Shackleton’s Footsteps - A Photographic Expedition with Paul Goldstein
Shackleton’s Footsteps - A Photographic Expedition with Paul Goldstein
Shackleton’s Footsteps - A Photographic Expedition with Paul Goldstein
20 Days Starting in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands and ending in Ushuaia, Argentina
Visiting: Antarctica, Falkland Islands, South Georgia
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PUJ
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
0 - 96
Physical rating:
Moderate / Challenging
Age range:
18 to 99
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
South Georgia & Falklands Photographic Expedition on board the Magellan Explorer, accompanied by Paul Goldstein and Mark Carwardine[[{"fid":"266411","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]Fit for KingsThere may be better places to photograph in the world than South Georgia, perhaps the plains of East Africa when the herds are in full flight, but it is debatable. South Georgia is a combination of staggering scenery: with towering mountains, sparkling hanging glaciers and charcoal volcanic beaches choked with literally millions of King penguins and countless other species.The legacy of Ernest Henry Shackleton is never far away, this distant South Atlantic faunal stronghold being the final part of his epic journey after the Endurance had become entombed in a crushing and mortal grip of Weddell Sea ice. The most valuable commodity on any Antarctic journey is time and with a spanking new 96 berth vessel specifically designed for these waters, with magnificent facilities and with an impressive top speed, we will be making the most of this fortnight. The Magellan is in a class of its own and perfect for this sort of adventure. This is a photographic expedition which, put simply, aims to utterly maximise every daylight hour in both South Georgia and the Falklands. Weather is a capricious mistress at best in the South Atlantic and therefore we cannot be bound by rigid timetables. There should be huge Elephant seals competing for beach space, often resulting in violent skirmishes in the surf. Having had to move the clock in the past to enjoy sunrise in the past (honestly) it will be good to enjoy some dawn and dusk. Rest assured there is also plenty of daylight too.Flying straight into Stanley saves a lot of sea time as most departures leave from Ushuaia and the plan will be to do at least two big Falklands landings as well as some time in the capital Stanley.For photographers, wilderness fans, and those who have ever dreamed about spending time in this remote backwater, this is a must. Many people travel to the South Atlantic and have their journeys compromised by having to split landings on account of the 100 people maximum. This ship is 96 berth and not this size by co-incidence and the two weeks on board are going to be very exciting if perhaps a little exhausting. Most journeys to South Georgia are on cruise ships allocating maybe three days at best in this fabled faunal nirvana. This almost borders on insult and this expedition (notice the different description please) plans five days at least in South Georgia before returning to the fertile Falkland islands. Hundreds of times I have heard people bemoaning the fact they did not have long enough in South Georgia, well, not on this expedition. The colonies of St Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour and Salisbury Plain are the biggest penguin colonies anywhere and need long, extended landings. Despite being a formidable obstacle to their almost crusade-like journey to Stromness whaling station, Worsley, Crean, McNeish and the Boss himself were captivated by this island as you will be .... the comfort levels have improved a little since the James Caird though!King for a day.....well it will be a little more than that. If walking in the footsteps of Shackleton, gazing at coruscating glaciers, watching huge seals batter seven barrels out of each other and then witnessing thousands of King and other penguins in and out of the surf is your thing, I really look forward to welcoming you on board.As for photography there .... it really is the sport of kings.Georgia on your minds...? It should be. - Paul GoldsteinPaul Goldstein Exodus guide and award-winning photographer Paul Goldstein has often said that he is happiest on the plains of the Masai Mara or the decks of a ship in the Polar regions. Having completed over twenty expeditions, his choice for our summer months is Spitsbergen. Paul has a ridiculous amount of energy and is, as the Sunday Times described him, ‘a preposterously vivacious guide of almost psychotic gusto’. Mark Carwardine Mark Carwardine is a zoologist, an active and outspoken conservationist, an award-winning writer, a TV and radio presenter, a widely published wildlife photographer, a magazine columnist and a conservation consultant. He has written more than 50 books (including several bestsellers) and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles and has been writing a provocative monthly column in BBC Wildlife magazine since January 2004. He presented the popular six-part BBC-TV