Discover Antarctica 2023/2024 Planetary Society Adventures - Betchart Expeditions
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2023/2024 Planetary Society Adventures
Discover Antarctica
December 5-18, 2023
Join us! Discover this Southern Paradise of Ice, Snow and Wildlife!
Dear Travelers: most magnificent wilderness with icebergs sculpted by
the sea and breathtaking scenery.
We invite you to Discover Antarctica with The
Planetary Society, December 5 - 18, 2023! Wildlife thrives in the nutrient-rich waters. We will
find humpback, minke, southern right, and fin whales,
Visiting this splendid Southern paradise of glaciers, along with several species of true and fur seals and
snow, and wildlife is one of the ultimate adventures tens of thousands of penguins, diving, swimming,
on earth! feeding, and caring
Considered by scientists and travelers as one of the for their eggs or
Earth's last pristine regions and one of the Earth’s most chicks! It is a wonder
inhospitable habitats, Antarctica offers the world’s to behold!
Betchart Expeditions Inc.
17050 Montebello Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014
Phone: (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910 email: info@betchartexpeditions.com
Discover Antarctica
December 5-18, 2023
Join us! Discover this Southern Paradise of Ice, Snow and Wildlife!
Antarctica holds many answers
to the world’s past climate in the
thousands of years of data in the
polar cap ice cores. It has been
bombarded by meteorites, and
some have come from the Moon
and even Mars.
Days will be filled with expedition
landings in zodiacs, cruising amid ice For Reservations
floes and icebergs, and quietly watching or Questions
the antics of the penguins, seals, and leaders with years of experience in
whales. Walks on shore and to overlooks please contact Taunya or Terri
Antarctica. We will be on board one of
over the “White Continent” will offer the finest vessels for Antarctica Betchart Expeditions Inc.,
stunning vistas. exploration, M/V Hondius. (800) 252-4910 (USA) or
There will be talks on the history of We invite you to join our Antarctica (408) 252-4910 (Int’l)
Antarctic exploration, marine mammals, adventure and share the discovery of Email: info@betchartexpeditions.com
penguins, sea level rise, climate change, this magnificent continent — or BetchartTaunya@gmail.com
or other topics. a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
We will be traveling with an excellent
Betchart naturalist and team of onboard
©2022 Betchart Expeditions Inc. All rights reserved. CST# 2036304-40
Photos courtesy of Oceanwide and Wikipedia Commons.
Discover this Southern Paradise of Ice, Snow and Wildlife!
Discover Antarctica
ITINERARY - December 5-18, 2023
Days 1/2 Miami to Buenos Aires too. Wandering albatrosses, black-browed rookeries along shore, and delight in the
Depart Miami or Dallas for Buenos Aires, albatrosses, southern fulmars, and Antarctic antics of humpback whales, penguins, and
Argentina, arriving on the morning of Day 2. petrels are a few of the birds you might see. other wildlife.
Transfer to our hotel in Buenos Aires. Days 6/7/8/9 Antarctic Exploration Day 10 South Shetland Islands
Day 3 Buenos Aires to Ushuaia - End Our exploration of Antarctica will introduce We will then visit the volcanic South
of the world, start of a journey us to its unique qualities. It is a continent of Shetland Islands, windswept and often
We will fly to Ushuaia this morning. Your physical and biological extremes. It is the cloaked in mist.
voyage begins where the world drops off! driest continent, yet includes 90% of the There’s a wide
Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the world’s ice and snow. It is a continent with variety of flora
southernmost city on the planet. In late the longest nights and days, the greatest (mosses, lichens,
afternoon, you embark from this small amount of water, and the least amount of soil. flowering grasses)
resort town on Tierra del Fuego, and sail It is also the most isolated continent, yet with and no small amount
the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel into a rich history of exploration and discovery. It of wildlife (gentoo
the Drake Passage. We will be traveling has the largest number of whale species. penguins, chinstrap
on M/V Hondius, specially designed for Penguin colonies are in excess of 100,000 penguins, and
exploratory voyages in Antarctica and birds, yet less than half the world’s penguin southern
the Arctic. species are found there. giant petrels).
Days 4/5 Path of the polar explorers During these days our vessel will make At Deception
Over the next two days on the Drake numerous visits to the best locations on the Island, the ship
Passage, you may enjoy some of the same Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland plunges through
experiences encountered by the great polar Islands. Taking into account on a daily basis, Neptune’s Bellows
explorers who first charted these regions: the prevailing weather and ice conditions, and into the flooded
cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a we will have a strong emphasis on wildlife caldera. Here you find an abandoned
fin whale spouting up sea spray. As we viewing as well as enjoying the superb whaling station, and thousands of cape
cruise through this historic passage, our scenery. With the long days in the Antarctic petrels – along with kelp gulls, brown and
on-board naturalists will help with bird and summer, we will have ample opportunities south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. A
marine mammal identification as well as to spend time on shore, to explore in our good hike is a possibility in this fascinating
giving our first lectures. After passing the ship, by kayak, and in Zodiacs. and desolate volcanic landscape.
