DOSSIER COMPLET

Introduction

Voyage en Antarctique

Après avoir embarqué à bord du confortable navire Akademik Ioffe, nous commençons cette croisière de 12 nuits au point le plus méridional de l’Amérique du Sud. Le vaisseau entame son périple à travers le Passage de Drake et navigue vers le Cercle Antarctique situé à 66 33’S. Au fur et à mesure que nous approchons du cercle, la banquise se fait davantage présente. Peu de navires vont aussi loin, mais le nôtre, moderne et renforcé, est paré pour des latitudes aussi méridionales.
Marguerite Bay et Detaille Island sont deux escales remarquables que nous espérons visiter lors de notre croisière. Qui sait, avec un peu de chance, nous pourrons même camper au sud du cercle! Nous remonterons alors lentement le long de la péninsule, apercevant des colonies de manchots sur le chemin. En arrivant à la péninsule Antarctique, l’émerveillement est de mise. Même les membres d’équipage qui ont pourtant conduit plus d’une centaine de voyages dans ces régions, restent toujours admiratifs devant tant de beauté immaculée. L’abondance de la faune y est exceptionnelle: cinq espèces différentes de phoques, des colonies de manchots Adélie, jugulaires et papous, de même que d’innombrables oiseaux de mers comme les albatros ou les labbes s’y ébattent en toute liberté. Voilà une nature vierge et fabuleuse que vous verrez de près au cours de fréquentes excursions sur la terre ferme.

Notre croisière nous emmènera également sur Petermann Island et dans Wilhelmina Bay pour contempler d’immenses icebergs, et bien sûr, des paysages de glace infinis. Les baroudeurs chevronnés et les aventuriers férus d’histoire auront l’occasion de camper pour une nuit dans cette immensité blanche pour ressentir le même frisson d’héroïsme que les premiers explorateurs qui ont tenté de conquérir ce continent sauvage.

Comme pour chacun de nos voyages vers l’Antarctique, votre sécurité est notre priorité absolue. Pour cette raison, le temps, l’état de la banquise ou tout autre facteur peuvent nous amener à modifier l’itinéraire de la croisière ou les excursions sur la terre ferme, mais cette incertitude fait partie du mystère et du caractère sauvage des explorations en terres polaires, un environnement qui provoque en permanence de multiples défis aux hommes.

N’hésitez pas à prendre contact avec notre conseiller Uniktour expert des terres polaires pour plus d’informations sur ce voyage unique dans le Cercle Antarctique!

Départ prévu: 15 et 27 janvier 2012

Itinéraire

(We apologize to present the following itinerary in English, and we kindly inform our guests that this trip is run in English.)

Day By Day Expedition Itinerary

Day 1| Ushuaia
Today is the first day of our adventure. As we board the M/V Marina Svetaeva in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city at the tip of Argentina, and start to become familiar with ‘our home’ for the next 13 days we cannot help but wonder about the exciting journey ahead of us. In the early evening, we set sail and begin our voyage leaving behind Ushuaia and charting a course through the Beagle Channel.

Day 2 - 3| Drake Passage
Crossing the Drake Passage, there is so much excitement in the air as we make our way ever closer to the white continent. Guests eagerly soak up the friendly atmosphere onboard as our numerous Polar experts prepare us for our adventures with presentations on everything Antarctic, from wildlife to history. Eventually, we will cross the Antarctic Convergence where we will notice a distinct drop in temperature as we enter the waters of the Antarctic Ocean. Along the way, we will witness many spectacular sights from icebergs to an array of seabirds and even several whale species some of which are known on occasion to fully breach from the sea.

Days 4 – 10| Antarctic Peninsula
In the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula, we will hope to make as much time as possible to explore by inflatable Zodiac boats and marvel up close at nature’s glory. Our first goal will be to sail south of the Antarctic Circle and into Matha Strait or Marguerite Bay. Given favorable ice conditions, we will push our exploration even further southward, looking for historic and wildlife sites.From our most southerly point (south of the Antarctic Circle), we will make our way north along the Antarctic Peninsula, cruising through the narrow waterways and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula. Spectacular waterways such as Crystal Sound, the Lemaire Channel, the Neumeyer Channel and the Gerlache Strait will all feature in our itinerary. Landing sites might include Neko Harbour, Wilhelmina Bay, Petermann Island and the Yalours, where we will observe Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals, skuas and other seabirds as well as an abundance of penguins including some very large colonies of the comical Adélie penguin. At Half Moon Island we will visit a breeding colony of chinstrap penguins that share their territory with fur seals and blue-eyed shags. We also hope to see the gentle humpback whale dining on krill in its feeding grounds and possibly have an opportunity to spot orcas and Minke whales as we go.
We will plan on walking ashore on the continent of Antarctica at Paradise Harbour or Neko Harbour. Although it will not be your first glimpse of the Antarctic, a walk ashore on the Continent will evoke emotions to carry with you for the rest of your life. The scenery here is amazing. In particular the oddly shaped icebergs looking like sculptures, as well as the colossal ‘tabular’ icebergs that break away from the continent’s ice shelf. Some may wish to camp on shore overnight. Whatever your vantage point, whether it is onboard or onshore expect to feel transformed as you experience twilight from the very bottom of the planet.

