Saturday: Mount Pleasant - Darwin House
On arrival at Mount Pleasant Airport, you will be transferred to Darwin House, where you will spend your first night on the Falkland Islands. Darwin House offers comfortable surroundings and excellent cuisine using local produce. Prettily located at the northern end of the Darwin harbor and with excellent views of Mount Usborne, it was named after Charles Darwin, the British naturalist and father of evolutionary theory who once camped there. In the 19th century it was the principal centre of farming activity in the Islands and still retains traces of those times.(D)

Sunday to Tuesday: Pebble Island
After a hearty breakfast at Darwin House, transfer to Goose Green, just 10 minutes away, one of several grass landing strips on the Islands. Board one of the Falkland Islands small aircrafts for a short (25 minute) flight to Pebble Island a 24 miles / 38 km long Island, the fourth largest island in the Falklands. Its diverse terrain offers vast white sandy beaches, moor lands and rocky peaks, an extensive area of ponds and wetlands, and dramatic coastal cliffs. All of these provide vital breeding habitats for numerous birds. Thousands of Gentoo, Rockhopper and Magellan penguins breed on Pebble Island each summer. Each year the island seems to act as a magnet for many rare avian visitors from mainland South America and beyond. Marine mammal enthusiasts can observe congregations of Southern sea lions at their haul out rocks. The lodge originally served as the farm manager's house on the estate. Now the managers welcome visitors from around the world to the traditional Falkland farm house. From here, you can explore the island and experience a Falkland farm working with some 10,000 sheep while enjoying the highest standards of hospitality and customer service on the lodge. Overnight stay at Pebble Island.( B,L,D)

Tuesday to Thursday: Sea Lion Island
After a short flight with the Falkland Island Air Service you will arrive at Sea Lion Island. Welcome and transfer by Land Rover to the nearby lodge. After lunch an orientation drive is scheduled to observe the premier wildlife destination of the Falklands. The Island is home to 49 species of visiting or nesting birds, at times up to 5 species of penguins. The beaches host the major Elephant Seal breeding population of the Falklands: South American Sea Lions bread beneath the cliffs. Here Leopard Seals and Fur Seals can also occasionally be observed. A pod of Orcas patrol the beaches during the Elephant Seal breeding season September - November. It is easy to explore the island, which is 5 miles / 8 km long and just over a mile at its widest point. Beautiful tussac plantations cover one fifth of the island and provide a perfect habitat and protection for much of the islands' varied fauna. You will visit the major places to spot wildlife and have an interesting briefing on the wildlife and island's history. Return to the Sea Lion Lodge, built in 1986, where all rooms have en suite bathrooms and excellent food and wine are served in attractive surroundings. On Sea Lion Island many small birds including the endemic cobbs wren can be observed. After an exciting day exploring feel free to relax in the lounge bar which provides reference books, magazines and some favorite board games. Overnight stay at Sea Lion Lodge. (B, L, D)

Thursday: Port Stanley
After breakfast you will fly back to Port Stanley. Upon arrival a transfer will take you to the Guest house. The afternoon is at leisure. Stanley has several attractions to offer which can be discovered easily on your own. The capital of the Falkland Islands is a bright picturesque town overlooking the harbor. With approx. 1.600 residents, it offers all the facilities you find in a small English town - post office, bank, some small shops, swimming pool and well equipped leisure centre, pubs and guest houses. There is an excellent museum dedicated to the heritage of the islands and a self-guided maritime history trail. Stanley harbor is probably the largest graveyard of 19th century shipping in the world and the trail signposts explain the rich maritime history of this once busy harbor. Overnight stay at the Malvina House. (B)

Friday: Full day excursion to Volunteer Point
After breakfast you will start a full day Land Rover excursion to Volunteers Point; one of the very few places to spot King Penguin colonies outside the Antarctic. You will enjoy this amazing wildlife experience. Overnight stay at Darwin House. (B,BL)

Saturday: Departure In due time transfer in regular coach to Mount Pleasant International Airport for LAN Chile flight to Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt or Santiago (B).

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