antarctica - caméléo · antarctica’s research stations. flora and fauna antarctica is the only...

Cameleo – Antarctica 2020

ANTARCTICA January 5 to 15, 2020

www.cameleo.ca/antarctique1-800-590-5995

Expedition cruise with renowned explorer Bernard Voyer


Antarctica, the mythical continent that captured the imagination of Greek astronomers in the 11th Century, was officially discovered only in 1820. Also known as the White Continent, it has no indigenous human population but draws adventurers seeking to take on one of the greatest challenges in the world: reaching the South Pole. In fact, the number of people who have successfully reached this remote spot is about as many as those who have walked on the moon. Antarctica is nature at its purest, wildest and most rugged, being practically untouched by pollution and human impact. Inside the continent, the climate is so extreme that the environment is abiotic and achromatic. The highest continent on the planet, with an average altitude of 2,600 metres, it has the purest air on Earth.

We invite you to this surreal destination for the trip of a lifetime: a 10 day Antarctic expedition cruise in the company of internationally acclaimed explorer Bernard Voyer, one of the few people who has successfully reached the South Pole on his own. We will also be joined by four exceptional musicians who will transform each discovery into a magical experience. Prepare for a contemplative yet active journey that transcends time as we come face-to-face with the primitive force of nature, free of human influence.

Join us for this polar trip, where the days are scarcely punctuated by night and where the landscape is marked with icebergs, glaciers and abundant wildlife. There will be zodiac excursions, shows and educational conferences held inside and on the ship’s deck. It’s the ultimate conquest of the true Great South! This expedition cruise will take us to a place that Man only discovered some 200 years ago.

Tourism is highly restricted and regulated in Antarctica, meaning we will be among the select few permitted to carry on the tradition of the explorers who came before us. We will have a truly unique chance to experience the vastness of the snow and ice aboard a comfortable vessel offering the highest levels of luxury and refinement. Our trip will be elevated with French cuisine and fine wine. A professional team specializing in polar regions will skillfully lead excursions around the Antarctic Peninsula. Our ship, L’Austral, will be reserved exclusively for our group, ensuring a warm and friendly atmosphere for an experience that’s personal, educational, scientific and musical. We’re planning a trip you will never forget!

The last continent to be discovered...And the first to be protected

Antarctica

Reservations and inquiries:

1-800-590-5995

For nearly 15 years, Groupe Santé Caméléo has been creating and organizing exceptional continuing medical education events around the world, catering specifically to doctors living in French-speaking countries. In addition to being Quebec’s leading medical conference organizer, Cameleo is also a travel agency that plans unique trips that most individuals could not organize on their own.

This expedition cruise breaks from our usual offer in that there will not be any medical education sessions during the trip. The purpose of this adventure is to catch an exclusive glimpse of the pristine continent hidden away at the opposite end of the Earth. The beauty of this space, untouched by commercial activity, is sure to leave a lasting impression on you. The expedition meets all environmental and ecological requirements for protecting Antarctica’s natural integrity. In turn, participants can become privileged ambassadors of this pristine landscape of mountains, snow, ice and unique wildlife.

Gabriel Boisjoly & Julien Martel

[email protected] [email protected]


Music and ice

On our journey to Antarctica, we’ll be joined by four incredible musicians who will delight passengers with a singular, live soundtrack. The Quebec-based ensemble includes Hélène Lemay, a talented art director and jazz trombonist; André Moisan, an internationally recognized clarinetist, entertainer, teacher, soloist, chamber musician and member of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM); Jimmy Lahaie, a versatile and creative guitarist, arranger and prolific composer; and Jean Willy Kunz, a pianist and organist who enjoys combining baroque and contemporary elements and member of Allogène Group and the OSM. They will provide musical accompaniment throughout our expedition cruise.


Here is a brief overview of the experiences that await us.

Southern summer January is the peak of the austral summer and the most comfortable time of the year, with long hours of sunlight and temperatures that range between 0 and 15 degrees Celsius. During this period, Antarctica’s coastlines are more easily accessible, allowing visitors to get closer to the animal colonies that inhabit the continent. It’s also natural for some of the icepack to break off and melt during this season. As the ice recedes, it becomes easier to explore

channels that are otherwise inaccessible and to observe the abundant wildlife.

ContinentAntarctica is the world’s southernmost continent. It surrounds the South Pole and is flanked by the Southern Ocean and the Ross and Weddell seas. Covering 14 million square feet, 98% of the continent’s surface is capped with a layer of ice with an average thickness of 1.6 kilometres.

