Falklands Odyssey

Arrival

Your international flight to the Falklands arrives at Mount Pleasant airport, where you are met and driven to the local airport at Stanley for the short flight to Sea Lion Island. You spend 3 nights on this lovely island at Sea Lion Lodge, a welcoming, comfortable and eco-friendly guest house that offers spectacular views of the South Atlantic. There is nothing but ocean between here and Antarctica. Your stay includes an introductory tour of the island with a guide. Details are confirmed locally, to suit your particular interests, local conditions and timings. There are fantastic photo opportunities all around.

Sea Lion Island

Sea Lion Island is the most southerly inhabited island in the Falklands archipelago, and one of the smallest. Its beauty and solitude makes a stay here a compelling and memorable experience. The island is a nature reserve, a RAMSAR site and an IBA. It abounds with wildlife and birds, and many of the best areas are within easy reach of the lodge. Large numbers of elephant seals, sea lions, fur seals, and penguins are found around its spectacular beaches. At the peak of the breeding season (which spans September - February overall) there can be 1800 elephant seals here. Killer whales patrol the shore between November and January, hoping for sea lion pups.

As well as wildife, 56 species of flowering plants thrive here, including the endemic Vanilla Daisy and Coastal Nassauvia, and the Fuegian Violet. The 47 birds breeding here include Falkland thrush, Black-throated finch, three penguins, and five raptors including the endangered Striated caracara.

Bleaker Island

Today you fly north across the small stretch of water to Bleaker Island, which lies just off the coast of East Falkland. Bleaker Island has a very extensive coastline, whose shores attract multitudes of wildlife. There is a massive Imperial Cormorant colony, and three types of breeding penguins. Sea lions haul out on the rocks and offshore tussac islands. They are active and breeding between December and January. Pups can remain dependent for as long as twelve months. This is also one of the few places where the rare Flightless steamer duck can be seen. Each day's schedule for flights around the islands is decided the day before, so you will only learn your flight times locally. There are just two places to stay here, Cassard House and Cobb's Cottage, named after naturalist Arthur Cobb, one of the island's former farmers.

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.

Carcass Island and West Point Island

Today you take a domestic flight across East and West Falkland to Carcass Island, on the opposite coast. Here you stay for 3 nights at Manager's House, the only hotel on the island. Named after HMS Carcass which visited in the late 18th century, Carcass Island is a carefully managed farm with sheep and cattle. The island is a wonderful way to appreciate how generations of farmers lived and worked on the Falklands. With fantastic views out to sea, the settlement nestles into its sheltered harbour. Carcass Island is an important bird area with many ground nesting birds including the endemic Cobbs’s wren and songbirds such as Tussac-bird, Ground tyrant, Falkland pipit, Falkland thrush, Long-tailed meadowlark and Grass wren. Gentoo and Magellanic penguins thrive and breed on the island and there are many Striated caracaras. Ramblers may well opt to visit Leopard Beach.

At some point during your stay, possibly depending on weather conditions, you will visit West Point Island. Privately owned since 1879, this island was originally called Albatross Island due to the many nesting Black-browed albatross. West Point Island is blessed with spectacular scenery and impressive wildlife with sandstone cliffs, rocky ledges and areas of tussac grass that are home to Rockhopper penguins.

Sea lions and dolphins are often seen on Carcass Island, plus the odd fur seal hiding in the tall tussac grass. Birds are amazingly tame but do watch your things if Striated caracara (known locally as Johnny Rook) are about! The endemic Cobb's wren is easy to spot and penguins are here too. Magallenic penguin burrows are close to the settlement and Gentoos can be found further afield.

Saunders Island

The 30,000 acre Saunders Island, just off the north-west coast of West Falkland, routinely draws wildlife enthusiasts from around the world. You arrive by a local flight. Saunders' main attraction is the large colony of Black-browed albatross but Saunders can also boast four species of breeding penguin: Gentoo, Rockhopper, Magellanic and King. Rare sightings of Macaroni and Chinstrap have also been recorded. The island is run as an active sheep farm by its owners. It remains of significant historical importance as the site of the first British settlement in 1765. The ruins of the settlement can still be seen at Port Egmont today - approximately 2 kms walk from the existing settlement. You stay two nights at Rookery Inn on Saunders Island. Food is provided but you cook it. This property is quite remote and you may well see no-one after you are dropped off until early morning on your day of departure. The purpose built 2 bedroom cottage relies on old-fashioned Falklands' values where clients are expected to leave the property ready for the next visitors. There are emergency radios at the Rookery in case you need to contact your hosts at The Settlement.

The albatross colony and a Rockhopper penguin colony are set on the northern cliffs, which are known locally as the Rookery. Fresh water running down the cliffs provides a natural shower for Rockhoppers, which they much enjoy. Just a short walk away is a white sandy beach where you can watch Gentoo and Magellanic penguins leaving and returning to their colonies - even more impressive at sunrise or sunset. More photo opportunities!

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.