Launch into the ice-strewn wilds of Antarctica on this express adventure that will have you ploughing through the Drake Passage and taking the easy (air) route back. Cruise through the Beagle Channel before watching the mainland disappear and entering the wind-ripped waters of the Drake Passage - home to humpbacks, minkes and an impressive array of seabirds.
Learn about the incredible richness of this spectacular environment, and the stories of the early explorers, through a series of on-board lectures. Spend time in the company of penguins and seals and be generally awed by the vast solitude of this immense region. With an included flight back to the mainland, this trip balances adventure and ease in one of the world’s most amazing natural environments.
Trip Specifics
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Start: Ushuaia, Argentina
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Finish: Punta Arenas, Chile
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Trip Code: GQMB
Itinerary
Day 1 Ushuaia
Welcome to Argentina and the beginning of your Antarctic adventure. This quaint city at the southernmost tip of South America is your gateway to the White Continent. The city itself provides a wide range of jewellery shops, cafes, gear shops and restaurants to explore before your voyage. If you arrive early enough, snow-capped mountains and hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park offer ample adventure activities.
Day 2 Embarkation in Ushuaia
Today board the ship for embarkation in the afternoon. Leave Ushuaia behind and journey through the Beagle Channel, named after the HMS Beagle which once carried Charles Darwin through the area. The waterway is home to a wide variety of seabirds and seals, and rainbows are common here too, so be on the lookout from the deck. Enjoy a hot drink and relax into your first day on the water.
Day 3-4 Drake Passage
Sail across the famous Drake Passage. Known for high winds and rolling seas, this part of the trip will strengthen your sea legs. While we hope for calm conditions, please be prepared for possible rough waters. Spend your days on deck looking out for wildlife, poking around in the on-board library or getting to know your shipmates. The expedition team will begin a series of presentations to prepare you for your upcoming Zodiac and land excursions. You officially enter Antarctica when the ship crosses the Antarctic Convergence, a biological boundary that fluctuates around 60° south.
Day 5-8 Antarctic Peninsula
Your first glimpse of Antarctica comes in the form of huge floating icebergs. Look out for Adelie penguins waddling across ice floes or for minke or humpback whales swimming in the waters below. As soon as it's feasible, the Zodiacs will be readied for your first landing in the South Shetland Islands or on the Antarctic Peninsula. Your expedition team will monitor the ice and weather conditions to determine which landing sites can be visited over the next four days. With many sites to choose from, each expedition presents new opportunities for exploration and wildlife sightings. A typical day might include visiting a penguin rookery, listening to glaciers calve at Petermann Island or climbing a hill for panoramic views of the continent. A 'polar plunge' in the icy waters of Neko Harbour is sure to really wake you up.
Day 9 Disembarkation and fly to Punta Arenas
Today, say goodbye to the expedition team and disembark the ship at King George Island. Take a three-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, retracing your original journey with a bird’s-eye-view. On arrival you’ll be transferred from the airport to the hotel, where you can enjoy a final group dinner and reflect on your adventures.
Day 10 Punta Arenas
After breakfast, your Antarctic adventure comes to an end. There are no activities planned for the final day and you're able to depart the accommodation at any time.
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