Days 11 – 12| Drake Passage
As we leave this magical place and make our way north, heading again across the Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage before rounding Cape Horn, we have no doubt that time will be spent sharing and reflecting on the wonderful experiences of the last few days. Sailing down the Beagle Channel, we celebrate the conclusion of our Polar expedition at a special dinner.

Day 13| Ushuaia
In the early morning, we will arrive back in Ushuaia. It is time to say farewell to your crew and fellow travelers. Guests will be transported to their hotels or to the airport for return flights home.

Budget

**Les budgets présentés sur ce site web ne le sont qu’à titre indicatif et n’ont aucune valeur contractuelle (notamment car il n’y a pas de date de départ indiquée). Les prix sont amenés à changer très régulièrement sur ce site en fonction du cours des devises et des fluctuations des prestations hôtelières. Pour obtenir un devis, nous vous invitons à cliquer ici.

Autres frais

After spending 12 nights on board our vessel exploring this wonderful part of the world, we are certain our guests will leave Antarctica with a completely different perspective than when they arrived. After all, it would be impossible to feel quite the same after gazing upon an unimaginable profusion of penguins tobogganing and waddling their way across the snow - or watching yet another species of whale crest the waves in close proximity. And then there is the awe you will feel when you first glimpse the sweeping ice sheet that spans an entire continent. Antarctica gets under your skin unlike any other place on earth.

Overview
Sailing in comfort aboard the comfortable and well-appointed M/V Marina Svetaeva, we begin this 12-night expedition at the tip of South America. We chart a course through the Drake Passage with a goal of heading directly south to the Antarctic Circle at 66 33’S. The farther south we go, the more sea ice we will find and our aim is to cross the circle before getting stopped by this ice. Few ships go this far south and we will take full advantage of being on a modern, ice-strengthened vessel of this caliber.

Marguerite Bay and Detaille Island are two places that we might visit while traveling south of the circle. Who knows, we may even try to camp ashore south of the circle. We will slowly make our way back up the peninsula, visiting penguin rookeries as we go.

When we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula, be prepared to be dazzled. Even our experienced crewmembers many of which have visited the southern region a hundred times or more are still astonished by its pristine beauty. The abundance of wildlife here is truly extraordinary including five seal species, massive penguin rookeries of gentoo, Adélies and chinstraps as well as a profusion of seabirds from albatross to skuas. It is nature you will experience up close and personal on frequent excursions inland.

Our journey will take us to Petermann Island or Wilhelmina Bay where we encounter colossal icebergs and, of course, the ice landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Hardy adventurers or those with a yen for history have the chance to camp out on the ice overnight and feel the thrill and audacity of early explorers who attempted to conquer this continent.

As with all our expeditions, safety is our top priority. For that reason weather, ice or other conditions may require us to change our itinerary and shore excursions as we go but that is half the fun of Polar exploring. Predictability is a word that has no relevance in this environment.

Our expedition team:
Expedition leader : Andrew Prossin
Born and raised on Cape Breton Island, Canada, Andrew may very well have saltwater running in his blood. He's an accomplished yachtsman and every bit a Nova Scotian. From his sense of humour, to his easy going, confident style, Andrew has been a leader in the expedition cruise industry for over a decade and is celebrated as one of the world's more experienced polar expedition planners and leaders. His expeditions are renowned for bringing a focus on safety, adventure and unrivalled quest for great service delivery with a healthy splash of humour and spontaneity. He's also known for his dedicated focus on his guests and their individual interests.

