: 6 Oct 2025 & 5 Oct 2026 Embark/Disembark: Labuan Bajo (Flores)/Labuan Bajo Vessel: Tiger Blue, a traditional two-masted boat sleeping 12 guests Tour Leader: Mike Dilger

Why book Wildlife of Indonesia with Mike Dilger?

For close-up encounters with the world’s largest lizard, plus a chance to get to know the unique wildlife of this unexplored part of the world. ཀྵ Fascinating range of primates ཀྵ Traditional yacht ཀྵ Island hopping ཀྵ World-class snorkelling

This awe-inspiring Indonesian odyssey through the Malay Archipelago will take in the finest wildlife this island chain has to offer. Visiting everything from Sumatra in the west, to Lombok in the east, we’ll be ogling at orangs, listening to lar gibbons and of course dining with dragons!

Mike Dilger, Tour Leader Tangkoko National Park

Wildlife Highlights

Indonesia

ཀྵ Black-crested macaque ཀྵ Bear cuscus & spectral

tarsier ཀྵ Sumatran orangutan ཀྵ Siamang gibbon ཀྵ Komodo dragons

Komodo

Activities Wildlife walks, snorkelling, birdwatching

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Denpasar

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Labuan Bajo Rinca

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17

Raja Ampat's Birds of Paradise & Wildlife

Few birds fire up the imagination like birds of paradise. Why not head to Indonesia’s Coral Triangle to witness the extraordinary courtship displays of the most beautiful birds on Earth?

The humid rainforests of New Guinea, and a myriad of tropical islands to the west, are a living laboratory demonstrating sexual selection in action, with birds of paradise as the test subjects.

Over tens of thousands of years, in isolation from mainland species, the females’ aesthetic choices have driven the evolution of this spectacular group of birds. Our trip to the Raja Ampat and Maluku archipelagos, which pockmark the Halmahera Sea, will give us a ringside seat to view this impressive process in action. While cruising from island to island in the 35-metre sailing yacht Katharina, we watch the sophisticated courtship dances of the elaborately attired males.

We focus on at least three charismatic species which

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provide the most reliable and accessible lek sites, including the lesser, red and Wilson’s bird of paradise. We also have the chance to see the colourful king bird of paradise and non-lekking glossy-mantled manucode.

Bird of paradise courtship dances are beautiful and mesmeric for humans to watch.

They must be for the females too, who choose their mates based on which of the males have the brightest feathers and

the most alluring dance steps.

It’s this process, performed and perfected over millions of years, which has rewarded the male with its extraordinary plumage.

With its dazzling array of electric blue, yellow, red and green plumage, not to mention the violet tail feathers that end in delicate curls resembling fancy ironwork, the Wilson’s is perhaps the most spectacular of these, but they're all truly stunning.

Unlike most other members of its family, the male Wilson’s bird of paradise displays at ground level, exploiting shafts of light piercing the forest canopy to inflame his bright colours.

Our tour will feature other natural history highlights of this biodiversity hotspot, where possible wildlife sightings include the magnificent whale shark, the curious Waigeo spotted cuscus, spinner dolphins, hundreds of reef fish, giant birdwing butterflies and various colourful parrots and cockatoos.

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

VE SI E LU G C YA EX VO

Itinerary Day 1: UK to Dubai.

Day 2: Dubai to Jakarta.

Day 3: Jakarta to Kaimana, West Papua for one night.

Day 4: Board the Katharina and begin exploring the Raja Ampat archipelago.

Day 5-6: Visit Triton Bay and the Namatote Passage for whale sharks and snorkelling.

Day 7-8: Explore the remote West Papuan forests for rare birds and wildlife. Snorkel coral reefs.

Day 9-10: Explore Misool for lesser bird of paradise, king bird of paradise.

Day 11: Explore Pulau Waigeo in search of Wilson’s bird of paradise lek and manta rays.

Day 12: Discover Mioskon Island for red bird of paradise.

Day 13: Depart Sorong for Jakarta & then continue to Dubai.

Day 14: Dubai to UK.

14 days, from £11,795 (incl. flights) £11,095 (excl. flights) Departure date: 8 Nov 2025 Embark/Disembark: Kaimana/ Sorong Vessel: Katharina Tour Leader: Terry Goble

Why book Raja Ampat’s Birds of Paradise & Wildlife?

Our trip has many highlights: Wilson's bird of paradise in its iridescent splendour, playful dolphins leaping around the bow, the adorable spotted cuscus, and a backdrop of verdant forests, stunning islands and beautiful night skies.

These images will stay with you long after you return.

For intimate encounters with perhaps the world’s most beautiful birds and serene sailing through jewel-like islands. ཀྵ Stunning island scenery ཀྵ Fascinating birdlife ཀྵ Superb motorised yacht

Terry Goble, Tour Leader

Waigeo

Batana

Wildlife Highlights

Sorong

Indonesia

ཀྵ Wilson’s bird of paradise ཀྵ King, red and lesser birds

of paradise ཀྵ Excellent variety of other

Misool

rainforest bird species ཀྵ Waiego spotted cuscus

Pisang

and Papuan frogmouth ཀྵ Whale sharks, dolphins and pristine reefs

Sipatnanam

Namatote

Lobo

Activities

Triton Bay

Birdwatching, snorkelling, hikes, dolphin watching

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Kaimana

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Coastal Wilds of Tasmania

Poised at the edge of the world, Tasmania is an untamed wilderness bursting with breathtaking landscapes, unique flora and an astonishing array of wonderful wildlife.

Far removed from mainland Australia, with its rugged coast and untouched hinterland, Tasmania is an island which is home to a staggering diversity of species found nowhere else on Earth. A treasure trove of fascinating marsupials, a bird lover’s utopia, and a wonderland of monotreme (egg-laying mammal) species, Tasmania offers an unforgettable expedition for anyone seeking enigmatic wildlife.

The unique creatures that call this wild land home have evolved in isolation. Some, like the now-extinct Tasmanian tiger and Tasmanian devil are well-known. Other species, such as the Tasmanian pademelon, are less well-known, but equally fascinating. Resembling a small kangaroo, the charming and elusive pademelon has

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adapted to its environment thanks to its incredible agility and camouflage. Tasmania is also home to delightful wombats and charismatic Bennett wallabies.

Alongside these rare species are weird and wonderful monotremes, such as quillcovered echidnas and duck-billed platypus, plus 12 endemic bird species. The yellow wattlebird, green rosella, Tasmanian thornbill and yellowthroated honeyeater are all likely sightings. You may also see the endangered orangebellied parrot, one of Australia’s most threatened bird species, or perhaps the forty-spotted pardalote, so named due to its discrete spots, which is one of Australia’s rarest birds.

While sailing, you’re likely to be accompanied by a variety of seabirds, including Pacific and kelp gull, shy albatross, and whitebellied sea eagle, along with pods of playful dolphins, which are frequently seen bow-riding.

This immersive expedition promises soaring coastal cliffs and perfectly curved beaches, a compelling colonial heritage, and extraordinary wildlife encounters.

Passionate explorers, marine biologists, and naturalists make up your expedition team. After embarking from Hobart, you learn about Tasmania's convict history at Maria Island and Port Arthur, explore Bruny Island and Freycinet National Park, and enjoy lectures on a whole host of subjects.

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

E EW G N YA VO

Itinerary Day 1: Board your vessel in Hobart and set sail.

Day 2-10: Explore the southern coast of Tasmania, from Port Davey in the south-west to Wineglass Bay in the east. Key destinations include: Bathurst Harbour Marine Reserve, Bruny Island, Maria Island National Park, Freycinet National Park, Port Arthur Historic Site and Tasman National Park.

Encounter wonderful land mammals, endemic bird species and marine wildlife that includes large colonies of fur seals and pods of dolphins.

Day 11: Disembark in Hobart.

11 days, from £4,800 (voyage only) Departure dates: 28 Jan, 7 & 17 Feb 2024; 28 Jan, 7 & 17 Feb 2025 Embark/Disembark: Hobart/ Hobart Vessels: Coral Discoverer, a 63-metre expedition yacht, carrying a maximum of 72 guests.

Why book Coastal Wilds of Tasmania?

To learn about Tasmania’s colonial heritage and convict history, and to observe iconic wildlife. ཀྵ Rugged coastal wilderness ཀྵ Unique wildlife species

A lost, wild world, Tasmania is a place like no other. This rugged and wildlife-filled utopia is a haven for many of Australia’s rarest species. There is nowhere I would rather be than exploring the islands and coastline of Tasmania, searching for the unique and endemic wildlife.

Bret Charman, Product Executive and Tour Leader

Wineglass Bay

Wildlife Highlights

Tasmania

ཀྵ Tasmanian pademelon

and wombat ཀྵ Bennett’s wallaby and forester kangaroo ཀྵ Green rosella, yellowthroated honeyeater and white-bellied sea eagle ཀྵ Australian fur seals

Maria Island

Hobart Port Arthur

Port Davey

Bruny Island

Activities Cruises by Xplorer tender or Zodiac, coastal trail walking, birdwatching, sea kayaking and wine-tasting events.

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The Galápagos Islands Located approximately 1,000 kilometres west of continental South America and straddling the equator, the Galápagos Islands are one of the most sought-after wildlife travel destinations in the world. Here, the intimacy of wildlife encounters is unrivalled as you weave your way through colonies of blue-footed boobies performing their elaborate courtship dance or swim with playful, young Galápagos sea lions. Famous too as a location that helped Charles Darwin produce his theory of evolution, the Galápagos Islands hold a significant place in human history.

The Galápagos Islands Genovesa Santiago Bartolomé Santa Cruz

Fernandina

San Cristóbal Isabela Floreana

Española

The Islands The archipelago consists of 18 major islands spread over more than 200 kilometres but you're likely to visit about half of them. All the islands are rich in wildlife but some have particular strengths.

Isabela The largest of the islands, and a good location for encountering giant tortoises on its volcanic slopes.

Santa Cruz Eight out of the 13 species of endemic finches live on Santa Cruz. Off the coast, you may see turtles, sharks and rays.

Santiago & Bartolomé Expect to see endemics such as the Galápagos dove, hawk and mockingbird, plus land iguanas on Santiago and Galápagos penguins on Bartolomé.

Fernandina An active volcano, Fernandina is renowned for its large population of land iguanas.

Floreana has one of the best snorkelling sites in the archipelago - the Devil’s Crown.

San Cristóbal The first of the Galápagos Islands Charles Darwin landed on. Home to blue-footed boobies.

Genovesa Good for breeding fur seals and sea lions and the world’s rarest gull - the lava gull.

Española Waved albatrosses breed here from AprilDecember. Other seabirds include bluefooted boobies.

Wildlife Much of the wildlife in the Galápagos is found nowhere else on Earth - including marine iguanas, three species of land iguana, nine species of racer snake, ten species of lava lizard, eight species of gecko and 14 species of giant tortoise (in fact ‘galápago’ is a Spanish term for tortoise).

Other important endemics include many birds such as Galápagos penguin, Galápagos dove, Galápagos hawk, Galápagos flamingo and several mockingbirds and finches which Darwin made famous through his theory of evolution.

But much of the wildlife that the islands are famous for is not endemic. Three species of booby nest here in large colonies and can be approached without alarming them.

All the native mammals you're likely to see are marine mammals - most notably Galápagos sea lions and Galápagos fur seals, but there's also an endemic species of rice rat that we occasionally see too. And beneath the waves, there's a rich array of fish, sharks and rays to add to the long list of exceptional wildlife that calls this archipelago home.

Getting there Getting to the Galápagos is easy with all flights departing from Quito in mainland Ecuador and stopping en route at Guayaquil to refuel and collect passengers. There are two commercial airports in the Galápagos: one on Baltra, just north of Santa Cruz, and the other on San Cristóbal. Voyages start and end at either of these airports.

which may include island landings (both wet and dry) and exploring in the small pangas (dinghies) that each of the boats has.

You'll always be accompanied on excursions by an experienced naturalist guide, and the landings are strictly controlled, with marked trails showing where you can and can't go.

As for dining, all meals will be onboard, with plenty of fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, and it's possible to cater for virtually all dietary requirements.

Tea and coffee are available whenever you want them, and there's free time to read or relax in shared spaces above deck or in your cabin.

Experiences & Activities Wildlife watching is the primary activity in the Galápagos, but there are plenty of different ways to enjoy the natural cornucopia. Wildlife photography is popular with most visitors, and you'll find much of the wildlife remarkably habituated to humans - it simply isn't concerned by our presence at all.

Most vessels offer snorkelling every day, which will be the trip's highlight for many.

