WILD NATURE PHOTO TRAVEL

Welcome & Meet in Stanley: Welcome to the Falkland Islands! One of our travel experts will be waiting for you upon arrival, and you will be taken to the Waterfront Boutique Hotel, located just 50 m from the jetty. Your luggage will be delivered to the hotel shortly after your arrival.

2nd - 3rd October: Waterfront Boutique Hotel, Port Stanley (2 Nights)

On arrival on the 2nd of October, you will check into the accommodation and have the rest of the afternoon to explore the town of Port Stanley.

Stanley (also known as Port Stanley) is the capital city of the Falkland Islands. It is located on the island of East Falkland, on a north-facing slope. The population is 3662 (2021 Census). Almost 70% of the population identifies as Falkland Islanders, British, or a combination of both. There was an incredible 86 different nationalities counted in this census, with people from 68 different countries having chosen to make the Falkland Islands their home; almost half of those not born in the Islands are from the UK, followed by St. Helena (19%), the Philippines (9%) and Chile (9%) and Zimbabwe (3%).

Stanley is the main shopping centre on the islands and the hub of East Falkland's road network. Attractions include the Falkland Islands Museum, Government House - built in 1845 and home to the Governor of the Falkland Islands - and a golf course, as well as a whale-bone arch, a totem pole, several war memorials and the shipwrecks in its harbour. The capital city has several shops, pubs, hotels, restaurants and the main tourist office. There are three churches, including the Anglican Christ Church Cathedral, the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world, and the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Church.

On the 3rd of October, you will travel to the nearby Murrell farm for the first photography experience before we return to the hotel for dinner.

4th October- 8th October: Sea Lion Island (4 Nights)

On the 4th of October, you will depart the mainland for Sea Lion Island via Island Hopper plane.

Stanley Airport is located just a 10-minute drive from the capital and is home to FIGAS (the Falkland Islands Government Air Service) which operates the inter-island/domestic flights with a fleet of Britten-Norman Islander aircraft. This is almost like a pre-booked taxi service. Each afternoon FIGAS will draw up the schedule for the following day taking into account all the bookings received for the next day and the limitations of the various grass airstrips. So travellers will not know their check-in time or routing until the afternoon prior to each flight. First flights generally have an 0800 hrs check-in and depart Stanley about 0830 hrs, but there may be five or six flights on a busy day with some not taking off until the afternoon. The flights including passengers names are read out on the local radio each evening! Air travel with these very skilled pilots is an integral part of Falklands travel, generally providing exceptional views of the Islands, and an opportunity to maybe see areas you do not have time to visit as you may land at other strips on the way to your destination.

As these planes land on grass airstrips of varying lengths, weight distribution of passengers, as well as baggage/cargo and fuel, is key. So all passengers also have to submit their personal weight when making a booking, and this will be verified at check-in. Please rest assured that the information is confidential to the check-in agent and the pilot, but is a necessary part of travelling to remote locations.

The luggage allowance on the FIGAS flights is 20 kgs per person which includes your hand luggage. There is only room for whatever you are prepared to carry on your lap or by your feet – such as a handbag or small camera bag; everything else will go in the cargo hold. Excess luggage is charged at £10.00 per kilo per flight sector, with payment due on check-in. It is also vital that you advise in advance if you expect to have excess luggage so that it can be factored into the flight schedule. Participants can gear from South Georgia that is not needed in the Falklands can be safely left in the secure storage area of the Waterfront Hotel. Note: laundry service available upon request, with a possible extra fee from the lodge.

Sea Lion Island: Sea Lion Island offers you a wonderful, rich and high-quality wildlife and wilderness experience all within an easily explorable 10 sq kilometres/3.5 sq miles, and a purpose-built Lodge in which to relax and still enjoy the wildlife and Southern Ocean views.

Located 16 km/10 miles south of mainland East Falkland, just 8 km/5 miles long and just over 1.5 km/1 mile at its widest point, the island is a relatively flat plateau but with spectacular cliffs at the western end. Its high-quality native habitats, lack of rodents and other introduced predators, careful management as a National Nature Reserve, Important Bird Area and Ramsar site, make it a perfect breeding ground for a diverse range of wildlife.

