Highlights of the Falkland Islands Holiday

Today you will depart the UK on an international flight to Santiago, Chile, where you'll stay for an overnight.

Your flight will arrive at Mount Pleasant International Airport or direct from the UK, if arriving with the Royal Air Force from Brize Norton. You will be transferred to your hotel in Stanley where the rest of your time if free to explore the town.

You will spend the day with a guide who will drive you around Goose Green and San Carlos settlements. You will get an amazing insight of the island conflicts, and beautiful scenery along the way. 

You will travel by plane to Saunders Island where you will be transferred to your accommodation. Saunders Island was where the British first settled in 1765 and while here you can immerse yourself and meet the locals at your own pace. The island offers diverse wildlife, you will find four different types of penguin (Gentoo, rockhoppers, Magellanic and king penguin), as well as elephant seals, colonies of albatross, and even whales blowing out at sea. 

You will take an internal flight to Carcass Island, named after HMS Carcass which visited in the late 18th century, with a young Horatio Nelson onboard. No predators have been introduced to the islands and so the wildlife here can be found in abundance. A gentoo penguin colony can be found a short walk from the settlement, and you may also see striated caracara, king cormorants and the endemic Cobb’s wren. To the north of the island, visit Leopard Beach to see Magellanic and gentoo penguins, elsewhere on the island you may spot elephant seals, long-tailed meadowlarks, black-chinned siskins, night herons or king cormorants. Carcass Island is a haven for birdwatchers.

The next destination will be Sea Lion Island where you guessed it, you’ll find lots of sea lions and elephant seals along the white sand beaches, which in turn bring in pods of orca to prey. On arrival, you have an introductory transfer from the airport to your hotel so you can familiarise yourself with the island’s layout and wildlife locations. Your time is then free to explore on your own.

You will travel via a domestic plane to Bleaker Island – the island is relatively flat so offers easy walking to the magnificent beaches, ponds and sheltered coves. It is also a fascinating place for wildlife. You will observe the Gentoo, Magellanic and rockhopper penguins, as well as king cormorant, white-tufted grebe, black-necked swans and much more.

A plane will bring you to Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. You will have the day for yourself to explore the colourful city where the majority of Falkland Islanders live. War memorials and monuments stand testament to the soldiers who fought to keep the Falklands British. There is plenty to do in Stanley and its size makes it easy to explore it by foot. Some highlights include the Historic Dockyard Museum, the Anglican cathedral and the iconic whalebone arch. 

Today the guide will drive to Volunteer Point. You will arrive on the beach where you will have the opportunity to see the largest colony of king penguins. Other locations and battle sites are available, should you wish to discover and visit them. 

Transfer by plane from the Falkland Islands back to Santiago and enjoy a final night in the Chilean capital.

On day 18, transfer to the airport for your onward flight to the UK, arriving back on day 19.