Falklands Discovery

Arrival

You are met on your arrival at Mount Pleasant Airport and driven to the little town of Darwin at the centre of East Falkland, named after the great biologist who visited the islands in 1833 and again in 1834. Darwin used to be a centre for cattle ranching and then for sheep rearing, until this was transferred to nearby Goose Green. Goose Green itself is remembered for the 1982 conflict with Argentina, and it is possible to take a tour in the area that focusses on its military history. You can begin your wildlife watching here too. Birders look for Night heron, Ruddy-headed and Upland goose, Blackish-oystercatcher and cormorants. Tomorrow you are flying to Bleaker Island. As with all domestic flights on the islands the time of the service is decided the day before so you will only learn the time of your flight when you arrive.

Bleaker Island

Today you fly to Bleaker Island, where you spend two nights at Cassard House. Your stay is on a full board basis and includes a guided orientation tour of the island, the details of which are confirmed locally subject to local conditions and timings and your own particular interests. Bleaker Island is long and thin, low and flat, with an extensive and varied coastline of open sandy beaches, sheltered coves, low cliffs and shelved rocks, and dotted around with seven tussac islands. Sea lions haul out of the ocean in the months from October to January. Whales and dolphins are often seen, especially between March and June. The Bleaker Island group attracts multitudes of wildlife including a massive Imperial cormorant colony, three types of breeding penguins and a variety of gulls and wildfowl.

Bleaker Island is a small working sheep farm, very typical of Falklands life. You might spend today out and about around the island, walking, looking out for wildlife, and generally soaking up the fresh air - of which there is plenty! There is a hiking trail between the cormorant colony and the north end of Sandy Bay. Sandy Bay is especially lovely at sunset, with a mixture of Gentoo and Magellanic penguins congregating on the white sand as the sky burns orange over the ocean.

Pebble Island

Today you fly to Pebble Island for a two night stay on a full board basis. The island is named after the unusual and attractive pebbles found on its beaches, this 24 mile long island is the third largest in the archipelago. Here you will find sandy beaches, moorland and rocky peaks, extensive ponds and wetlands that are home to some 42 breeding bird species including over 1000 pairs of Imperial Shags, plus Gentoo, Magellanic and Rockhopper penguins. Eight of the Falkland endemic plants grow on the island. Tours included in your stay will be confirmed locally subject to local conditions and timings and your particular interests.

Pebble Island's Elephant Beach, lovely stretch of white sand, is the longest beach in the Falklands at 6.4km (4 miles) long - and occasionally used as an airstrip! The eastern end of the island is heathland with low cliffs and a large number of ponds. These are home to waterfowl and wading-birds including one of the largest concentrations of Black-necked swans and occasional sightings of Red Shoveler and Cinnamon teal. Black-crowned night-herons, Imperial cormorants, Rockhopper, Gentoo and Magellanic penguins inhabit the coast. Peregrine falcons have been recorded. The Falkland fritillary butterfly occurs on the heathlands whilst sea lions are found on Cape Tamar.

Stanley

A flight from Pebble Island brings you to Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. You are met and driven into Stanley, and shown around the town by a local guide, including a visit to the museum. Run by the islands’ National Trust, the Falkland Islands Museum is located at the historical dockyard site in Stanley. The main aim of the museum is to promote awareness and appreciation of the history and heritage of the Falkland Islands and to protect this for future generations. There are galleries covering social (e.g. radio and telephone exchange), maritime (Stanley was a ships’ graveyard, including SS Great Britain, as well as a refuge for intrepid explorers and engineers), natural history, the 1982 war, and Antarctic heritage. So there is a lot to see. Much of the islands' social history revolves around the 'Camp': rural communities outside Stanley itself.

Volunteer Point

Volunteer Beach is an impressive 2 mile long white sandy beach, bordered by high grassy banks and dunes, leading to rolling greens. These provide ideal habitats for three breeding species of penguins - King, Gentoo and Magellanic. The colony of King penguins is very special. Around 1000 King penguins breed at Volunteer Point and raise around 500 chicks each year. There are also 1,500 pairs of Gentoo penguins in colonies on nearby Volunteer Green. Your day's excursion includes a packed lunch. Maybe end the day with a "smoko", the Falklands version of tea and home-made cakes. Although this is conventionally served at morning coffee time, there's nothing to say you can’t partake in the afternoon.

Departure

You are collected from your hotel to catch your flight from Mount Pleasant Airport, or perhaps join a cruise sailing from Stanley itself. Ask us for details.