ANTARCTICA
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Aboard the New 106-Guest Orion
November 30 – December
12, 2004
December 9 – 21, 2004 |
ITINERARY:
| Day 1 |
USA | DEPARTURE
Depart the United States on a regularly scheduled flight to Buenos
Aires, Argentina. |
| Day 2 |
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the Marriott Hotel for
the night. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after
the flight or explore Buenos Aires on your own. |
| Day 3 |
BUENOS AIRES | USHUAIA | EMBARKATION
Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, a small Patagonian city set on
the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Darwin Cordillera, glaciers,
and forests of southern beech. Upon arrival, transfer to Orion .
Enjoy a spectacular vista of glaciers and green-misted mountains
as Orion navigates the Beagle Channel. |
| Days 4 & 5 |
AT SEA
Attend lectures by naturalists and study leaders as Orion sails
through the Drake Passage and crosses the Antarctic Convergence,
where the cold waters of the Southern Ocean override the warmer waters
to the north. Albatross and cape petrels are among the birds that
accompany the ship on its passage. |
Days 6, 7, 8
& 9 |
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Enjoy four days exploring the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic
Peninsula, a narrow finger of land that separates the ice-choked
waters of the Weddell and Bellingshausen Seas. As Orion sails
through scenic waterways, witness a breathtaking panorama of icebergs,
blue glaciers, and jagged, snowcapped mountains. Aboard the ship's
fleet of Zodiacs, cruise among ice floes, land at penguin rookeries,
and visit with scientists at research stations. Although the itinerary
varies according to local ice and wind conditions, we hope to land
at such places as Petermann Island, where humpback and minke whales
are often sighted offshore; Paradise Bay, the habitat of gentoo
and chinstrap penguins and the blubbery Weddell seal; Deception
Island, whose waters are often warm enough for swimming; and King
George Island, home to several research stations. Voyages through
the magnificent Lemaire, Neumeyer, Errata, and other protected
channels are also planned—and never to be forgotten. |
| Days 10 & 11 |
AT SEA
Enjoy on-board lectures and the amenities of the ship as Orion makes
the 600-mile return trip to Ushuaia. |
| Day 12 |
USHUAIA, Argentina | DISEMBARKATION | BUENOS
AIRES
Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for the flight to
Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, connect with homebound
flights to the United States. |
| Day 13 |
USA
Arrive in the United States. |
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS:
- 9-night cruise aboard the new, 106-guest expedition
cruise ship, Orion .
- 1-night at the Hilton Hotel , Buenos Aires
with American breakfast.
- Round trip flight between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.
- Commemorative red expedition parka, with " Orion in
Antarctica" logo.
- Welcome reception at Hotel Hilton in Buenos
Aires.
- Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard Orion .
- 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners.
- House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
aboard ship.
- Educational program conducted by accompanying study
leaders.
- Experienced Expedition Leaders and Naturalist Guides
to conduct excursions aboard Zodiacs and offer shipboard
presentations on the natural history, ornithology,
geology, and marine life of Antarctica.
- Services of professional Travel Dynamics International
tour staff.
- Transfers abroad on the designated tour departure
and arrival dates.
- Comprehensive pre-departure materials
- Port dues and embarkation taxes.
Rates from $5,995 per person. For complete pricing
download pdf brochure.
 |
Aboard the New 106-Guest Orion
January 7 – 20,
2005
January 29 – February 11, 2005 |
ITINERARY:
| Day 1 |
USA | DEPARTURE
Depart the United States on a regularly scheduled flight to Buenos
Aires, Argentina. |
| Day 2 |
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the Marriott Hotel for
the night. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after
the flight or explore Buenos Aires on your own. |
| Day 3 |
BUENOS AIRES | USHUAIA | EMBARKATION
Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, a small Patagonian city set on
the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Darwin Cordillera, glaciers,
and forests of southern beech. Upon arrival, transfer to Orion .
