Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica: Explorers and Kings, Operated by Quark

Customer Reviews

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  Kathleen Kerr

  · February 26th, 2012
  Holiday of a lifetime, which will never be forgotten. Had an absolutely amazing time from start to finish. This holiday was beyond our expectations!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?King Penguins and their chicks, so funny! Gentoo chicks laying on my lap Up close and personal (about 8-10 feet away) from humpback whale swimming towards us - Awesome !Abundant wildlife behaviour to watch and photographFantastic scenery, weather and itineraryAmazing icebergsWatching Adelie penguins stealing stones from other nests, and looking so innocent when caught, just like on 'Frozen Planet' hilarious!Educational presentations by the Quark staff were so informative and very helpful, learnt so much.What did you think of your group leader?Shane was brilliant and did everything he could to get us ashore, and succeeded as we managed 21 landings and zodiac cruises.  At the briefings he was inspirational in telling us to "put down our cameras and feel our surroundings, watch the animals, take photos with your mind", he was so right!  Shane even surprised us with a cruise round Cape Horn (which was unexpected).Do you have any advice for potential travellers?If you thought you might like to do this trip, dont think anymore, DO IT! You will have a life changing experience. Wildlife in abundance, be on the first zodiac out and the last one back!  Don't be tempted to have your eyes permanently stuck to the camera lens - just sit and watch it all happen around you !  Take a tri-stool like we did and just sit and take it all in.Is there anything else you would like to add?The remainder of the expedition staff were amazing; Jamie, Tony, Mikolaj and Damien were so informative, their knowledge was immense and nothing was too much trouble for them. Angela (our shop assistant and newly qualified zodiac driver) was great, she was our driver around icebergs and she couldn't do enough to make our experience as enjoyable as possible; her patience, kindness and consideration were immense. Krystle was great with her photographic tips and Val and Solan brilliant for the kayakers. Dave and Karin were brilliant drivers and full of fun. Last but not least, Duncan who did so much behind the scenes and whose organisational skills were greatly appreciated. The crew onboard the ship were professional, friendly and helpful.  If we did have a complaint, then it would be that the food was good, but could have been a bit warmer.
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  Trip date: February 2012
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  Angela Longman

  · February 14th, 2012
  The Sea Spirit was very comfortable, the only problem they need to address is the food, as it was tepid and mediocre. We have been on Polar travels several times before and the food was always superb. not sure if the problem lies with Quark or the Danish owners.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?We saw every type of seal and penguin, including a young Emperor one out on the ice which was pretty special. the highlight has to be a humpback whale feeding at Hannahs Point on the last afternoon which swam between 2 of the Zodiacs almost within touching range.What did you think of your group leader?Shane Envoy was full of fun and energy and an inspiration to all the passengers.Is there anything else you would like to add?The girl who ran the shop on board was highly obnoxious.  I gather she is employed by Quark as opposed to the owners.  I had occasion to return a paid of leather bootees, the day after purchase, as I felt that the leather seam inside was harsh to young feet.  She pointed out that exchanges/refunds could only happen on day of purchase, a notice was hidden amongst stock to this effect.  She eventually contacted her bosses who agreed to the exchange.  The next few days were busy and when we took the goods back, she said she had sold 100s with no complaint. I then said I would buy a child's Tshirt instead. She pointed out that they were reduced as they had been wrongly tagged, in case I came back and complained.Her interpersonal skills are sadly lacking. 
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  Trip date: February 2012
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  Derek Holwill

  · January 19th, 2012
  Fantastic - great photographic trip. A lot of days at sea though - so an interest in sea-birds useful! South Georgia should be a must for anyone who enjoys photographing wildlife, so the time toget there is well worthwhile.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Gold Harbour on a sunny day with blue skies and mating elephant seals all over the place;  and Shackleton's graveWhat did you think of your group leader?Excellent - the best we've had on 4 antarctic tripsDo you have any advice for potential travellers?Be on the first zodiac going to land, and one the last one back!  And take lots of sea-sickness tabletsIs there anything else you would like to add?I know it's a Quark trip - but an extra day or 2 in the Falklands would be great
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Andrew Barnes