Turtles, sharks, rays and a huge variety of fish species can be seen safely and quite easily.

Kayaking is also possible on many boats and the seas around the islands, which tend to be relatively calm and safe, making this activity something that even novices can enjoy.

What to Expect All voyages in the Galápagos follow the same blueprint, visiting different islands each day.

To enable you to visit various islands the vessels often sail overnight, so you arrive at your new destination in the morning. There are generally two excursions each day

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The Galápagos Islands Wildlife Calendar The Galápagos is an incredible location, with most of the animals and birds visible year-round.

From lizards and iguanas to giant tortoises, sea lions and fur seals, cormorants, flamingos and boobies, to frigatebirds and penguins, the islands are rich with magnificent wildlife. There’s so much to see, and there really is no ‘best time’ to visit; it’s fabulous throughout the year. The archipelago is generally warmer and wetter between December and May, and between June and November, it’s cooler and drier, during which cooler ocean currents attract more marine life.

January

February

ཀྵ On Española, adult marine iguanas are at their most brightly coloured ཀྵ Green sea turtles arrive on the beaches to lay their eggs ཀྵ Land birds begin their courtship and nesting rituals ཀྵ Galápagos sea lions are at the end of their mating season ཀྵ Giant tortoises begin to hatch

April

May

ཀྵ Wildflowers bloom in the highlands ཀྵ Waved albatrosses arrive en-masse on Española to start their courtship ཀྵ Giant tortoise hatching season comes to an end ཀྵ Green sea turtle eggs start to hatch ཀྵ Land iguana eggs hatch on Isabela ཀྵ The best time to see Galápagos penguins on Isabela

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ཀྵ Flamingos begin to nest on Floreana ཀྵ Start of the black-tailed pintail breeding season ཀྵ Marine iguanas begin to nest on Santa Cruz ཀྵ Courtship of magnificent frigatebirds begins on North Seymour ཀྵ The optimum time to see nesting Galápagos doves

ཀྵ North Seymour’s blue-footed boobies begin their courtship ཀྵ Green sea turtles hatch at Gardner Bay (Hood), Punta Cormorant (Floreana) and Puerto Egas (Santiago) ཀྵ Waved albatross on Española begin laying their eggs ཀྵ Band-rumped storm petrels begin their first nesting period

March ཀྵ Marine iguanas nest on Fernandina ཀྵ On 21st March, the equinox heralds the arrival of the first waved albatross on Española ཀྵ Frigatebirds nest on San Cristóbal and Genovesa ཀྵ Start of the nesting period for Galápagos penguins and flightless cormorants

June ཀྵ Migrating humpback whales are seen between now and September ཀྵ Giant tortoises migrate from the Santa Cruz highlands in search of nesting sites ཀྵ Southern migrant birds begin their northward journey - Galápagos is an important landfall ཀྵ Blue-footed boobies begin their courtship rituals on North Seymour

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32°C 30°C 28°C 26°C 24°C 22°C 20°C 18°C 16°C 14°C 12°C 10°C 8°C

January

February

March

April

May

Maximum Air Temperature

July

June

July

August

Minimum Air Temperature

August

ཀྵ The peak nesting season for seabirds ཀྵ A great time to see all four stages of nesting blue-footed boobies on Española - eggs, chicks, juveniles and sub-adults ཀྵ Flightless cormorants perform beautiful courtship rituals and nest on Fernandina ཀྵ Lava lizards begin mating rituals ཀྵ One of the best months to see whales and dolphins

October

ཀྵ Galápagos hawks begin courtship displays on Española and Santiago ཀྵ Nazca boobies and swallow-tailed gulls nest on Genovesa ཀྵ Migrant waders begin to arrive, and stay until March ཀྵ Giant tortoises return to the highlands on Santa Cruz after laying their eggs ཀྵ Galápagos sea lions begin to give birth

November

December

Sea Temperature

ཀྵ Galápagos penguins are at their most active on Bartolomé with courtship ཀྵ Galápagos sea lions are very active - females are in season, and males constantly bark and fight ཀྵ Blue-footed boobies are nesting on some of the islands ཀྵ A good month for migrating humpbacks off the coast

December

ཀྵ Galápagos sea lion pupping continues ཀྵ The breeding season for brown noddies begins ཀྵ Jellyfish can be seen in the water around the islands ཀྵ Band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period. ཀྵ Migrating waders begin arriving from North America in good numbers

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October

September

November

ཀྵ Lava herons start nest building and continue until March ཀྵ Galápagos fur seals begin mating ཀྵ Blue-footed boobies raise their chicks on Española and Isabela ཀྵ Giant tortoises still lay eggs in some places ཀྵ The beaches are teeming with sea lions and their pups

September

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ཀྵ Giant tortoise’s eggs begin to hatch, lasting until April ཀྵ Green sea turtles begin their mating display ཀྵ The first young waved albatrosses fledge and won’t return until April ཀྵ Marine iguanas and land iguanas begin their mating rituals

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Galápagos Wildlife Cruise

Head for the world’s most famous wildlife islands for remarkable encounters with iconic wildlife and to follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest naturalists of all time.

While the Galápagos Islands are best known for the plethora of species that can be found nowhere else in the world and as the living laboratory that helped Charles Darwin formulate his theory of evolution, any visit here is arguably most memorable for the fantastic intimacy of these wildlife encounters. This is because many species have evolved without natural predators and have little fear of other animals - including humans.

Fauna falls into two main categories. First and foremost are the endemics, many of which are unique in their appearance and behaviour. These include marine iguanas, the only lizards in the world that forage in the sea and are renowned for the row of spines along their backs that give them a fearsome and utterly unique appearance.

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On Fernandina, there’s an opportunity to snorkel with these amazing reptiles as they feed on underwater algae.

Other notable endemics are giant tortoises, flightless cormorants and the 17 species of finch that so critically influenced Darwin’s thinking. Everything from the Galápagos penguin (the only penguin found in the Northern Hemisphere) to the Galápagos mockingbird are likely to be seen.

boobies, watching their tender, elaborate courtship dances.

to relax after a busy day on the wildlife trail.

We visit ten different islands during this exceptional 12-night voyage aboard the 36-metre MV Beluga - the perfect place

We offer two departures for this trip, one led by Helen Bryon and the other with Mark Carwardine and Chris Breen.

And that’s not forgetting the Galápagos sea lions and fur seals, like much of the wildlife so unafraid of humans you can swim with them from some beaches. Snorkelling is also a must-do daily activity, allowing you to glide over schools of huge rays and other tropical fish.

Then there are the creatures that are found in other parts of the world but which you can observe here with unparalleled ease. One of the great joys of a trip to the Galápagos is meandering slowly through nesting colonies of bluefooted, red-footed and Nazca

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

VE SI E LU G C YA EX VO

Itinerary Day 1: Depart UK & arrive Quito.

Day 2: Depart Quito & arrive San Cristóbal. Board MV Beluga.

Day 3: Española Island.

Day 4: Floreana.

Day 5: Santa Cruz & Santiago Islands.

Day 6: Genovesa.

Days 7-8: Santa Cruz & Rabida.

Days 9-12: Isabela & Fernandina.

Days 13: Santiago & Bartolomé Island.

Day 14: Depart Baltra Airport for UK arriving Day 15.

Embark/Disembark: San Cristóbal/Baltra Vessel: Beluga

Galápagos Wildlife Cruise 15 days, from £11,395 (incl. flights) £10,595 (excl. flights).

Departure date: 17 Apr 2025 Tour Leader: Helen Bryon

Galápagos Exclusive with Mark Carwardine 15 days, from £13,995 (incl. flights) £13,195 (excl. flights) Departure date: 1 May 2025 Tour Leaders: Mark Carwardine & Chris Breen

Why book Galápagos Wildlife Cruise?

To observe the iconic wildlife of this famous archipelago in the company of a passionate and knowledgeable wildlife guide and aboard a comfortable and spacious motor cruiser. ཀྵ Endemic species ཀྵ Close encounters ཀྵ Fascinating history ཀྵ Expert-led departures

The Galápagos is a place of pure magic, that hasn't changed since the world began. To walk amongst albatrosses, boobies and frigatebirds is one thing, but to swim with sea lions, turtles and marine iguanas is quite another.

Chris Breen, Wildlife Worldwide Founder

The Galápagos Islands

Genovesa

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Galápagos sea lions ཀྵ Marine & land iguanas ཀྵ Red, blue-footed & Nazca

boobies ཀྵ Giant tortoises

Santiago Rabida Fernandina

Santa Cruz San Cristóbal

Isabela

Activities Wildlife watching, snorkelling, swimming, photography, walking

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Floreana

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Española

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Highlights of the Galápagos Islands

A small-ship expedition is unquestionably the best way to experience the Galápagos Islands. For anyone looking to travel outside April and May (when our exclusive voyages operate) we have carefully selected a variety of fantastic itineraries.

Traditionally, cruise options were limited to east or west. The eastern islands are smaller and older than the western islands and boast lush vegetation. Meanwhile, the west offers lava landscapes, wonderful beaches, and giant uplifted coral beds. These wellestablished itineraries promise a dazzling array of exotic creatures and take place onboard Beluga, a charming yacht featuring just eight cabins.

A choice of contemporary vessels are also available, on stylish expedition yachts, such as Origin, Theory and Evolve. These luxurious vessels showcase the south and north of the islands. On the southern route, you can expect to see waved albatross flying over glorious beaches and bays. The northern route offers remote islands and unique wildlife, such as the red-footed booby and flightless cormorant.

Eastern Galápagos Highlights

Western Galápagos Highlights

Day 1: Arrive in Baltra and board your vessel.

Later visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and enjoy a couple of landing sites.

Day 2: Visit the South Plaza Islands and Santa Fe, home to beautiful white sand and calm turquoise waters. South Plaza Island is home to a healthy population of land iguanas.

Day 3: At Cerro Brujo on San Cristóbal, swim with Galápagos sea lions and encounter bluefooted boobies and brown pelicans.

Day 4: Visit Española where highlights include a waved albatross breeding colony and marine iguanas.

Day 5: Snorkelling at Champion Islet on Floreana with fish, rays, sharks and sea lions.

Day 6: Visit Dragon Hill with its hypersaline lagoon, which is frequented by flamingos.

Nearby James Island offers a wide variety of wildlife.

Day 7: The steep cliffs of Darwin Bay on Genovesa dominate the island, home to thousands of birds, frigatebirds, red-footed boobies and Noddy terns, to name a few.

Day 8: Return to Baltra on Santa Cruz via Black Turtle Cove.

Day 1: Arrive in Baltra and board your vessel.

Later visit the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Day 2: Visit Sombrero Chino for wildlife spotting, including sea lion and marine iguana, followed by Rabida Island to see flamingos and pelican nesting sites.

Days 3-5: Three days visiting Isabela Island, the largest in the archipelago, where highlights include sightings of Galápagos penguins, green turtles, flamingos and rays.

Endemic land iguanas and giant tortoises may also be encountered.

Day 6: A still active volcano, Fernandina has good populations of must-see species such as Galápagos sea lions and marine iguanas, plus nesting blue-footed and Nazca boobies.

Day 7: Visit Santiago for a variety of seabirds, marine iguanas and fur seals. Continue to Bartolomé for swimming and snorkelling.

Day 8: Return to Santa Cruz via North Seymour for blue-footed booby colonies, magnificent frigatebirds and endemic Palo Santo trees.

8 days, from £4,545 (voyage only) Departure dates: Jan-Dec (weekly) Embark/Disembark: Baltra/Baltra Vessel: Beluga

8 days, from £4,545 (voyage only) Departure dates: Jan-Dec (weekly) Embark/Disembark: Baltra/Baltra Vessel: Beluga

Each itinerary is unique, but all offer shore landings, guided walks, and Zodiac excursions.

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Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Northern Galápagos Highlights

Southern Galápagos Highlights

Day 1: Arrive on San Cristóbal Island and board your vessel. Set sail and admire the sunset as you circumnavigate "Kicker Rock".

Day 2: Discover Prince Philip’s Steps on Genovesa, a superb spot for birdwatching.

This afternoon at Darwin Bay, possible sightings include lava and swallow-tailed gulls, great frigatebirds and playful sea lions.

Day 3: This morning, spot dozens of bright pink flamingos on Santa Cruz. Later step ashore on Cerro Dragon, home to Darwin’s finches, Galápagos flycatchers, yellow warblers, and Audubon shearwaters.

Day 4: Witness Sally lightfoot crabs, playful penguins and iguanas on Isabela Island.

Day 5: Observe the pristine ecosystem on Fernandina Island, with its sea lion harems, countless marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and large sea turtles.