Enjoy a spectacular vista of glaciers and green-misted mountains
as Orion navigates the Beagle Channel. |
| Days 4 & 5 |
AT SEA
Attend lectures by naturalists and study leaders as Orion sails
through the Drake Passage and crosses the Antarctic Convergence,
where the cold waters of the Southern Ocean override the warmer waters
to the north. Albatross and cape petrels are among the birds that
accompany the ship on its passage. |
| Days 6-10 |
ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Enjoy five days exploring the pristine wilderness of the Antarctic
Peninsula, a narrow finger of land that separates the ice-choked
waters of the Weddell and Bellingshausen Seas. As Orion sails
through scenic waterways, witness a breathtaking panorama of icebergs,
blue glaciers, and jagged, snowcapped mountains. Aboard the ship's
fleet of Zodiacs, cruise among ice floes, land at penguin rookeries,
and visit with scientists at research stations. Although the itinerary
varies according to local ice and wind conditions, we hope to land
at such places as Petermann Island, where humpback and minke whales
are often sighted offshore; Paradise Bay, the habitat of gentoo
and chinstrap penguins and the blubbery Weddell seal; Deception
Island, whose waters are often warm enough for swimming; and King
George Island, home to several research stations. Voyages through
the magnificent Lemaire, Neumeyer, Errata, and other protected
channels are also planned—and never to be forgotten. |
| Days 11& 12 |
AT SEA
Enjoy on-board lectures and the amenities of the ship as Orion makes
the 600-mile return trip to Ushuaia. |
| Day 13 |
USHUAIA, Argentina | DISEMBARKATION | BUENOS
AIRES
Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for the flight to
Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, connect with homebound
flights to the United States. |
| Day 14 |
USA
Arrive in the United States. |
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS:
- 10-night cruise aboard the new, 106-guest expedition
cruise ship, Orion .
- 1-night at the Marriot Hotel , Buenos Aires
with American breakfast.
- Round trip flight between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.
- Commemorative red expedition parka, with " Orion in
Antarctica" logo.
- Welcome reception at Marriot Hotel in Buenos
Aires.
- Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard Orion .
- 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 10 dinners.
- House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
aboard ship.
- Educational program conducted by accompanying study
leaders.
- Experienced Expedition Leaders and Naturalist Guides
to conduct excursions aboard Zodiacs and offer shipboard
presentations on the natural history, ornithology,
geology, and marine life of Antarctica.
- Services of professional Travel Dynamics International
tour staff.
- Transfers abroad on the designated tour departure
and arrival dates.
- Comprehensive pre-departure materials
- Port dues and embarkation taxes.
Rates from $5,995 per person. For complete pricing
download pdf brochure.
 |
Patagonia's Majestic
fjords
Discovering a Pristine
Wilderness
A Voyage Aboard the New 106-Guest Orion
February 7 – 22, 2005 |
ITINERARY:
| Day 1 |
USA
Depart the United States on a regularly scheduled flight to Buenos
Aires, Argentina. |
| Day 2 |
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
Upon arrival to Buenos Aires, transfer to the Caesar Park Hotel .
Dinner will be served at an “estancia” with traditional
Argentine cuisine, music and dancing. |
| Day 3 |
BUENOS AIRES
In the morning, take a tour of Buenos Aires to visit Plaza de Mayo
and the Cathedral where San Martin, the father of Independence,
is buried; La Recoleta Cemetery to visit the beloved Eva Peron's
grave; and La Boca, the artists' quarter. The afternoon is at leisure
to further explore Buenos Aires. Overnight at the Caesar Park
Hotel . |
| Day 4 |
BUENOS AIRES / USHUAIA / EMBARKATION
Attend lectures by naturalists and study leaders as Orion sails
through the Drake Passage and crosses the Antarctic Convergence,
where the cold waters of the Southern Ocean override the warmer waters
to the north. Albatross and cape petrels are among the birds that
accompany the ship on its passage. |
| Day 5 |
BEAGLE CHANNEL
Spend the day cruising the beautiful northwest arm of the Beagle
Channel, the waterway named for Charles Darwin's ship, the H.M.S.
