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Falklands Holidays & Flights Packages: Penguins + Carcass & Sea Lion Islands + Stanley

Best of the Falkland Islands

14 NIGHTS FROM:

$6,074

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

ARS15M

• Falklands Holidays & Flights Packages

• Port Stanley

• Carcass Island

• Penguins

• Albatross

• Pebble Island

• Sea Lion Islands

• Elephant Seals

• Bleaker Island

• Volunteer Point

Flights depart weekly, so if you would like to spend two weeks exploring these extraordinary islands, our tailor made Falklands holidays & flight packages allow you to see all five penguin species found here - i.e. Macaroni, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Magellanic and King penguins. Also view amazing bird & marine life on Carcass and Sea Lion Islands, Pebble & Bleaker Islands & Port Stanley. All transfers & light aircraft flights included.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falkland Islands and transferred 45-minutes to the small capital of Stanley.

Situated on the Patagonian Shelf in the southern Atlantic Ocean, this archipelago consists of 778 islands and islets, with the two largest being West Falkland and East Falkland. At about 4,700 square miles (12,000 square km), the Falkland Islands (or the 'Malvinas' as they are known by Argentina) are only a little larger than Gibraltar.

They provide a haven for many different species of seabird and you’ll share these remote beaches with elephant seals, penguins, southern sea lions and a huge array of marine birds, including the blackish cinclodes and striated caracara. Check in to your accommodation and enjoy the rugged beauty of this far-flung British Overseas Territory close to Antarctica, where flora and fauna survive at the extremes of nature.

Note: Accommodation is very limited in the Falklands, especially during their summer months, so islands will be substituted according to availability. Will do our best to secure at least one island in the southeast and one island in the northwest, to give you a variety of habitats.

Day 2

This morning transfer to Mount Pleasant airport for your light aircraft flight to Carcass Island, situated in the northwest Falklands.

The tiny settlement is nestled in a sheltered harbour, with wonderful views of the sea and the soft chalky-white outcrops of the Needles. It is one of the most picturesque outer-lying islands and the settlement's garden has an almost tropical feel with its Monterey cypress trees, palms and flax, as well as a colourful array of flowers.

Carcass Island has been a sheep farm for more than a century and is rich in wildlife with songbirds, waterfowl, penguins and elephant seals. Sea lions and dolphins are often seen and fur seals can occasionally be found in the tall tussac grass. The birds are amazingly tame here and include the southern caracara, the endemic Cobb’s wren, long-tailed meadowlark and the tussac bird. Magellanic penguins burrows are found close the settlement and gentoo penguins are found further afield.

Note: As you will be flying in a light aircraft you should pack in soft sports bags, as rigid suitcases are difficult to get into the aircraft. The luggage allowance is 20 kg (which includes your hand luggage) and is strictly enforced for safety reasons.

Day 3

Today take the boat to West Point Island, which is rich in wildlife and has a beautiful coastline and scenic harbour settlement.

The boat trip to West Point takes approximately 1-hour and you may see dolphins and birds swooping to feed during the trip. Once on West Point we suggest you explore the settlement and its gardens, before making your way to view the 2,000 pairs of black-browed albatross found here, as well as the 500 pairs of breeding rockhopper penguins.

Day 4

Enjoy another day exploring Carcass Island.

Named after a ship, HMS Carcass, the island has many rocky ridges and steep hills to tempt walkers, as well as more gentle slopes and stunning beaches. Choose from a quick but strenuous hike up nearby Stanley Hill or a longer walk to Leopard Beach. Mount Byng is the highest point at 700 ft (213 m) with fantastic views. If you continue to Elephant Flats, you will find the elephant seals.

Day 5

This morning transfer to Carcass Island airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Pebble Island, named after the semi-precious stones that are found here.

One of the larger outlying islands in the northwest, Pebble Island offers diverse habitats ranging from large ponds to vast sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. It offers shelter to a wide variety of marine birds and mammals, including thousands of gentoo, rockhopper and Magellanic penguins that breed here in each summer, along with southern sea lions.

