South Georgia & Antarctic Sail and Fly Cruise

After arriving at Mount Pleasant Airport, transfer to Port Stanley, where there is time to walk around town, visit local shops, and see the main streets. In the late afternoon, board the ship and settle into the cabin before departing eastward across the Southern Ocean.

Between watching wandering albatrosses and occasional dolphins, participate in scheduled lectures, workshops, and presentations from the expedition team. Photography sessions provide guidance for shooting in polar conditions, and spending time on deck offers opportunities to observe the surrounding environment.

As you approach South Georgia, you may first pass the remote Shag Rocks, alive with seabirds.

Depending on conditions, there’s a chance for an evening Zodiac excursion — your first thrilling taste of the subantarctic.

Over the next four full days, you’ll explore South Georgia from north to south, aiming to visit iconic wildlife havens such as St Andrews Bay, Salisbury Plain, Gold Harbour, and Cooper Bay. Walk among vast king penguin colonies, watch elephant seals lounging on golden beaches, and visit Grytviken, the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

You’ll aim to embark on a Zodiac excursion alongside the towering glaciers of Drygalski Fjord, and witness large numbers of albatrosses heading out to fish from their nests on Prion Island.

You begin your crossing toward Antarctica through the Scotia Sea, one of the world’s most storied seaways.  As in the Southern Ocean, the days are filled with expert-led presentations on polar science, history, and wildlife, plus active workshops in photography to refine your craft. Out on deck, keep watch for seabirds, seals, and the first Antarctic iceberg of the voyage.

If conditions allow, you may first sail by Elephant Island — the refuge where Shackleton’s men endured months of isolation — or the South Orkney Islands.

Then, the Antarctic Peninsula awaits. As you navigate through waterways like the Gerlache Strait, Neumayer, and Lemaire Channels, Antarctica begins to astound with its array of blue ice. Land on beaches where gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguin colonies stretch out in vast numbers.

Zodiac cruise past magnificent icebergs of deep blue and keep watch for humpback whales bubble-netting in krill-rich waters. With flexible navigation and a small-ship advantage, you’ll venture into less-visited areas such as the Antarctic Sound or the Weddell Sea if conditions permit.

On your final morning, you disembark at King George Island and take a charter flight back to Puerto Natales. There, you’ll stay at the very comfortable lodge, where you can relax and reflect on your extraordinary Antarctic experiences.

After breakfast, your voyage concludes in Puerto Natales. For those continuing their adventure, there’s the opportunity to join the Torres del Paine extension package, where you may go horseback riding through the stunning Patagonian landscapes, take a scenic hike to Mirador Base Las Torres, visit Laguna Sofia, explore the Milodón Cave, or enjoy other carefully planned activities.