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Beautiful blue icebergs emerge from the ocean.

South Shetland Islands Tours December 2025

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Experience the awe-inspiring wonders of the Antarctic on our 32 unforgettable tours to the South Shetland Islands in December 2025. Explore a pristine wilderness where icebergs glisten under the midnight sun and penguins frolic on icy shores, offering a glimpse into a world untouched by time. Over 8 to 23 days, you can marvel at the raw beauty of the landscape, witness diverse wildlife from seals to seabirds, and immerse yourself in the serenity of this remote region. With activities like wildlife viewing, kayaking, and hiking, there are opportunities for adventure at every turn. Starting at $4,860 to $67,300, these tours promise an unforgettable journey through one of the most breathtaking destinations on Earth. To embark on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition to the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica, contact one of Adventure Life's Antarctic specialists for help planning your next seamless trip.
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    • South Shetland Islands
Icebergs at sunset
$18,995
Save $2000
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Classic Antarctica Air Cruise

8 Day Itinerary aboard Magellan Explorer
  • Cruise the South Shetland Islands
  • View penguins, seals, and whales
  • Attend lectures and presentations
  • Explore the Antarctic landscape
Starts / Ends:
Punta Arenas / Punta Arenas
Activities:
Fly Cruises, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Fly round-trip from Punta Arenas Chile over Cape Horn and the mythical waters of the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. You are invited on this 8-day adventure to one of the coldest, highest, windiest, driest, and most inhospitable places - Antarctica. In a little over three hours of flying …
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Whale watching in Antarctica
$18,995
Save 30%
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Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake

Roundtrip Punta Arenas - 8 Day Itinerary aboard World Explorer
  • Cross the Drake in a few hours
  • Zodiac cruise in search of whales
  • Enjoy on-board lectures
  • Marvel at the Peninsula highlights
Starts / Ends:
Punta Arenas / Punta Arenas
Activities:
Adventure Options, Fly Cruises, Kayaking, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Optimize your Antarctica experience by flying over the Drake Passage, the fastest and most direct way to the 7th Continent. Board the World Explorer in King George Island and begin your expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula, a land of snow-capped mountain peaks, beaches dotted with leopard seals …
Cruise Details
0
Ice in Antarctica
$11,495
Save $2000
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Classic Antarctica Air Cruise

8 Day Itinerary aboard Ocean Nova
  • Cruise the South Shetland Islands
  • View penguins, seals, and whales
  • Attend lectures and presentations
  • Explore the Antarctic landscape
Starts / Ends:
Punta Arenas / Punta Arenas
Activities:
Fly Cruises, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Jumping over Cape Horn and the mythical waters of the Drake Passage, you are invited on this 8-day adventure to one of the coldest, highest, windiest, driest, and most inhospitable places - Antarctica. In a little over three hours of flying from Punta Arenas to King George Island, find yourself at …
Cruise Details
0
Camping in the Polar regions
$16,195
Save 30%
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Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent

Roundtrip Ushuaia - 11 Day Itinerary aboard World Explorer
  • Explore local bays and channels
  • Scout for humpback & minke whales
  • Experience a Polar Plunge swim
  • Learn from on-board specialists
Starts / Ends:
Port of Ushuaia / Port of Ushuaia
Activities:
Adventure Options, Camping, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
During this 11-day Antarctic expedition, dramatic ice formations ignite your imagination as you search the landscape for the wildlife that calls it home. Whether it’s humpback whales alongside the ship, a leopard seal diving beneath your Zodiac, penguins sliding into crystal waters from an …
Cruise Details
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Enjoy close-up wildlife watching!
$17,995
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Across the Antarctic Circle

Roundtrip Ushuaia - 13 Day Itinerary aboard Greg Mortimer
  • Cross the Antarctic Circle
  • See leopard and crabeater seals
  • Tour scientific research stations
  • Dive and snorkel in the Antarctic
  • Capture wildlife activity
Starts / Ends:
Ushuaia / Port of Ushuaia
Activities:
Adventure Options, Scuba Diving, Small Ship Cruises, Snorkeling, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
On this 13-day Across the Antarctic Circle Expedition Cruise Roundtrip Ushuaia aboard Greg Mortimer, have a chance to enter a different world more rarely seen, it feels more isolated and colder than further north, with great swathes of pack-ice and dreamlike icebergs. Thread through pack ice and …
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0
$32,295
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Antarctica Complete

