HIGHLIGHTS
- A
polar expedition cruise in the Southern Ocean, between the Valdes
Peninsula, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic
Peninsula, to discover a dazzling natural environment.
- Outings
and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team of experienced
naturalist guides.
- Enjoy
a magical experience as you are introduced to sea kayaking. Lead by
experienced, State-Certified kayak guides, you will skim the
water’s surface amid the ice. For more information about your
kayak tour, please go to the section ‘PONANT
activities’ and to book your kayak tour, contact your cruise
advisor.
- The
discovery of the Valdes Peninsula, in Patagonia, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and a veritable wildlife sanctuary with a unique
ecosystem, offering captivating landscapes of arid steppes, unrivalled
biodiversity, and traditional haciendas.
- South
Georgia and the Falkland Islands, two subantarctic archipelagos of
singular beauty, where the great variety of fauna and flora is
astonishing.
- Lectures
and information sessions hosted by our naturalist-guides, covering
wildlife, history, geopolitics, the great explorers, climate,
environmental protection and educational discovery in the respect of
environment.
- Hiking
opportunity
- The
wildlife: black-browed albatrosses, snowy albatrosses, Magellanic
penguins, Gentoo penguins and southern rockhopper penguins in the
Falkland Islands; king penguins, elephant seals, fur seals and macaroni
penguins in South Georgia; humpback whales, Gentoo penguins, Adelie
penguins, chinstrap penguins, leopard seals, crabeater seals and
Weddell seals in the Antarctic Peninsula; maned seals, guanacos and
dusky dolphins in the Valdes Peninsula.
- Wildlife:
barren steppes with a unique ecosystem in southern Argentina ;
black-browed and light-mantled albatrosses; Magellanic, Gentoo and
southern rockhopper penguins in the Falkland Islands; king and macaroni
penguins, elephant and fur seals in South Georgia; leopard seals,
chinstrap penguins in the South Orkney Islands; humpback whales,
Gentoo, Adelie, chinstrap penguins, leopard, crabeater and Weddell
seals in the Antarctic Peninsula.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Superior Stateroom | Deluxe Stateroom | Prestige Stateroom-I | Prestige Stateroom-II | Prestige Stateroom-III | Deluxe Suite | Prestige Suite | Privilege Suite | Grand Deluxe Suite | Grand Privilege Suite | Owner's Suite |
|---|
| Mar 02, 2026 | Mar 21, 2026 | 19,950 | 20,950 | 21,930 | 22,330 | 22,910 | 32,640 | 34,010 | 36,930 | 45,100 | 46,470 | 66,960 |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Superior Stateroom | (Mid-range)
Deluxe Suite | (High-end)
Owner's Suite |
|---|
| Mar 02, 2026 | Mar 21, 2026 | 19,950 | 32,640 | 66,960 |
Day
2 : USHUAIA
Capital
of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the
gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed
“El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this
city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains
surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as
the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes
plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating
places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely
and the inaccessible…
Day
3-4 : CROSSING THE DRAKE PASSAGE
Use
your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarise yourself with your
ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader
will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed
during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to
know about the zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife
of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about
this magical region, where every cruise is a unique
experience. You will experience exceptional sailing moments
on board and join the naturalist-guides on your ship’s
exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other
seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.
Day 5 : THE WEDDELL SEA EXPLORATION
Impassable,
extreme and captivating: this is the best way to describe the Weddell
Sea, much of which is covered by a layer of thick, densely packed ice.
It is a challenge and a privilege to sail upon this sea. Polar
exploration finds its full meaning here. Heading towards the South is a
real quest, with the promise of highly-charged encounters with the
continent’s endemic fauna. This is the kingdom of the emperor
penguin, the largest penguin in the world, renowned for its elegance.
Unlike other penguins that live on the rocks, the emperor nests on the
ice floe which it needs for its reproductive cycle. It is therefore on
the ice floe that you will be able to observe it walking around with
its characteristic gait. In this southern sea, where the ice changes
and is transformed constantly, there is never any monotony. The new
reliefs and new colours ensure never-ending wonderment. You will sail
into the heart of the immaculate ice floe, which is dislocated or
densely packed, into an alley of icebergs. Among them are immense
blocks of ice, tabular icebergs, that drift and illuminate the ocean
with their cerulean blue haloes. Aboard, on shore, on the ice, you will
be as close as possible to the colonies of Adelie penguins, Weddell
seals, Mink whales, orcas, snow petrels.… With a little
luck, you will get a glimpse of a rare Ross seal with its silver pelage
or of emperor penguins, waddling along the edge of the ice floe. A
sight that is as fascinating as it is emotional.
Day
6 : ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Succumb
to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical
Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its
visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy
realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in
subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife.