Day 6: Rabida is one of the Galápagos’ most colourful islands, with several different types of lava. Visit a saltwater lagoon filled with greater flamingos and look out for marine iguanas, mockingbirds and yellow warblers.

Day 7: On Santa Cruz, visit the breeding centre and Charles Darwin Research Station.

Day 8: After breakfast, disembark.

Day 1: Arrive on San Cristóbal Island and board your vessel.

Day 2: Explore San Cristóbal Island. Likely species include brown pelicans, brown noddy terns and blue-footed boobies. This afternoon, visit Punta Pitt for a hike and more birdwatching.

Day 3: Visit Punta Suarez, home to a large number of endemic species, including the waved albatross. As you walk, look out for marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, Galápagos hawks and swallow-tailed gulls.

Day 4: Walk to a brackish lagoon on Floreana Island and witness Galápagos flycatchers and bright pink flamingos.

Day 5: Explore Santa Cruz, visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, Los Gemelos, and a ranch where tortoises roam free.

Day 6: On Bartolome Island, climb up the 400 wooden steps to enjoy wonderful panoramic views of Pinnacle Rock.

Day 7: Look for a variety of bird nests on South Plaza, then on North Seymour a spectacular sight awaits - frigatebirds with red inflated sacs on their chests.

Day 8: Disembark on San Cristóbal.

8 days, from £8,295 (voyage only)

8 days, from £8,295 (voyage only)

Departure dates: Jan-Dec (weekly) Embark/Disembark: San Cristóbal / San Cristóbal Vessel: Origin, Theory or Evolve

Departure dates: Jan-Dec (weekly) Embark/Disembark: San Cristóbal / San Cristóbal Vessel: Origin, Theory or Evolve

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Ultimate Galápagos Luxury Expedition

This bucket-list expedition combines the lush easterly islands and the volcanic westerly islands for the ultimate wildlife voyage on board a luxury expedition superyacht.

companions, and you can anticipate close encounters with golden-coloured land iguanas.

Sea lions are ubiquitous across the entire archipelago and numerous other endemic species inhabit the islands. Flocks of bright pink flamingos feed in brackish lagoons, giant tortoises roam the highlands, and messes of iguana camouflage the volcanic rockscape.

Combining the east and west offers a plethora of exotic wildlife for the ultimate once-ina-lifetime voyage. In the east, you can expect to see waved albatross, red-footed booby and Galápagos penguin amidst welldeveloped, greener vegetation, while in the west, you can expect large colonies of marine iguana, sea turtle, blue-footed booby and flightless cormorant among fantastic lava landscapes and giant uplifted coral beds.

Playful sea lions will be likely

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First you sail north to Genovesa, superb for birdwatching, then you visit Santiago, Santa Cruz and Española, before exploring the western islands of Floreana, Isabela, Fernandina and Rabida, famed for its maroon-coloured sand. There are opportunities to witness a magnificent array of marine life - from cetaceans and pinnipeds to marine iguanas.

You can also encounter a variety of bird species from frigatebirds to endemic Darwin's finches - so named because Darwin developed his Theory of Evolution after observing them.

At the opposite extreme, in terms of size, is the waved albatross, with its handsome yellow bill and impressive wingspan.

numerous features include a six-person hot tub, impressive panoramic dining room, and a lower deck swim-platform for daily excursions such as snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding.

With remarkable wildlife encounters, numerous adventure options, daily Zodiac cruises and guided hikes, and the comfort of a contemporary vessel.

This epic 14-night voyage takes place aboard the luxury expedition superyacht, Aqua Mare, which accommodates only 16 guests. Sail in comfort with an exclusive one-to-one ratio of crew and guests. The vessel’s

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

E EW G N YA VO

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive and board your vessel on Santa Cruz.

Day 2: Discover Genovesa Island Day 3: Explorer Santiago Island and Sombrero Chino Island Day 4: Visit Bartolome and Santa Cruz Islands Day 5: Return to Santa Cruz to see giant tortoise and visit the Darwin Research Station.

Day 6: Explore Española Day 7: Visit Santa Fe and Plaza Sur Island Day 8: Santa Cruz Island Day 9: Visit Punta Cormorant and Post Office Bay on Floreana Island Day 10: Explore Punta Moreno and Bahía Urbina, Isabela Island Day 11: Discover Fernandina Day 12: Santiago Island Day 13: Rabida Island & Santa Cruz Day 14: Visit North Seymour Island and Mosquera Island Day 15: Disembark

15 days, from £16,625 (voyage only) Departure dates: Oct-Aug Embark/Disembark: Puerto Ayora/Puerto Ayora or Balta/ Baltra Vessels: Aqua Mare

Why book Ultimate Galápagos?

The ultimate bucket-list expedition, onboard a luxury superyacht, combining east and west for a comprehensive exploration of the Galápagos Islands. ཀྵ Luxury expedition ཀྵ Comprehensive itinerary ཀྵ Exotic wildlife ཀྵ Dramatic landscapes ཀྵ Small yacht

The allure of the Galápagos is legendary, boasting incredible wildlife, marine delights and volcanic landscapes.

Travel in absolute style on an extended voyage and discover epicurean magic!

Lauren Boyd - Product Manager

The Galápagos Islands Genovesa

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Waved albatross ཀྵ Flightless cormorant ཀྵ Red and blue-footed

Santiago

boobies ཀྵ Land and marine iguanas ཀྵ Giant tortoise

Rabida

Fernandina

Baltra Santa Cruz Santa Fe

Isabela

Activities Guided walks, Zodiac excursions, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding.

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Floreana

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Española

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Our Galápagos Islands Vessels This is a selection of the vessels that we use for our Galápagos voyages. For further details on all the vessels we can offer, please visit our website or speak to our expert team.

Origin, Theory & Evolve

Beluga Passengers: 16 Type: Superior Motor Yacht Length: 34 m Cruising speed: 12 knots

The Beluga is a charming and surprisingly spacious motor cruiser featuring eight cabins, a delightful bar and dining area and a large sundeck, perfect for sightseeing.

Passion Passengers: 14 Type: Luxury Yacht Length: 49 m Cruising speed: 10 knots

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Passengers: 20 Type: Luxury Expedition Yacht Length: 43 m Cruising speed: 12 knots

Three identical luxury expedition yachts, boasting superb social areas, each with a stylish lounge, bar, and library. Cabins are sophisticated and spacious and enjoy panoramic views.

Nemo II A luxury yacht, Passion offers seven boutique-style cabins, a panoramic sky lounge and bar, and original teakwood decks.

The vessel is air-conditioned throughout.

Passengers: 14 Type: Sail Catamaran Length: 22 m Cruising speed: 9 knots

The Nemo II is a sail catamaran boasting six cabins, each varying in size and configuration. On board facilities include a sun deck, bar and outside dining area.

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

"Our cabin on Theory was excellent and met all of our requirements.

The ability to get up close and personal with the wildlife was amazing and the islands' history enhanced the experience."

Timothy I, March 2023

Aqua Mare

La Pinta

Passengers: 16 Type: Luxury Superyacht Length: 50 m Cruising speed: 17 knots

This elegant superyacht accommodates guests in seven luxurious suites. Offering ample deck space, a hot tub, and panoramic dining, Aqua Mare is contemporary, yet timeless.

Anali

Passengers: 48 Type: Luxury Motor Cruiser Length: 64 m Cruising speed: 10 knots

La Pinta boasts 24 spacious cabins with floor-to-ceiling windows, a well-stocked library, a lecture area with cinema screen, inside and outside dining areas and a choice of bars.

Anahi

Passengers: 16 Type: Catamaran Length: 27 m Cruising speed: 10 knots

The Anali offers eight comfortable cabins, each complete with en suite and air-conditioning. The vessel also boasts an outside space for dining and spotting wildlife.

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Passengers: 16 Type: Catamaran Length: 28 m Cruising speed: 10 knots

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The Anahi is a stable and comfortable ship with wellappointed cabins. Social areas include a relaxing lounge, bar, and sun deck with hot tub.

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Worldwide Voyages Calendar 2024-2025 Vessel

Start Date

Nights

Embark/Disembark

From price excl. flights

VOYAGE TO THE HEART OF THE AMAZON M/Y Tucano

13 Jan 24 10 Feb 24 2 Mar 24 16 Mar 24 6 Apr 24 27 Apr 24 11 May 24 1 Jun 24 15 Jun 24 6 Jul 24 27 Jul 24 10 Aug 24 24 Aug 24 7 Sep 24 28 Sep 24 19 Oct 24 2 Nov 24 16 Nov 24 7 Dec 24 21 Dec 24

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus Manaus/Manaus

£3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095 £3,095

SNORKELLING WITH HUMPBACKS ON SILVER BANK Turks & Caicos Aggressor

20 Jan 24 3 Feb 24 10 Feb 24 17 Feb 24 16 Mar 24 30 Mar 24 18 Jan 25 25 Jan 25 1 Feb 25 22 Feb 25 1 Mar 25 15 Mar 25 29 Mar 25 5 Apr 25

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata Puerto Plata/ Puerto Plata

£3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745 £3,745

10 10 10 10 10 10

Hobart/Hobart Hobart/Hobart Hobart/Hobart Hobart/Hobart Hobart/Hobart Hobart/Hobart

£4,800 £4,800 £4,800 £4,800 £4,800 £4,800

COASTAL WILDS OF TASMANIA NEW Coral Discoverer

28 Jan 24 7 Feb 24 17 Feb 24 28 Jan 25 7 Feb 25 17 Feb 25

GREAT WHALES OF MEXICO’S PACIFIC COAST EXCLUSIVE M/V Searcher

15 Mar 24 8 Feb 25

9 9

San Diego/Los Cabos (Mexico) San Diego/Los Cabos (Mexico)

£6,795 £7,695

San Cristobal/Baltra San Cristobal/Baltra

£9,895 £10,595

GALÁPAGOS WILDLIFE CRUISE EXCLUSIVE Beluga

18 Apr 24 17 Apr 25

12 12

BEARS & WHALES IN SOUTH-EAST ALASKA NEW Island Roamer

5 Jul 24 16 Jul 24 28 Jul 24 8 Aug 24 5 Jul 25 16 Jul 25 28 Jul 25 8 Aug 25

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Prince Rupert/Petersburg Petersburg/Prince Rupert Prince Rupert/Petersburg Petersburg/Prince Rupert Prince Rupert/Petersburg Petersburg/Prince Rupert Prince Rupert/Petersburg Petersburg/Prince Rupert

34

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

£6,405 £6,405 £6,405 £6,405 £6,990 £6,990 £6,990 £6,990

Vessel

Start Date

Nights

Embark/Disembark

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Terrace/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace Terrace/Bella Bella Bella Bella/Terrace

From price excl. flights

GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST 28 Aug 24 5 Sep 24 13 Sep 24 21 Sep 24 29 Sep 24 7 Oct 24 27 Aug 25 4 Sep 25 12 Sep 25 20 Sep 25 28 Sep 25 6 Oct 25 29 Aug 24 6 Sep 24 14 Sep 24 22 Sep 24 30 Sep 24 8 Oct 24 28 Aug 25 5 Sep 25 13 Sep 25 21 Sep 25 29 Sep 25 7 Oct 25 27 Aug 24 4 Sep 24 12 Sep 24 20 Sep 24 28 Sep 24 6 Oct 24 26 Aug 25 3 Sep 25 11 Sep 25 19 Sep 25 27 Sep 25 5 Oct 25

Island Odyssey

Island Roamer

Island Solitude

£5,215 £5,215 £5,215 £5,215 £5,215 £5,215 £5,605 £5,605 £5,605 £5,605 £5,605 £5,605 £5,215 £5,215 £5,215 £5,215 £5,215 £5,215 £5,605 £5,605 £5,605 £5,605 £5,605 £5,605 £6,495 £6,495 £6,495 £6,495 £6,495 £6,495 £7,120 £7,120 £7,120 £7,120 £7,120 £7,120

RAJA AMPAT’S BIRDS OF PARADISE EXCLUSIVE 8 Nov 25

Katharina

14

Kaimana/Sorong

£11,095

7

Marina Bahía Golfito/Los Sueños or vice versa

£6,250

UNEXPLORED COSTA RICA NEW Every Sunday 15 Dec - 15 Jun

M/Y Kontiki Wayra

WILDLIFE OF INDONESIA WITH MIKE DILGER EXCLUSIVE 5 Oct 26

Tiger Blue

18

Jakarta/Jakarta

£9,195

ULTIMATE GALÁPAGOS LUXURY EXPEDITION NEW Every Friday (excluding Sep)

Aqua Mare

14

Puerto Ayora/Puerto Ayora or Balta/Baltra

£16,625

7

San Cristobal/San Cristobal

£8,295

7

Baltra/Baltra

£4,545

NORTHERN/SOUTHERN GALÁPAGOS Origin, Theory or Evolve

Every Wednesday

EASTERN/WESTERN GALÁPAGOS Beluga

Every Wednesday

All holiday prices shown are based on two people sharing a room/cabin and include wildlife activities. Flight inclusive prices from the UK also include transfers. Single supplements on request.