series Last Chance to See, with actor and comedian Stephen Fry, in which the unlikely duo travelled the world in search of a motley collection of endangered species (following in the footsteps of a similar journey Mark had made with Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, 20 years earlier), and for many years, he presented the weekly half-hour programme Nature on BBC Radio 4. He was also Chairman of the Judging Panel of the prestigious Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, jointly owned by BBC Wildlife magazine and the Natural History Museum, from 2005 until 2011. He was selected as one of The World’s 40 Most Influential Nature Photographers in Outdoor Photography magazine and is one of 26 photographers from around the world chosen to show their work at COP26. He and Paul have worked together frequently and are an effective and invigorating partnership. They rarely agree with each other but both bring a lot to the polar picnic in terms of photography, knowledge and opinion!'If I wanted a cut and dried cruise to the polar regions I would book elsewhere. I do not. I have 'completed' three' expeditions' with Paul and Exodus on special exclusive departures and having travelled to the regions with others there is no comparison. There are guides and then there is Paul. I do not know of anyone who works harder to deliver both results and frankly excitement. There are many things important when deciding on the poles: ship, size and the itinerary - or lack of one. My expeditions were always on hundred person ships and always maximised weather and daylight hours. I just cannot imagine doing it any other way.' C.K. Berks. UK
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
Meals Included: dinner
You will be picked up at the Port Stanley Airport and transferred into town. There will be time to explore the town of Port Stanley before boarding the ship.
Day 2 : Saunders Island & West Point Island
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Two thrilling landings at two very different islands with most of Noah's South Atlantic avian lot on show from albatrosses to penguins. West Point is not only dramatic but has Rockhopper penguins in large numbers.
Day 3 : Volunteer Point
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
There will be no shortage of these regal penguins on this departure, hundreds of thousands of them but to find them on a sparkling white sand beach is very different.
Day 4 - 5 : At Sea
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
There is a whole team of experts specialising in history, cetaceans, pinnipeds, ice and photography waiting to fill these two days, ensuring everyone is ready for landfall in South Georgia. Once the cold water convergence is reached shortly after leaving the Falklands, there will be no shortage of birds trailing in the Magellan's wake.
Day 6 : Elsehul Bay & Right Whale Bay
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
An early Zodiac ride along the fertile crescent of Elsehul, a natural harbour with seals, penguins and petrels circling overhead. It is a spectacular hors d'oeuvre to the main course in the afternoon, the gravely named Right Whale Bay with its dramatic surf. It is one of the most photogenic landings on the whole island. Sometimes tricky to get in, it is really worth an extended landing.
Day 7 : Salisbury Plain & Prion Island
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Every polar guide and leader has their favourite rookery, but Salisbury, with the ability to get well above the colony remains the favourite with many. This captivating beachhead is ringed by distant snow capped mountains and has well over 100,000 Kings. Salisbury may involve repeated landings, but if there is time, Prion Island, with its nesting Wanderers, is potentially another landing. So graceful in the sky these vast birds are strangely clumsy on land.
Day 8 : Stromness, Hercules Bay & Grytviken
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
If there is not too much snow some people may do the bottom half of Shackleton's famous final walk (without the glissade!), others can photograph on the delightful bays nearby. In the afternoon a short but mandatory visit to get passports stamped in Grytviken and to visit the museum and reflect on the triple legacy of Shackleton, whaling and the first shots of the Falklands war. There are also nesting light mantled Sooty albatrosses.
Day 9 : St Andrews Bay
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
This is a very special landing and rightfully merits a whole day with multiple landings. The backdrop and frankly sheer number of birds makes this a staggering sight and has been known to devour literally millions of gigabytes. 'Unique' is an overused epithet in travel, not here.
Day 10 : Gold Harbour & Cooper Bay
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Think hanging glaciers, elephant seals jousting in the surf and sand, King penguins marching in tight formations and you have this morning's landing, it's called Gold for a reason. Cooper Bay is enjoyed by Zodiac and offers probably the only chance to see the enigmatic Macaroni penguin.