Roundtrip Ushuaia - 23 Day Itinerary aboard Sylvia Earle
  • Step ashore on the Antarctic
  • See the king penguins
  • Cross the Antarctic Circle
Starts / Ends:
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
Activities:
Adventure Options, Kayaking, Land & Sea Exploration, Photography Seminars, Small Ship Cruises, Snorkeling, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Easy Active
Experience unparalleled adventure and discovery on your ultimate Antarctic voyage. If you want to see it all, this is the trip for you. Be transported to enthralling subantarctic islands rich with human history and unique wildlife. Then venture into the deep south of the Antarctic Peninsula, …
Cruise Details
0
$16,195
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Spirit of Antarctica

Roundtrip Ushuaia - 12 Day Itinerary aboard Sylvia Earle
  • Hone your photography skills
  • Explore the Drake Passage
  • Navigate on a Zodiac
  • Take a Polar Plunge
Starts / Ends:
Ushuaia / Ushuaia
Activities:
Adventure Options, Camping, Kayaking, Photography Seminars, Skiing, Small Ship Cruises, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
On this 12-day adventure cruise roundtrip Ushuaia aboard Sylvia Earle, immerse yourself in the essence of polar exploration with this traditional expedition to the sought-after white continent. Traverse the renowned Drake Passage, marveling at breathtaking seabirds and approaching the ice by sea, …
Cruise Details
0
The wildlife was so abundant it was difficult to land.
$15,475
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Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage

Roundtrip Puerto Natales - 10 Day Itinerary aboard National Geographic Orion
  • Skip the traditional Drake Passage
  • Explore into channels and coves
  • Experience activities
  • Explore Antarctica's wildlife
  • Seven days Antarctic experience
Starts / Ends:
Puerto Natales / Puerto Natales
Activities:
Fly Cruises, Hiking, Kayaking, Skiing, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Embark on an Antarctic adventure on this 10-day Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage Cruise roundtrip Puerto Natales aboard National Geographic Orion. This action-packed trip offers seven days of exploration on the continent, providing the most immersive Antarctic experience yet. Skip the …
Cruise Details
0
Cruising in the zodiac looking for wildlife
$10,975
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Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage

Roundtrip Puerto Natales - 9 Day Itinerary aboard National Geographic Orion
  • Skip the traditional Drake Passage
  • Explore into channels and coves
  • Experience activities
  • Explore Antarctica's wildlife
Starts / Ends:
Puerto Natales / Puerto Natales
Activities:
Fly Cruises, Hiking, Kayaking, Skiing, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
This 9-day Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage roundtrip Puerto Natales aboard National Geographic Orionoffers an efficient way to experience the wild grandeur of the White Continent. Bypassing the traditional Drake Passage crossing, travelers take a two-hour flight to and from Antarctica, …
Cruise Details
0
A humpback whale dives beneath the Antarctic waters
$17,995
Save 30%
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Antarctic Express: Fly South, Cruise North

Punta Arenas - Ushuaia - 10 Day Itinerary aboard World Explorer
  • Witness Antarctic wildlife
  • Fly over the Drake Passage
  • Presentations by polar experts
  • Cruise in a Zodiac
Starts / Ends:
Punta Arenas / Port of Ushuaia
Activities:
Adventure Options, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Embark on an immersive 10-day Antarctic exploration aboard the World Explorer. Expedite the trip by flying directly from Punta Arenas, granting a unique aerial perspective of the vast, untouched continent. Immerse yourself in the wonders of Antarctica via vessel, traversing the legendary Drake …
Cruise Details
0
$11,295
Savings
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The Ultimate Antarctica Experience

12 Day Itinerary aboard Ocean Victory
  • Explore the South Shetland Islands
  • Experience Zodiac excursions
  • Spot bounty of wildlife
  • See tabular icebergs of Weddell Sea
Starts / Ends:
Port of Ushuaia / Port of Ushuaia
Activities:
Adventure Options, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Join this 12-day ultimate Antarctica cruise from Ushuaia and back aboard the Ocean Victory. Start your journey in the Beagle Channel, then cross the infamous Drake Passage and explore the South Shetland Islands. Witness the bounty of wildlife, from albatrosses, seabirds, and seals to whales. …
Cruise Details
0
Midnight sun over the flat-topped icebergs of the Weddell Sea
$28,499
BOGO
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Drake Express