Penguins, humpback whales, seals and giant petrels are at home here, as
are elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas.
Depending on which sites you will be lucky enough to visit, you may get
the chance to observe them and share with them the beauty of these
extreme parts.
Each
day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader
will suggest zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches
of the Antarctic Peninsula. Glaciers, ice floe, tabletop
icebergs, mountain peaks that plunge straight into the sea, volcanic
beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and vestiges of the
whaling industry: these are the faces of the Antarctic that will likely
reveal themselves to you, in a hushed and surreal atmosphere. You will
sail in the wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache and Sir
Ernest Shackleton, great Antarctic explorers who, from the 19th
century, set out to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands.
Day
7-8 : AT SEA
During
your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities
on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay
in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself
be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey
without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the
conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities
offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT
photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea,
they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire
the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe
marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest
and entertainment.
Day
9-11 : SOUTH GEORGIA
Aboard
your ship, discover South Georgia, a region formed by an underwater
mountain chain that extends from the Andes to the Antarctic Peninsula.
All the wildlife of the Far South can be found there: king and Gentoo
penguins, elephant seals, fur seals… You might get the
chance to discover the majestic glaciers of Gold Harbour and the vast
plains of Fortuna Bay. If you are fortunate enough to land at Salisbury
Plain, you can expect a wonderful spectacle: more than 300,000 king
penguins, which you will recognise by the bright orange mark on their
head and neck, have taken up residence there.
Day
12-13 : AT SEA
During
your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities
on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay
in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself
be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey
without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the
conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities
offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT
photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea,
they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire
the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe
marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest
and entertainment.
Day
14 : PORT STANLEY
Situated
at the far eastern end of the Falklands' largest island, Port Stanley,
is the capital of this remote archipelago in the South Atlantic,
composed of nearly 700 islands and islets. In 1764, Louis Antoine de
Bougainville settled the first pioneers here and the port grew rapidly.
Placed under the Spanish crown in 1767, then under British sovereignty
since 1833, the town has retained some South American features fused
with the Victorian style that punctuate the city, and the houses with
their colourful roofs brighten the moorland landscapes with their windy
and harsh climate reminiscent of the Scottish islands of Orkneys or
Shetland. In front of the Cathedral, built in 1933, an arch made of
whale jaw bones reminds us that Port Stanley was once a whaling port.
Day
15-16 : AT SEA
During
your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities
on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay
in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself
be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey
without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the
conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities
offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT
photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea,
they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire
the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe
marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest
and entertainment.
Day
17 : PUERTO MADRYN
On
the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Argentinian province of
Chubut, stands the city of Puerto Madryn nestling in the Golfo Nuevo
and surrounded by wild and abundant nature. You will be able to follow
the narrow strip of land formed by the isthmus for a few kilometres, to
reach the Valdes Peninsula nature reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. Its microclimate, protected from the extreme conditions of the
Southern Atlantic, makes this an ideal breeding ground for southern
right whales in winter, but also for southern elephant seals, southern
sea lions, and orcas. You may get the chance to spot numerous birds,
Magellanic penguins, guanacos and Patagonian maras living in this
desert steppe.
Day
18-19 : AT SEA
During
your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities
on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay
in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself
be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey
without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the
conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities
offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT
photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea,
they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire
the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe
marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest
and entertainment.
Day
20 : BUENOS AIRES
A
port city built on the south-western shore of the Rio de la Plata,
between the Atlantic Ocean and the vast Argentine Pampas, Buenos Aires
is a unique city in Latin America. Nicknamed “the Little
Paris of South America”, the Argentine capital is a clever
blend of architecture with European influences and a joyful Latin
American atmosphere. Designed on an orthogonal grid plan, it has 48
districts, all of which are as charming as they are different, with a
range of styles such as Belle Époque, gothic and baroque.
With its markets overflowing with treasures, its legendary cultural and
architectural heritage, and tango providing its background music, the
Argentine capital will delight you on every street corner.
Le Lyrial (Luxury Expedition, 260-guests)
Le Lyrial embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing which is PONANT's signature. The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and her intimate size (only 122 staterooms and suites) make this a rare and innovative yacht on the cruise market.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Transfer to your hotel, the day before embarkation.
- 1-night accommodation in 5* hotel Sofitel Recoleta in
superior room, the night before embarkation.
- Early check-in available from late morning.
- Hospitality desk at the hotel in Buenos Aires.
- Return flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia/Buenos Aires selected by
PONANT, in economy class.
- Services of local guides, in Ushuaia.
- Meals as mentioned in the programme and beverage package.
- Transfers as mentioned in the programme.
Excluded
from this voyage:
- Tips for the local guide.
- Personal expenses.
- Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme.