Day 6

Pebble Island is nearly 20 miles (30 km) long, making it the third largest offshore island - so you need to be driven around it to see the main sights. It has the longest sandy beach in the Falklands.

Your guided tour today can be tailored to your interests and offers ample opportunity to view the abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery further afield. You can see four of the five species of penguins found in the Falklands on this island, including the crested Macaroni penguin and many thousands of gentoo, rockhopper and Magellanic penguins that breed here in October and November.

The ponds on the east of the island, many within walking distance of your accommodation, are home to Chiloe wigeon, silvery grebes, black-necked swans and a multitude of other waterfowl and wading birds.

Pebble Island also has something for the historian, as it played an important role in the Falklands War. You can see several war monuments and wreckages on this island.

Day 7

This morning transfer to Pebble Island airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Sea Lion Island, one of the smallest and most southerly inhabited islands in the Falklands.

Designated a RAMSAR birding site of international significance, this island is a nature reserve that is free of introduced predators such as cats and rats, and is home to the largest breeding colony of southern elephant seals in the world.

Days 8 To 9

Today is free for you to independently enjoy the wildlife of Sea Lion Island, with its enormous colony of southern elephant seals that number almost two thousand at the height of the breeding season in October, as well as southern sea lions and gentoo penguins found on its white sandy beaches.

Beautiful tussac plantations cover one fifth of the island and are alive with Falkland thrushes, black-throated finches, tussac birds and Magellanic penguins. Enjoy the solitude of this remote island that has no steep hills to climb but does have high, rocky cliffs and spectacular wildlife. On lower lying land, magnificent white sandy beaches and large areas of tall tussac grass create alternative habitats and sheltered areas.

There are 47 different species of breeding birds to be viewed on this island, including three species of breeding penguins, five birds of prey species and the endangered striated caracara. In November and early December, pods of orca (killer whales) can be seen close to shore, attracted by the many seals and penguins that breed here.

Day 10

This morning transfer to Sea Lion Island airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Bleaker Island.

The highlight of this island is its Rockhopper penguin colony of some 750 pairs, situated only a short walk from your cottage. On arrival enjoy an orientation tour of the island.

Days 11 To 12

This morning enjoy a guided tour of Bleaker Island, with its wonderful birds and marine life.

This island offers a large amount of wildlife in a very compact area, with the sites of most interest conveniently located close to the settlement. The highlight of the island is the Rockhopper penguin colony of some 750 pairs, situated only a short walk from your accommodation. Further south a Gentoo penguin colony and scattering of Magellanic penguins can be found.

Long Gulch is fringed with tussac grass which attracts many smaller birds such as Grass and Cobb’s wrens. Around 9,000 pairs of King cormorants form the main seabird colonies found along the cliff tops. These tussac areas also offer regular sightings of Black-chinned siskins, Dark-faced ground-tyrants, Falkland pipits and thrushes, Black-throated finches and Long-tailed meadowlarks.

Peales & Commersons dolphins can be found along the shoreline, as well as large numbers of Southern sea lions.

Day 13

This morning transfer to Bleaker Island airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Stanley.

On arrival you can explore on foot this small port with its red phone boxes, fish & chip shops and harbour.

Day 14

Today enjoy a full day private tour, driving 2-hours each way in a 4x4 vehicle to Volunteer Point, which has the northernmost colonies of king penguins in the world, as well as gentoo and Magellanic penguins. A variety of waders, geese and gulls are also found here. With its 1.2 mile (2 km) white sandy beach and turquoise waters, this are has a Caribbean feel - but its penguins will remind you that you are in the Falklands.

There is a host of other wildlife to be seen here, as the beach is bordered by high grassy banks that lead down to rolling greens and lagoons. Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you traverse the north of East Falkland island and superb photographic opportunities, as you watch the penguins entering and leaving the ocean.

Afterwards explore on foot the port of Stanley, with its red phone boxes, fish & chip shops and harbour.

Note: The last part of the drive is over a very bumpy road. A packed lunch is included today.

Day 15

Transfer 45-minutes by bus to Mount Pleasant Airport for your flight home.

Note: You will need to pay an embarkation fee of £26 when you fly out of Stanley.

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