Expedition guide / Historian : Ray McMahon
Ray, an Australian Antarctician, received the British Polar Medal for his participation in the 1963 Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions. His tales of Antarctic exploits, including dog sledding for weeks at a time, are even more impressive due to his self-deprecating manner in discussing his achievements. Ray has returned to the Antarctic as a shipboard expedition guide for the last five Antarctic seasons.

Expedition guide / Naturalist Wildlife : Derek Kyostia
A Canadian field biologist, Derek is most at home hiding in a bird blind in miserable weather, taking notes on breeding behaviour of various bird species. When not on the ship, Derek can be found guiding grizzly bear and polar bear tours, wading through salmon streams assessing channel degradation or swatting flies in the Northern boreal forest while conducting migratory duck surveys.

Assistant Expedition leader / Kayak guide : Chad Gaetz
Chad splits his time between Seattle and Alaska, where he has amassed a wealth of experience guiding kayak and boat trips into the stunning fjords of southern Alaska. Chad prefers to kayak in cold water, having paddled on the coast of Alaska, on the Antarctic Peninsula, in the Canadian High Arctic and on the West coast of Greenland. When not paddling in exotic destinations, Chad pursues an interest in sustainable or green building, organic farming and a lower impact lifestyle.

Adventure Concierge : Carolina Mantella
Carolina, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina has been involved in the Antarctic tourism industry for nine years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, along with an alluring smile to everyone on the ship. With degrees in hospitality and tourism management, supplemented by experience in almost every imaginable role onboard a ship, Carolina will work with clients on a one-to-one basis to ensure that all their needs are met while on the ship. Carolina loves languages and is fluent in Spanish, Italian and English.

Kayak guide / Adventure concierge : Maureen (Mo) D´Armand
Born and raised in Austria and moving to Alaska as a teenager, Mo was always an eager traveler and lover of glaciated peaks. She speaks English and German. Her guiding career started at the ripe age of 17, when she began kayak, raft and canoe guiding in Alaska's Backcountry. For the past 13 years, Mo has been exploring much of Alaska and neighboring Yukon and BC's wilderness. Mo considers herself lucky to have reached such far off destinations as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, Wrangell St. Elias and Glacier Bay National Park. Mo's passion for polar travel soon took her to the Antarctic Peninsula where she's been guiding sea kayak excursions for the past six years. In all this backcountry fun, Mo became increasingly interested in the anatomy, physiology and kinesiology of the body, which lead her to begin her studies in massage therapy at the Heartwood Institute for Massage in 2005 and finishing in 2007 at the Vancouver School of Bodywork & Massage.

Purser : Sarah Burns
Sarah's passion for connecting with new people has led her to the far corners of the globe. Before coming to Antarctica, she has worked in the travel world as assistant expedition leader for international private jet tours, stopping down in places like Mongolia, Peru, Samoa, China and Australia. She spent some very happy time leading land tours in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. In the past she has also been known to throw wine galas, plan incentive trips and has played handler to VIP's like Lance Armstrong. Sarah hails originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but now calls Seattle, Washington home. In between the two, she's lived in Istanbul, Boston, London, Missoula, San Francisco and Okoboji (that's in Iowa).

Proof of our Polar Commitment
When travelling with us, you will discover how much we care about the places and people we visit. We demonstrate this by finding ways to give back as well as taking away so many incredible memories. For more information on our commitment to responsible tourism, please review our document entitled, "Our Environmental Commitment".

Before you Book , Important Trip Details
Itinerary Changes: We put safety first and that means weather, ice, wildlife, political or other conditions may require us to modify the itinerary as we go. We consider this half the intrigue of Polar exploring. Every expedition we undertake is a little different. It may mean we have to cancel certain shore excursions including polar camping if conditions are not suitable but we always find other fun things to do. Polar exploring is not predictable which is one of the many reasons we think it is so special.

Medical Documentation - Once you have booked your voyage to the Polar Regions, you will be required to complete a Medical Information Form. This form must be completed, signed and returned to UNIKTOUR INC no later than 90 days prior to departure.

Passport - Well before travelling, please ensure you have a current passport with an accurate photo, valid for at least six months after your scheduled return flight home. Also check that your airline tickets are in exactly the same name as your passport. Some countries may require you to have a return air ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket.

Budgeting - It is a good idea to bring along some $US cash. There are some onboard expenses such as those incurred at the bar, in our gift shop, and for satellite communication, as well as several souvenir shopping opportunities throughout the voyage including at some of the research stations in the Antarctic Peninsula. Mail can sometimes be posted from these stations as well.