To request a detailed day-to-day itinerary and to book any of our wildlife voyages, please call our expert team on 01962 302055

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Polar Expedition Voyages To visit the Arctic and Antarctic is to travel to regions like nowhere else on Earth. These frozen lands are home to some of the world's most unique wildlife and offer unforgettable wildlife encounters, from seeing the iconic polar bear, to sitting amidst huge colonies of penguins in a vast, icy wilderness. We arrange dedicated charters to the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as tailor-made options on hand-picked vessels and recommended itineraries.

Visiting the Polar Regions As the most remote locations on the planet, trips to both the Arctic and Antarctic can be time-consuming and complex adventures but the rewards once you’re there are out of this world. The Arctic is home to the world's largest terrestrial predator, the polar bear, as well as gargantuan marine species such as walruses. Penguins - from emperor to Adélie - are the specialities of Antarctica, but it’s also a feeding ground for a multitude of great whales, most notably humpback, minke and blue. Seal-predating orcas are also common. Perhaps best of all, there’s rarely a dull moment - if there’s no wildlife to be seen, then there’s always the stupendous landscape to gaze upon in awe.

How to Choose your Polar Voyage All of our trips take place on specialist polar vessels that are comfortable for those on board while being able to access the remotest areas.

Our shortest trip to Antarctica (in which you fly across the Drake Passage) lasts seven days, excluding the days required to reach the departure point of Punta Arenas in southern Chile. Our longest, the Great Antarctic Voyage, which takes in the Antarctic Peninsula as well as the sub-Antarctic Falkland Islands and South Georgia, is up to 20 days. The shortest Arctic trip, our Svalbard Wildlife Expedition, lasts 8 days.

Then you must decide what you want to see on your voyage - is it penguins or polar bears? Orcas or auks? Most of our Arctic trips are centred on the Svalbard archipelago, though one takes you to the heavily fjorded east coast of Greenland. (See pages 48-49 for our Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland trip).

Fitness You don’t need to be a marathon runner, but you do need the stamina to walk medium distances over sometimes rough, uneven ground. Probably, the most important requirement is reasonable agility so that you can climb in and out of Zodiacs.

Best Time to Visit Our trips only take place during the polar summers and early autumns - for the Arctic, that’s June to early September, and for Antarctica, it’s October through to March. However, Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea is a one-off that only departs in November because that’s the best time to see the large Snow Hill Island colony with their chicks.

What to Expect on a Polar Voyage Expect the unexpected! Or, at the very least, be prepared for something to happen at any time.

Remember, because these trips take place during the polar summers, you’ll experience long hours of daylight, often 24 hours.

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There are generally two excursions on the Zodiacs each day, but some of the voyages offer other activities such as sea kayaking, hiking, snow-shoeing and overnight camping.

The expert and experienced guides will constantly be on hand to point out wildlife and interpret what you’re watching.

Life on Board Life on your voyage will be busy, comfortable and fun. Your first outing of the day assuming reasonable weather conditions will usually depart after breakfast, with lunch sandwiched between that and your afternoon excursion.

Food is varied, healthy and filling, with freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, and tea and coffee available at all times.

Most evenings, there’s the option to attend lectures given by the onboard team, and these will give you more details on polar wildlife, landscapes, history and exploration.

Many of our guests use any spare time to watch out for wildlife on deck, whether marine mammals or seabirds. Just to make sure you don’t miss out, announcements will alert you to anything worth grabbing your binoculars and camera for.

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The Arctic Home to some of the most spectacular landscapes and charismatic wildlife on the planet, the Arctic is a bucket-list destination for many people. It’s a harsh environment, where even during the summer, temperatures rarely rise more than a few degrees above freezing. At this time of year, there’s still a great deal of broken sea ice in the fjords and permanent glaciers inland. On the coast however the relative warmth has opened up a snow-free tundra habitat where mosses and a few hardy wildflowers grow.

Wildlife Calendar Th eA rc

Polar bears

tic

Birdlife

Polar bears on pack- Cetaceans in the ice along the northern waters of the High coast of Spitsbergen. Arctic after annual migration.

Pinnipeds, especially walrus around the west coast of Spitsbergen.

The Arctic’s birdlife begins to arrive in preparation for the short breeding season.

Jun

Polar bears make More cetaceans landfall, particularly on arrive from the south, Spitsbergen. increasing frequency of sightings.

Pinnipeds, including harp and bearded seals give birth.

Huge numbers of seabirds - little auks, guillemots and puffins start to breed.

Jul

Sea ice retreats, polar bears become isolated on land across the High Arctic.

Cetacean numbers peak across the Arctic, both in abundance and variety.

Walrus haul out on the beaches, seals are attracted to the ice-floes.

Peak of breeding season. Fledglings leave the nest, attracting predators like Arctic fox.

Aug

Polar bear sightings are less frequent as summer ends with lower prey density.

Cetaceans continue to feed, but some begin the migration south.

Sea ice retreats, pinnipeds are less frequently found as they follow the ice.

Last fledglings leave the nest, and some species begin to migrate south.

e rcl Ci

Pinnipeds

May

North Pole

Spitsbergen

Where to go Our Arctic voyages mainly visit the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, centring on the biggest island, Spitsbergen. This is a land of incredibly beautiful indented fjords, glaciers and icebergs. For people based in the UK or Europe, it’s relatively quick to reach the departure port of Longyearbyen. One trip also runs to Greenland, the world’s largest island, where you’ll find equally jaw-dropping scenery but a different suite of terrestrial wildlife and a rich indigenous culture.

Wildlife The most sought-after Arctic species are usually found in or near the water. These include polar bears, which are as at home in the sea as they're on land, though ice is of greatest importance to them because it’s here that they hunt seals, their most significant prey. Don’t be surprised to see them swimming however as they have incredible stamina and can travel huge distances this way.

Cetaceans

ice floes. Cetacean sightings could include humpback whales, belugas and narwhals, with a possibility of the only whale endemic to the Arctic, the bowhead, in the waters off Greenland.

Inland, you have an excellent chance of encountering reindeer and Arctic foxes. The latter must use the short summer months to bring up litters of eight or more pups, frequently by raiding accessible bird colonies.

On Greenland, you may come across musk ox and Arctic hares, species not found on Svalbard.

and vegetables, and tea, coffee and biscuits available throughout the day.

When to go We only run trips to Spitsbergen during the summer months of May to August, when the seas surrounding the island, and the rest of Svalbard, are sufficiently ice-free to allow us to access fjords and reach the best locations to ensure you make the most of your Arctic adventure.

Summer birdlife is abundant, with little auks, black guillemots and razorbills easily seen, along with kittiwakes, skuas and terns. Pinkfooted and barnacle geese breed on the archipelago, and eider ducks are common.

During the Arctic summer, the opportunities for predation on ice are limited, and many wander Svalbard’s shores looking for dead whales or reindeer to eat as carrion. Some individuals have learned to raid nesting bird colonies for eggs or chicks.

What to Expect We offer a wide range of polar vessels including purpose-built and converted research boats. From the moment you step aboard, there’s an extensive programme of excursions, lectures and other activities such as photography or cultural workshops to keep you fully occupied. In your spare time head out on deck - after all, you never know when a polar bear may hove into view.

You may see walruses hauled out on the shore, and ringed and bearded seals on

Meals are served three times a day, with a full range of food including plenty of fresh fruit

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Fjords, Orca & Aurora Photography Expedition

Discover northern Norway's spectacular fjords, home to pods of orca and humpback whales, and marvel at the magical aurora borealis on our exclusive photography expedition.

Accompanied by professional wildlife and astrophotographer Sean Weekly, and a dedicated expedition team, this voyage navigates some of the region’s most remarkable fjords and waterways as we focus on photographing spectacular wildlife, impressive scenery and magnificent Arctic skies.

Since 2010, huge shoals of herring have overwintered in the fjords around Tromsø, attracting humpback whales and orcas. As they are usually seen from late October through to the end of November, we have chosen to conduct our voyage in mid-November, thereby maximising our opportunities to see these incredible mammals.

At this time of year, white-tailed eagles can also be seen, often soaring high overhead using their

40

impressive wings.

Besides the enchanting wildlife, another spectacle we hope to admire is the northern lights.

Tromsø is perfectly situated at the centre of the region where they can be seen, offering one of the best possibilities of witnessing this natural phenomenon.

onboard, we can use the ship's communal areas to work on our imagery, or attend informal workshops and tutorials.

The delightful M/S Stockholm provides an ideal base for our

photography charter. It is full of character and historic charm.

With such a small group, we hope the expedition feels like travelling with friends, and look forward to capturing a stunning portfolio of imagery.

The result of a cosmic reaction, the aurora borealis has longfascinated humans. Created when charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth's magnetic field, the northern lights appear as vibrant bands of coloured light, illuminating the night sky.

Crisp dawns and enchanting dusks provide captivating light conditions for photography. As with any expedition, impromptu excursions are not uncommon, so a degree of flexibility is needed to make the most of unpredictable wildlife sightings.

With two Zodiacs, there is plenty of capacity to enable daily cruises and landings. While

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

& IVE EW S E N L U AG C Y EX VO

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Tromsø, located 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. This afternoon board the M/S Stockholm and set sail.

Day 2-5: Over the next four days, we explore the very best of northern Norway. Each day we head out on exciting Zodiac cruises, enjoy shore landings and hikes, and marvel at the incredible scenery, home to beautiful fjords and soaring mountain peaks. We hope to encounter orca and humpback whale, as well as white-tailed eagle. With luck, we may also see the magical northern lights.

Kvænangen, Loppa and Vannøya are examples of places we hope to explore. Back on board our comfortable vessel, we listen to inspiring lectures and enjoy informal photography workshops.

Day 6: After breakfast, disembark in Tromsø.

Why book Fjords, Orca & Aurora?

Encounter pods of orca and watch humpback whales as they feed in the herring-rich waters of the fjords. With clear weather, witness the spectacular northern lights. ཀྵ Led by photographer Sean Weekly ཀྵ Iconic wildlife ཀྵ Northern lights ཀྵ Intimate experience

The dramatic fjords of Norway provide a magnificent backdrop for photographing orca, humpback whales and the mesmerising aurora borealis. Exploring the fjords by boat allows unparalleled access for world-class photographic opportunities.

Bret Charman, Product Executive and Tour Leader

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Orca and humpback

whale ཀྵ White-tailed eagle ཀྵ Giant rafts of eider Tromsø

6 days, from £4,995 (voyage only)

Activities

Departure dates: 8 Nov 2024 Embark/Disembark: Tromsø/ Tromsø Vessels: Stockholm

Expert-led photography workshops and tutorials, Zodiac cruises, wildlife watching.

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Norway

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Svalbard Wildlife Expedition

Explore the Svalbard archipelago in exclusive company aboard one of the smaller vessels that regularly cruises these wildlife-rich waters and frozen islands.

Travelling to the Arctic is an adventure however you choose to do it, but aboard the 44-metre M/S Sjøveien and with just 12 passengers in total, our small vessel expedition adds a greater sense of intimacy and uniqueness to the experience.

The exact itinerary is dictated by the weather and ice conditions, but wherever we go, we'll aim to undertake Zodiac landings and excursions every day. Our main goal is to find the iconic wildlife for which this polar region is world-renowned.

Like all Svalbard trips, our voyage starts in Longyearbyen, from where we set off down Isfjorden and then north to Prins Karls Forland. We should see our first walrus colonies here, as well as abundant breeding seabirds and harbour seals.

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Sailing in a clockwise direction we investigate Kongsfjorden and make landfall at Ny Ålesund, a small town originally founded to service a nascent mining operation, now entirely given over to scientific research and said to be the most northerly civilian settlement in the world.

Amundsen set off from here in what’s considered the first successful attempt to reach the North Pole. There’s a good chance of seeing Arctic foxes hunting among the houses and reindeer grazing on the surrounding tundra here.

and Svalbard’s highest peak, Hornsundtind. This is another area where we have a good chance of seeing polar bears, as well as bearded seals hauled out on the sea ice. Travelling in a relatively small boat, we can

adopt a flexible approach to where we go, always responding to what will yield the best results.

