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 For even the most experienced world traveler, Antarctica represents the one true unexplored wilderness, or the Last Continent you're likely to ever visit. At 5.4 million square miles, Antarctica is twice as large as Australia, and its haunting landscape and sheer enormity makes visitors feel just a little bit insignificant. Add to this the challenge of traveling to this remote land of ice and snow and you have what is an adventure of epic proportions, honestly your once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Most people arrive to Antarctica by cruise ship, and there are only 58 vessels approved worldwide to travel here without harming the environment of this fragile landmass. Because of this, it's no surprise that your journey to Antarctica is one of the world's most costly tours, but it is also the most unique trip you will ever take. Toto Tours is partnering with Abercrombie & Kent, a leader in this destination, to take you to the far southern edge of the world in high style. Our ship – Ponant Le Lyrial – is brand new, with each cabin having a balcony for wonderful views.
Toto has reserved just 10 cabins on this ship, and we anticipate the cruise will fill up fast. Also, this is not a tour you can decide to do at the last minute, with visa and documents to acquire, arrangements to be made, and final payments required a full five months before departure. So don't delay. Antarctica will surpass all your expectations with its wild beauty, untouched environment, and surprising array of wildlife. And you will have bragging rights that only you, among all your family and friends, have visited our planet's Last Continent.
Available Pte-Tour - Wonders of Argentina - New Year's Gay Tour - December 30, 2016 - January 9, 2017
• Start with overnight in Buenos Aires.
• Charter flight to Ushuaia with pre-boarding welcome lunch.
• Cerro Alarken Nature Reserve.
• Beagle Channel.
• Drake Passage.
• Zodiac boat tours for Antarctica landings and view wildlife.
• Cruise for 10 nights aboard a luxury all-balcony expedition ship.
• Discover some of the world's rarest wildlife and terrain.
• Exciting excursions led by the region's most passionate and seasoned guides
• Learn about Antarctica's environment - and efforts to conserve it - on a visit to U.S. Palmer Research Station.
• Gain a deep understanding of the region with enriching lectures by award-winning experts, including leading scientists, authors, historians and professional photographers.
• All-inclusive journey includes polar gear, onboard gratuities, unlimited house drinks and all port charges on the ship.
Day 0 - Wednesday, January 6, 2017
Leave your home city any time today on an international overnight flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina (airport code EZE). Typically, connecting flights will arrive in Buenos Aires sometime the following morning.
Day 1 - Thursday, January 7, 2017
 Arrive this morning in Argentina's capital and transfer to your hotel, where immediate check-in has been arranged. Although reminiscent of a European city, the spirit of Buenos Aires is evident in its diverse local neighborhoods. Experience it firsthand during an afternoon tour of the city that includes the Plaza de Mayo, the Cabildo and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Tonight, meet your fellow adventurers for a welcome cocktail reception. Dinner is on your own. Overnight at the Sofitel Buenos Aires.
Meals: Cocktail Reception
Hotel: Sofitel Buenos Aires Hotel, Buenos Aires, 5*
Day 2 - Friday, January 8, 2017
 Fly to the charming seaside town of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. On arrival, enjoy lunch at the Arakur resort and meet with staff for cruise check-in. Be sure to you have your Passport and Argentina landing card. Following lunch, time and weather permitting, you have the opportunity to take a guided trek in the Cerro Alarken Nature Reserve or simply relax with a cappuccino and enjoy the scenic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. This afternoon, arrive at your ship and settle in for your first night on board. Wander the decks, relax in the lounge and mingle with fellow travelers in anticipation of your voyage. Our ship MV Le Lyrial sets sail this evening as you enjoy dinner on board.
