The Great Austral Loop
Expedition Cruise Memorii Pick
Ponant Explorations  ·  Le Lyrial

The Great Austral Loop

From Buenos Aires to Buenos Aires  ·  South America & Antarctica  ·  21 nights

Departure 15 Nov 2026
Return 6 Dec 2026
Duration 21 nights
Ports of call 6 ports
Ship Le Lyrial
Journey type Expedition Cruise
From
$25,654
per person
Request a Proposal
Voyage overview

What this voyage is

Sleek and stylish, Le Boréal, Le Soléal, L’Austral and Le Lyrial are wonderful small ships that blend luxury and intimacy with a discreet elegance and tasteful décor.

These chic sisters are amongst the most stylish ships at sea,
with muted natural tones, minimalist interiors and playful splashes
of colour. The accommodation is flexible, with the option to
combine staterooms and create expansive suites, while the
restaurants deliver the sort of outstanding gastronomic experience
that you would expect from a French flag cruise line.

Day By Day

Itinerary

1
15 Nov 2026
Buenos Aires

Fly to Buenos Aires where you will enjoy an overnight hotel stay. The following day join a charter flight to Ushuaia where you will board Le Lyrial and begin your expedition.

Memory Tip: Our tip You can finish off your cold weather shopping here, they have all the best stuff.
2
16 Nov 2026
At Sea
3
17 Nov 2026
Ushuaia

Perched on the ragged southern edge of Argentina, where the snow-capped Andes fall away into the churning sea, Ushuaia has a frontier town feel to it, and serves as the base for expeditions into the icy waters of Antarctica.

4
18 Nov 2026
At Sea
5
19 Nov 2026
Grave Cove
6
19 Nov 2026
Saunders Island

Saunders Island is graced with some of the most dramatic scenery in the Falklands, including the sandy isthmus known as The Neck. The island also supports an incredible bird population, with species including black-browed albatross, black-necked swans and four different types of penguin.

7
20 Nov 2026
At Sea
8
21 Nov 2026
At Sea
9
22 Nov 2026
At Sea
10
23 Nov 2026
South Georgia

Remote and virtually uninhabited, the island of South Georgia is a beautiful and fascinating place. The landscape of jagged, snowy peaks and dramatic fjords is home to an abundance of penguins and seals, as well as ghostly abandoned whaling stations and the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

11
24 Nov 2026
South Georgia
12
25 Nov 2026
South Georgia
13
26 Nov 2026
At Sea
14
27 Nov 2026
At Sea
15
28 Nov 2026
Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica is the world’s last great wilderness, an alien landscape of snow-covered mountains, jagged icebergs and extraordinary wildlife. Visiting at the beginning of the cruise season in October or November means bigger icebergs and pristine snowy landscapes, along with the chance to see breeding elephant seals. There may still be sea ice around the Antarctic Peninsula, and temperatures are cold.

16
29 Nov 2026
Antarctic Peninsula
17
30 Nov 2026
Antarctic Peninsula
18
1 Dec 2026
Antarctic Peninsula
19
2 Dec 2026
At Sea
20
3 Dec 2026
At Sea
21
4 Dec 2026
Ushuaia

Perched on the ragged southern edge of Argentina, where the snow-capped Andes fall away into the churning sea, Ushuaia has a frontier town feel to it, and serves as the base for expeditions into the icy waters of Antarctica.

22
5 Dec 2026
Buenos Aires

Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Enjoy an overnight hotel stay in Buenos Aires before continuing your journey with a flight back to the UK the following day.

Memory Tip: Don't miss What can we say? You can’t miss anything in the town, it’s so small!
What is included

Fare inclusions

Alcohol included
Daytime activities
Meals included
Shore excursions included
WiFi included
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