It is also the Earth’s coldest, windiest and driest continent. In fact, due to limited precipitation, the middle of the continent is home to the world’s largest ice desert. The ice

Antarctica A continent that belongs

to humanity

is so heavy that the continent’s bedrock has been pushed below sea level. The continent’s surface area doubles in winter thanks to the considerable icepack and icebergs. The polar ice cap contains approximately 90% of the Earth’s water, equal to 100 litres for each person on the planet for 100,000 years. Other features of this hostile region include three volcanoes, 70 lakes, the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth (-90 degrees Celsius in 2010), katabatic winds (exceeding 200 kilometres per hour) and the Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights. Expect to witness a landscape in white, black and blue.

It’s nature at its most rugged, untouched by pollution. Inside the continent, the climate is so extreme that the environment is abiotic and achromatic. It has the purest air on Earth. In the words of Bernard Voyer, “The only place farther than this is the moon!”

The Antarctic Peninsula The Antarctic Peninsula is the continent’s northernmost tip. Fully 1,300 kilometres long, this mountainous area is considered a continuation of the Andean cordillera. Its highest peak, Mount Hope, reaches 3,239 metres into the sky. The region goes by several different names—Palmer Land, Graham Land, O’Higgins Land and San

Martin Land—and, because of its more temperate climate, is home to most of Antarctica’s research stations. Flora and faunaAntarctica is the only continent without butterflies. In addition, plants grow on just 1% of its rugged terrain. There are no trees or shrubs, but mosses and lichens thrive. Antarctica has no land mammals, meaning there are no polar bears or caribou.

Wildlife is concentrated on the coastal areas. Forty different bird species live along

the shoreline, along with nearly 300 fish species. Penguins, whales, dolphins, sea lions, terns, skuas and petrels are the most commonly seen animals.

Scientific activities Various observation activities and discovery excursions will be led daily by naturalists who specialize in polar regions. Passengers can expect to spend hours on the deck marvelling at the breathtaking scenery. Zodiac expeditions will also be offered, giving you the chance to approach the shoreline and get a closer view of the powerful landscapes and impressive colonies of penguins, seals and terns. All activities, talks and expeditions


are included. Please note that explanations will be provided primarily in French.

Music and iceAll these discoveries will be enhanced with live music played by an outstanding quartet from Quebec. The ensemble includes Hélène Lemay, a talented art director and jazz trombonist; André Moisan, an internationally recognized clarinetist, entertainer, teacher, soloist, chamber musician and musician with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM); Jimmy Lahaie, a versatile and creative guitarist, arranger and prolific composer; and

Jean Willy Kunz, a pianist and organist who enjoys combining baroque and contemporary elements and who plays for Allogène Group and the OSM. They will provide musical accompaniment inside the cabin and on the outside deck throughout our expedition and during Exploration sonore, a unique show developed with Bernard Voyer. To set the mood for every experience, the foursome will cover a diverse range of musical styles, including classical, jazz and world beat. The poetry of sound will complement the immense beauty of the landscape, creating magic that will touch us all.

Les Météores

Bonifacio


Learning from a great explorer

Bernard Voyer’s passion for new discoveries was ignited at age six, when he received his first compass as a gift. The Rimouski native remembers wanting to see what lay across from his small hometown, on the other side of the St. Lawrence River. From there, it was a constant quest to go further and higher. A life of continuous adventure began in 1959 for the man who would become one of the world’s most internationally renowned explorers just a few decades later. Today, Bernard Voyer has more than thirty high-profile expeditions in his portfolio, including Mount Everest (8,850 metres), the South Pole (1,500 kilometres of skiing, entirely alone) and the magnetic and geographic North Poles. He has circled the world several times, climbing the highest mountains and seeking out the coldest and most inaccessible corners of the planet.

Bernard Voyer is both the guest of honour and the inspiration behind this expedition

cruise. His interest in the extreme South dates back to 1993, when he departed from Tierra del Fuego on a reconnaissance mission to the South Pole on a boat with a Russian crew. Highlights of his first Antarctic experience included walking among hundreds of thousands of penguins, navigating between icebergs and spotting immense glaciers. All these experiences will help inform our journey.

In 1996, Voyer and Thierry Petry reached the South Pole travelling alone. The 1,500-kilometre expedition lasted 65 days, the two men skiing 11 hours per day with their substantial gear in tow. In 2001, Voyer and Nathalie Tremblay, who will also be joining us on our expedition cruise, scaled Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica. At 4,897 metres, this icy mass is constantly swept by winds. Both the climate and altitude present incredible challenges, even during

Bernard Voyer

Conquering the South Pole Bernard Voyer

the Antarctic spring, when temperatures still hover around -40 degrees Celsius.

