FAQs

Yes, all meals onboard the vessel are included.

Yes, snorkeling is optional & depends on weather conditions.  The Zodiac excursions provide a great opportunity for topside whale-watching and photography. 

We will be travelling to remote islands, therefore it is important to let us know in advance of any food allergies or dietary requirements, via the booking form.

Yes, this is essential! It must include medical insurance, and aero-medical evacuation

You can fly to Tromsø directly from many European countries. Otherwise there are daily flights from Norway’s capital city Oslo direct to Tromsø, which take approx 1hr 50 mins.

We go snorkeling whenever the weather conditions, and the wildlife allow.

Our vessel carries a maximum of 12 passengers

There will be no internet access onboard the vessel.

Good fitness is required for snorkeling in cold water in a bulky drysuit.

All tour costs are in US dollars and there are multiple payment methods you can use for each tour. Note that credit card payments have a 2.8% fee and PayPal payments have a 3.5% fee. You can use a currency converter to get an idea of the currency conversion or exchange rate. check out Oanda for latest rates.

Below is a list of basic items to bring:

Wind/waterproof outer layer (jacket & trousers)

Thermal under-layers for drysuit

Mask snorkel & fins (we recommend having your own)

Warm hat, gloves, buff

Thick woollen socks

Camera (We can recommend cameras if you wish to buy one before you travel)

Supply of any medications you need for duration of the trip

We will send out a detailed packing list prior to the tour.

We will provide Waterproof D9 drysuits, hoods, mittens & boots. Please check the drysuit size guide at the bottom of our tour page, if your size is outside this chart you will need to bring your own drysuit & undergarments.  We recommend you bring your own mask, snorkel & fins, but we can also provide these onboard. Thermal undergarments can be hired for the trip.

Norwegian Krone

I can take deposit and payment via credit card, PayPal, or direct bank transfer. Note there is a 2.8% fee on credit card transactions and a 3.5% fee on PayPal transactions

Of course we hope to see Orca, but we may also encounter humpback whales, occasional fin whales, and various species of seabird.

It will be winter, so it will be cold, dark and snowy!

Scott Portelli will be your host.

You will need a passport that will be valid for at least 6 months after travel. Depending on your nationality, you may require a visa to enter Norway. You will need to check the visa requirements for your country.

Around 5 people.

Meals are included in the trip price.  As we are moving between different islands, meals will vary in type, but generally they are wholesome hot meals, British in style.  Some accommodations may be self-catering, where you will be provided with a meal pack. Sometimes there will be a packed lunch if we are planning to be out all day.

Yes, in terms of crime, Stanley prides itself on being the safest capital in the world! It’s important to remember that traffic drives on the left side of the road, so if you are not used to that, take extra care when crossing the street!

We will be travelling to remote islands, therefore it is important to let us know in advance of any food allergies or dietary requirements, via the booking form.

Falklands use the United Kingdom standard system, 240 volts / 50Hz, with a type G rectangular plug. You will need to bring your own adaptors to fit UK sockets.

Yes, this is essential! It must include medical insurance, and aero-medical evacuation

No vaccinations are required for entry into the Falklands. The Falkland Islands have a good standard of health. However, the only hospital is in Stanley – there are no medical facilities on most islands we will visit. If you are extending your stay into South America, please check the recommended immunisations for these countries.

If you would like to use cash (GBP Pound Sterling), bring it with you.  There are no ATMs or foreign exchange in the Falklands, not even at the airport. Visa, Mastercard & travellers cheques are widely accepted in Stanley. 

There is an international airport, Mount Pleasant Airport, which is about 1 hr drive from Stanley (the capital). This is a military airport that also handles commercial flights.

We travel between islands on 8-seater aeroplanes, operated by Falklands Islands Government Air Services (FIGAS).  These are low-flying and offer stunning views over the archipelago. We will use 4×4 vehicles to travel over land.

That is up to you.  People often choose to be out for sunrise and sunset, depending on the location.  Some days may be a full day tour, other days you can come & go from the accommodation as you please.

If you choose to bring more than the domestic luggage allowance which is 20kgs, excess luggage is charged per kilo, per flight sector, on our local fights.

You must be comfortably able to walk over uneven ground, occasionally longer distances (1km+) in order to view wildlife. Often we can get strong winds, muddy or steep terrain, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.  There is no immediate access to emergency medical assistance.

All tour costs are in US dollars and there are multiple payment methods you can use for each tour. Note that credit card payments have a 2.8% fee and PayPal payments have a 3.5% fee. You can use a currency converter to get an idea of the currency conversion or exchange rate. check out .Oanda for latest rates.

Below is a list of basic items to bring:

Wind/waterproof outer layer (jacket & trousers)

Thermal under-layers

Warm hat, gloves, buff

Comfortable hiking boots

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

Camera (We can recommend cameras if you wish to buy one before you travel)

Supply of any medications you need for duration of the trip

We will send out a detailed packing list prior to the tour.

