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Ponant Cruises

The Great Austral Loop

18 Days Ponant Cruises

About This Itinerary

Come aboard Le Lyrial for an unforgettable voyage. Discover the Southern Ocean as you have never seen it before! Embark on a 18-day polar expedition cruise to the highest latitudes, from the Falkland Islands to South Georgia and the immaculate lands of Antarctica. Your expedition to the heart of the South Atlantic begins with the exploration of the Falkland Islands: as you sail in this archipelago of 200 islands, you will be escorted by sei whales. Composing the wild beauty of the shorelines are beaches of white sand, jagged cliffs, windswept moors and tall grass swaying with the wind. Your ship will soon take to the seas once again, to reach the mountainous island of South Georgia. It is there, in the midst of gigantic glaciers, that Sir Ernest Shackleton miraculously ran aground during the famous Endurance Odyssey in 1916. Today, king penguins, elephant and fur seals that have taken over the black-sand beaches dominated by the tall peaks that reveal the Scotia Arc. You will ultimately land on the frozen shores of the nearly inaccessible White Continent, Antarctica. White shades take on a thousand nuances as it covers the icebergs, glaciers, mountains and frozen sea all around you. You will be one of the rare few travellers to have laid eyes on this legendary land, the theatre of the greatest expeditions and the witness of the most extraordinary adventures. Above all, you are in the realm of the penguins – Adelie, Gentoo, chinstrap – seals, whales and seabirds that accompany you on this unforgettable trip.

Areas Visited

What's Included & Excluded

What's Included

Night in Buenos Aires + flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia + visit+ flight Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Transfer from the airport to your hotel, the day before embarkation
1-night accommodation in a 5* hotel the night before embarkation
Hospitality desk at the hotel in Buenos Aires
Return flight Buenos Aires/Ushuaia/Buenos Aires selected by PONANT, in economy class
Services of local guides, in Ushuaia
Meals as mentioned in the programme and beverage package
Transfers as mentioned in the programme

What's Not Included

Tips for the local guide
Personal expenses
Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme

7 Available Expeditions

2026-2027 Season
2027-2028 Season

Departure

Nov 16, 2026

19 days

Return

Dec 4, 2026

Vessel

Le Lyrial

Departure

Dec 3, 2026

19 days

Return

Dec 21, 2026

Vessel

Le Lyrial

Departure

Dec 19, 2026

19 days

Return

Jan 6, 2027

Vessel

Le Boréal

Departure

Feb 14, 2027

19 days

Return

Mar 4, 2027

Vessel

Le Boréal

Departure

Dec 16, 2027

19 days

Return

Jan 3, 2028

Vessel

Le Lyrial

Quick Facts

18 Days
Sail
Departs From ushuaia
Returns To ushuaia

Pricing

Starting from

$19,400

per person

Trip Overview

Duration

18 days

Travel Mode

Sail


Departure Port

ushuaia

Return Port

ushuaia

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