Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile. Transfer to your hotel, visit Explorers House, and attend a mandatory briefing that provides important information about your air-cruise and reviews the essential guidelines for Antarctic visitors. At Explorers House, enjoy local gastronomy as you meet your fellow adventurers.

Please note: Passengers must be in Punta Arenas at 2 PM, at the latest. Pick-up at the Punta Arenas airport and transfer to the hotel cannot be guaranteed for travelers arriving later than 2 PM.

A smooth two-hour flight takes you efficiently from Punta Arenas to King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands. Your Antarctic adventure begins as you exit the airplane and the clear Antarctic air fills your lungs for the first time. Explore the area surrounding Chile’s Frei Station and Russia’s Bellingshausen Station, before boarding a Zodiac to embark your expedition vessel.

Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and among spectacular icebergs, while enjoying the company of seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. Each day, disembark by Zodiac and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. On board the ship, attend an engaging program of lectures and presentations and enjoy spectacular views from the lounge while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests.

No journey is the same and flexibility is the key to success in Antarctica. The Expedition Team plans the voyage route to take advantage of the ever- changing opportunities provided by nature, crafting a unique and extraordinary experience every time. While the exact itinerary changes with each expedition, you will explore several sites that offer the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment. Your voyage may include visits to sites in the South Shetland Islands, the Gerlache Strait, the Penola Strait, and the Antarctic Sound.

Sailing north of the Antarctic Peninsula, stop at Elephant Island. It was here that the crew of Shackleton’s Endurance found refuge while he and five handpicked men carried on in a small open lifeboat, crossing 1,300 km of open sea to South Georgia in order to arrange the rescue of their comrades. While the stormy conditions of this area rarely allow a shore landing, you are able to see the island from the ship.

As we sail northward, our expert guides offer a series of presentations. There is time to socialize in the ship’s lounge while keeping an eye out for the region’s birdlife.

The island of South Georgia is a diverse landscape of majestic mountains, massive glaciers, grassy uplands, and deep fjords. Visit the former whaling outpost of Grytviken, where you may pay your respects at the simple grave of Ernest Shackleton. At St. Andrew’s Bay be overwhelmed by the sight of 150,000 king penguins. At Cooper Island, the nesting home of thousands of black-browed albatrosses, see a large colony of macaroni penguins. At the peak of the breeding season, it is said to have the highest concentration of wildlife per square meter on the planet. If the weather is favorable, visits are also planned at Fortuna Bay, Salisbury Plains, Prion Island, and Elsehul Bay.

As the ship heads to South America, the program of presentations continues. Use this time to enhance your understanding of the region and its history.

Approach the South American continent and sail along the Beagle Channel. Take in the beauty of Tierra del Fuego to the north and Navarino Island to the south as you make your way to Ushuaia.

Arrival to Ushuaia, where your journey ends.