King Penguins, South Georgia — Photo: Dion Hobcroft

A never-to-be-forgotten visit to the "White Continent" in all its majesty, from the safety and comfort of the Clipper Adventurer. The fantastic birds and mammals of the southern oceans seen in combination with the world's most spectacular scenery almost overwhelm first-time travelers.

Imagine a journey to a magical land that until a few short years ago was accessible to only a handful of explorers, scientists, and adventurers. Imagine strolling among thousands of penguins, sitting next to a Wandering Albatross, or having intimate encounters with doe-eyed seals. Imagine watching Snow Petrels wheeling against a backdrop of glacial serenity or gentle whales breaching in ice-blue ocean waters.

We will thread through awe-inspiring channels dotted with stunning icebergs and framed by snow-veiled mountains, see mighty glaciers calving enormous chunks of ice into the sea, and visit scientists at the research stations of several nations. Marine life flourishes in these frozen reaches.

During our time at sea, we will have the opportunity to observe a tremendous variety of birdlife. The pelagic birding in subantarctic and Antarctic waters is some of the best in the world. We should see as many as five species of albatross including the huge Wandering and Royal albatrosses, as well as several species of prions, storm-petrels, petrels, diving-petrels, and shearwaters. Many of these seabirds follow the ship, allowing opportunities for close observation.

In addition to the Antarctic peninsula, our trips also visit South Georgia and The Falklands. For birders and nature-oriented travelers this is essential. While the Antarctic peninsula offers spectacular scenery, most of the wildlife is in South Georgia and The Falklands. In South Georgia we should see hundreds of thousands of King Penguins, nesting Wandering and Light-mantled albatross, and large colonies of Macaroni Penguins—all sights you will see only if you visit this spectacular island.

Requires some agility in getting in and out of Zodiacs from gangway of the ship. Walking conditions on land vary from smooth sandy beaches to slippery rocks at some locations. Temperatures in Antarctica and South Georgia usually in low 30s (F) at this time of year. Generally people in good overall health and agility have no troubles on this trip.

For information about the Falkland Islands, visit http://www.falklandislands.com.