-- Overview -- As our voyage begins, we pilot through the calm, gunmetal grey waters and sloping glaciers of the Beagle Channel. Turning southward, our journey begins in earnest, and we enter the Drake Passage. A body of water that marks the intersection of the cold Antarctic with the warmer Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Drake Passage is known for rollicking conditions and strong westerly winds, called the Roaring Fifties. While this passage may be challenging, you can rest confidently aboard our expedition vessel, Ocean Victory, which is purpose-built with stabilizers, powerful engines, and a patented reclining bow, which ensures stability and comfort in rough sea as well as having very low fuel consumption. The most spirited sailors consider Drake Passage a lifetime achievement, and you will complete the crossing twice! In the Drake, the excitement builds as Antarctic wildlife comes into view. These nutrient-rich waters lure a wealth of seabirds, albatrosses, and several species of whales. Weather permitting, we catch our first sight of seals and penguins! With widening eyes, we weave through the South Shetland Islands, a pearly necklace of glistering, ice-covered islands and dormant volcanoes. Numerous Zodiac excursions are landfalls are likely. We are constantly on the lookout for whales, sea lions, elephant seals and an unbelievable amount of sea birds and penguins. Our Ice Swimmers onboard also take the chance to make a first, shorter test swim in the chilly waters of the South Shetlands. Continuing onward, we enjoy the calming silence and alluring beauty of the Antarctic mainland during hikes and Zodiac excursions. Spread in isolation along the coast, we also see manned and unmanned research stations, which we may visit before accomplishing our goal – crossing the Antarctic Circle at 66°33′ South. Here, the sun is up for 24-hours a day during the austral summer. The expedition may include visits to sites such as Pleneau and Petermann Islands, Crystal Sound and Fish Island. During our time in Antarctica, we look for a suitable shore-based location to conduct amazing Ice Swimming adventures! - Day by Day Cruise Itinerary -- 18 February 2024: ARRIVAL USHUAIA Arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina - the world’s southernmost town. Explore the quaint city or local countryside. Alternatively, consider a day trip off the beaten path to the raw, natural archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. It's a hiker's paradise with rugged snow-capped mountains, glaciers, flower-filled meadows and boggy quagmires. In the afternoon, we board our ship, Ocean Victory. Our journey begins as we navigate through the calms of Beagle Channel, a strait in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. 19-20 February: AT SEA - CROSS DRAKE PASSAGE In the Drake, the excitement builds as Antarctic wildlife comes into view with our first sight of seals, penguins, and albatrosses. As well as the first icebergs as we approach the South Shetland chain of islands. With the unique X-BOW design, the Ocean Victory will offer you a smoother sailing across the Drake passage than conventional expedition vessels – and with a far less carbon emission. 21-22 February: SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS Over the next two days, we will explore to the sub-Antarctic islands of the South Shetland chain. Projected landfalls could include King George Island; Deception Island, an extinct volcano; Half Moon Island with nesting Wilson's storm petrels and chinstrap penguins. The itinerary and activities over the next few days depend on weather and ice conditions. The route and shore landings will be determined by the captain and expedition leader and communicated to guests through regularly scheduled briefings. 23-25 February: ANTARCTIC CONTINENT, POLAR CIRCLE and ICE SWIM As the white shimmer of Antarctica looms on our horizon, the presence of wildlife multiples by tens of thousands with many species of lively penguins, inquisitive seals, nesting birds and the spray of marine mammals. Wildlife abounds on the Antarctic Peninsula: leopard, fur and Weddell seals of Cuverville Island; humpback whales of Gerlache Strait; Paradise Bay; the dramatic Lemaire Channel's orcas. Explore as far south as possible towards the Antarctic Circle at c. 66 deg 33 minutes south of the Equator. Possible landfall in this wild and seldom visited area could be Pleneau and Petermann Islands, Crystal Sound and Detaille Island. We will also visit research stations if ice conditions allow us. The itinerary and activities over the next few days depend on weather, swell and ice. The route and shore landings will be determined by the captain and expedition leader and communicated to guests through regularly scheduled briefings. -- ANTARCTIC ICE SWIM -- During our time in Antarctica the expedition team will look for suitable conditions and location – for the first time ever below the Polar Circle – for our Antarctic Ice Swimming adventure. Restricted to experienced, cold-water swimmers*, this will test the resolve and endurance of our brave participants - and is certain to be a thrilling spectator event for all passengers! There will be recognised 250m, 500m, 1 km according to International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) rules. The exact course will depend on local conditions but is planned to be an open-water swim in a protected bay, concluding ashore at a recovery tent. Each swimmer will be accompanied by a Zodiac with expedition and medical staff and will be filmed and timed by expert IISA officials and enter record books. Spectators will be able to observe from the ship, Zodiacs and kayaks, or from ashore. 26-27 February: DEPART ANTARCTICA - AT SEA We depart Antarctica and spend two days at sea across the Drake Passage. En-route, we cruise past Cape Horn, a legendary maritime landmark. During our time at sea, a variety of activities will be arranged on board, the perfect opportunity to socialize with fellow travellers. We review our adventures both ashore and in the water with an awards ceremony for our brave Ice Swimmers. 28 February 2024: USHUAIA AND DISEMBARK This morning, arrive back to the calms of the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia, Argentina where our expedition ends. -- Your Ice Swim Adventure Leaders -- Ram Barkai Founder and Chair of the International Ice Swimming Association (“IISA”). Swimming Expedition Leader and Race Director. Ram is a veteran extreme cold-water swimmer. Ram swam in Antarctica in 2008 with his Guinness World Record Swim at 70S and in 2014 at -1C with his South African team and in 2018 with the first Ice Swimming Adventure trip. Ram has initiated and overseen many Ice Swimming events and adventures. Ram has 11 Ice Miles and many more 1km Ice Swims and longer cold-water swims. He swam in the Arctic and Antarctica, Cape Horn, Magellan strait and Beagle channel, Northern Iceland, Scotland and Ireland, Across the Bering Strait and in Siberia mid-winter at -33c air temp. Ram featured in various Discovery, History channel, CNN, Al Jazeera and many other documentaries. Ram’s vision is to take Ice Swimming to the Winter Olympic Games. Michal Starosolski, Ph. D. Professor Assistance at the Medical University of Silesia, Michal is an Emergency Medicine Specialist, working in Hospital Emergency Department with Trauma Center and in Emergency Medical Services on Ambulance. Since 2015 Michal works with the International Ice Swimming Association in Poland, responsible for the safety of swimmers and rescue issues. He has been a Medical officer during the IISA World Championships, Expeditions on Titicaca Lake, Baltic Sea and a number of Polish Championships in Ice Swimming. Sam Whelpton Expedition head of logistics, Sam is an Ironman athlete [woman], an open water and marathon Swimmer. Sam completed various ice swims from the Arctic to Antarctica via Lesotho high mountains. Sam crossed the English Channel in 2018, Lake Malawi, Zanzibar to Tanzania, and many other swims. Sam will take care of any logistics requirement prior to the trip and during. Sam is also in charge of time keeping of the swim events. Stewart Campbell Owner and Director of Expeditions Online, Stewart is a former expedition leader of more than 40 voyages to Antarctica and has over 30 years of experience in polar travel, also organising and leading countless expeditions to Svalbard, Greenland and South America. He will be our expedition and travel coordinator to ensure your booking process goes smoothly and you reach Ushuaia safely and ready for your Antarctica and Ice Swimming adventure! Note about the itinerary and safety: Please keep in mind, the itinerary and outdoor activities during each voyage are solely dependent on weather and operational conditions to ensure the safety and quality of experience of our guests. The route and shore landings will be determined by the captain and expedition leader and communicated to guests through regularly scheduled briefings. The right is reserved to modify the landings and locations visited during a voyage based on weather and local conditions and climate to ensure a safe and delightful experience for all guests and staff. The trip is expeditionary in nature, and thus changes to timings are expected due to the environment we operate in as well as wildlife opportunities and locations. Participants in the Antarctic Ice Swim do so under the strict condition that the expedition team or doctor may end any individual’s swim early or prevent the event entirely if there are any safety concerns or if the weather conditions are deemed unsuitable.