Day 11 - 12 : At Sea
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
A chance to re-charge bodies, batteries and to continue with the ship's on board presentation programme and to enjoy the outstanding facilities on board.
Day 13 : Weddell Sea, Erebus & Terror Gulf
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Throughout the sail South it is possible to see both castellated and tabular icebergs, some of them the size of small hamlets or villages. As the bow gets closer to the 7th continent these sculpted bergs may well be decorated by Adelie and Chinstrap penguins. Erebus and Terror Gulf has a huge Adelie penguin rookery for the first Antarctic landing.
Day 14 : Antarctic Sound
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Icebergs, Adelies and the Northern tip of the Continent.
Day 15 : Half Moon Island & Deception Island
Meals Included: breakfast
Half Moon is dramatic and also a stronghold for Chinstrap penguins, although not a large island it has several very photogenic areas to enjoy. Deception Island is interesting historically but should the weather be calm the exposed landing prospect of Baily Head with 150,000 'Chinnies' is intoxicating.
Day 16 : Wilhelmina Bay & Cuverville Island
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Probably one of the best areas to witness Orcas and other whales even this early in the season. It is also home to some remarkable mountain scenery as well as many icebergs and Gentoo penguins.
Day 17 : Paradise Harbour & Neko Harbour
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Many have listed these two as personal favourites and it's easy to see why. The view from the summit overlooking Paradise Bay is beautiful and being in Zodiacs negotiating the snap, crackle and pop of the ice in the bay is mesmerising. Neko is breathtaking with a large Gentoo colony, the harbour is normally choked by bergs but fairly sheltered. Like all these highlights, plenty of time is required to really immerse yourself and/or your camera in their delights. On this expedition you will get plenty.
Day 18 - 19 : At Sea
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
This expedition is not over as thousands of birds from prions to pintados and petrels to albatrosses will trail the ship North. Staff will be on hand to ensure this journey is wrapped up in spectacular fashion.
Day 20 : Disembark In Ushuaia
Meals Included: breakfast
What's Included
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Meals
16 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 15 dinners. -
All meals while on the shipBeer and house wine during lunch and dinnerAll accommodationAll transport and listed activitiesTour leader throughout and qualified Expedition StaffWe can include flights from the UK. Please contact us for a quote.
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— All meals while on the ship — Beer and house wine during lunch and dinner — All accommodation — All transport and listed activities — Tour leader throughout and qualified Expedition Staff — We can include flights from the UK. Please contact u
What's Not Included
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Travel insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or vaccinations
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— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request) — Visas or vaccinations
Food
All meals while on the ship included and offer a variety of choices. A full selection of drinks is served by waitstaff. Breakfast and lunch are offered buffet-style, where your choice of main course is plated by a chef and can then be complemented by side dishes, salads, fruits, and pastries. Dinner is sit-down, with full service. Beers and premium Chilean wines are included with lunch and dinner. Depending on the weather, a barbecue on deck may be offered.
Accommodation
The Shackleton’s Footsteps - A Photographic Expedition with Paul Goldstein is offered on the Magellan Explorer, a new and modern expedition vessel custom-built for Antarctic and sub-Antarctic expeditions.
The Magellan Explorer has capacity for up to 96 guests in various categories of accommodation. All cabins except Porthole cabins feature private balconies. All double cabins except two have two twin beds that can be configured as one king-size bed. All cabins feature a wardrobe, individually controlled heating system, a sitting area, and a private bathroom with shower.
The ship features a glass-enclosed observation lounge and presentation room with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, a spacious and stylish dining room, a well-stocked bar, a library, a meeting room, a gym, a sauna, and a medical clinic. The forward-facing observation deck leads to the bow of the ship, which is accessible to guests to offer proximity to marine wildlife. The ship has a fleet of 10 Zodiac boats that are well suited for disembarking and wildlife watching.
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.