It is with great honour that we welcome Bernard Voyer on board our 10-day expedition cruise. Voyer will enrich our journey with his personal stories and knowledge. He will be available throughout the trip to chat, answer your questions and keep us company over meals and glasses of wine. Experiencing Antarctica with this seasoned explorer is truly the opportunity of a lifetime.

Given Voyer’s naturally warm and charismatic personality, casual conversations are sure to pop up throughout the trip and during

the various activities organized by the crew. Voyer will be eager to discuss his favourite topics with you, which include continental drift, meteorology, ship exploration (from Cook to de Gerlache), ice families, the actual number of poles, land expeditions (from Scott to Shackleton ), science and current research, and the geopolitical situation of Antarctica.

Finally, he will be joined by four musician friends to present Exploration sonore, a 90-minute performance that elegantly overlays music, travel accounts and comedy. Already presented in dozens of cities worldwide, this will be the first time the show will take place in a floating theatre.

Conquering Mount Everest

“The immensity, calm and pure air go far beyond the limits of our imagination.”

- Bernard Voyer


We will be travelling aboard L’Austral, one of the gems of the Ponant fleet. While it boasts 132 staterooms and suites, just 94 will be made available during our expedition cruise to ensure compliance with Antarctic regulations, which limit the number of people allowed in the vicinity.

This superbly luxurious six-deck ship combines the best of Italian shipbuilding and French refinement. The new-generation yacht offers a warm atmosphere and unique style. Quality materials create an elegant yet relaxed ambience in the signature facilities, which include a theatre, high-end restaurant, grill, bar, lounge, pool, library, exercise room, salon and recreational space. Of course, there are also majestic decks from which you can admire the polar landscape. The expedition cruise includes fine dining, alcohol and other beverages, talks by the team of naturalists and daily outings on the Antarctic mainland. For excursions, groups of 10 to 12 are transported on zodiac boats accompanied by naturalist guides.

Navigating an expedition cruise in the Antarctic region is no easy task, and can only be achieved with an experienced captain and team dedicated to ensuring the highest level of safety. L’Austral and its crew offer all of this. Moreover, because it is a smaller vessel, it can access areas that are off-limits to large ships and can even draw alongside some very impressive remote spots.

ItineraryThe starting point for our expedition cruise is “the end of the world,” as the Argentine city of Ushuaia is called. Located in Tierra del Fuego, this is the world’s southernmost city. Unlike the Antarctic continent, Ushuaia is practically immune to variations in climate, with the mercury consistently remaining just above freezing. In fact, the coldest month of the year averages 1.3 degrees Celsius, while the warmest sees an average 9.6 degrees Celsius. The air in Ushuaia is humid and snowfall is frequent year-round. There is a very interesting museum in the city.

The Drake Passage, also called the Strait of Drake, is the shortest route between Antarctica and the inhabited world. Whales, dolphins and sea birds inhabit the area and are easy to spot. This stretch of sea separates the southern tip of South America from Antarctica and connects Cape Horn in Tierra del Fuego to the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica. The Drake Passage can sometimes be rough, but crossing it is a necessary evil to reach Antarctica. During the two-day period spent in the Passage, passengers are encouraged to relax, enjoy the ship’s French hospitality and attend educational talks about the Antarctic region.

Our itinerary will be determined by meteorological conditions and opportunities. Excursions and scheduled stops are subject to last-minute changes, depending on what nature has in store. The crew will continually assess the weather and thickness of the ice pack to ensure we enjoy the finest that the Antarctic Peninsula has to offer.

L’AustralOur ship and itinerary


Rates and general information

Reservations For questions and bookings, please contact :Mrs Marie-Pier Gagnon at 1-800-590-5995 / [email protected]

Payment schedule• A $2,500 deposit per person will be charged to your credit card upon reservation; • A second payment of $5,000 per person will be charged on January 15, 2019; • The final balance will be due on July 5, 2019.

Cancellation policy• Deposits and payments are non-refundable in case of cancellation. An exception may be

made if your reservation can be transferred to someone on the waiting list; in such cases, a full refund will be issued.