Antarctic Convergence – the boundary,
formed when north-flowing cold waters Some of the locations we will choose from As an alternative, you may be able to engage
collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – include Melchior Island and Schollaert in activities near Half Moon Island. Here
you are in an upwelling zone. Not only does Channel. Visits may also include Danco chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often
the marine life change, the avian life changes Island, to see the gentoo penguins, Weddell haul out onto the beach near Cámara Base,
and crabeater seals. Discover Neko Harbor, an Argentine scientific research station.
an epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and Conditions on the Drake Passage determine
endless wind-carved snow, with stunning the exact time of departure.
alpine peaks. At Paradise Bay, we may zodiac
cruise among icebergs and may encounter Days 11/12 Return crossing
humpback and minke whales. On our return crossing of the Drake
Passage, you’re again greeted by the vast
After sailing through Neumayer Channel, array of seabirds remembered from the
you may get a chance to visit the former passage south. But they seem a little more
British research station, now a museum and familiar to you now, and you to them.
post office, of Port Lockroy on Goudier
Island. At Jougla Point, we will meet gentoo Days 13/14 Ushuaia - Buenos Aires &
penguins and blue-eyed shags. Home
Days in Antarctica will be filled with Bid farewell to your new friends, with
glorious vistas from the ship toward memories that will accompany you
stunning mountains and glaciers. We wherever you travel next! Fly to Buenos
will travel in our zodiacs to visit penguin Aires for a connecting flight back to the USA.
Discover Antarctica
December 5-18, 2023
Join us! Discover this Southern Paradise of Ice, Snow and Wildlife!
Costs & Conditions
Excursions by zodiac, or kayak, and shore is 107 meters
walks allow outstanding discovery of the long and 18
wildlife and stunning vistas. Photography meters wide.
opportunities are excellent, as are There is a
Expedition Fee: Per person for 14 opportunities to observe behavior of restaurant/
days, based on share of cabin on board penguins, seals, and whales up close. You lecture room
M/V Hondius plus air fare from Miami to are visiting in the Antarctic summer; it is and spacious
Buenos Aires of approximately $1,295 per remarkably comfortable and often sunny. observation
person plus intour air Buenos Aires/ Typical low and high temperatures are 24°F lounge with
Ushuaia $695, is: to 42°F; if a squall blows through it can bar and large
Quad share .............................$7,900 pp
change rapidly. In Buenos Aires, the windows
Triple Porthole share ...............$8,950 pptemperatures range from the warm to hot. with a
Twin Porthole share ................$ 9,700 ppWalks in Antarctica may be over snow, or panoramic
Twin Window share ................$10,100 pp wet and uneven terrain. You will encounter view. The
Twin Deluxe share...................$10,750 pprolling seas and wind while crossing the ship is nicely
Superior (Queen bed) share ....$11,550 pp Drake Passage. The itinerary is subject to decorated,
changes that may arise due to weather/sea/ but not
Jr Suite (Queen) share ..............$12,400 pp
ice conditions beyond our control. luxurious. It
Grand Suite (Queen) share .......$13,900 pp The ship’s captain has the final word on is designed
w/private balcony any decision made with regard to the for
Expedition Fee Includes: exploratory expedition travel, spending as
Group transfers; one night in much time as possible on shore. A small
Buenos Aires with breakfast; number of cabins may have a partially
all meals, accommodations, obstructed view due to design
lectures, Zodiac excursions requirements of the ship, but you are
on board the M/V Hondius, always out doing things, so this isn’t really
leadership, administration. an issue. The best view is always on the
Fee Does Not Include: outer deck or the bridge.
International or intour airfare; Airfare: The air fare from Miami to Buenos
independent transfers; lunch Aires round trip is approx. $1,295 per
or dinner in Buenos Aires or person. Intour flights are booked by
Ushuaia; tips to ship’s crew, Betchart Expeditions Inc. AIR FARES ARE
naturalists, or expedition SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL TICKETED.
leaders; fuel surcharge (if any); Reservations, Deposits & Payments:
kayaking ($550 pp); any Please contact Betchart Expeditions Inc. to
personal items such as reserve a space:
alcoholic beverages or soda;
communications on board Telehone: (408) 252-4910 (Int’l calls)
ship; laundry, passport; visa fees (if any); (800) 252-4910 (USA)
vessel’s itinerary in the interest of the
or travel insurance (required by the ship safety of the vessel and all passengers on Email: betcharttaunya@gmail.com.
company for travel to Antarctica). board. You will have a once-in-a- lifetime Final payment is due August 1, 2023.
What to Expect: This expedition is voyage of discovery and adventure. Cancellations & Refunds: The initial
planned for the travel enthusiast who M/V Hondius: Is an expedition ship, with deposit is refundable up to 120 days before
would enjoy exploring Antarctica aboard comfortable cabins and public areas, ideal departure, less a handling fee of $250 per
the comfortable 170 -passenger ship, M/V for an Antarctic voyage. It was first built as a person. There is no refund for any
Hondius. Discover first-hand the world’s Dutch oceanographic research vessel, and cancellation after the 120-day period. Trip
most remote region, without disrupting its was rebuilt as a passenger vessel in 2009 by cancellation insurance will be offered. No
delicate balance of wilderness and wildlife. our colleagues at Oceanwide Expeditions. It refunds are made for unused services.
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