Beagle , which explored these waters in 1832. Here, amidst
a landscape of countless islands and snow-covered peaks, a series
of glaciers tumble into the sea. At Romanche glacier a Zodiac cruise
leads along the forested shore to a spectacular waterfall that
plunges from a hanging glacier over a sheer rock face. Also explore
Alemania glacier and Yendegaia Bay, where South American sea lions
gather along the shore and an abundant array of birds can be seen. |
| Day 6 |
PUERTO NATALES
Orion navigates the narrow Kirke Narrows
to call at Puerto Natales, the second-largest town
in Patagonia. Spectacularly situated at the head
of the Ultima Esperanza sound, the town is flanked
by flat pampas to the east, while snow-capped mountains
tower over the sound to the west. |
| Day 7 |
PUERTO NATALES / TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL
PARK
From Puerto Natales a full-day excursion visits Torres del Paine
National Park, one of the most awesome landscapes found anywhere
in the Americas. Dominated by the sharp soaring peaks of the Paine
massif, the park is a natural wonderland of strangely twisted peaks,
cascading waterfalls, pristine lakes and dramatic pillars of stone
rising upward from the flat Patagonian plain. |
| Days 8 - 10 |
PUERTO NATALES / CHILE'S INSIDE PASSAGE
Orion navigates the Kirke Narrows once
again and continues cruising through a stunning
maze of islands and fjords punctuated by dramatic
waterfalls, glaciers and headlands. Dolphins and
seals abound in the waters of the archipelago. |
| Day 11 |
CHACABUCO
Orion calls at Chacabuco, a spectacular
wilderness region of deeply cleft fjords, hanging
glaciers and snow-covered Andean peaks. Cascading
waterfalls tumble over steep canyon walls and hundreds
of species of birds (including the near-extinct
giant condor) flock to play and feed in the mist-shrouded
islands. From here, visit Coihaique National Reserve
wilderness trails and stunning views of the surrounding
area and city below. |
| Day 12 |
CALETA GONZALO / PARQUE PUMALIN
Call at Caleta Gonzalo, the port and gateway to Parque Pumalin, a
private natural wilderness, developed by Douglas Tompkins, the
American founder of the Esprit company. Tompkins gradually acquired
800,000 acres of mostly untouched wilderness between the Argentine
border and Chile's inland sea in the area just south of Puerto
Montt. Sights include Sendero de los Alerces, an easy-level hike
across an ancient larch tree grove of millenarian trees, and the
Sendero Tronador consisting of an ascent that crosses a spectacular
hanging bridge to arrive at the base of a lake amphitheatre. |
| Day 13 |
VALDIVIA
Call today at Valdivia. Set at the confluence of three rivers, the “City
of Rivers,” as Valdivia is known, is an interesting hybrid
of Spanish colonial, Mapuche Indian and Germanic traditions. Tour
the city, then take a boat ride through the Rio Cruces nature preserve,
an extensive delta of marshy wetlands that provide an important breeding
ground for over 90 species of migratory birds. |
| Day 14 |
TALCAHUANO / LOTA
Travel to the former coal-mining town of Lota today to visit Parque
Lota, a lovely formal garden commissioned in 1862 by local coal
magnate, Matias Cousino. Designed by an English landscape architect,
the garden is a refreshing retreat of fountains, neoclassical statues,
beautiful ponds and winding footpaths. |
| Day 15 |
VALPARAISO / DISEMBARKATION / SANTIAGO
Disembark Orion and transfer to airport for the flight
to Santiago to connect to return flights to the United States. |
| Day 16 |
USA
Arrival in home city |
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS:
- 11-night cruise aboard the new, 106-guest expedition
cruise ship, Orion .
- Two nights at the Caesar Park Hotel in
Buenos Aires, with breakfast.
- Welcome reception at the Caesar Park Hotel in
Buenos Aires.
- Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship.
- 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners.
- House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
aboard ship .
- Educational program conducted by accompanying study
leaders.
- Services of professional Travel Dynamics International
tour staff.
- Transfers abroad on the designated tour departure
and arrival dates.
- Comprehensive pre-departure materials.
- Port dues and embarkation taxes.
Rates from $5,995 per person. For complete pricing
download pdf brochure.
|