  · January 17th, 2012
  It was a long way to travel - but it was well worth it, started with a few days in Ushuaia (Argentina) before the expedition cruise started. Ushuaia is a small town with many overpriced so called duty free shops, and outside the town is the National Park - which to be honest was very ordinary.Now to the actual trip itself - the Falkland, South Georgia and Antarctica - it was brilliant, very well run by the expedtion staff and the journey on the Valivov was 'plain sailing'.On this trip we missed one zodiac cruise, but managed to carry out all the other activites.Managed to see all the expected wildlife for that time of year, and great views when land and ice in view. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?South Georgia had everything, the scenery, history and the wildlife.What did you think of your group leader?Lynn Woodward - is an expert on the areas visited, so was always able to pass on her substantial knowledge.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Great for wildlife photography.Spend as much time out on deck or on the bridge - you dont know what is going to swim or fly by !(Could not beleive that out of 95 holiday makers on board - there were only three of us 'looking'). Is there anything else you would like to add?It was my second Polar Trip - having visited the Arctic in 2010, the two ends of the planet are very different - with the Polar Bears and flat ice in the North and the 'millions' of Penguins and 'high rise' Icebergs in the South, both trip were superb and very different experiences and would recommend both to everybody.
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Teresa Jones

  · March 14th, 2011
  A wonderful trip. Once youy have seen Antarctica, you understand the importance of conserving and protecting it. Be prepared to come back as an ambassador for the region!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Too many to say!  The first wonder was seeing an albatross fly past our cabin window when we opened the curtains in the morning.  Then there were the hundreds of thousands of penguins on South Georgia at St Andrews Bay, Shackeltons Grave at Grytviken, and the pod of Orcas that swam past the ship at one point.  What did you think of your group leader? Kirsten was an experienced and conscientous leader.  Excellent briefing and debriefings.  A general feeling that she knew the area well, the flora and fauna, together with the inherent risks associated with any landings.Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared to accept that conditions in the Southern Ocean completely determine what you can or cannot do by way of landings.  Choose a ship (like ours - The Ioffe) which can handle bad conditions and on which the movement of the ocean is less obvious than on lesser vessels. Be prepared to be amazed!Is there anything else you would like to add?The Expedition Team were exceptional, the Crew wonderful, the food was very good and very plentiful. Expect to put on weight! It helped to have a superb, well captained, ship like the Akademik Ioffe, which was more stable than one would imagine, even in a Force 12, in the Drake Passage.You will take more pictures than you imagine, but do spend some time not looking through the viewfinder. The DVD at the end of the trip was great. It was nice not only to have a slide show, but also all of the peoples best picture choices. The maps and daily bulletins helped to write up journals and remind us of anything we had forgotten. If you can go to South Georgia, do so. The combination of scenery, history and wildlife makes South Georgia one of the  special places on this planet. It does help if you can get the very good weather we had.If you have any desire to go - then GO!  
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  Trip date: March 2011
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  Margaret Stapley

  · January 30th, 2011
  A trip I have wanted to do for years and it was wonderful. Quark had an excellent expedition staff on my trip who got us out on the zodiacs whenever they safely could.Nothing was too much trouble and the knowledge of the staff in their lectures enhanced the experience out with the animals and icebergs.A great crowd on the boat also allowed us to do all we could as all were committed to do with extra time for penguins and races around icebergs. In particular I would like to sing the praises of Graham Charles for being an inspiration because of his love for the areas we visited.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Race around an iceberg in the Weddell Sea , the Adelie penguin colony on Paulet island as it was snowing so truly Antarctic weather but best of all Gold Harbour with the King penguins and elephant seals a magical place.What did you think of your group leader? See above cannot sing his praises enough. Without him and his determination to make sure we got assure at every opportunity it would have not been so excellent.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take sea sick pills with you I would recommend Phenergan. Plenty of warm lightweight clothes but not on the boat which was always warm. Quark info is really helpful so follow that.Don't spend all your time taking photographs sit and watch and take it in the smells and the noise cannot be captured on a picture!Is there anything else you would like to add?No!!!But I would like to go again and spend more time in the Falklands  and South Georgia as they were the best  !!!
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  Trip date: January 2011
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  Matt Mckean