Clothes - We do not need to tell you it is cold in Antarctica. So make sure you come prepared with clothes that will adequately protect you from the weather and wet conditions (sea spray is common onboard Zodiacs). Expensive specialty gear is not required, but you should have warm, waterproof clothing available upon your arrival in Ushuaia. Please read the One Ocean Expeditions Pre-departure Information for more details about what to bring in the journey. We also have foul weather gear for rent or purchase on board the ship. You should prearrange the rental of this gear should you require it.

Onboard - Like the weather, sea conditions can also be unpredictable. Rough waters are not uncommon particularly through the Drake Passage. You will be safe and comfortable aboard with your experienced crew in control of our ship, but you may suffer the effects of motion sickness, unless you have taken precautions. We recommend visiting your doctor prior to departure for medication that can help you avoid this easily treated condition.

Gratuities - We suggest you allow the equivalent of $US10 a day for gratuities for the crew and expedition staff. This is usually collected just prior to the end of the cruise.

Sea Kayaking - If you have some experience sea kayaking and are interested in doing this activity during the expedition, you will need to book this option prior to departure from home. We cannot book this activity once onboard. There is a separate document for sea kayakers that you will need to review beforehand.

Embarkation Protocol - Due to new International Security Regulations, you will not be able to come to the ship on your own. Guests arrive with the rest of the group accompanied by our Representative. Full details of embarkation/disembarkation procedures will be supplied with your final documentation. Once onboard, you will be participating in an obligatory lifeboat drill. We will also conduct important briefings on landing procedures and Zodiac operations.

Insurance - On all our voyages, you must have comprehensive travel insurance. Your own domestic government medical insurance and private health care plans will not cover you in most overseas countries. Your travel agent can recommend a policy designed to cover participants on these cruises.

Your policy must provide coverage for your medical costs in case of hospitalization, emergency travel and repatriation. We require that you obtain adequate insurance before joining the voyage. Cancellation insurance is also recommended.
Please check the terms of your policy carefully, particularly with regard to limits of cover (i.e. replacement of photographic equipment, baggage loss, claims procedure, costs due to airline delays etc). Also ensure you are familiar with the procedure for making claims (for example, most policies stipulate that claims must be made within a certain time after completion of your journey). Once you have paid your deposit or full payment, certain fees will apply if you have to cancel your holiday (see the cancellation provisions in our terms and conditions). For this reason you should take out insurance at the time of paying your deposit, which should then protect you in such a situation.

Visas - No visas are required to visit the Antarctic continent or its offshore islands, however, you will need a valid passport with you throughout the journey. For most voyages, our ship departs for the Antarctic continent from the port of Ushuaia, Argentina. At the time of printing, no visas for Argentina are required by holders of Australian, New Zealand, British, Canadian, U.S.A. or European passports. Passengers holding passports issued by other countries should carefully check with their travel agent or Argentinean consular authorities. If your flight to Ushuaia is via Santiago, tourist visas are required for Chile for some nationalities. If you plan any side trips to other countries you will need to investigate visa requirements as it is your responsibility to ensure you have all required visas for your trip.

Rules and regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing and vary for different nationalities. You should check visa requirements with your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travelling.

The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind and check with us if you want to be sure about anything. The document was correct at time of printing but you can check online for the most up to date version. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff. We are here to help you!

March, 2010

Présentation

La simple prononciation du mot Antarctique fait souvent rêver les amoureux des terres polaires. L’idée d’un voyage d’agrément pourrait paraitre bien farfelue aux tout premiers explorateurs tant les conditions y sont rudes. Néanmoins, l’attractivité de ce continent semble se confirmer. Bien que naviguer sur les traces de Paul Emil Victor reste un privilège, les solutions pour rallier ce continent perdu s’affinent d’années en années et vous aident à concrétiser le voyage de votre vie ou à satisfaire une passion pour les expériences extrêmes.

Dernier continent inhabité de notre belle planète, l’Antarctique offre un monde de glace à nulle autre pareille. 98% du continent est recouvert par l’Inlandsis, une couche de neige tassée pouvant atteindre 5.000m d’épaisseur. Par la force des choses, ces plaques glissent sur les côtes et finissent leur parcours en se fracturant en Icebergs. Vous resterez subjugués devant l’immensité et les couleurs vives des nombreux icebergs qui croiseront votre route!

