The Falkland Islands

Days 1 & 2.Depart London

Depart RAF Brize Norton for the overnight flight to Mount Pleasant where you arrive early afternoon and spend the night at the Darwin House in Stanley.

Days 3 to 5. Carcass Island [B, L, D]

Today you fly to Carcass Island, on a Falkland Island Government Air Service (FIGAS) flight in a 9-seater aircraft (your mode of transport between all islands).

Your accommodation here will be at a small settlement, run by the owners who have lived on the island for nearly 30 years. Within walking distance of the settlement you will find Magellanic Penguins and Striated Caracaras, to the north Elephant Seals, and to the south a colony of Gentoo Penguins. During your stay you take a boat excursion to West Point Island.

West Point Island, formerly known as Albatross Island, lies to the north-west of the Falkland Island group, and is well worth a visit to see the dramatic Devil's Nose and Cliff Mountain together with Black-browed Albatross, Rockhopper, and Magellanic Penguins, Striated Caracara and Turkey Vultures.

Devil's Nose is a rocky outcrop which juts out into the sea in a spectacular fashion from steep cliffs, which are home to over 2,000 breeding pairs of Black-browed Albatross. With 500 pairs of Rockhopper Penguins also in the area, it makes for one of the most amazing sights in the Falkland Islands.

Days 6 to 8. Pebble Island [B, L, D]

Today you fly on to Pebble Island, which is 38 kilometres long and is one of the largest islands in the West Falkland's group. It has white sand beaches, ponds and wetlands, tussock plantations, moorlands and rocky cliffs which offer shelter and protection to sealions and thousands of penguins, and is in fact the only place in the Falkland Islands where all six species of penguin known to visit the islands have been seen: Magellanic, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Macaroni, King, and Erect-crested.

Pebble Island Hotel, where you will be based, used to be the Farm Manager's house, but now caters for visitors offering six twin rooms, each with en-suite facilities. It is situated in the middle of the farm settlement and although now ideally adapted to the needs of guests, it retains the warm and friendly atmosphere of a large farm house.

Days 9 to 11. Sea Lion Island [B, L, D]

Sea Lion Island, your next port of call, is the most southerly inhabited island in the Falklands group. It is only eight kilometres long and just over a kilometre and a half at its widest point. You will be given a guided tour of the best wildlife sites when you arrive and the remainder of your stay is free for exploration and photography. Beautiful plantations of tussock grass cover much of the island and provide a perfect habitat for Elephant Seals and sealions. Many different species of birds reside here including five species of penguin and five species of raptor. Pods of Orcas can be seen offshore as can Leopard Seals.

You spend three nights at Sea Lion Lodge, which is the only purpose-built tourist lodge in the Falkland's archipelago. It consists of six twin rooms and one double room, each with en-suite facilities. It offers modern accommodation with a degree of amenity one might not expect in one of the world's most remote locations.

Days 12 & 13. Stanley [B]

Return to Stanley for your final two nights at the Malvinas Hotel, but take a full day trip to Volunteer Point on your last day to see the huge colony of King Penguins.

You may prefer to visit Cape Dolphin (approximately three hours drive away), an area of great scenic beauty and home to more than 100 sealions from December onwards. There are also many Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins here, and it is also a good area from which to view Black-browed Albatross.

Day 14. Homeward [B]

Depart for the airport and your homeward flight.

Day 15. Arrive home