PONANT EXPLORATIONS
The Great Austral Loop
17-night Antarctica expedition · 4 departures · from $24,910 per guest
- 17 nightsDuration
- Le Lyrial, Le BoréalShips
- UshuaiaRound trip from
- Nov 17, 2026Next sailing
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. We are privileged guests in these extreme lands where we are at the mercy of weather and ice conditions. Landings on certain sites and the observation of certain wildlife cannot be guaranteed. They vary from day to day, making each PONANT cruise a unique experience. The Captain and the Expedition Leader will make every effort to ensure that your experience is as rich as possible, while complying with the safety rules and instructions imposed by the IAATOUpcoming departures
| Sails | Ship | Nights | From (per guest) | |
|---|
| Nov 17, 2026 | Le Lyrial | 17 | $26,780 | Cabins & fares |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Le Lyrial | 17 | $24,910 | Cabins & fares |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Le Boréal | 17 | $26,460 | Cabins & fares |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Le Boréal | 17 | $26,780 | Cabins & fares |
Day by day
As planned for the Nov 17, 2026 departure; other departures may differ.
Day 2Day at Sea
Day 3Saunders Island
Day 3Grave Cove
Day 4Day at Sea
Day 5Day at Sea
Day 6Day at Sea
Day 7South Georgia Island
Day 8South Georgia Island
Day 9South Georgia Island
Day 10Day at Sea
Day 11Day at Sea
Day 12Antarctic Peninsula
Day 13Antarctic Peninsula
Day 14Antarctic Peninsula
Day 15Antarctic Peninsula
Day 16Cruising Drake Passage
Day 17Cruising Drake Passage
Gallery