We will be staying in farmhouse style lodges which are comfortable and cosy.  Most are catered by our friendly hosts, some will be self-catered with meal packs provided.  Rooms vary between ensuite and having a shared bathroom.

The Falkland pound, which is equivalent to the British pound. English sterling is universally accepted. U.S. Dollars and Euros are also widely accepted in Stanley at the prevailing rate of exchange.

I can take deposit and payment via credit card, PayPal, or direct bank transfer. Note there is a 2.8% fee on credit card transactions and a 3.5% fee on PayPal transactions

The Falklands are a wildlife lovers paradise! We will see a few species of penguin, including gentoo, king, Magellanic, and rockhopper.  Other species of bird include the black-browed albatross, cara cara, cormorants, skuas, and so many more! Also expect elephant seals, sealions, dolphins, maybe even whales.

You can get all 4 seasons in 1 day! The average summer daytime temperature is around 15°C, while average night-time temperature is around 5°C. Prevailing winds blow from the west and tend to be stronger in the summer than the winter. The islands are relatively sunny, with about 7.5 hours of daily sunshine in December and January. The west Falklands are generally wetter than the east.

The best months to visit the Falklands are during the southern hemisphere summer. November, December, January, and February are most ideal, with warmer weather and an abundance of wildlife.

You will need a passport valid for at least 6 months after you depart. Citizens of the U.S., U.K., and E.U. do not need a visa to visit the Falkland Islands. However, entry requirements may change. It is your responsibility to check with the consulate for the most up-to-date visa information.

All arriving travellers must have a return air ticket or other evidence of prepaid onward travel arrangements. Travelers must also have evidence in the form of cash or credit card of sufficient funds to cover their stay.

Currently there are a few places in Stanley that provide Wi-Fi, but for most of our tour we will be remote with no access to Wi-Fi or cell phone coverage.  There is limited cell phone coverage, that covers only the top half of East Falkland.  Check with your cell phone provider about roaming options.

All meals onboard the yacht are included. As it’s a working yacht, sometimes we may help the crew with cooking & cleaning for meals.

We will need to know at the time of booking, if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.  The food we have onboard will be dependent on local availability at the time of re-stocking in South America.

The yacht has European two pin socket with UK adapters.  But recommend you bring a universal adaptor.

There will be 9 expeditioners plus 3 crew.

There will be no internet access aboard our yacht.  To keep in touch with loved ones, we suggest carrying a GPS device (e.g. Garmin), with an active subscription to send text.

It means we will need to support the crew at different stages during the expedition, particularly during the crossings. There is some structure to keep things fair. On the passages, everyone will be put on a watch, three hours on, six off. 

Fresh water is at a premium on small boats. Drinking it takes priority, followed by personal hygiene. Expect to shower every 2^nd to 3^rd day.  Wet-wipes come in handy for a full body wash in between showers.

It is common to experience seasickness during the Drake Passage crossing.  It is essential to be able to manage this, for your own comfort. Speak to your physician to find out which options are available to you.  Once we arrive at the Antarctic Peninsula, we will be in calmer waters.

A good fitness level is required. Life onboard can be physically demanding, as can snorkeling in cold water, or hiking in snow.  There is no access to emergency medical service in Antarctica.

We will send you a detailed packing list, but here is a basic summary:

Waterproof outer layers (pants & jacket)

Muckboots

Wool/merino thermal layers

Ski goggles

Sunglasses, sunscreen

Hat, gloves, buff, socks

Drysuit & undergarments (if snorkeling)

Camera gear

Boat shoes

Sleeping bag

Backpack

Quick-dry towel

Expedition #1 (Dec/Jan 2025) starts & finishes in Ushuaia, Argentina. The currency there is the Argentine Peso.

Expedtion #2 (Feb 2025) starts & finishes in Puerto Williams, Chile. The currency there is the Chilean Peso.

Although we cannot guarantee what sort of wildlife encounters we will have, we are highly likely to see: penguins (gentoo, Adelie, chinstrap), seals (Weddell, crabeater, leopard), whales (humpback, minke, possibly orca), seabirds (albatross, petrels, skua).

The temperature during Antarctic summer is typically -4C to +4C, but can get warmer or colder than this. We may experience all weather conditions from rain, snow, sleet, high winds, to clear and calm days.  Sunny days do occur, but usually it is overcast.  

Expedition #1 (Dec/Jan 2025) starts & finishes in Ushuaia, Argentina. Ushuaia has a domestic airport, and the main route to get there by air is via Buenos Aires. There is also a domestic route via El Calafate.

Expedtion #2 (Feb 2025) starts & finishes in Puerto Williams, Chile. The only way to fly there is from Punta Arenas Chile, on DAP airlines.

Yes!  We will schedule some Zoom meetings so that we can meet our fellow expeditioners, ask questions e.g. about travel arrangements, equipment, clothing, medical fitness, working yacht and general expectations. There will also be emails, and a document with detailed information. Of course you can also reach out to Scott at any time if you have questions.