Antarctica Expedition: A Journey to the Ends of the Earth
Glowing emerald, violet tinges, brilliant blue, and crimson lightthe Antarctic Peninsula is anything but a world of white desolation. This Antarctica travel guide will lead to a world of immense scale and visual splendor. Crossing huge icebergs in the smooth serenity of a polar morning will reshape the way you look at your world. Get in contact with enormous whales, huge rookeries of penguins, and striking landscapes few have ever seen. This 11-day expedition will introduce you to the charm of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Tour Highlights
Set foot on Antarcticathe world's least visited continent
Watch noble albatross soar by the vessel while crossing the Drake Passage
Dare the chill by taking an optional polar dive
Witness immense icebergs and magnificent glaciers
Have your questions answered by Antarctic experts
Tour Description
Antarctica is a land of climaxes: it is the coolest and driest continent in the world and has the largest average elevation. As the fifth biggest continent on the Earth, Antarctica is also the most Southern, overlying the "South Pole". Barely touched by humans, the iced land has a breathtaking view, touched by only a few scientific bases and a "permanent" community of scientists counting only a few thousand. Travelers to Antarctica usually must dare rough sea crossings aboard ice-strengthened ships, but those who do are rewarded with a marvelous view and great and unique wildlife.
This adventure to Antarctica involves crossing the violent 500-mile Drake Passage for 2 days until reaching the cooler waters of Antarctica. You will witness different species of albatrosses and petrels plunging around the ship. After crossing the ship the more beautiful albatrosses stroked over the surface of the wavy water feeling the water with one tip of the wing and setting to the fluctuations of the waves. It is wonderful. You will see the great Wanderer albatross reaching wingspans of over 1o feet, Royal albatrosses with fine white feathers, the sooty albatross with a beautiful smoked feather pattern over its face, and the large black-browed albatrosses. Albatrosses are wonders of natures engineering their long, narrow wings empower them to float for thousands of miles on wind tides without flapping their wings. Simply by angling their wings and their flight path, albatrosses can use the variation in airspeed and direction near the waves to soar over the oceans.
You can enjoy an extreme adventure on your Antarctica tour by challenging the chilled water. The gorgeous waters of Antarctica aren't only for the penguins and seals. It needs a brave soul to willingly jump into the freezing waters of Antarctica. However, this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon is a popular sport among our expeditors.
A tour at a glance
- Day 1 - The Journey Begins At Ushuaia
- Day 2 - Explore Ushuaia / Drake Passage
- Day 3 to 4 - Travel Through The Drake Passage / South Shetland Islands
- Day 5 to 8 - Travel Through The South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula
- Day 9 to 10 - Sail Through The Drake Passage / Ushuaia
- Day 11 - Journey Ends
Tour Price
Our private tours typically range from $500 - $1000 per person/per night depending on chosen hotels and room categories, vehicles used, types of tours, flight cost, time of year and other factors. Make an inquiry for a customized trip quote.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - The Journey Begins At Ushuaia
Arrive in Ushuaia at any time. Enjoy the sites and sounds of the most southerly city in the world.
Day 2 - Explore Ushuaia / Drake Passage
This is a free morning in Ushuaia. Go for any last minute shopping, explore the city or the surrounding sites. Onboarding on the Expedition starts in the evening at the port in Ushuaia. Enjoy the evening onboard sailing through the Beagle Channel
Day 3 to 4 - Travel Through The Drake Passage / South Shetland Islands
The expedition starts with an 800km (497mi) crossing of the Drake passage named after 16th-century English sea captain and pioneer Sir Francis Drake. Enjoy a daily speech from the excursion team and keep an eye out for the first view of icebergs, whales, and albatross along in the Expedition's wake
The Expedition is in reality in this part of the Southern Ocean, known for the unimpeded never ending fetch of the winds that surround the Antarctic
As the ship crosses the Drake passage there will be time to become familiar with the cruise and visit the common areas that include the lounge, dining hall, library and lecture hall where we get to know our guides, ships crew and expedition staff
Start speeches and information sessions to learn the outstanding human and natural history of the Antarctic region
Day 5 to 8 - Travel Through The South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula
Explore some of the most unique wildlife viewing and inspiring scenery in the world while setting foot on the Antarctic continent. Try two shore landings per day (weather permitting) and get in touch with Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adelie penguin rookeries, Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, and orca, humpback and minke whales in the chilled Antarctic waters. During the cruising, learn about the peninsula's inspiring history
This is another twist we've all been waiting for - an opportunity to explore and step foot on the Great White Continent! Over the next 4 days, the excursion will navigate southwards with stops in the South Shetland Islands then through the Bransfield Strait and to the Antarctic Peninsula
Our aim is to try two excursions per day while moving through the area but the itinerary and daily planning will be based on the local climate and ice conditions
During the sailing, learn about some of the most significant and dramatic excursions to this remote corner of the world
Day 9 to 10 - Sail Through The Drake Passage / Ushuaia
Start the journey north to the home port of Ushuaia. Go through the highlights of the Antarctic expedition with the experts and staff. Keep your eyes open on the observation area for some last-minute whale sightings. Leave Antarctica and sail north across the Drake Passage. In between bird watching and whale watching and enjoying some final speeches by the excursion staff, this is an opportunity to relax and recall the adventures of the past week before reaching Ushuaia.
Day 11 - Journey Ends
Disembark the Expedition after breakfast.
