Antarctica Expedition Photo Tour 2022

TOUR SNAPSHOT
22 October 2022 – 8 November 2022
Tour begins in Valparaiso, Chile.
Tour concludes in Ushuaia with flight transfer to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Led by: Lynn Gail and Seng Mah
Maximum number of photography guests: SOLD OUT

Here it is folks! This is the photography tour you’ve been waiting for!

Join me and travel photographer/writer, Lynn Gail, on an expedition to one of the last wildernesses in the world — the continent of Antarctica. Hosted by Hurtigruten Cruises, we will be embarking on an 18-day expedition that begins in Valparaiso, Chile and takes us through the Patagonian Coast and across Drake’s Passage into the pristine waters of Antarctica!

We have places for 15 photographers to join us as our guests on this tour, and you’ll enjoy the support of two professional travel photographers and photography educators to help make sure that you are primed and prepped to capture the glory and majesty of your journey to Antarctica. Whether it’s getting you more familiar with camera settings to photograph wildlife or Antarctic landscapes, or to give you tips and techniques for improving your composition and framing, our aim is to support you in your photography during the tour.

We will discover the people and culture of Patagonia, marvel at the magnificence of the Chilean fjords, gaze across the beautiful and remote landscape of Antarctica and enjoy time on the ice as we angle for sensational shots of unique wildlife (penguins anyone?).

It’s the adventure of a lifetime! Don’t miss it!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Valparaiso — a colourful and thriving city on a picturesque bay. Enjoy exploring on foot as we take in rows of colour houses, narrow streets, plazas, panoramic viewpoints, tasty dishes and trams and funiculars that make Valparaiso the Southern Hemisphere twin-sister of San Francisco.

Enjoy a range of exciting activities and hospitality on board the MS Roald Amundsen, our cruise ship for this tour, including the infinity pool, hot tubs, spa, indoor gyms and informative lectures from the Hurtigruten Expedition Team.

Chiloe Islands and its capital, Castro — Chile’s third oldest city, with its brightly painted stilt houses lining the edge of the fjord.

The Islands of Aysen, Chile’s most sparsely populated region, and Puerto Eden, a tiny hamlet on a remote peninsula that is accessible only by sea. There are no roads to or from this isolated village with less than 200 inhabitants.

Puerto Natales – explore the Torres Del Paine National Park on an optional excursion, or explore Puerto Natales on food and enjoy its bohemian bars, street life and corrugated tin houses. Photographic opportunities present themselves to those who wander, and we may even find Andean condors and Chilean flamingos crossing our lenses.

Wildlife of the Straits of Magellan – onboard the MS Roald Amundsen, we will cruise the western part of the Strait of Magellan, scanning the shores for waterfalls, colonies of Magellanic penguins and perhaps catching glimpses of the elusive elephant seals and whales.

Cape Horn, where the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific collide, creating epic views of swirling, turbulent waves.

Four days in Antarctica, exploring landing sites on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Our expedition here will be guided by weather and ocean conditions, and includes ice-cruises in smaller boats and landings where we will stand in the presence of thousands of penguins. For wildlife photographers, this will be a living dream as gentoo and chinstrap penguins beginning their courting season, while Adelie penguins nest. You may even spot skuas, petrels, terns and skuas and try your hand at photographing these birds in flight!

Return cruise to Ushuaia and transfer to a flight to Buenos Aires, where the tour ends. Or book yourself in for a few extra days here to explore the city that gave birth to the Tango.

The MS Roald Amundsen
In 2019, Hurtigruten added a brand-new ship to its fleet: the MS Roald Amundsen. The state-of-the-art vessel features new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology that will reduce fuel consumption and show the world that hybrid propulsion is possible.

Inclusions

Cruise inclusions:

22 Oct – 8 Nov 2022 Expedition cruise
8 Nov 2022 – Transfer from the ship to Ushuaia airport
8 Nov 2022 – Charter flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner including beverages (house beer and wine, sodas, and mineral water) in restaurants Aune and Fredheim
À la carte restaurant Lindstrøm included for suite guests – (Expedition Suites only)
Complimentary wind and water-resistant expedition jacket.
Complimentary tea and coffee
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
Complimentary reusable water bottle to use at water refill stations on board.
Loan of boots, trekking poles, and all equipment for activities.
Expedition Team – organised activities on board and ashore.

Featured activities:

Photographic itinerary/sessions – provided by Lynn Gail & Seng Mah
Experts on the Expedition Team deliver in-depth lectures on a variety of topics.
Use of the ship’s Science Centre which has an extensive library and advanced biological and geological microscopes.
Citizen Science program allows guests to assist with live scientific research.
Use of the ship’s hot tubs, panoramic sauna, outdoor and indoor gyms, and outdoor running track.
Informal gatherings with the crew such as daily recaps and preparation for the day to come.
Escorted landings with small expedition boats while in Antarctica. For our tour we will have two inflatables, allowing plenty of room of each photographer. Our expedition guides will advise us where to go to photograph wildlife.

Exclusions

International flights to and from points of arrival and departure.
Travel insurance – essential. Proof of travel insurance needs to be provided prior to your departure.
Some optional shore excursions.
Optional treatments in the onboard wellness and spa area.
Hotel accommodation before and after tour dates.
Transfers from Santiago Airport to Valparaiso (1.5 hours). Options include: $290 taxi shared by up to four people, Pre-booked welcome pick up $190 shared by up to four people, Bus $13 per person (departs twice daily from Santiago Airport). Note that prices are approximate based on current conversion rates to AUD.
Note: We can arrange taxi groups if arriving on the same flights.

Tour pricing

Pricing is based on cabin categories on board the MS Roald Amundsen. All pricing is in AUD.

Polar Outside Cabin: $15,270 twin share / $21,600 single occupancy
Arctic Superior Cabin with balcony: $18,150 twin shared / $25,800 single occupancy
Expedition Superior Cabin with balcony: $21,730 twin share (single supplement available on request)

Passenger names are considered sold and subject to cancellation charges outlined below, regardless of payment receipt. A non-refundable deposit of 20% will be required to secure your place on the tour, however, this is refundable prior to 180 days if the tour does not go ahead due to Covid 19 (see the Covid-19 Policy below).

Final payment is due on 20th July 2022 (90 days prior to departure) for all guests.

Covid-19 Policy

Should Hurtigruten cancel the cruise due to Covid-19 restrictions, with the ship not being able to run the expedition, you will receive a full refund. If, within 180 days of departure you cannot travel due to Covid-19 border closures in country of residence, but the cruise goes ahead from Patagonia, you will receive a full credit to book on a future cruise. Note: In the unlikely event this occurs, as a photography tour, we will endeavour to rebook all guests together on a future expedition. For further information, please visit Hurtigruten’s, Book with Confidence terms and conditions which outlay their policy with any Covid related cancellations: www.hurtigruten.com.au/offers/book-with-confidence

Guests will require full vaccination to board, as well as a negative test provided at embarkation. Guests don’t need to be vaccinated to book, but they will be required to adhere to the entry rules of the country of embarkation at the time of travel and the requirements by Hurtigruten Cruises to be announced soon.

Reserve Your Place

This tour has SOLD OUT. Please contact us if you’d like to get on a wait list.

To join this tour or contact us with your questions, please use the form below or email seng [at] venturephotography.com.au or telephone 0417 604 614.

Bookings for this tour are managed by Lynn Gail Photography. Lynn will be in contact with you on our receipt of your booking.