We also offer this expedition as a photographic departure, led by Bret Charman.

If possible, we carry on right around the top of Svalbard and even push on into the southern edge of the pack ice, where the chances of encounters with polar bears are high. On the east side, we enter inlets such as Liefdefjorden and cruise along the face of the Monaco Glacier in search of nesting pink-footed geese and rare king eiders.

Another likely destination is Hornsund, in the south-west, an area of spectacular glaciers

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

VE SI E LU G C YA EX VO

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard. Board our exclusively chartered vessel for a 7-night expedition.

Days 2-7: Over the coming days we explore icy Arctic waters, witness spectacular glaciers, & navigate numerous magnificent fjords. We search for wildlife such as polar bear, Arctic fox, Svalbard reindeer, walrus, & several species of seal, as well as various cetaceans & numerous seabirds.

Day 8: Our expedition comes to an end, & we disembark in Longyearbyen.

8 days, from £7,995 (voyage only) Departure date: 2 Jun 2025 Embark/Disembark: Longyearbyen (on Svalbard)/ Longyearbyen Vessel: A former training vessel built in 1964, Sjøveien was completely renovated for luxury cruising in 2017 & boasts eight roomy cabins (for 12 guests), spacious dining areas & a hot tub.

Tour Leader: Helen Bryon

Why book Svalbard Wildlife Expedition?

For an Arctic cruise with a difference - you’ll enjoy all the classic Arctic sights and sounds but from a ship less than half the size of a usual expedition craft. ཀྵ Intimate experiences ཀྵ Iconic wildlife ཀྵ Expedition cruising ཀྵ Beautiful glaciers

Whilst polar bears are the big draw, this incredible archipelago provides much more. Set against a backdrop of mountains, cliffs, glaciers, bergs and pack ice, kissed by constant sunlight, lies a wide variety of land, sea and aerial wildlife.

Helen Bryon, Product Executive & Tour Leader

Svalbard

Monaco Glacier

Wildlife Highlights

14th July Glacier

ཀྵ Polar bears ཀྵ Arctic foxes ཀྵ Walruses & other

Ny Ålesund

pinnipeds ཀྵ King eiders ཀྵ Seabirds including

Longyearbyen

Brünnich's guillemot Edgeøya

Activities Zodiac excursions, island landings, wood-fired hot tub

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Hornsund

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Around Spitsbergen

Head north to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard for an epic Arctic adventure in search of polar bears, walruses, reindeer and a wide variety of seabirds.

For most visitors to the Arctic, the region’s apex land predator will be top of their list of mustsee species. Thankfully, in a cruise around the island of Spitsbergen, polar bears can be seen at any time in almost any location.

Indeed, you’re as likely to encounter polar bears out at sea, patrolling the sea ice or swimming doggedly through the frigid seas, as you're on land, where they go during the summer months in search of a washed-up whale carcass or reindeer carrion.

But polar bears are only the icing on the proverbial Arctic cake. Here, charismatic wildlife is always just behind the next glacier or perhaps across the tundra. You’ll love seeing walruses hauled out on the

44

beaches, but watching them in the water - where they're reborn as lithe and agile sea wolves - is magnificent.

You may also see reindeer in their slightly scruffy summer coats, as well as seabirds everywhere such as kittiwakes, little auks and of course, skuas.

this marine wilderness.

Cruising into nearby Recherchefjorden gives us a good opportunity to encounter living belugas, sometimes called canaries of the Arctic because

of their high-pitched whistles.

And this, and indeed all of these experiences will take place at a time of year of almost perpetual daylight, in the land of the midnight sun.

Our cruise begins in Longyearbyen, the archipelago’s largest town (still fewer than 2,500 people), and from there, we head north along the west coast towards the tiny research settlement of Ny Ålesund, where breeding pink-footed geese and Arctic terns attract predatory Arctic foxes.

The voyage continues in a clockwise direction, with plenty of opportunity to see all the Arctic’s iconic species. Other notable highlights include the remarkable kittiwake breeding colony at Diskobukta, where they nest on ledges in a narrow inland gorge, and Ahlstrandhalvøya, in the south of Svalbard, where piles of beluga skeletons lie in

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Embark in Longyearbyen.

Days 2-9: Spend the next few days exploring the Arctic wilderness of Svalbard. You'll encounter phenomenal fjords, magnificent mountains & a plethora of wildlife from cetaceans, pinnipeds & birdlife to the majestic polar bear.

Day 10: Disembark in Longyearbyen.

10 days, from £6,455 (voyage only) Departures: Jun-Aug See pages 66-67 for dates Embark/Disembark: Longyearbyen (on Svalbard)/ Longyearbyen Vessels: Ortelius & Greg Mortimer

Why book Around Spitsbergen?

The Svalbard archipelago provides the best all-round Arctic experience anywhere on the planet, with excellent odds of encounters with iconic polar species. ཀྵ Island cruise ཀྵ Wilderness adventure ཀྵ Polar landscape ཀྵ Spectacular wildlife encounters

With panoramic sights, circumnavigating Spitsbergen allowed me to see everything I’d hoped for - glaciers, mountains, towering sea cliffs, pack ice, walruses, whales, Arctic fox, reindeer, seals, polar bears and seabirds.

Helen Cox, Wildlife Travel Consultant Phippsøya

Svalbard Laagøya

Monaco Glacier 14th July Glacier

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Polar bears ཀྵ Walruses ཀྵ Ringed & bearded seals ཀྵ Reindeer ཀྵ Great seabird colonies

Ny Ålesund Barentsøya Longyearbyen Edgeøya

Activities

Ahlstrandhalvøya

Zodiac excursions, island hikes, nature walks, sea kayaking

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Hornsund

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45

Svalbard in Depth

This comprehensive 14-night exploration of the Svalbard archipelago offers outstanding opportunities to view a wealth of Arctic wildlife and visit the region’s key historical sites.

Travelling in a world of nearendless daylight, where polar bears roam the edge of the pack ice, ringed seals drift on ice floes, and guillemots cry from towering cliffs, we explore this remarkable region at a peak time for wildlife activity. From the comfort of purpose-built expedition vessels, we are likely to encounter an array of Arctic species amidst breathtaking fjords, glittering glaciers and awe-inspiring icebergs.

With 14 nights on board, we can travel at a slower pace, spending longer visiting areas of interest and more remote sites. In mid-summer the sun barely sets, if at all, and with the constant daylight comes a surge in wildlife activity. Seabird colonies, tens of thousands of birds strong, hum with activity,

46

attracting marauding glaucous gulls and scavenging Arctic foxes. Cetacean species, including blue, fin, humpback and minke whales, arrive to feast on bountiful supplies of krill and fish, while enormous molluscmunching walruses gather in huge beach-side haul-outs.

Pods of milky white beluga roll silently through sheltered bays, while Arctic terns soar overhead, frantic in their search for fish.

Amongst it all, polar bears roam, striding purposefully through the majestic frozen landscape.

rich and fascinating history.

Tales of daring expeditions from bygone years will be brought to life through expertly delivered talks and shore excursions.

The extra time on board can

really help to take the pressure off when searching for the region’s iconic species, and can make for a more relaxing and insightful experience, particularly when conditions allow you to get off the beaten track.

Whether viewing the wildlife from the deck of the vessel, from Zodiacs, or on shore-based excursions, immersing yourself in this fragile ecosystem is a wonderful experience. While the expedition team will be on the lookout for any wildlife of interest, you are encouraged to keep your eyes open, as finding your ‘own’ bear or whale can be hugely rewarding.

The region also represents one of the last frontiers for exploration, and is steeped in

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

E EW G N YA VO

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Longyearbyen.

Day 2: Embark and set sail out of Isfjorden.

Day 3-14: Explore the two largest islands in the Svalbard archipelago, Spitsbergen and Nordauslandet. Travelling at a slower pace allows you to linger longer in quiet bays and enjoy wildlife encounters with a whole host of species. Uncover glittering glaciers, towering cliffs noisy with nesting guillemots and colonies of little auks, and see walrus' hauled out on sea ice.

Watch for ivory gulls overhead and scan the horizon for cetaceans. With luck, you may also see the mighty polar bear.

If conditions allow, you attempt a full circumnavigation of the archipelago.

Day 15: Disembark in Longyearbyen.

15 days, from £13,295 (voyage only) Departure dates: Jun-Jul Embark/Disembark: Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen Vessels: Sylvia Earle & Ocean Adventurer

Why book Svalbard in Depth?

Explore Svalbard at a more leisurely pace, with the chance to visit remote wildlife spots and historical sites. ཀྵ Comprehensive exploration of the archipelago ཀྵ Iconic Arctic wildlife ཀྵ Timed for maximum wildlife activity ཀྵ Comfortable expedition vessels

The trip exceeded our expectations on every level. We were lucky enough to enjoy some incredible wildlife moments in this spellbinding landscape, and all from the comfort of the Sylvia Earle, a purpose built expedition vessel.

Dan Free, Wildlife Worldwide General Manager Phippsøya

Svalbard Laagøya

Monaco Glacier 14th July Glacier

Wildlife Highlights

Ny Ålesund

ཀྵ Polar bear ཀྵ Walrus ཀྵ Blue whale and beluga ཀྵ Seabird colonies

Barentsøya Longyearbyen Edgeøya

Activities

Ahlstrandhalvøya

Excursions ashore, Zodiac cruises, kayaking (extra cost) and expert talks.

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Hornsund

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47

Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland

This ultimate European Arctic experience takes you from Spitsbergen’s ‘pointed mountains’ to Greenland’s spectacular fjords, with Iceland as the final destination.

The largest island of the Svalbard archipelago, Spitsbergen - where you begin this trip - is rightly one of the most popular Arctic destinations.

Easy to access from the UK, it has the world’s largest population of polar bears, which may be seen on land. There's a multitude of equally iconic wildlife in the shape of walruses, reindeer and thousands upon thousands of seabirds.

After cruising the west coast of Spitsbergen, you spend two days crossing the Greenland Sea while keeping an eye out for fin whales and belugas, the Arctic’s unmistakable white whales.

Though less well-travelled than Svalbard, Greenland is today acquiring a reputation for its glittering icebergs and glaciers,

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vast empty spaces and fabulous wildlife.

On your arrival at Greenland's heavily fjorded east coast, you land at Myggebugten for a first glimpse of a species you won’t have seen in Svalbard - the hardy musk ox, one of the largest remaining members of the sheep and goat family.

town of Ittoqqortoormiut, the final leg of the journey takes us across the Denmark Strait towards Iceland, and if weather conditions allow, there will be a chance to see the famed aurora borealis, the northern lights.

The voyage ends in Reykjavik or Akureyri in Iceland - by which time you’ll have sailed several thousand kilometres in less than two weeks and had the experiences of a lifetime.

Though owned by Denmark, Greenland is geologically part of the North American continent, and species such as the musk ox and Arctic hare betray this fact.

You carry on sailing south, taking in more spectacular, deeply cut fjords, advancing armies of glaciers and abandoned Inuit settlements. Hundreds of years ago, these tiny villages were inhabited by Greenlanders hunting bowhead whales, the only baleen whale endemic to the Arctic and sub-Arctic. In one village, we see how the hunters used vertebrae from the bowheads to build their houses.

After visiting the inhabited

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Longyearbyen & board your vessel.

Day 2: Explore Spitsbergen’s west coast.

Days 3-4: At sea.

Day 5: Arrive Greenland.

Days 6-7: Excursions to see Arctic hares, great northern divers & musk ox.

Days 8-9: Antarctic Havn for musk ox & Scoresbysund for an Inuit settlement.

Day 10: Zodiac cruise near Røde.

Day 11: Icebergs & landing at Sydkap for Arctic hares.

Day 12: Visit Ittoqqortoormiit.

Day 13: At sea.

Day 14: Disembark Reykjavík.

14 days, from £8,230 (voyage only) Departures: Jun-Sep See pages 66-67 for dates Embark/Disembark: Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen)/ Reykjavik/Akureyri (Iceland) Vessels: Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle & Ortelius

Why book Spitsbergen, Greenland & Iceland?

For an epic voyage that takes you to three iconic Arctic islands in search of the charismatic wildlife that inhabits this frozen region. ཀྵ Fjords & glaciers ཀྵ Arctic wildlife ཀྵ Inuit settlements ཀྵ Northern lights (September)

Seeing the northern lights swirling and dancing in the clear Arctic sky is one of my most favourite and unforgettable travel memories. An atmospheric phenomenon, it’s hard to describe the magical feeling of witnessing the aurora borealis.