Three breeding species of penguin (Gentoo, Southern Rockhopper and Magellanic), the endemic Cobb’s Wren, Southern Giant Petrels, Striated Caracara, and a host of other waders and passerines can be found on the beaches and grasslands. The ponds provide an ideal home, and sheltered viewing spots, for a myriad of waterfowl such as Chiloe Wigeon, Silver and Speckled Teal, Silvery and Western Grebe and herons.

However, it is perhaps the Southern Elephant Seals on several of the beaches that attract the most attention. Sea Lion Island is home to the largest population in the Falklands. Large males arrive in mid-September to establish and defend their territories; weighing up to 3.5 tonnes and 14 ft in length, territorial fighting between two bulls is a truly formidable sight. The females begin to arrive soon after and by mid-October the 500 females are in the peak of pupping, and the patient observer can be rewarded by watching a full birth. Young pups are weaned in as little as three weeks, although they remain on the beaches for several months before taking to the sea. Elephant Seals can be observed throughout the summer on Sea Lion Island.

In turn the Elephant Seals and Southern Sea Lions attract Killer Whales/Orcas which patrol the island predominately hunting the young pups as they learn to swim, but also catching some unsuspecting adult seals throughout the summer. A small number of orcas have learnt to navigate a narrow channel into the rock pool that act as playpen for the young elephant seal pups – a hunting behaviour that has featured in many internationally acclaimed nature documentaries. With some patience and perhaps the odd early morning start you will be lucky enough to catch this behaviour on camera yourself.

Accommodation: Sea Lion Lodge offers full board accommodation in 11 ensuite bedrooms, and public areas that allow you to still enjoy the wildlife from the comfort of a sofa. Single Rooms are available at this location.

A well-stocked bar and large lounge, ideal for relaxing in after a day of exploring, offer views of the South Atlantic – the next stop is Antarctica, which lies about 1200 km/750 miles away.

On the 8th of October, you will check out of the hotel after an early breakfast and make your way to the small airfield to head for Saunders Island by Island Hopper plane.

8th October - 12th October: Saunders Island (4 Nights)

Saunders Island: Located in the north east of the Falklands archipelago, Saunders Island is one of the largest inhabited outer islands at circa 132 sq kilometres / 51 sq miles, and a 107 kilometre/66 mile coastline. The highest point is Mount Richards at 457 m/1499 feet, but a climb up the hill just behind the settlement will give you a magnificent view of the island and across the north of West Falkland on a clear day.

The Black-browed Albatross colony stretches along the north coast from The Neck and is interspersed with 3 Gentoo Penguin locations.

Accommodation: At The Neck, you will be staying at the cabin with 2 rooms with 2 bunk beds each and one shared bathroom. The cabin offers fabulous views out to the ocean and easy walking to the albatross colonies and the famous rockhopper shower location at the bottom of a nearby cliff. Please note that there is no single room accommodation available at the Neck and no laundry service.

Accommodations at The Neck offers a fully functional kitchen. Trip costs include gourmet meals prepared at the Waterfront for easy reheating as well as beverages for group meals with meal times decided upon by participants based on photographic activity.

On the 12th of October, you will depart from the small airfield for Bleaker Island.

12th October - 13th October: Bleaker Island (2 Nights)

Situated in the southeast of the Falklands archipelago, Bleaker Island is a small working organic sheep and cattle farm that also offers full board accommodation for visitors in two modern eco-friendly cottages in the picturesque, centrally located settlement from which to enjoy the rich diversity of wildlife, beaches, cliffs, and easy walking.

At 20 km/12.5 miles long and just 3 km /2 miles at its widest point, it is not surprising it was originally called Long Island. Its very extensive coastline attracts a multitude of wildlife such as an impressive colony of Imperial Cormorants, three types of breeding penguins (Gentoo, Rockhopper and Magellanic), and Southern Sea Lions, while the inland ponds are home to an array of waterfowl.

