Antarctic Explorer - Sail/Fly Expedition

Upon arriving in Ushuaia, meet an Aurora Expeditions representative for a seamless transfer to your assigned pre-voyage hotel alongside fellow travelers. If already in the city, simply proceed directly to the hotel, where check-in begins at 3:00 pm. During the afternoon, visit the hospitality desk located in the hotel lobby between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to collect your luggage tags and confirm participation in tomorrow's pre-embarkation tour. The dedicated team is readily available to finalize embarkation day details, answer any questions, and provide helpful recommendations for local dining or purchasing last-minute items. For late arrivals checking in after 7:00 pm, a welcome pack awaits at the reception desk; simply plan to visit the hospitality desk the following morning between 8:00 am and 10:00 am. Enjoy the rest of the day entirely at your leisure to relax or explore the area, keeping in mind that all meals today remain an independent expense.

Assigned accommodation: to be advised

This morning, enjoy breakfast and complete the check-out process. Please ensure all cabin luggage is fitted with tags clearly labeled with your name and assigned cabin number. Bring these bags to the hotel reception either prior to or during check-out. The luggage is then securely stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, arriving in the cabin ahead of boarding. Keep any valuables or essential personal items on hand throughout the day. To join today's tour, gather in the hotel lobby at 8:45 am, enjoying some free time during the excursion before returning to Ushuaia to board the ship.

Alternatively, spend the day at leisure and meet either in the hotel lobby or at the designated parking lot meeting point near the pier—based on details provided by the ground staff—for a seamless transfer to the vessel. Once onboard, take time to settle into the cabin before attending the important mandatory safety briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, gather on the deck to commence the adventure while soaking in spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening, get to know fellow travelers alongside the friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner, celebrating the start of a thrilling voyage to Antarctica.

As you commence the Drake Passage crossing, you make the most of your time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Your expedition team prepare you for your first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start your lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment. 

Your wildlife experiences begin as you enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following your vessel. On sea days, you may can enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, wellness center or the relaxing in one of the observation lounges.  

Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on the afternoon of day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks watching for your first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once you are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. 

Time and weather permitting, you may attempt your first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.  

Once you arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are yours to explore, and you have a host of choices available to us. Because you are so far south, experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.  

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. 

You generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of the favorite spots along the peninsula.  

While ashore, aim to stretch your legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you can have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting! 

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, you may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding.

This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendor. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent. 

As you approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to farewell Antarctica and your amazing adventure before boarding your flight (approximately one hour and forty-five minutes) to Punta Arenas, Chile. There is time for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced. 

From Punta Arenas airport, transfer to your group hotel for an overnight stay.  

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.

After breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow travellers as you continue your onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature (breakfast included). A transfer to the airport is included in the voyage fare.   

Note: Should your flight not proceed due to local conditions, remain on the ship until it is deemed achievable to return to Punta Arenas. Refer to the terms and conditions for further details.