• We can offer you trip cancellation and interruption insurance through Blue Cross.• An additional 0.10% charge is applicable for the Compensation Fund for Clients of Travel Agents.• Groupe Santé Caméléo is licensed in Quebec.

xxx

Exploring Ushuaia

Antarctic expedition cruise

Optional extension

• Rates and details will be available by December 30, 2018

Segment 1January 3 to 5, 2020

Segment 2January 5 to 15, 2020

Rates (detailed description available on the next page)

Total for two people: • Superior Stateroom with window (Deck 3): $19,958 • Deluxe Stateroom with private balcony (Deck 3): $22,898 • Prestige Stateroom with private balcony (Deck 4): $24,898 • Prestige Stateroom with private balcony (Deck 5): $25,958 • Prestige Stateroom with private balcony (Deck 6): $26,958 • Deluxe Suite (Deck 6): $33,598• Prestige Suite (Deck 5): $34,558• Prestige Suite (Deck 6): $35,558• Owner’s Suite (Deck 6): $39,858

Included: • 10 nights aboard L’Austral. • All meals, including alcohol, coffee and other beverages. • Guided outings and zodiac excursions. • Admission to talks given by Bernard Voyer and naturalist guides. • Access and assistance from explorer Bernard Voyer. • Access and assistance from naturalist guides. • Admission to shows presented by the musical quartet. • Assistance from the Cameleo CME team. • All government taxes. • A one-of-a-kind experience in Antarctica.

Excluded: • Select à la carte wine and spirits. • Tips aboard the ship. • Personal expenses. • Spa treatments. • International and local airfare.

Exploring Buenos AiresSegment 3January 15 to 18, 2020

Optional extension

• Rates and details will be available by December 30, 2018


Cabindescriptions

• par cabine

• Lit double ou 2 lits simples

selon cabines, possibilité de cabines com

municantes

(Accueil enfants)

• Minibar

• Écran plat, chaînes de TV via satellite

• Station Ipod™

• Bureau avec papier à lettre

• • Sélection de produits de bain de m

arque française

• Coi�euse et sèche-cheveux

• Peignoirs de bain

• Ligne téléphonique directe par satellite

• Installation 110/220 volts

• Room service 24h/24h

• WiFi

• Balcon

• Individually-controlled air-conditioning

• Cabin layout: king-size bed, or tw

in beds, com

municating cabins

available (children w

elcome)

• Minibar

• Flat screen satellite TV

• IPod™ players

• Desk w

ith stationery

• Electronic safe

• French bath products

• Dressing table and hairdryer

• Bath robes

• Satellite direct line telephone

• 110/220 volts

• 24hr room service

• WiFi

• Balcony 28 cabines Deluxe

(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

3 suites Deluxe

92 cabines Prestige 20 suites Prestige

22

Suite de l’Arm

ateur 2

(290 sq.ft. + 54 sq.ft.

(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

(398 sq.ft. + 86 sq.ft.

(484 sq.ft + 97 sq.ft.

8 cabines Supérieures

2)

8 Superior staterooms

(226 sq.ft)

Sofa

Méridienne

Méridienne

Raffinement et flexibilité des suites et cabines, conçues et

décorées par Jean-Philippe NU

EL, designer français.

• • et 128 cabines.

• •

decorated by French interior designer Jean-Philippe Nuel.

•

• • •

Cab

ines

Superior Stateroom with window

Deluxe Stateroom - private balcony

Stateroom size: 226 sq. ft.Private balcony size: N/ADeck: 3Total for two people: $19,958Single occupancy: $13,049

Deluxe Stateroom Number available: 28

Superior Stateroom Number available: 8

Stateroom size: 200 sq. ft.Private balcony size: 43 sq. ft.Deck: 3Total for two people: $22,898Single occupancy: $14,519

• par cabine



municantes

(Accueil enfants)

• Minibar


• Station Ipod™



arque française






• WiFi

• Balcon



in beds, com

municating cabins


elcome)

• Minibar


• IPod™ players

• Desk w

ith stationery

• Electronic safe



• Bath robes


• 110/220 volts


• WiFi


(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

3 suites Deluxe


22

Suite de l’Arm

ateur 2

(290 sq.ft. + 54 sq.ft.

(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

(398 sq.ft. + 86 sq.ft.

(484 sq.ft + 97 sq.ft.


2)


(226 sq.ft)

Sofa

Méridienne

Méridienne





• •


•

• • •

Cab

ines

Prestige Stateroom - private balconyPrestige Stateroom Number available: 53

Stateroom size: 200 sq. ft.Private balcony size: 43 sq. ft.

Deck: 4Total for two people: $24,898Single occupancy: $15,519



• par cabine



municantes

(Accueil enfants)

• Minibar


• Station Ipod™



arque française






• WiFi

• Balcon



in beds, com

municating cabins


elcome)

• Minibar


• IPod™ players

• Desk w

ith stationery

• Electronic safe



• Bath robes


• 110/220 volts


• WiFi


(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

3 suites Deluxe


22

Suite de l’Arm

ateur 2

(290 sq.ft. + 54 sq.ft.

