Journey to Antarctica

Depart on an overnight flight to Santiago. Settle into our hotel before heading out on an afternoon tour of the city. Gather tonight for a welcome reception.

Discover Santiago,  the political and financial center of Chile. 

Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, and enjoy lunch and wildlife viewing on a catamaran cruise on the scenic Beagle Channel before embarking the ship.

Voyage across the legendary Drake Passage, and watch for whales and seabirds gliding alongside the ship. Enjoy talks from our onboard naturalists about the wildlife and geology that await us on the Antarctica Peninsula.

With extended daylight hours at this time of year, we make the most of our days, keeping a flexible schedule to take advantage of the unexpected—veering off course to watch orcas perform off the bow or enjoying an after-dinner Zodiac cruise. We anticipate opportunities to take walks ashore, explore by Zodiac or kayak, and experience close encounters with wildlife. Our route will be determined by the conditions and the ever-changing ice, and may include some of the locations indicated on the map shown here.

One day, we may take Zodiacs out to see towering icebergs at close range, walk a beach covered with bickering seals and penguins, or hike to a summit for a breathtaking view. The next, we may be kayaking amid glittering brash ice or along a cliffside rookery in search of blue-eyed shags. And the next, we might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through the pack ice.

As we encounter the volcanic isles and pristine bays of the peninsula, our team of experts will bring depth and insight to the experience, explaining the behaviors and interactions of different species, the geological and climatic forces that still shape Antarctica, the anatomy of a glacier, and even how to make beautiful photographs of the places we visit. Our undersea specialists capture images from the deep—revealing the hardy marine life beneath the ice—and our expedition leader is always on the lookout for the best way to experience everything Antarctica has to offer.

Enjoy the ship’s amenities as the Antarctic coast disappears from view. Round the southernmost tip of South America, and see the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Celebrate our voyage at a farewell dinner on board.

Disembark in Ushuaia. After lunch fly to Buenos Aires or Santiago by private charter, and connect with your overnight flight home.