You’ll also easily spot the endemic Cobb’s Wren, Grass Wrens and the entertaining Tussac bird.

The island is very flat (the highest point being Semaphore Hill at 27 m/89 feet) so the island is very easy to explore for anyone who enjoys a bit of walking. Various obvious routes exist to take you to the heart of the wildlife, with a firm favourite being to the 1.6 km/ 1mile long Sandy Bay – a fabulous place to sit with your picnic and watch the penguins surfing the waves and coming ashore.

For shorter explorations, a look around the beautifully maintained settlement is recommended … make sure to see the whale skeleton near the cowshed.

The island hosts a massive imperial cormorant colony, three types of breeding penguins, wildfowl, and sea lions haul out on the rocks and offshore tussock islands. The wildlife is conveniently located close to the settlement, where two houses accommodate visitors.

We will have a 4WD vehicle here and be spending late afternoon time on Sandy Beach for photography of rafting gentoo penguins coming into shore.

Accommodation: Eco-friendly Cassard House provides excellent full board accommodation in 4 spacious bedrooms. A large lounge with adjoining dining area and bar, link through to a light and airy sun lounge offering fabulous views across the settlement and out to sea. An ideal place to enjoy some down time after a day out in the fresh air! Please note that single rooms are not available at this location.

Nearby smaller Cobb’s Cottage has two bedrooms, a cosy lounge, and equally attractive sun room to enjoy the views and wildlife even from inside. Excellent meals are served at the eco-friendly Cassard House family style.

14th October - 15th October: Waterfront Boutique Hotel, Port Stanley (2 Nights)

On the 14th of October, you will transfer via Island Hopper plane back to Port Stanley and the Waterfront Boutique Hotel for two nights.

On the 8th of October, uoi will travel to nearby Volunteer Point for sunrise with the King Penguins.

A beautiful white sand beach with rolling greens behind it provide a spectacular backdrop for the largest King Penguin colony in the Falkland Islands … a place where photographers can get outstanding shots of a wide diversity of species.

Around 2000 pairs of adult Kings, rearing around 900 chicks each year, 1450 pairs of gentoo penguins and around 2000 pairs of Magellanic live at Volunteer Point – a large peninsula north of Stanley. The stunning 2 mile long white sandy beach with its rolling waves and clear waters resembles somewhere almost Caribbeanesque on a fine day, and although generally it will just be you and the penguins, you may have to share it on occasion with the odd basking sea lion.

Other wildlife found at Volunteer Point include over 40 species of birds including Geese (Upland, Kelp and Ruddy Headed), South American tern, Oystercatchers (Magellanic and Blackish), Gulls (Dolphin and Kelp), Rock cormorants and Falklands skua (Sea Hen) as well as peregrine falcons, variable hawks and many more come to visit for the lucky photographer. And if you are really lucky, you may even get to see whales (predominantly Sei) blowing offshore.

On the 16th of October, we will conclude our workshop with transfers.

Weather in the Falkland Islands: The weather in the Falklands Islands at this time of year is temperate to cold and highly variable.

Flights to the Falkland Islands: The international airport is at Mount Pleasant (MPN), which is also home to the tri-service military base in the Falkland Islands. So whilst it offers basic services, it is the gateway to the Falklands itinerary if you arrive by air.

Many visitors choose to arrive via Chile, which surprisingly lies only 1.5 hrs away if you are travelling to/from Punta Arenas, Chile – the gateway to Torres del Paine and Patagonia!

LATAM operates round-trip weekly flights (Saturdays) from Santiago de Chile (SCL). These flights can also be boarded and disembarked in Punta Arenas (PUQ). On the second Saturday of each month the flight also stops in Rio Gallegos (RGL), Argentina on the way to the Falkland Islands. The flight returns via Rio Gallegos on the third Saturday of each month.

The timings are different depending on the week, but very generally it departs Santiago very early morning, and arrives in the Falkland Islands early/mid-afternoon. The return flight departs the Falklands mid-afternoon and arrives in Santiago late evening.