Across the Antarctic Circle: Fly the Drake - Fly/Fly Expedition

Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, meet a representative for a transfer to your assigned hotel. Please ensure arrival no later than 2:00 pm; this guarantees attendance at important pre-flight briefings and allows for a potential Day 1 departure to King George Island should weather conditions dictate. Between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, visit the hospitality desk in the lobby to collect cabin luggage tags. The team confirms embarkation details, answers questions, and provides recommendations for dining or purchasing last-minute items.

Overlooking the Straits of Magellan, this city sits astride a historic trade route and reflects a rich blend of cultural backgrounds, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors. Explore the local culinary scene, with meals at personal expense today. At 7:00 pm, join fellow expeditioners for a mandatory briefing to reconfirm transfer times, review flight procedures, and outline important IAATO regulations for Antarctic visitors.

This morning, transfer to Punta Arenas airport for your charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica, weather permitting. Expect a flight duration of approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. Upon arrival at King George Island, the expedition team greets and prepares you for the Zodiac transfer to the vessel. Once onboard, take time to settle into the cabin before attending the mandatory safety briefings.

Note: A clear sky with great visibility is required for safe take-off and landing at King George Island. Should the weather be uncooperative at this remote airstrip, flights can be moved earlier, or delayed later.  Historically, 85% of flights occur on the day they are scheduled.  But if this is not possible, the ship operator follows their established contingency plan, which can be read here. 

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 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. 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, 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 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 traveling 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. 

On this voyage, conditions permitting, you plan to cross the Antarctic Circle, an imaginary line located at the Antarctic Circle at latitude 66°33' South (approximately). Crossing below The Circle is certainly a special highlight for many people, and the moment will be celebrated with a toast out on the deck (weather permitting). You have earned some boasting privileges, joining a small group of lucky adventurers who have ventured to this part of the world.  

As you approach and cross the Antarctic Circle, you can notice subtle changes in the landscape, and also in the distribution of wildlife. The waters at this time of year are rich with krill and you hope to see plenty of whales - particularly humpbacks and minkes and enjoy the spectacle of penguins feeding their ravenous chicks. 

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. Tell your family, friends and colleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.

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 follows their well-established contingency plan, again. 

After breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow travelers 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.