Falkland Islands
Penguins, sea lions, elephant seals and albatross
What a place! We started offering holidays to the Falkland Islands in 1987 - the first tour went in 1988 - and it's been popular with our clients ever since.
The stars of the show are the five species of penguin, each with their own appealing characteristics. The wonderful Black-browed Albatross breeds on some of the islands and there is no better experience than to sit close to a colony watching as pairs show their very real affection for each other.
Bird life isn't just limited to the seabirds. The rare Striated Caracara (known as Johnny Rook) and its more common relative the Crested Caracara are among the birds of prey, along with such specialities as Red-backed Hawk while the Long-tailed Meadowlark (or Military Starling) adds colour and character.
Meanwhile the rocky shores and beaches and the neighbouring thickets of tussock grass are home to Sea Lions and Elephant Seals, while Killer Whales patrol offshore. Flowers and plants add to the interest with many of the islands being thick with the Falklands' equivalent of heather, diddle-dee, the berries of which make superb jam.
Our tour begins in Stanley and visits Volunteer Point, the largest King Penguin colony. We move on to Port Howard, to Sea Lion Island and Pebble Island with a visit to Saunders and, unlike most tour companies, we also stay on the enchanting Carcass Island from where we will take a day trip to West Point with its Black-browed Albatross and Rockhopper Penguin colony, English country garden and famous afternoon teas.
Download 2010 itinerary