Au départ de la Terre de feu, vous affronterez le passage du Drake avant de pouvoir observer paisiblement la faune locale. Préservés des nuisances humaines, vous constaterez par vous-même que les innombrables colonies de manchots ne manifestent aucune crainte à votre passage. Les baleines ainsi qu’une concentration exceptionnelle d’oiseaux (pétrels, albatros…) viendront combler votre expérience de moments inoubliables.

Géographie

Sa surface d'environ 14 millions de km² en fait le 4ieme plus grand continent mais la roche apparente n’en représente que 2%. En effet, le Pôle Sud est recouvert d’une immense plaque de glace appelée inlandsis dont la superficie représente 1.5 fois celle du Canada. Avec une altitude moyenne de l’ordre de 2.300 m, c’est le continent le plus élevé du monde.

La chaîne Transantarctique, qui s’étend sur 3.000 km de long, délimite naturellement les parties Ouest et Est.
L’Est du continent est nommé l’Antarctique Oriental et fait face aux océans Atlantique et Indien. Elle est surmontée d’un gigantesque dôme de glace (appelé Inlandsis) d'environ 10 millions de km² dont le point le plus élevé culmine à plus de 4.000m. Quant à l’autre moitié, l’Antarctique Occidentale, elle ne compte que pour 20% de la superficie totale du continent et atteint seulement 2.500 m au plus haut. Elle est prolongée par la Péninsule Antarctique et par les 2 grands ice-shelves de Ross et de Ronnes.

L’épaisseur moyenne de l’inlandsis varie entre 1.300m dans l’ouest et 2.200 m dans l’est. Il peut atteindre jusqu’à 5.000m par endroits et représente environ 70% des réserves d’eau douce de la Terre. Sa préservation est capitale pour l’avenir de nos civilisations car sa fonte pourrait provoquer une élévation des océans de l’ordre de 60m.

Culture

Un voyage vers le Pôle Sud est une excursion dans le temps…

Depuis le début du 16ieme siècle les grands explorateurs rêvent, imaginent et frôlent ce continent perdu, si difficile d’accès. Magellan, passé si proche lorsqu’il parvint à contourner la Terre de feu, imagine une terre Austral qui relierait les Amériques à l’Australie. Même James Cook en 1773 ne parviendra pas à y poser le pied, bloqué après avoir franchi le Cercle Polaire par les glaces impénétrables qui s’étaient accumulées à la saison froide.

Après un premier accostage en 1821 par les chasseurs de phoques américains, il a fallu attendre 1838 pour que des navigateurs français partent à la recherche du Pôle Sud magnétique et accostent le 21 janvier 1840 sur le continent à un endroit que le commandant Dumont d'Urville baptise Terre Adélie, en l'honneur de sa femme.

Le continent Austral devient dès lors une véritable attraction pour de nombreux pays qui y voit une terre sauvage, préservée de toute activité humaine et potentiellement riche en ressources naturelles. L’Année Géophysique Internationale de 1957 a rassemblé 12 pays pour y installer 48 stations, principalement sur les côtes mais également quelques unes sur l'Inlandsis.

Victime de son succès, il faudra créer Le Traité sur l'Antarctique le 1er décembre 1959 pour geler toutes les revendications territoriales. 45 pays en sont signataires à ce jour et accordent un statut unique destiné aux recherches scientifiques, à la préservation de la faune, de la flore, et des ressources naturelles.

Climat

Sachez-le, ce voyage vous amène dans l’endroit le plus froid au monde !
Des records ont été enregistrés à -90 degrés Celsius autours de la station Vostok, à 3.500 m d’altitude, au cœur du continent. Mais il est extrêmement rare de pouvoir s’enfoncer sur l’inlandsis… vous resterez probablement plus proche des côtes, où les températures oscillent de -30 à 15 degrés Celsius à la belle saison. Selon les conditions météorologiques, la banquise ne vous laissera accéder à destination que 2 ou 3 mois par an, au plus chaud de l’été Austral (janvier-février).

Les vents peuvent se révélés tout aussi rudes avec des pointes enregistrées à 320 km/h en Terre Adélie (mais de manière générale, cela tourne entre 30 et 71 km/h). Enfin, bien que cela paraisse paradoxal, cette zone reçoit moins d’eau que le plus aride des déserts car il y fait trop froid. Il neige principalement sur les côtes du continent grâce au réchauffement de l’air que provoquent les courants de l’océan.

Imaginez donc le temps requis à notre planète pour former un dôme de 5km de glace !