For those short on time this Antarctic Express Air Cruise optimizes your experience so you can see it all! Embark on the Magellan Explorer in Ushuaia and set sail for Cape Horn. Depending on the weather, be one of the few to step foot on this rarely-visited island! Begin by crossing the Drake Passage en route to King George Island. While at sea, attend lectures and presentations about the polar region. Keep your eyes open for wildlife such as seabirds, whales, dolphins, and seals. Instead of sailing, enjoy flying across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile where you can continue on to your next destination.
Highlights
Visit the legendary Cape Horn; weather permitting step foot on the island
Attend presentations and lectures by your expert polar guides
Sail through ice-filled bays and between giant icebergs
Explore Chile's Frei Stations and Russia's Bellingshausen Station
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Begin in Ushuaia, Argentina. Board the Magellan Explorer and sail along the Beagle Channel towards Puerto Williams, Chile, the southernmost town in the world. Explore the surroundings before setting sail to Cape Horn.
Please note: Due to port operations, boarding in Ushuaia is exclusively between 3 PM and 4 PM. At 4 PM boarding closes. Keep your passport on hand and allow enough time to clear port security and reach the vessel.
After crossing Nassau Bay, wake up in front of legendary Cape Horn! Weather permitting, board a Zodiac and be one of the few privileged adventurers to step foot on this famous and rarely-visited island. Back on board, set sail towards Antarctica and cross the famous waters named in honor of Sir Francis Drake, the great 16th-century British explorer.
As you sail through the Drake Passage en route to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, attend an engaging program of lectures and presentations. In the company of expert guides, watch for wildlife from the glass-enclosed lounge or from the outside decks. You may spot magnificent seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as different species of whales on their way south to Antarctica.
After crossing the Antarctic Convergence, the environment changes noticeably. Keep your camera ready, as this is the time to watch for the first icebergs and catch your first sight of Antarctic land. Reaching the South Shetland Islands, sail in ice-filled bays while enjoying the company of seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. Board a Zodiac for your first memorable shore visit to a penguin colony. Take advantage of the endless Antarctic daylight to continue exploring well into the evening.
Day 5: Disembark in King George Island | Fly to Punta Arenas, Chile
Upon reaching King George Island, disembark at Fildes Bay and explore the area, such as the Chilean Base Frei and the Russian Base Bellingshausen. Bid farewell to Antarctica before boarding your flight back to Punta Arenas, Chile. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night. This evening's meals are at your leisure and are not included in the program.
Please note: If the weather at King George Island does not allow for flights this morning, the ship operator will follow their well-established contingency plan, which can be read here.
Day 6: Return Home
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the Punta Arenas airport for your homeward flight.
Please note: Flights arranged for later in the day provide more buffer against any of those potential flight delays out of King George Island.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$5,9952-3 travelers
Select a Date
Triple Suite
480 ft2 – 44 m2
-Suite with two bedrooms, balcony, and sitting area
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Porthole Cabin
Porthole Cabins 200 ft2 – 18 m²
-Cabin with sitting area and porthole
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Veranda Cabin
210 ft2 – 19 m2
-Cabin with sitting area and balcony
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Deluxe Veranda Cabin
240 ft2 – 22 m2
-Cabin with sitting area and balcony
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Grand Suite
480 ft2 – 44 m2
-Two-room suite with sitting room, balcony, and bedroom
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Penthouse Suite
360 ft2 – 33 m2
-Suite with sitting room, balcony, and bedroom area
Select a Date
Single Veranda Cabin
210 ft2 – 19 m2
- Cabin with sitting area and balcony
Notes
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Cabin sharing, where solo travelers are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender is available in Porthole and Veranda Cabins.
-Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.85x the double occupancy rate for Porthole and Veranda Cabins types. Deluxe Veranda, Penthouse Suite, and Grand Suite cabins are 2x the double occupancy rate.
Fly cruises: Children admitted from 8 years old
Classic Antarctica Air Cruise
Polar Circle
Antarctica Express
Sea voyages: Children admitted from 12 years old
Patagonia & Chilean Fjords
Falklands (Malvinas) & SG
Falklands (Malvinas), SG and Antarctica
Antarctic Small Ship Expedition
Optionals
Kayaking: Children admitted from 16 years old.
Hiking & snowshoeing: Children admitted from 12 years old.
Initial deposit is $1500 plus the adventure activities must be paid in full at the time of booking., and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
4 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Wine, beer, juice, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board ship
Coffee, tea, chocolate, cappuccino, water and snacks on board ship throughout the expedition
IAATO passenger fee
Loan of Waterproof Boots for Landings
Comprehensive Pre- and Post-voyage Information Materials
Lectures and entertainment onboard.
Daily buffet breakfast and lunch on board the ship offering a wide choice of dishes.
Dinner served daily on board the ship offering a choice between one of three main courses.
All guided shore excursions.
Group transfers from the airport and hotel on day one for guests arriving in Punta Arenas and from the hotel to the airport on the last day of the air-cruise itinerary.
Two nights stay with breakfast in Punta Arenas at the Cabo de Hornos Hotel or similar on day one and on the day of the scheduled return flight from Antarctica.
Welcome dinner on day one at the hotel in Punta Arenas.
Special access to Explorers House for guests in Punta Arenas.
Ship cruise and flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island, Antarctica, and/or vice versa as indicated in the program corresponding to each air-cruise itinerary.
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
Beverages purchased at the bar
Parkas are not provided on your cruise. Please bring your own windproof, waterproof, insulated parka with you. You will want to make sure it is roomy enough to fit warm layers underneath. Click here for information about parka rental.
All participants in an Antarctica 21 expedition are required to have a travel insurance policy. A comprehensive policy is recommended but, at a minimum, Medical Evacuation coverage up to $100,000 USD is required.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.