Lauren Boyd, Product Manager

Svalbard Greenland

Wildlife Highlights

Longyearbyen

ཀྵ Polar bears ཀྵ Musk ox ཀྵ Arctic hares ཀྵ Walruses ཀྵ Variety of seabirds

Kaiser Franz Josef Fjord Scoresbysund

Activities

Akureyri

Tundra walks, Zodiac cruises, visiting indigenous communities

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Reykjavik

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Iceland

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Antarctica & the Southern Ocean Reaching the Antarctic Peninsula is an adventure in itself. Most trips depart from the southern tip of South America and cross the 800-kilometre Drake Passage until they arrive at the South Shetland Islands and then the Antarctic Peninsula itself, a long finger of land that snakes out from the main body of the continent. Here you’ll encounter huge icebergs and other floating sea ice, vast glaciers and towering sea cliffs, as well as the marine mammals and seabirds which are the primary attraction for many visitors.

Wildlife Calendar Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctic Circle The

Weddell Sea

South Pole

Penguins

Cetaceans

Pinnipeds

Birdlife

Nov

Beginning of the breeding season.

Only chance to visit emperor penguin colony.

A variety of cetaceans start arriving in the Antarctic after their annual migration.

Leopard seals seen around the Peninsula and southern elephant seals on South Georgia.

Young wandering albatross begin to stretch their wings before their first flight.

Dec

Penguin rookeries grow, with chicks starting to hatch across the Antarctic.

More cetaceans arrive from the north, with humpback sightings being the most frequent.

Antarctic fur seals give birth on South Georgia, and Weddell seals are seen on the Peninsula.

Wandering, greyheaded and blackbrowed albatrosses around South Georgia.

Jan

Opportunities to see and photograph multiple species across the Antarctic region.

Watch cetaceans as they feed on krill in the fertile waters of the Southern Ocean.

Adult male fur seals and elephant seals return to sea, leaving females and pups.

Many bird species have chicks on South Georgia and albatross species incubate their eggs.

Feb & Mar

Chicks of macaroni, gentoo and chinstrap penguins congregate on South Georgia.

Southern right, fin, minke, humpback and blue whales can all be seen at this time.

Best time to see leopard seal along the Peninsula; remaining southern elephant seals on South Georgia begin to moult.

Many chicks start to fledge, leaving albatross species to raise young through the winter.

Amery Ice Shelf

Ross Ice Shelf

Where to go Most of our voyages head down the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, taking in the Gerlache Strait, Paradise Bay and the Lemaire Channel. The South Shetland Islands, including the flooded caldera of Deception Island, are other likely destinations, as is Elephant Island, the location where Sir Ernest Shackleton abandoned the crew of Endurance before famously sailing to South Georgia in a boat just six metres long. He eventually returned to rescue all his men without a single loss of life.

For emperor penguins (which can only be seen on a specially scheduled voyage), we must visit Snow Hill Island in the ice-bound Weddell Sea. Wildlife Penguins are one of the biggest draws of visiting Antarctica. Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins are all numerous and easily seen, while emperor penguins - the largest species in this seabird family - are only likely to be encountered if you sign onto the Weddell Sea special.

Where you find penguins, there are also leopard seals, one of the top predators of Antarctica. Females, the bigger of the two sexes, can grow to nearly four metres long

and weigh 600 kilogrammes, and their massive front flippers help propel them through the water at 40 kilometres an hour.

They feed on a wide variety of prey, including other seals, penguins, fish, cephalopods and krill, which makes up nearly half their diet.

There’s only one species that sits above leopard seals in the Antarctic food chain, and that’s the orca or killer whale, which in this part of the world has evolved to hunt minke whales and both elephant and Weddell seals.

Antarctica is also the bread basket for many of the world’s whales which migrate down from their breeding and calving grounds to fatten up. The waters here are rich in krill, the primary diet of blue, fin, sei, humpback and Antarctic minke whales, and you should have good encounters with at least some of these mighty creatures of the deep at some point on your voyage.

Last but not least, there are the seabirds - the journey across the Drake Passage should give sightings of albatrosses among other birds, while petrels and prions are also commonly sighted. With luck, you’ll see the wandering albatross, the species widely considered to have the longest wingspan of any bird on the planet.

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01962 302055

What to Expect Our voyages to Antarctica all take place aboard ships specially adapted or constructed for cruising the polar regions.

No comfort is spared while you're on your ship, and the state-of-the-art, 90-metre long Magellan Explorer includes a library, gym and sauna.

Generally, you can expect to go on excursions from the ship in the morning and the afternoon, returning for lunch. These are in Zodiac dinghies, and can involve a landing or simply cruising on the water searching for whales, and other wildlife.

Usually, at least one trip ashore will be to an international scientific base, where researchers can tell you about their work.

Some of the bases have museums that tell the story of Antarctic science or exploration.

When to go All Antarctic trips take place during the Southern Hemisphere summer and early autumn - so, November through to March.

They can run any time during that period, except for ‘Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea’, which only takes place in November, because it’s the best time to see the emperors at their breeding colony on Snow Hill Island.

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51

Festival of Wildlife Falklands & South Georgia

Join us for 2025’s Festival of Wildlife to experience the incredible wealth of wildlife that resides in the sub-Antarctic islands of The Falklands and South Georgia.

Here, amidst breathtaking scenery, we find a range and density of marine mammals and birds to rival anything on the planet. Travelling on board the superb Magellan Explorer and in the company of an expert Festival Team, this 16-night Wildlife Worldwide exclusive voyage promises to be the trip of a lifetime.

Leaving Punta Arenas, we set sail for The Falklands, sailing first through the Magellan Straits before crossing the open waters of the Southern Ocean. Arriving in The Falkland Islands, we encounter our first penguins, with no fewer than five species possible, alongside colonies of black-browed albatross, curious striated caracaras, endemic flightless steamer ducks and stunning long-tailed meadowlarks. Less showy, but equally fascinating, snowy

52

sheathbills can often be seen scavenging along the shoreline and will be unlike anything you have seen before!

nests, engaging in elaborate courtship displays with mates they could conceivably partner with for over 60 years.

We leave The Falklands and begin the 1,500-kilometre crossing to South Georgia. Travelling through these remote waters, we have a range of pelagic bird species for company, including several albatross species, with the added excitement of whale and dolphin sightings. When not on deck, we have a programme of talks and workshops to enjoy.

Though sometimes separated by only a few kilometres, every

landing in this remarkable part of the world offers a different experience, and with our expert team of naturalists, photographers, and artists, we aim to provide the complete wildlife experience.

Arriving in South Georgia, we find a rugged landscape filled with wildlife. King penguin colonies numbering half a million strong sit alongside thousands of enormous southern elephant and feisty fur seals. Inquisitive leopard seals patrol the shallows hoping to snatch an unsuspecting penguin, all under the watchful eye of brown skuas and giant petrels, which are quick to profiteer from the plunder.

Amongst stands of tussock grass, the world’s largest flying bird, the wandering albatross

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

VE SI E LU G C YA EX VO

Itinerary Day 1: Board the Magellan Explorer, depart Punta Arenas.

Day 2: At sea.

Day 3: Excursions in the Falklands Islands.

Day 4: Port Stanley & leave for South Georgia.

Days 5-6: At sea.

Day 7: Eslehul Bay. Day 8: Grytviken & Fortuna Bay. Day 9: Gold Harbour & Cooper Bay. Day 10: St Andrews Bay & Ocean Harbour.

Day 11: Prion Island & Salisbury Palin.

Days 12-14: At sea.

Day 15: Bleaker Island, Falkland Islands.

Day 16: At sea.

Day 17: Arrive Punta Arenas.

17 days, from £11,250 (voyage only) Departure date: 13 Oct 2025 Embark/Disembark: Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Vessel: Magellan Explorer Festival Team: Mark Carwardine, Nick Garbutt, Sean Weekly, Nick Mackman, Jonathan Truss, Chris Breen & Dan Free

Why book Festival of Wildlife Falklands & South Georgia?

Travel in the company of an expert Festival Team of naturalists, photographers and artists on this Wildlife Worldwide exclusive charter to arguably the most impressive wildlife destination on the planet.

The Falklands & South Georgia should be on every wildlife enthusiasts' bucket list. Nowhere in the world will you experience such huge concentrations of wildlife in such a spectacular setting.

Dan Free, Wildlife Worldwide General Manager

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Experience huge king

Falkland Islands

penguin colonies ཀྵ The drama of beach master elephant seals defending their harems ཀྵ Incredible birdlife, including six species of albatross

Chile

Stanley

Punta Arenas

South Georgia

Activities Landings, Zodiac trips and expert-led photography, art & sculpture workshops

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01962 302055

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53

Classic Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the most readily accessible area of the White Continent with some of the best wildlife and scenery. Our Antarctic Peninsula voyages include as much wildlife viewing as possible while allowing you plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, glaciers, blue and white icebergs, and towering mountains.

Your journey begins and ends in the southernmost town in the world - Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego - which nestles between the spectacular snowcapped mountains of the Andes and the Beagle Channel. The first stage of the voyage is across the infamous Drake Passage, accompanied by whales, dolphins, albatrosses and other seabirds.

Your first stop is the Shetland Islands, where you visit enormous penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe wallowing elephant seals. One

54

of the many highlights here is sailing into the flooded caldera of Deception Island where the brave can take a dip in the warm thermal waters inside.

Next, you move on to the Antarctic Peninsula, where you have plenty of time to experience the special magic of this aweinspiring wilderness. You visit enormous gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguin rookeries and see blue-eyed shags, kelp gulls, Cape petrels, snowy sheathbills and many other birds. You're also likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, while orcas, humpback and minke whales are often encountered at close range depending on ice and weather conditions.

front of a wilderness of icebergs.

Itineraries vary, but some visit Paradise Harbour, filled with a mind-boggling array of icebergs; the Neumayer and Lemaire Channels, with their towering

rock faces and spectacular glaciers; Port Lockroy, with its thriving colonies of penguins; and Petermann Island, with Adélie and gentoo penguins, skuas and blue-eyed shags.

In fact, there are more cetaceans here than almost anywhere else in the world. From deck you may notice you’re being accompanied by a school of boisterous hourglass dolphins, following a pod of orca as they hunt among the ice floes or watching humpback whales breaching in

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Board your ship & leave Ushuaia.

Days 2-3: Cross the Drake Passage.

Days 4-8: First explore the South Shetland Islands, including Deception Island. Next journey through the Gerlache coastline of the Antarctic Peninsula, in search of whales, seals & penguins.

Days 9-10: Head north on the Drake Passage.

Day 11: Arrive Ushuaia.

11 days, from £8,365 (voyage only)

Why book Classic Antarctica?

For a chance to savour the extraordinary world of Antarctica and its unique wildlife populations. ཀྵ Polar wilderness ཀྵ Once-in-a-lifetime experience ཀྵ Close wildlife encounters

I still get goosebumps thinking about waking up and seeing the Antarctic Peninsula for the first time. A gang of gentoo penguins were jumping from the ice and I knew this trip would be epic. I was not disappointed.

Chris Osborn, Wildlife Travel Consultant

Drake Passage

South Shetland Islands

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Gentoo & chinstrap

Departures: Oct-Feb See pages 66-67 for dates Embark/Disembark: Ushuaia/ Ushuaia Vessels: Sylvia Earle, Ortelius, Ocean Adventurer & Greg Mortimer

penguins ཀྵ Humpback, minke & fin

Deception Island

whales ཀྵ Orcas ཀྵ Giant southern petrels & other seabirds

Activities Bird & whale watching, Zodiac cruises, sea kayaking, camping, exploring old whaling stations

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Port Lockroy

Antarctic Peninsula Paradise Harbour

Petermann Island

Antarctica

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55

Great Antarctic Voyage

This is the ultimate voyage to the southern polar region, taking in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula and the Drake Passage. It’s the Antarctic adventure to end all Antarctic adventures.

Home to great colonies of sub-Antarctic penguins such as Magellanics and southern rockhoppers, the Falkland Islands is your first destination.

You spend two days here watching birds such as giant petrel, Falkland's steamer duck and black-browed albatross. As you sail from island to island, you’re accompanied by bowriding Peale’s and Commerson’s dolphins, with their intriguing markings.

Your next destination, South Georgia, has some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on the planet, perhaps best demonstrated by Salisbury Plain, home to an estimated half a million king penguins during the breeding season.

Southern elephant seal bulls

56

face off against each other in sustained and bloody battles for dominance, and the world’s largest flying bird, the wandering albatross, nests here, too.

he left the crew of the Endurance after his ship had sunk to sail with five other men across the Southern Ocean to South Georgia.