Please Note: Itinerary and daily schedules are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control, such as weather, ice and sea conditions.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MV Le Lyrial
Days 3 - 4 - Saturday, January 9 – Sunday, January 10, 2017
 As you sail southward toward Antarctica, your environmentalists begin their informal series of enlightening discussions on the flora, fauna, and history of the exploration of Antarctica. In the Drake Passage, fast flowing Southern Ocean currents are squeezed between the southerly tip of South America and the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. About 600 miles wide, it is an area in which the climate changes from cool, humid and sub polar to the frozen conditions of Antarctica. This was an important trade route in the 19th and early 20th centuries, although stormy waters and icy conditions often made the journey around Cape Horn a difficult one. While cruising through this historic passage, named in honor of Sir Francis Drake's voyage in the 16th century, you may be able to spot marine mammals and seabirds such as petrels and albatross from the deck. Additionally, a professional staff photographer is on hand to assist you with specific camera questions and lead discussions focusing on specific photo skills throughout your cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MV Le Lyrial
Days 5 - 9 - Monday, January 11 – Friday, January 15, 2017
 Daily programs in Antarctica vary, depending upon weather and ice conditions. The excitement of cruising these remote waters with vistas of icebergs and wildlife in the season of nesting and chick rearing is exceptional. Your Captain and Expedition Leader determine daily stops, based on their long experience in Antarctica. A typical day, in fair weather conditions, may begin with a landing after breakfast to observe penguins on a snowy isle. Afterwards, you return to the ship for lunch.
Depending on the ship's program, after lunch you may again board Zodiacs and glide up onto a sheltered beach to discover basking elephant seals or perhaps explore the remnants of a former Antarctic whaling station. If weather permits, one day you may hike with your naturalist up to an extinct caldera.
 On other days, Zodiac tours may take you searching for remote beaches with chinstrap, gentoo or Adélie penguin colonies. Each day is different in Antarctica and flexibility is the key to your expedition. The final schedule is dependent upon weather and wildlife conditions; however visits may include sites such as Aitcho, Paulet and Vortex Islands in the Antarctic sound, Half Moon Island, Paradise Bay, Cuverville and Petermann Islands and the breathtaking Lemaire Channel, affectionately referred to as "Kodak Alley". You may stop at Petermann Island as well Deception Island, formed from the caldera of a volcano. Conditions permitting, you have a chance to take a plunge in the Antarctic Ocean in the thermally-heated waters found here.
 A visit is planned to the U.S. Palmer Station to deliver highly specialized camera and scientific research equipment donated by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. You have the opportunity to participate in the handover ceremony as staff presents the equipment to the Palmer Station staff. Afterward, meet with the scientists and researchers to learn about the research projects being conducted on climate and wildlife changes through the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Project (LTER) at Palmer Station.
Other possible visits include Enterprise Island and the Almirante Brown Antarctic Base, the Argentine government's research station on the Antarctic Continent. Back on board, gather in the lounge prior to dinner each night for a recap of the day's adventures. After dinner, in the long twilight of Antarctica, you may enjoy time at leisure on deck for photos in the stunning low-light of the White Continent.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MV Le Lyrial
Days 10 - 11 - Saturday, January 16 – Sunday, January 17, 2017
 Bid farewell to wondrous Antarctica and begin your cruise back to Ushuaia at the southernmost tip of Argentina. The ship's return through the Drake Passage is an interlude for recap and reflection, with time to compare notes with your expert lecturers on the wildlife, history and geology of the White Continent. Spend time on board with newfound friends in the comfortable common spaces of Le Lyrial, enjoy quiet relaxation on the private balcony of your cabin or absorb more fascinating lectures by your captivating Expedition Team. While cruising through this historic passage, you may spot various species of whales and seabirds, including the elusive albatross and the giant petrel, an opportunistic predator and scavenger nicknamed the "stinker." The immense albatross is an especially stunning sight to behold. These wandering birds boast a wingspan of 11.5 feet on average and use their powerful wings to glide through the air for hours at a time in search of food.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: MV Le Lyrial
Day 12 - Monday, January 18, 2017
Our ship docks at Ushuaia this morning. Enjoy breakfast, and then say goodbye to your Expedition Team and ship's crew before disembarking. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires, where you connect to your international flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
A sleek silhouette, a welcoming intimate atmosphere, discover aboard this new ship the philosophy that has made our sisterships such a success: the spirit of Yacht Cruises.
Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 122 staterooms and Suites, with balconies, has joined Ponant fleet in April 2015. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the our destinations and the blue light of the Vega star in the Lyra constellation. The result is a subtle variation around a palette of blues, ranging from the luminous delicate grey-blue of the Polar ice to splashes of the vivid turquoise blue found in Mediterranean coves.
A refined ambiance is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat's hull, while the central sculpture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonymous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.
