Falklands Experience

Most travellers to the Falklands visit for only a day or two as part of an expedition cruise towards Antarctica. While this method allows for a great introduction to the islands, a longer, land-based stay offers a far more personal experience. One that gives you time to fully connect with the extraordinary wildlife without being rushed back onboard and without the distraction of other passengers accidentally wandering into your photos. This seven-night island hop stays on two of the archipelago’s most extraordinary islands, in small, homely isolated, lodges run by the only permanent inhabitants. You are in the thick of the action amongst penguins, sea lions, elephant seals and seabirds, with often only a handful of other humans for company. The trip ends with a visit to Stanley, the quaint capital with a distinctly British feel, and a day trip to Volunteer Point – home to the second largest “accessible” colony of king penguins on Earth.

The vast majority of visitors arrive by plane from Punta Arenas in southern Chile, making this the perfect addition to a longer trip that includes Patagonia, the Lake District, the wine region, the Atacama Desert or even Easter Island, but the Falklands are also served by twice weekly flights from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Although these are officially military airlifts (with a refuelling stop in Cape Verde), civilian passengers can book seats when available, though departures are more susceptible to change than traditional passenger aircraft. Once in the Falklands, transfers between islands will be on light aircraft, mostly using grass airstrips.