Continuing to the Antarctic Peninsula, the two-day crossing provides plenty of time to watch for humpbacks, blue whales and albatrosses riding the waves in their epic journeys around the pole. If weather and sea conditions permit, there will be a stop at the remote and jawdroppingly scenic South Orkney Islands.

Returning across the Drake

Passage there are yet more opportunities to view a variety of petrels, prions and albatrosses, either from the outer deck or the warmth of the bridge. With luck an array of cetaceans are also possible.

Upon reaching the Antarctic Peninsula, a 1,300-kilometre talon of land sticking out from the continent, you spend four days exploring its rugged west coast.

The summer snow melt provides breeding grounds for various birds, including the diminutive chinstrap, gentoo penguins, and numerous other seabirds.

Sailing from the peninsula, you arrive at Elephant Island, the location made famous by Sir Ernest Shackleton. It was here

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Embark in Ushuaia.

Day 2: At sea, towards the Falkland Islands.

Days 3-4: The Falkland Islands.

Days 5-6: At sea, towards South Georgia.

Days 7-10: Explore South Georgia.

Day 11: At sea, towards the Antarctic Peninsula.

Day 12: South Orkney Islands.

Days 13-16: Explore the Antarctic Peninsula.

Days 17-18: Drake Passage.

Day 19: Disembark in Ushuaia.

19 days, from £12,495 (voyage only) Departures: Oct - Feb See pages 66-67 for dates Embark/Disembark: Ushuaia/ Ushuaia Vessels: Ortelius, Ocean Adventurer, Magellan Explorer, Sylvia Earle & Greg Mortimer

Why book Great Antarctic Voyage?

A comprehensive Antarctic experience with time in the Falklands, South Georgia and on the peninsula. ཀྵ Intimate wildlife encounters ཀྵ Breeding penguins ཀྵ Sculpted icebergs ཀྵ In the footsteps of history

There are insufficient superlatives to describe the awe of being amongst the sheer abundance of wildlife and magnificent scenery of the Antarctic. Each stop left me utterly speechless, emotional and with far too many photos!

Helen Cox, Wildlife Travel Consultant

Wildlife Highlights

Falkland Islands

ཀྵ Seven species of penguin

possible ཀྵ Leopard seals ཀྵ Southern elephant seals ཀྵ Wandering & many other

South Georgia Ushuaia

albatross species ཀྵ A variety of cetacean species

Activities Ocean cruising, Zodiac trips, island landings, sea kayaking, photography

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Antarctic Peninsula

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57

Classic Antarctica Fly-Sail

A flight across the dramatic waters of the Drake Passage is a unique way to begin an Antarctic adventure. You can save time by flying from South America, and get your fix of Antarctica's unique fauna without the need to experience the Drake Passage crossing.

Arriving on King George Island in the South Shetland archipelago, the chilly Antarctic air fills your lungs for the first time, and you walk a short distance past two research stations to the shore before boarding a Zodiac to take you to Magellan Explorer - one of the best vessels to sail these waters.

Your voyage cruises between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, exploring the ice-filled fjords and iceberg formations, while enjoying the seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales.

Every day there are opportunities to Zodiac cruise in search of wildlife and explore the landscape with the onboard

58

expert team of polar guides.

When you're back onboard, there will be a series of interesting presentations and lectures. Of course, each trip is different, and the team will ensure that you get the very best experience.

many highlights, Some of our Fly-Sail itineraries only involve flying one way across the Drake Passage, which may be preferential for some.

Our Antarctic Odyssey Fly-Sail

voyage crosses the passage on the way out, before visiting the Antarctic Peninsula, Elephant Island, South Georgia and the Falklands, where you leave the ship and return to mainland South America by plane.

The first stop on your voyage is likely to be in the Gerlache Strait, at Hydrurga Rocks - named after the leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx. Here a chinstrap penguin colony of some 800 animals await and there’s a good chance of seeing Weddell seals here, too.

Other locations you'll likely visit include Paradise Bay, noted for its spectacular calving icebergs, and Lemaire Channel, the 11 kilometre strait that’s just 1,600 metres wide at its narrowest.

This is an unusually calm, sheltered stretch of water which provides excellent opportunities for spotting seal-hunting orcas or foraging humpback whales. At Paulet Bay, a colony of 100,000 Adélie penguins await and at Petermann Island a gentoo penguin rookery is among the

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive Punta Arenas.

Day 2: Fly to King George Island & board your vessel.

Days 3-6: Explore the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, including Paulet Island for its 100,000-strong Adélie penguin population, Petermann Island for both Adélie & gentoo penguins & Paradise Bay. Day 7: Return to King George Island & return to Punta Arenas.

Day 8: Depart.

8 days, from £12,750 (voyage only)

Why book Classic Antarctic Fly-Sail?

To reach the great white continent as quickly and easily as possible and to eliminate the need to cross the potentially rough seas of the Drake Passage. ཀྵ Antarctic seascapes ཀྵ Incredible wildlife ཀྵ Research stations

Until fairly recently, Antarctica has only been accessible by sailing across the Drake Passage, which has put it beyond the reach of many. But access by air is a gamechanger and will enable others to spread the gospel of this incredible ice-covered continent.

Chris Breen, Wildlife Worldwide Founder

Wildlife Highlights

Departures: Nov-Mar See pages 66-67 for dates Embark/Disembark: Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Vessel: Magellan Explorer, a purpose-built Antarctic vessel accommodating a maximum of 76 passengers for this itinerary

ཀྵ Adélie, gentoo &

chinstrap penguins ཀྵ Weddell, crabeater & leopard seals ཀྵ Humpback whales & orcas ཀྵ Blue-eyed shags & other seabirds

Activities Antarctic Circle

Zodiac trips, island landings, sea kayaking, photography

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Antarctica

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Ross Sea Expedition Voyage

This grand, 28-day expedition takes you further south than any other sea route, to a fascinating and unspoiled region, where you can find penguin rookeries, historic huts and the world’s largest ice shelf.

With navigation restricted by impenetrable pack ice, visiting the Ross Sea region is only possible during two months of each austral summer. Wildlife is abundant during these brief summer months, with Adélie and emperor penguins, south polar skua, snow petrel, southern fulmar and an abundance of other seabird species often seen. Cetaceans and pinnipeds can be seen feeding in the nutrient-rich waters, and beyond the ice, historic explorer huts and modern-day scientific bases are situated below the Transantarctic Mountains.

Your itinerary is flexible to allow for changeable weather and wildlife opportunities. After you embark in New Zealand, your team will use their expertise to create the best plan of action.

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In Antarctica, you may have the chance to visit Cape Adare, where the oldest explorer hut on the continent is located, and Cape Hallett, with its large number of Adélie penguins and Weddell seals. Ross Island, dominated by Mount Erebus, is home to carefully preserved huts and is another ‘wish list’ location.

Surpassing the grandeur of the ice, Antarctic minke whale, orca, and leopard and crabeater seals, can also be found.

yellow-eyed penguin, are likely encounters. Another stop is Macquarie Island, the only place in the world where the majestic royal penguin, with its distinctive yellow-orange plumes is known to breed.

This marathon expedition is a once-in-a-lifetime voyage, with unique wildlife encounters, fascinating historic sites, and dramatic scenery.

Lying like stepping stones to Antarctica, the little-known Subantarctic Islands form part of the dynamic Southern Ocean ecosystem. The Snares host thousands of sooty shearwater, plus the endemic Snares crested penguin, fernbird and Snares Island tomtit, amidst their sheltered bays and tree daisy forests. Meanwhile, the Auckland Islands are home to a rare member of the pinniped family - Hooker’s sea lion.

Beachmaster bulls gather to defend their harems, while exotic bird species, such as the red-crowned parakeet and

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

E EW G N YA VO

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown.

Day 2: Embarkation.

Day 3: The Snares, see endemic Snares crested penguin, Snares Island tomtit and fernbirds.

Day 4: Visit the Auckland Islands.

You may see the Hooker's sea lion, southern royal albatross, and red-crowned parakeet.

Day 5: Day at sea.

Days 6-7: Explore Macquarie Island, the only place in the world where the majestic royal penguin breeds.

Day 8-10: Days at sea.

Days 11-22: Explore the Ross Sea, focusing on wildlife viewing, historic sites and scientific bases.

Days 23-25: Days at sea.

Day 26: On Campbell Island encounter southern royal albatross, Campbell Island shags, penguins and fur seals.

Day 27: Day at sea.

Day 28: Disembark at Bluff.

27 days, from £25,500 (voyage only) Departure dates: 9 Jan & 4 Feb 2024; 7 Jan & 2 Feb 2025 Embark/Disembark: Queenstown/Queenstown Vessels: Heritage Adventurer

Why book Ross Sea Expedition?

Follow in the footsteps of great explorers and witness the awe-inspiring Ross Sea Ice Shelf. ཀྵ Visit Antarctica’s largest Adélie penguin rookery ཀྵ Explore the Snares, Auckland, Macquarie and Campbell Islands ཀྵ On board team of naturalists, botanists, historians and experts

A voyage that takes you via the Subantarctic islands to the Ross Sea is surely the ultimate adventure. Explorer’s huts, the Ross Ice Shelf and some exceptional wildlife encounters will make this an experience like no other.

Chris Breen, Wildlife Worldwide Founder

New Zealand The Snares Aukland Islands

Bluff Enderby Island Campbell Island

Macquarie Island

Wildlife Highlights ཀྵ Royal, Adélie and Snares

crested penguins ཀྵ Hooker’s sea lion ཀྵ Red-crowned parakeet ཀྵ Minke whale and orca

Antarctica

Activities Shore landings, Zodiac cruises, Macquarie Island with a local park ranger.

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Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea

The world’s largest penguins, emperors are also the hardiest of this much-loved group of seabirds. We hope to see them at close quarters on this unique voyage.

Like other trips to Antarctica, our visit to the emperor penguins of Snow Hill Island begins with a 2-day crossing of the Drake Passage, providing opportunities for encountering a variety of cetaceans and pelagic bird species.

But while most Antarctic voyages cruise down the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, this voyage heads to the east and the icecovered expanse of the Weddell Sea. From Brown Bluff at the very tip of the peninsula, you'll be helicoptered to within walking distance of the penguin rookery on Snow Hill Island - as long as weather conditions allow.

Some 4,000 pairs, and at the height of the breeding season, an estimated 10,000 emperors in total, live here. It's one of the greatest natural wonders of the

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whole of Antarctica.

By the time of your arrival in mid-November, the chicks will be about three months old, and males and females will be taking it in turns to feed them.

Of all penguins, the story of the male emperors’ stoic incubation of the eggs at the height of the Antarctic winter is the one that most astonishes, a tale that seems to defy not just the elements but all common sense.

brash ice, and humpback whales fattening up for the year in the Weddell Sea’s krill-rich waters are just two other likely wildlife encounters. We also tick another penguin species off our list with a visit to the chinstrap colony of

Deception Island.

Any trip to Antarctica is an adventure - but with emperor penguins on the agenda, this one has an extra dash of wild charisma.

During this period, males go hungry for up to 134 days, often enduring temperatures as low as -40˚C and losing half their body weight, until they’re relieved by the returning females soon after the chicks hatch.

And there’s plenty more to stimulate your amazement in this region of extremes.

The panoramic ice-capped landscapes with hints of mint blue breaking through as the sunlight hits. The deafening silence of your surroundings as you sail along its waters. Predatory leopard seals hunting among the

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Itinerary

Why book Emperor Penguins of the Weddell Sea?

Day 1: Leave Ushuaia & pass through the Beagle Channel.

Days 2-3: Drake Passage crossing.

Day 4: Arrive in the Weddell Sea. Days 5-7: Window of opportunity to visit Snow Hill Island if conditions allow.

Day 8: Sail to Deception Island for the last landing of the voyage.

Days 9-10: Return journey across the Drake Passage.

Day 11: Arrive in Ushuaia.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the breeding grounds of the world’s largest penguin species. ཀྵ Ultimate wildlife experience ཀྵ Seldom-visited location ཀྵ Zodiac trips ཀྵ Island excursions

11 days, from £11,590 (voyage only)

Wildlife Highlights

Departure dates: 10 & 20 Nov 2024 Embark/Disembark: Ushuaia/ Ushuaia Vessel: Ortelius

ཀྵ Emperor penguins ཀྵ Wandering albatross ཀྵ Humpback whales ཀྵ Weddell & other seals

Take the most magical adventure to remote Antarctica. As you first glimpse the emperor penguin colony, nothing prepares you for this unique and precious moment as they endlessly entertain you. This moment will stay with me forever.