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• Airport transfer to hotel in Buenos aires at the start of the tour;
• 1 night hotel accommodation in Sofitel Buenos Aires Hotel, Buenos Aires with guaranteed early check-in;
• Buenos Aires city tour;
• 10 nights cruise accommodations on MV Le Lyrial in cabin category of choice (based on availability);
• Welcome cocktail party in Buenos Aires;
• Hotel breakfast in Buenos Aires;
• Welcome Lunch in Ushuaia at the Hotel Arakur;
• Ground transfers in Ushuaia;
• Full board services (all meals) aboard MV Le Lyrial;
• Open bar on MV Le Lyrial (excluding premium liquors and champagne);
• Complimentary 24-hour cabin room service available;
• Complimentary stocked mini-bar (re-stocked on request);
• All known port and operating costs;
• Parkas and back packs;
• All excursions and lecture programs in Antarctica;
• Services of scientific expedition team on board MV Le Lyrial;
• Post-cruise logbook;
• Gratuities aboard the MV Le Lyrial including expedition staff and all ship personnel;
• Full travel-tip packet, reading materials, and trip/cruise documentation.
• This is a fully guided and escorted tour.
• International round-trip airfare to Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE);
• Round-trip airfare between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia (approximately $850);
• Any transfers other than the included group transfers at the beginning of the tour;
• Ground transportation for sightseeing on your own (taxis, local guides, etc.);
• Meals and optional activities not specifically listed in the itinerary;
• camera fees; laundry, telephone calls, faxes, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
• Travel Insurance;
• Tips to drivers and guides and other conveyance attendants are not included; tipping guidelines for our group tips will be provided prior to departure.
Sofitel Buenos Aires Hotel, Buenos Aires
 Stay in the heart of Buenos Aires. Set in an impressive building, Sofitel Buenos Aires is a design hotel offering plush accommodation in Retiro, the traditional art district. Facilities include a sauna and an indoor pool.
Fully carpeted, rooms at Sofitel Buenos Aires boast stylish décor. All of them have minibar, air conditioning and work desks. Free Wi-Fi is available.
 Le Sud Restaurant combines French cuisine with local flavours. Cofee and tea from Café Arroyo can be enjoyed in the library lounge, which features a fireplace.
Massage sessions can be requested. Sofitel Buenos Aires is 1 km from Galerías Pacífico Mall, and 1 km from Teatro Colón Opera House. Ezeiza Airport is 35 km away.
Entry Requirements
The Argentine government sets an entry fee equal to the amount Argentine citizens must pay when requesting a Visa to travel to other countries. When entering Argentine Territory, the nationals of the following countries must pay a "reciprocity fee" (Entry Request Fee): AUSTRALIAN - $100 U.S. (multiple entry) / CANADIAN - $75 U.S. (single entry) or $150 U.S. (multiple entry) / AMERICAN - $160 U.S. (good for 10 years). The payment of this "reciprocity fee" IS NOT A VISA since Argentina does not require visa to nationals of the mentioned countries when traveling for tourism or business purposes. Visitors from the US, Canada, and Australia will be required to pay the reciprocity fee online, prior to arrival. On arrival in Argentina, this printed receipt must be presented at Immigration Control. The receipt will be scanned by the Immigration officials, the information will be checked, and the traveler's entry to the country registered.
Immunizations and Health
Argentina requires no vaccinations for entry. We recommend that you contact your physician or nearest travel clinic to obtain appropriate vaccinations and medications for this specific itinerary.
Exit Requirements
Departure taxes are now included in the cost of your airline ticket.
What to Bring
Antarctica's weather and climate is influenced by its position, elevation, the amount of snow and ice covering the surface of the continent and the lack of precipitation. The climate also varies by region and temperatures in the interior are far more extreme than coastal areas and the Antarctic Peninsula. The Peninsula experiences relatively mild temperatures during the austral summer. Between November and February temperatures can go up as high as the mid-50s F, but usually average in the 30s F. You will be outfitted for arctic gear as part of your tour cost.
Money Matters
The currency of Argentina is the Argentine peso (ARS). Coins come in 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavo, and 1 and 2 peso denominations. Banknotes are issued in values of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos. Visitors who prefer to use their own debit cards to withdraw money should look for banks with the signs of Banelco or Link outside. These typically have 24-hour ATMs. In some cases, cash withdrawals will be limited to 1,000 pesos at a time. More can be taken out, but fees are usually incurred with each transaction. As of August 19, 2015, the exchange rate was 9.25 ARS to the U.S. $1.00.
We strongly encourage you purchase Travel Insurance to cover all aspects of your travel in Argentina & Antarctica.
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