Antarctica II
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Overview
A FLY-IN – FLY-OUT, SMALL-GROUP ANTARCTIC PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITION ABOARD M/V HANS HANSSON
We are excited to offer an extraordinary opportunity to visit Antarctica aboard the Hans Hansson, operated by personal friends of ours who specialize in small-vessel Antarctic adventures. In an era when Antarctic travel is shifting from reasonably sized expedition vessels to bloated cruise ships carrying 200 passengers or more, Hans Hansson offers a wonderful way to go with a very small private group, on a comfortable vessel that can get into locations that bigger ships can’t reach. We will spend almost two weeks on location at Antarctica, rather than wasting precious days “rockin’ and rollin'” on the Drake Passage crossing. As masters of the ship, your leaders –Frans Lanting and Christine Eckstrom – will work with the captain to choose the best itinerary and route to maximize the photographic opportunities along the way, responding to local conditions of weather and ice as necessary. Our small but capable expedition vessel will sleep ten guests in addition to your two leaders and the ship’s crew, in six cabins each with two bunks. Two Superior Cabins have en suite private bathrooms, and the other three Standard Cabins share two bathrooms/showers.
Itinerary
January 27: Arrive in Punta Arenas. You will be met at the airport and transferred to Hotel Cabo de Hornos (meals not included).
January 28: Explore Punta Arenas on your own (we will be happy to provide suggestions for day tours). The group will meet for an evening orientation session followed by dinner. Overnight at Hotel Cabo de Hornos, Punta Arenas.
January 29: Transfer to the airport for our quick and comfortable jet flight over the Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn, and across the Drake Passage to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, where we board Hans Hansson and begin our adventure.
January 30 – February 9: Aboard Hans Hansson, photographing the wildlife, ice, and mountainous landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula, south to Lemaire Channel and Vernadsky Research Base, using our vessel’s size and maneuverability to access places that larger ships can’t reach.
February 10: Disembark Hans Hansson for the flight back to Punta Arenas. Celebratory final group dinner at one of Punta Arena’s finest restaurants, and overnight at Hotel Cabo De Hornos.
February 11: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Punta Arenas airport to catch your departing flight.
SCHEDULING TRAVEL
It will not be possible to join the group once it departs for King George Island. The flight is scheduled for January 29, but the timing is weather dependent and is not decided until the day of travel, and it is possible that the group may need to leave on the night of January 28 if there is incoming bad weather. All guests should therefore plan to arrive in Punta Arenas on January 27. This will also allow some additional time in case of flight or baggage delays.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is also important to be aware that weather conditions do from time to time delay the flights to and from King George Island. Though delays are usually brief (and in some cases a few hours, or a day), a few years ago a large group operated by another company was delayed for several days due to uncommonly bad weather, resulting in outright cancellation of the trip. As a result, we strongly recommend obtaining of travel insurance that provides full coverage for the cost of your trip in the event of trip cancellation, as well as travel interruption or delays that may impact your arrival or departure from this expedition.
Instructors
Frans Lanting
- FRANS LANTING has been hailed as one of the great nature photographers of our time. His influential work appears in books, magazines, and exhibitions around the world. Born in ...
Chris Eckstrom
- Christine Eckstrom is a writer, editor, and videographer whose ...
Justin Black
- JUSTIN BLACK is a photographer, writer, editor, expedition leader, photo workshops instructor, a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Writers (ILCW), a former executive director of the International ...
Gallery
Pricing
Superior
Standard
Superior Cabin: Twin bunks with a private bathroom. $25,000 per person double-occupancy; or $49,750 single-occupancy. Sold out
Standard Cabin: Twin bunks, sharing two showers and toilets located in the corridor, very close to the cabins. $20,500 per person double-occupancy; or $40,750 single-occupancy. One berth available in shared cabin (male cabinmate)
Single-Occupancy
Due to the limited number of berths available and the fact that our group flights reservation has to be contracted for in advance by the ship’s operator based on the maximum possible number of guests (that is, on the flights we have to pay for two seats per ship’s cabin, regardless of whether the cabin is ultimately occupied by one or two guests), the rates for single-occupancy bookings have to be nearly double the rate for double-occupancy cabins.
Pairing Double-Occupancy Guests
Individuals traveling alone are welcome to book at the double occupancy rate and we will match you with a cabin mate. We will attempt to match cabin mates of the same sex, but, again due to the small group size, this cannot be guaranteed.
Payment Schedule
- 50% deposit is required upon registration
- Remaining 50% balance due by October 1, 2019
Click here to review our payment, cancellation and refund policies
Click here to review the terms and conditions of participation
INCLUDED
- Photographic assistance throughout by Frans Lanting and Justin Black
- Use of M/V Hans Hansson and its two Zodiacs, as well as the services of the experienced five-person crew and expedition staff.
- Specially arranged round-trip flights on DAP Antarctic Airways, aboard a four-engine BAE 146 jet, from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island (seats on these flights normally cost between $6,000 and $8,000 per person).
- Three hotel nights in Punta Arenas (Jan 27, 28 and Feb 10)
- All meals from dinner on Jan 28 to breakfast on Feb 11 (including wine/beer/softdrinks with dinners).
- All necessary transfers from arrival to departure in Punta Arenas, Chile.
NOT INCLUDED
- R/T airfare to our point of origin in Punta Arenas, Chile.
- Additional hotel nights, meals or other costs for arrivals prior to the start date or departures after the end date
- Cost of passports, any necessary entry visas or reciprocity fees, vaccinations, or other personal travel expenses
- Travel insurance, emergency medical insurance and evacuation insurance/coverage. Emergency medical and evacuation coverage are required for this expedition.
- Alcoholic beverages other than those offered at dinner
- Telephone or internet charges
- Any private excursions or services not included in the itinerary
- Gratuities for guides, expedition staff, and ship’s crew, at your discretion
- Personal purchases, souvenirs, additional activities, and anything else not listed as included
Highlights
- 12-night private charter of M/V Hans Hansson, one of very few capable charter vessels in Antarctic waters suitable for a group this size.
- Small group size, limited to no more than 10 guests
- Includes round-trip flights across the Drake Passage aboard a BAE 146 Jet. Flight duration is about two hours, which frees up an extra four days on location in Antarctica, significantly reduces the potential for seasickness, and increases general safety.
- Frequent landings to make the most of photographic opportunities along the coast and on the islands
- Excursions by Zodiac among the icebergs
- Generous and personalized photographic instruction throughout by Frans Lanting, Christine Eckstrom, and Justin Black
Accommodations
- Nights of January 27 and 28: Hotel Rey Don Felipe, in central Punta Arenas
- Antarctica: 12 nights from January 29 t0 February 9, private charter vessel M/V Hans Hansson
- February 10: Hotel Cabo De Hornos, in central Punta Arenas
Travel
Antarctica II
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