We are excited to once again offer an extraordinary opportunity to visit Antarctica aboard the Han Hansson. In an era when Antarctic expedition vessels are getting larger and larger, Hans Hansson offers a wonderful way to go with a very small 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 – award-winning polar photographer Daisy Gilardini and Justin Black of Visionary Wild – will work with the captain to choose the best 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 eleven guests in addition to your two photo leaders and the ship’s crew, in six cabins each with two bunks. Two Superior Cabins have en suite private bathrooms, and the other four Standard Cabins share two bathrooms/showers.
If you have any questions at all, please let us know. We hope you will join us on this Antarctic adventure!
Itinerary
Jan 15: Arrive in Punta Arenas. You will be met at the airport and transferred to Hotel Cabo de Hornos (meals not included).
Jan 16: The group will meet for an introduction and orientation session in the afternoon, followed by a group dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. Overnight at Hotel Cabos de Hornos, Punta Arenas.
Jan 17: Transfer to the airport for our quick and comfortable jet flight over 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.
Jan 18-28: Aboard Hans Hansson, photographing the wildlife, ice, and 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 get to.
Jan 29: Disembark Hans Hansson for the flight back to Punta Arenas. Celebratory final group dinner at one of Punta Arena’s best restaurants, and overnight at Hotel Cabo De Hornos.
Jan 30: 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 17, 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 16 if there is incoming bad weather. All guests should therefore plan to arrive in Punta Arenas on January 15. 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.