Paula Mason, Wildlife Travel Consultant Ushuaia

Activities Zodiac and shore-based excursions, helicopter ride, whale watching

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Our Polar Cruise Vessels We offer a wide range of cruise vessels which are all built especially for the extreme conditions in the polar regions. All have exceptional crews, and some even have facilities to rival land-based hotels and spas! Contact our expert team for first-hand advice on choosing a polar vessel to meet your requirements.

Greg Mortimer

Magellan Explorer

Passengers: 132 Vessel type: Luxury Length: 104 m Cruising speed: 10 - 12 knots Ice class: 1A

Purpose-built for expeditions, the Greg Mortimer boasts expansive observation decks, inviting communal areas and comfortable cabins, most with their own balconies.

Ocean Adventurer Passengers: 128 Vessel type: Expedition Length: 101.1 m Cruising speed: 12 knots Ice class: 1A

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Passengers: 96 Vessel type: Luxury Length: 90.7 m Cruising speed: 14 knots Ice class: 1A

A modern, custom-built expedition vessel, featuring a glass-enclosed observation lounge and stylish dining room. All cabins feature private balconies (except porthole cabins).

Heritage Adventurer A recently renovated, charming polar vessel, the Ocean Adventurer benefits from ample outdoor deck space, numerous cosy spots to socialise and an outdoor hot tub.

Passengers: 140 Vessel type: Expedition Length: 124 m Cruising speed: 12 knots Ice class: 1AS

A pioneering expedition vessel, the Heritage Adventurer combines the highest ice class rating with comfortable accommodation, communal areas and observation lounge.

Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

To see a full selection of our polar vessels please visit our website and contact our expert Wildlife Team for further information.

Stockholm

Ortelius Passengers: 108 Vessel type: Expedition Length: 90.95 m Cruising speed: 10.5 knots Ice class: 1A

The ice-strengthened Ortelius is an ex-research vessel with an abundance of outdoor opendeck space and comfortable cabins.

Sjøveien

Passengers: 12 Vessel type: Expedition Length: 40 m Cruising speed: 10.5 knots

Full of character and historic charm, with beautiful brass details and pine decks, the Stockholm is an intimate 12-berth vessel, ideal for dedicated photography expeditions.

Sylvia Earle

Passengers: 12 Vessel type: Expedition Length: 41 m Cruising speed: 11 knots Ice class: 1C

The Sjøveien (meaning Seaway) is a traditional, charming ship.

Intimate, yet classic, there are modern touches throughout, such as the wood-fired hot tub on deck.

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Passengers: 132 Vessel type: Luxury Length: 104 m Cruising speed: 10 - 12 knots Ice class: 1A

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Certified 100% climate neutral, the Sylvia Earle showcases innovative features including sealevel Zodiac platforms, a heated swimming pool and beautifully appointed cabins.

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Polar Voyage Calendar 2024-2025 Vessel

Start Date

Nights Embark/Disembark

Voyage Only From Prices & Cabin Type Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

Ortelius

5 Jan 24 1 Feb 25

10 10

Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia

£8,365 £8,955

£8,365 £8,955

£9,910 £10,640

Greg Mortimer

27 Oct 24 8 Dec 24 6 Jan 25

11 11 11

Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia

£10,665 £12,500 £13,000

Sylvia Earle

12 Nov 24 22 Nov 24

11 11

Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia

£11,415 £12,000

£12,415 £13,000

Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

Ocean Adventurer

22 Nov 24 1 Dec 24 10 Dec 24

10 10 10

Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia

£9,600 £9,600 £9,600

£11,300 £11,300 £11,300

£13,800 £13,800 £13,800

Triple Porthole

Superior Twin

Suite

27 27 27 27

Queenstown/Queenstown Queenstown/Queenstown Queenstown/Queenstown Queenstown/Queenstown

£22,990 £22,990 £24,250 £24,250

£25,500 £25,500 £26,750 £26,750

£31,500 £31,500 £33,250 £33,250

Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

£14,865 £13,865

£14,865 £13,865

£17,775 £16,545

Triple Suite

Twin Porthole

Verandah Cabin

£19,165

£12,495

£14,165

Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

£19,200 £21,300

£23,000 £25,500

CLASSIC ANTARCTICA

Triple

Triple

Twin Porthole Balcony Stateroom

£11,000 £12,830 £13,330

£11,915 £14,000 £14,500

Twin Window Balcony Stateroom

£12,750 £13,415

ROSS SEA EXPEDITION NEW Heritage Adventurer

9 Jan 24 4 Feb 24 7 Jan 25 2 Feb 25

GREAT ANTARCTIC VOYAGE Ortelius

2 Feb 24 10 Dec 24

19 19

Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia

Magellan ExplorerOrtelius

25 Oct 24

19

Punta Arenas/Ushuaia

Ocean Adventurer

4 Nov 24 19 Dec 24

19 19

Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia

£15,800 £17,500

Greg Mortimer

19 Nov 24

20

Ushuaia/Ushuaia

£21,750

Triple Triple

Sylvia Earle

2 Dec 24 2 Jan 25

20 19

Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Punta Arenas

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas

Twin Porthole Balcony Stateroom

£22,415

£24,330

Twin Window Balcony Stateroom

£22,330 £24,080

£24,330 £26,250

£25,000 £26,913

Triple Suite

Twin Porthole

Verandah Cabin

£12,915 £12,915 £12,915 £12,915 £11,665 £11,665 £15,000 £15,000 £15,000 £15,000 £15,000 £16,665 £16,665 £16,665 £16,500 £16,500 £16,500 £16,500 £16,500 £16,500 £16,500 £14,995 £14,995

£13,830 £13,830 £13,830 £13,830 £12,750 £12,750 £13,330 £13,330 £13,330 £13,330 £13,330 £15,665 £15,665 £15,665 £15,000 £15,000 £15,000 £15,000 £15,000 £15,000 £15,000 £13,330 £13,330

£16,495 £16,495 £16,495 £16,495 £14,995 £14,995 £16,665 £16,665 £16,665 £16,665 £16,665 £19,165 £19,165 £19,165 £18,330 £18,330 £18,330 £18,330 £18,330 £18,330 £18,330 £16,665 £16,665

CLASSIC ANTARCTICA FLY-SAIL Magellan Explorer

5 Feb 24 10 Feb 24 15 Feb 24 20 Feb 24 25 Feb 24 1 Mar 24 26 Nov 24 1 Dec 24 6 Dec 24 11 Dec 24 16 Dec 24 21 Dec 24 26 Dec 24 31 Dec 24 14 Jan 25 19 Jan 25 31 Jan 25 5 Feb 25 10 Feb 25 15 Feb 25 20 Feb 25 25 Feb 25 2 Mar 25

To request a detailed day-to-day itinerary, for further information on alternative cabin types and to book any of our wildlife voyages, please call our expert team on 01962 302055. All holiday prices shown are voyage only and are based on two people sharing a cabin. Flight prices are available on request.

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Over 30 years’ experience of designing the finest wildlife holidays

Vessel

Start Date

Nights Embark/Disembark

Voyage Only From Prices & Cabin Type

AROUND SPITSBERGEN Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

Ocean Adventurer

28 May 24 15 Jun 24 30 Jun 24 30 Jul 24 15 May 25 23 May 25 31 May 25 8 Jun 25 16 Jun 25 24 Jun 25 2 Jul 25 10 Jul 25 18 Jul 25 26 Jul 25

11 11 11 11 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki

£8,200 £8,600 £8,900 £8,900 £7,000 £7,200 £7,200 £7,500 £7,800 £7,800 £7,800 £7,800 £7,800 £7,800

£9,500 £10,000 £10,300 £10,300 £8,000 £8,200 £8,300 £8,500 £8,800 £8,800 £8,800 £8,800 £8,800 £8,800

£12,400 £13,200 £13,600 £13,600 £10,400 £10,800 £10,800 £11,200 £11,600 £11,600 £11,600 £11,600 £11,600 £11,600

Greg Mortimer

19 Jun 24 11 Aug 24 2 Jul 25 7 Aug 25

11 11 11 11

Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen Oslo/Oslo Oslo/Oslo

£10,595 £10,095 £14,395 £13,095

£10,995 £10,395 £14,795 £13,495

£11,795 £11,295 £15,995 £14,695

Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

Ortelius

10 Jul 24 28 Jul 24 12 Jul 25 21 Jul 25 30 Jul 25

9 9 9 9 9

Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen

£5,455 £5,455 N/A N/A N/A

£6,455 £6,455 £6,640 £6,635 £6,635

£8,365 £8,365 £8,635 £8,635 £8,635

Triple

Twin Porthole Balcony Stateroom

SVALBARD IN DEPTH NEW Triple

Twin Balcony Stateroom

Sylvia Earle

10 Jun 24 4 Jul 25

14 14

Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen Oslo/Oslo

£12,295 £16,995

£13,295 £18,395

Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

Ocean Adventurer

10 Jul 24 3 Aug 25

13 11

Helsinki/Helsinki Helsinki/Helsinki

£11,000 £8,500

£12,700 £9,600

£16,700 £12,500

£13,695 £18,995

SPITSBERGEN, GREENLAND & ICELAND Triple

Twin Window Balcony Stateroom

Sylvia Earle

23 Jun 24 17 Jul 25

14 12

Longyearbyen/Reykjavik Oslo/Reykjavik

£12,895 £13,395

Greg Mortimer

7 Jul 24 21 Aug 24 12 Jul 25 25 Jul 25

14 14 14 14

Longyearbyen/Reykjavik Longyearbyen/Reykjavik Oslo/Reykjavik Reykjavik/Oslo

£12,895 £12,895 £15,395 £15,395

£13,195 £13,195 £15,895 £15,895

Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

Ortelius

29 Aug 24 17 Aug 25

13 13

Longyearbyen/Akureyri Longyearbyen/Akureyri

£7,045 N/A

£8,230 £8,500

£10,640 £11,000

Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

N/A

£4,995

N/A

Triple Porthole

Twin Porthole

Superior

£11,590 £11,590

£11,590 £11,590

£13,275 £13,275

Triple

Twin Porthole

Superior

£7,995

£8,595

Triple

Twin Porthole

Verandah Cabin

N/A

£11,250

£12,250

Triple

£13,995 £14,495

£14,395 £14,895

Twin Porthole Balcony Stateroom

£14,395 £14,395 £17,195 £17,195

FJORDS ORCA & AURORA PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION NEW & EXCLUSIVE M/S Stockholm

8 Nov 24

5

Tromso/Tromso

EMPEROR PENGUINS OF THE WEDDELL SEA Ortelius

10 Nov 24 20 Nov 24

10 10

Ushuaia/Ushuaia Ushuaia/Ushuaia

SVALBARD WILDLIFE EXPEDITION EXCLUSIVE M/S Sjøveien

2 Jun 25

7

Longyearbyen/Longyearbyen

FESTIVAL OF WILDLIFE FALKLANDS & SOUTH GEORGIA EXCLUSIVE Magellan Explorer

13 Oct 25

16

Punta Arenas/Punta Arenas

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Small Ship Expeditions in the Galápagos Islands Our extensive range of naturalist-led cruises explore the very best of the Galápagos Islands. Discover the verdant easterly islands or volcanic westerly islands, or combine both for the ultimate wildlife expedition. Exotic wildlife encounters await, from marine mammals and reptiles to an abundance of bird species.

Contact us to discuss itinerary options, and we can advise which expedition vessel will suit your requirements.

Departures year-round 8-day cruise from £4,545

We create outstanding

Wildlife Holidays

Visit our website to order the latest Wildlife Worldwide Brochures

Over 520 locations worldwide, handpicked for the best wildlife viewing.

Over 30 years' experience creating the finest wildlife holidays Knowledgeable & passionate team of wildlife experts Dedicated expert-led photography tours Flexible tailor-made holidays Small group wildlife trips worldwide Committed to conservation & responsible tourism Expert local naturalist guides 24-hour on-call service for peace of mind 100% independent 100% financial protection

Photographs courtesy of: Tom Arban, Al Bakker, T Bickford, Chris Breen, Dana Brown, Bret Charman, Helen Cox, Ruslan Eliseev, Christian Engelke, Rogelio Espinosa, Dani Free, Nick Garbutt, Diego Toapanta Garcia, Terry Goble, Therese Horntrich, Masano Kawana, Ulrich Kühn, Elke Lindner, Stevie Mann, Ana Carla Martinez, Rodrigo Moraga, Niklas Nilsson, Scott Portelli, A Russ, Monica Salmang, Tom Stoeri, Bartosz Stróżyżski & Benjamin Tan. Apologies for any omissions.

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© Wildlife Worldwide 2024 No portion of this brochure may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Wildlife Worldwide.