If flight schedules allow, we will fly direct from London to Santiago, Chile.

On arrival in Santiago, we transfer to our centrally-located hotel, where we have the afternoon to spend at leisure.

Accommodation: Singular Hotel, 1-night

Early this morning, we transfer back to Santiago Airport for a flight south to Punta Arenas, with an onward connection to Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands.

On arrival, we transfer by road for approximately one hour to the town of Stanley, with the remainder of the afternoon free to explore the capital.

Accommodation: Malvina House Hotel, 1-night

From Stanley, we take a short flight to Bleaker Island, where a wealth of wildlife awaits. Amongst the many highlights are a large colony of imperial shags, rockhoppers, Gentoo and Magellanic penguins, and southern sea lions. We have two full days to explore the island at our own pace, making the most of our time in the field and the morning and evening light.

Accommodation: Bleaker Island Settlement, 3-nights

We next fly to Sea Lion Island where we are likely to encounter our first southern elephant seals, alongside colonies of Magellanic, Gentoo, and rockhopper penguins, southern sea lions, and some of the archipelago’s passerine species such as the endemic Cobb’s wren, tussac bird, dark-faced ground tyrant, and white-bridled finch.

In November, southern elephant seal pups take to the sea for the first time, utilizing the small pools at the water’s edge. It's these pools that certain orca have learned to infiltrate, snatching an unsuspecting pup before retreating to the open sea.

Enormous bull elephant seals, measuring over four and a half meters in length and weighing close to four tonnes, are still present, defending their hareems from other males. If fights break out, it can make for some incredible photographic opportunities.

Accommodation: Sea Lion Lodge, 3-nights

After a short flight north-west across the archipelago, we arrive on Carcass Island for a three-night stay.

In addition to the now familiar Magellanic and gentoo penguins, and southern elephant seals, the interior of the island offers the chance of short-eared owl, long-tailed meadowlark, and black-throated finch.

If weather conditions allow, we take a boat trip to West Point, a small island of approximately 1,500 hectares that provides refuge to a large black-browed albatross colony and smaller numbers of rockhopper penguins. Both species are beautifully photogenic, and with the albatrosses constantly flying past at close quarters, there are plenty of opportunities to practice photographing them in flight.

The waters around the island are also a favourite haunt of both Commerson's and Peale's dolphins, and with luck, we may encounter both species on our journey over.

Accommodation: Carcass Island Homestay, 3-nights

We next fly east to Saunders Island, where we spend much of our time at an area known as The Neck. It is here that we're likely to encounter our first king penguins of the trip alongside gentoo, Magellanic, rockhopper and even the occasional macaroni penguins.

At the rookery, we find a colony of black-browed albatross numbering some 12,000 pairs, as well as imperial shags and striated caracara.

On the shoreline, we're almost certainly likely to encounter bizarre snowy sheathbills, a pigeon-like scavenger, as well as dolphin gulls, Falklands and blackish oystercatchers, endemic Falklands steamer duck and white-rumped sandpiper.

Accommodation: Saunders Island Cottages, 2-nights

Today we must leave Saunders Island and return to Stanley, where we have the remainder of the day to spend at leisure. There is plenty to see and do, and even to photograph in Stanley, or you can simply relax at the hotel.

Accommodation: Malvina House Hotel, 2-nights

Today we leave Stanley early in the morning and drive for approximately three hours to Volunteer Point, which is the site of a large king penguin colony (approximately 1,200 birds). The colony is centred around Volunteer Beach, and this is where we focus our efforts for the day. With a large sandy beach, it's the perfect place to capture iconic images of these beautiful birds as they come ashore and head out to sea.

As well as the king penguins, there is a further chance to photograph both Magellanic and gentoo penguins. This is our last full day on the Falkland Islands, and having a final opportunity to spend time with these magnificent birds should provide us with ample opportunity to experiment with new angles and capture a different range of images.

After breakfast, we transfer to Mount Pleasant airport for our flight to Santiago, via Punta Arenas.

On arrival in Santiago, we collect our bags and walk the short distance to the hotel, which is located just outside the airport entrance

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Airport Hotel, 1-night

The morning is free until we return to the airport for our flight back to the UK.

Arrive back in UK - End Of Tour