THE LAST DESERT (ANTARCTICA)
ANTARCTICA'S ONLY MULTI-STAGE FOOTRACE

• Ushuaia, Argentina
• Ushuaia Airport (USH)

• Hotel accommodation in Ushuaia is not provided but recommendations will be given

• The Last Desert begins on 26 November 2024 and lasts for 11 days and 10 nights.

NOTE 1: The dates provided are the dates the expedition ship leaves from Ushuaia and arrives back in Ushuaia.

NOTE 2: We recommend that you arrive in Ushuaia one day before the departure of the expedition ship.

NOTE 3: You will be able to fly out from Ushuaia the same day the expedition ship arrives back in Ushuaia – but in the the afternoon.

• A pre-race competitor briefing takes place at 12 noon on the day of departure in the town of Ushuaia.
• In the afternoon, participants will board the expedition ship, meet the expedition ship crew and go through a safety briefing.
• After settling into the ship’s cabins (twin sharing), we will sail through the famous Beagle Channel and scenic Mackinlay Pass.

Named after the renowned explorer Sir Francis Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake Passage also marks the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern waters. This creates a great upwelling of nutrients which sustains the biodiversity of this region. As a result, the Drake Passage also marks the northern limit of many Antarctic seabirds. As we sail across the passage, expedition lecturers will be available to help in the identification of an amazing variety of seabirds, including wandering albatrosses, grey headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels and Antarctic petrels which follow in our wake. A full program of lectures will be offered. In the past, we have been treated to many sightings of whales and other sea life. The first views of icebergs and snow-capped mountains will indicate that we have reached the South Shetland Islands, a group of twenty islands and islets first sighted in February 1819 by Captain William Smith of the Brig Williams.

We will land, weather permitting, on several locations in and around the Antarctic Peninsula and Mainland and embark on what will be the final journey of the 4 Deserts for many competitors. The Antarctic Peninsula's remarkable history will provide a type of excitement often only associated with the early explorers. You will have time to explore the amazing scenery, a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains and waterways, and an incredibly wide variety of wildlife. Apart from penguins and seabirds you are very likely to see Weddell, Crabeater and Leopard seals as well as Minke, Killer (Orca) and Humpback whales at close range.

Locations where we may land include:

• King George Island which is home to many research bases as well as the natural inhabitants racers will get to meet and be cheered on by some of the few human residents of Antarctica.
• Other parts of the South Shetland Islands which are a haven for wildlife. Vast penguin rookeries, beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals make every day spent in this amazing island group unforgettable.
• Jougla Point forms the west side of the entrance to Alice Creek in Port Lockroy. It lies on the west side of Wiencke Island, in the Palmer Archipelago.
• Deception Island which is reached by sailing through the narrow passage into the flooded caldera of the horseshoe-shaped island. Seeing the hot springs of Pendulum Cove is truly amazing.
• Petermann Island (if ice conditions permit) for a visit to the southernmost colony of Gentoo Penguins and a stage of the race.
• Paradise Bay is perhaps the most aptly named place in the world. There are a few landing options in Paradise Bay including Stony Point – all are on the mainland of Antarctica. They require the ship to navigate the iceberg-strewn waters of the Antarctic Sound. Bustling Adélie Penguin (over 100,000 pairs breed here) and Blue-eyed Cormorant colonies on Paulet Island close-by. The Nordenskjöld expedition built a stone survival hut here in 1903. Today its ruins have been taken over by nesting penguins.

Other landing sites could include Melchior Island, Aitcho Island, Dorian Bay, Danco Island, Cuverville Island, Portal Point, Neko Harbour, Lamaire, Port Charcot, Booth, Pléneau Island, Hoovgard Island, Waddington Bay and others.

Depending on the ice conditions, we will also navigate some beautiful waterways like the Gerlache Strait, Neumayer Channel and Lemaire Channel. The latter channel involves narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers.

We will leave Antarctica, having completed The Last Desert 2024, and head north across the Drake Passage.

You may join lecturers and naturalists on deck as they search for seabirds and whales and enjoy some final lectures indoors. You can take the chance to relax and reflect on the truly remarkable 4 Deserts expedition of the past week and the past year(s) on the way back to Ushuaia.

During the return trip, we will hold the traditional Awards Banquet on the expedition ship. Amongst awards presented at the banquet include:

• Unique trophies for the male and female 4 Deserts Champions for 2024
• Pewter plates to The Last Desert Champions
• Special medals to new members of the 4 Deserts Club
• Engraved tankards to those who have completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam

We will arrive in Ushuaia in the early morning and disembark the ship after breakfast.

NOTE 1: The above itinerary is a guide only. Our exact route and program will vary to take best advantage of local weather and ice conditions. Changes will be made by the Captain, Expedition Leader and the RacingThePlanet staff to facilitate the best results from the prevailing conditions.

NOTE 2: A daily race briefing will be given on board. Flexibility is the key to success.

NOTE 3: We highly advise you to purchase a flexible plane ticket and to arrive well in advance in case of any problems with your flights.

NOTE 4: Although not likely, the itinerary is subject to change and RacingThePlanet will not be held responsible for any fees incurred due to airline ticket changes, re-bookings, etc.