(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

(398 sq.ft. + 86 sq.ft.

(484 sq.ft + 97 sq.ft.


2)


(226 sq.ft)

Sofa

Méridienne

Méridienne





• •


•

• • •

Cab

ines

• par cabine



municantes

(Accueil enfants)

• Minibar


• Station Ipod™



arque française






• WiFi

• Balcon



in beds, com

municating cabins


elcome)

• Minibar


• IPod™ players

• Desk w

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• Electronic safe



• Bath robes


• 110/220 volts


• WiFi


(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

3 suites Deluxe


22

Suite de l’Arm

ateur 2

(290 sq.ft. + 54 sq.ft.

(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

(398 sq.ft. + 86 sq.ft.

(484 sq.ft + 97 sq.ft.


2)


(226 sq.ft)

Sofa

Méridienne

Méridienne





• •


•

• • •

Cab

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Deluxe Suite - private balcony

Prestige Suite - private balcony

Suite size: 290 sq. ft.Balcony size: 54 sq. ft.Deck: 6Total for two people: $33,598Single occupancy: $19,869

Prestige Suite Number available: 20

Deluxe Suite Number available: 3

Suite size: 398 sq. ft.Private balcony size: 86 sq. ft.



• par cabine



municantes

(Accueil enfants)

• Minibar


• Station Ipod™



arque française






• WiFi

• Balcon



in beds, com

municating cabins


elcome)

• Minibar


• IPod™ players

• Desk w

ith stationery

• Electronic safe



• Bath robes


• 110/220 volts


• WiFi


(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

3 suites Deluxe


22

Suite de l’Arm

ateur 2

(290 sq.ft. + 54 sq.ft.

(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

(398 sq.ft. + 86 sq.ft.

(484 sq.ft + 97 sq.ft.


2)


(226 sq.ft)

Sofa

Méridienne

Méridienne





• •


•

• • •

Cab

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Owner’s Suite - private balconyOwner’s SuiteNumber available: 1

Suite size: 484 sq. ft.Private balcony size: 97 sq. ft.Deck: 6Total for two people: $39,858Single occupancy: $35,858

• par cabine



municantes

(Accueil enfants)

• Minibar


• Station Ipod™



arque française






• WiFi

• Balcon



in beds, com

municating cabins


elcome)

• Minibar


• IPod™ players

• Desk w

ith stationery

• Electronic safe



• Bath robes


• 110/220 volts


• WiFi


(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

3 suites Deluxe


22

Suite de l’Arm

ateur 2

(290 sq.ft. + 54 sq.ft.

(200 sq.ft. + 43 sq.ft.

(398 sq.ft. + 86 sq.ft.

(484 sq.ft + 97 sq.ft.


2)


(226 sq.ft)

Sofa

Méridienne

Méridienne





• •


•

• • •

Cab

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Summary itinerary Sunday, January 5, 2020

- Embarkation at 5 p.m. - Departure from Ushuaia

Monday, January 6, 2020 - Drake Passage

Tuesday, January 7, 2020 - Drake Passage

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - Antarctic Peninsula

Thursday, January 9, 2020 - Antarctic Peninsula

Friday, January 10, 2020 - Antarctic Peninsula

Saturday, January 11, 2020 - Antarctic Peninsula

Sunday, January 12, 2020 - Antarctic Peninsula

Monday, January 13, 2020 - Drake Passage

Tuesday, January 14, 2020 - Drake Passage

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - Debarkation at Ushuaia

Summary itinerary

• Passengers will embark the ship in Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost city. • Air travel between Quebec and Argentina is not included in the package price. You are free

to travel on the airline of your choice. Air Canada offers direct flights between Toronto and Buenos Aires.

• Flying from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, in the Tierra del Fuego region, takes approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes. This domestic flight typically costs $200 to $500 per person.

• Please let us know if you would like to customize your travel itinerary or plan an extended stay in Argentina.

ARGENTINE

O C É A N A T L A N T I Q U E

A N T A R C T I Q U E

CHILI

PARAGUAY BRÉSIL

URUGUAY

Salta

Córdoba

SantiagoRorsario

Mar del Plata

Comodor Rivadavia

Îles Falklad

El Calafate

Punta Arenas

San Carlosde Bariloche

BUENOS AIRES

USHUAÏA


“Both powerful and fragile, Antarctica is a place that will inspire you and transform you.” - Bernard Voyer

antarctica - caméléo · antarctica’s research stations. flora and fauna antarctica is the only...

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