  · January 28th, 2011
  What a fantastic trip, Falklands and Albatross, South Georgia and Penguins/Seals and Antarctica and Tabular Icebergs. This trip is a true adventure where the rewards are high and the camera is rarely away from reach. Its jaw dropping beauty will leave you wondering where else on earth can i go that will give you so many fabulous memories.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?There are so many, from Elephant Seals to King Penguins but one that i have fond memories was when sitting down just watching, not taking pictures, just sitting and watching Chinstrap Penguins.  You are all told at the start of the expedition that we must respect the animals space and not cause them any distress by being to close... Keep your distance...   These little guys, like the Adélie and Gentoo will waddle up so close, you could reach out and touch them. There is no fear from them, they are just so inquisitive. They melt your heart and leave you knowing this is the adventure and experience you’ve been looking for......What did you think of your group leader?All Quark staff are fantastic and knowledgeable in there field of expertise from Historian to Ornithologist. All Expeditions are ran as the collective team, its the team that makes it work, no single individual, the expedition leader always gave praise to his team.  Graham Charles was our expedition leader. Energetic, a mass of knowledge about polar travel and above all else he does what it takes to make this a trip that you will remember. His adventures are inspirational, his tales leave you wanting more he is a master at what he does.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Expect the unexpected…  It does rain so take a rain cover for your camera and Lens.  Always keep a spare set of batteries close to you in your jacket to keep them warm.  Charge batteries every night as you will take more pictures then you can imagine. Don’t think you need an SLR with a huge lens. Penguins to Seals can be metres away, I saw great pictures from all levels of camera equipment.  Its not as cold as you might think, but take plenty of layers for those days when the wind picks up and the chill factor plummets...Is there anything else you would like to add?Only one thing that i would advise any traveller on this trip.... Take time to stop... put the camera down and just watch everything that is going on around you..... its fantastic experience that is difficult to put into words.. don’t live the whole trip through a camera... You will miss so much....
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  Trip date: January 2011
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  Joanne Hart

  · March 3rd, 2010
  It was a fantastic trip - the crew, ship, wildlife (penguins, penguins and more penguins) and places we visited were all fantastic. A most amazing experience.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Sitting amonst the penguins was really special and then on our last day in Antarctica we had a landing on Petterman Island and a Zodiac cruise in Flanders Bay where we were surrounded by lots of Humpback Whales we then spent the evening watching an amazing sunset which lasted for hours - a truly happy memory and it has gone down as one of my best ever days!!!!What did you think of your group leader?Rupert was outstanding - I think the main thing I'd like to say about Rupert is that it was so obvious he really wanted everyone's trip to be perfect - and he delivered that! Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Book it now!!!Is there anything else you would like to add?Another Exodus triumph!!!!!!
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  Trip date: March 2010
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  Graham Walker

  · February 2nd, 2009
  Amazing wilderness and unique wildlife experiences. However, there are a lot of sea days and you are very much at the mercy of the weather: based on our experience, the suggested landings in the itinerary should be taken with a large pinch of salt! Similarly, the sea kayaking was stunning, but conditions were such that we only made a single serious excursion in the three weeks. Overall, I would question the value for money (and indeed time) that these cruises offer. Having said that, if you are looking to go then I wouldn
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  Trip date: February 2009
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  Robert Friel

  · January 7th, 2009
  It's hard to express just how amazing to visit a true wilderness where people really are just visitors. My first ever trip with exodus was to the Himalaya in 2001 and had stayed with me ever since - yet it doesn't come close to seeing South Georgia.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?You can't pick one really - was it getting ashore at St Andrews Bay in South Georgia - such an astonishing setting and thousands of King Penguins - or was it Paulet Island, Adelie Penguins with newborn chicks surrounded by ice and a sunset to die for?  Just seeing a host of large tabular bergs washed up against South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands was worth the trip. What did you think of your group leader?The Quark expedition team and Paul were superb.  Great talks, fun zodiac rides and always available.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?It is definitely worth the long journey and the occasionally rough seas if you love wilderness and nature.  It is remote - but that's why it is so special.  Where ever you get to it will be amazing; just don't go expecting to tick off a list of places or sights - the weather rules, it is expeditionary adventure travel - it is definitely not a cruise.Make best use of every opportunity offered (even the coldest wettest zodiac rides you can think of!)Is there anything else you would like to add?Just got to work out how to go back - now I have a list of photographs I didn't get!  You can't really do it justice first time (too much to take in!)The additional days sailing to get to South Georgia are worth it! 
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  Trip date: January 2009