8 Day Itinerary aboard World Voyager
  • Fly to King George Island
  • Visit Elephant Island
  • Explore Deception Island’s
  • Witness Gentoo penguin rookeries
Starts / Ends:
Punta Arenas / Punta Arenas
Activities:
Fly Cruises, Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching
Activity Level:
Variable
Set sail on this 8-day Antarctic adventure aboard World Voyager in Punta Arenas. Fly to King George Island and embark on your expedition. King George Island features a variety of research stations and abundant wildlife, including chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, and elephant, leopard, and Weddell …
Cruise Details
0
A polar landscape
$8,050
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Antarctica - Discovery and Learning Voyage

including Deception Island - 11 Day Itinerary aboard Ortelius
  • Cross the infamous Drake Passage
  • Cruise between icebergs & fjords
  • Observe penguins, albatross & more
  • Set foot on the Antarctic Continent
Starts / Ends:
Port of Ushuaia / Port of Ushuaia
Activities:
Adventure Options, Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Explore the Antarctic Peninsula and enjoy the most dramatic scenery and the widest variety of wildlife in Antarctica on this special 11-day cruise. Visit the volcanic islands of the South Shetlands and explore the wide variety of flora and fauna in South Shetland.This classic route to the Antarctic …
Cruise Details
0
A majestic view from the kayak
$17,895
Save 30%
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Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North

Ushuaia - Punta Arenas - 10 Day Itinerary aboard Ocean Explorer
  • Witness Antarctic wildlife
  • Fly over the Drake Passage
  • Presentations by polar experts
  • Cruise in a Zodiac
Starts / Ends:
Port of Ushuaia / Punta Arenas
Activities:
Adventure Options, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
On this 10-day Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North Expedition Cruise aboard Ocean Explorer, experience the thrill of cruising the Drake Passage upon departure from Ushuaia, complemented by the convenience of a return flight heading north. Along the way to the northernmost point of the …
Cruise Details
0
A seal sits on snow.
$6,790
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Classic Antarctica

11 Day Itinerary aboard MV Ushuaia
  • Sail the Drake Passage
  • Explore the Antarctic Peninsula
  • Navigate beautiful waterways
  • Visit an Antarctic station
Starts / Ends:
Port of Ushuaia / Port of Ushuaia
Activities:
Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Arrive in Ushuaia and meet your vessel the MV Ushuaia for your 11-day polar adventure. Begin your crossing of the Drake Passage, named after Sir Frances Drake who sailed these waters in 1578. Be sure to keep your eyes open for wildlife such as sea birds, whales, and seals. Icebergs and snow-capped …
Cruise Details
0
Nights in Ushuaia
$16,795
Save 30%
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Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North

Ushuaia - Punta Arenas - 10 Day Itinerary aboard World Explorer
  • Witness Antarctic wildlife
  • Fly over the Drake Passage
  • Presentations by polar experts
  • Cruise in a Zodiac
Starts / Ends:
Port of Ushuaia / Punta Arenas
Activities:
Adventure Options, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
Embark on the 10-day Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North Expedition aboard World Explorer. Experience crossing the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, followed by the convenience of a return flight north. En route to the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, travelers may encounter Minke and …
Cruise Details
0
Gentoo penguin
$16,295
Save 30%
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Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent

Buenos Aires - Ushuaia - 12 Day Itinerary aboard Ultramarine
  • Explore the white continent
  • Observe wildlife
  • Explore landscapes
  • Explore Antarctica's history
Starts / Ends:
Buenos Aires / Buenos Aires
Activities:
Adventure Options, Helicopter Tours, Hiking, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
On this 12-Day Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent Cruise from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia aboard Ultramarine.This trip is an adventure-filled expedition to Antarctica, starting with a transfer from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. After exploring the port town, embark on a journey through the …
Cruise Details
0
Hiking for a stunning view of Antarctica
$10,395
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Christmas in Antarctica

12 Day Itinerary aboard Sea Spirit
  • Explore the white continent
  • See the frozen frontier of earth
  • Observe unique wildlife
  • Admire breathtaking glaciers
Starts / Ends:
Ushuaia / Port of Ushuaia
Activities:
Adventure Options, Camping, Kayaking, Small Ship Cruises, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing
Activity Level:
Variable
This once-in-a-lifetime adventure takes you to celebrate the festive season in the ultimate white Christmas destination: Antarctica. What could be more special than spending Christmas in one of the most remote and magical regions on Earth - the hauntingly beautiful and pristine ice wilderness of …
Cruise Details
0
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