Welcome to Santiago, the vibrant capital of Chile. Relax and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.

Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile's southernmost city and the regional capital of the Magallanes y Antártica Region. Spend the night here relaxing and planning for your adventure.

Please note: Travelers who choose not to take advantage of last night's hotel in Santiago, or today's charter flights from Santiago to Punta Arenas, should plan to arrive at the Punta Arenas hotel by 3PM today.   Weather at King George Island will drive the overall schedule of this trip, so there's a slight chance you might fly to Antarctica this evening!  

Fly from Punta Arenas to King George and embark on Silver Endeavour for your Polar adventure.

With its 1,150km² King George Island is the largest of the South Shetland Islands. One of the islands closest to South America and only some 120 kilometers from the Antarctic Peninsula, King George Island was first seen by William Smith in 1819 and was named after George III, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover. 

Please note:  Flexibility is key to any successful Antarctic adventure, particularly a fly cruise.  If the weather at King George Island does not allow for flights this morning, the ship operator will follow their contingency plan, which can be read here.  On average, about 85% of flights occur on this day, as scheduled.  But travelers should be aware of, and ready to follow, the contingencies that Silversea has developed.

 

Explore the enchanting wilderness of Antarctica, one of the planet's most remote and extreme destinations. The Antarctic Sound, located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, offers a raw and sensory experience with imposing iceberg slabs and unique wildlife. Encounter Gentoo penguins and cape petrels in this whitewash kingdom. Brush up on your photography skills to capture the unrestrained glory of this unforgiving continent.

Reaching out like a beckoning finger to the adventurous, the Antarctic Peninsula extends from the heart of the world's southernmost continent, lying just 620 miles from Tierra del Fuego. It offers a spectacular introduction to the least-explored continent with its snow-blanketed landscapes and colossal ice sculptures. Unseen by humans until 1820, this adventure into the truly unknown and extraordinary realm is an exhilarating experience. The peninsula, adorned with research bases at the forefront of scientific endeavors, allows for the study of its unique landscape, exceptional wildlife, and human impact on this pristine continent. Encounter cathedral-sized icebergs, blue-hued glaciers, and undisturbed colonies of adorable Adelie penguins in this remarkable setting.

The ice-covered Antarctic Peninsula is the most accessible region of mainland Antarctica, located just 480 miles from South America across the renowned waters of Drake Passage. Situated near the northwestern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and governed by the Antarctic Treaty, the South Shetland Islands have research bases from various countries. With elephant seals and numerous Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adelie Penguins, the islands can sometimes feel crowded. King George Island, the largest and most hospitable, hosts the majority of the research stations, some occupied year-round by small, resilient crews. Despite their remoteness, these islands offer an extraordinary adventure.

The triple peaks of Mount Foster dominate the archipelago, and sailing into the collapsed volcano caldera of Deception Island's core will quicken your heartbeat. Explore the lunar landscapes within and dip into the surprisingly warm, geothermally-heated waters of Pendulum Cove. Elephant Island is etched in Antarctic expedition history as the site where Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance crew miraculously survived a harsh Antarctic winter in 1916.

After breakfast, disembark Silver Endeavour and board a charter flight back to Punta Arenas. Transfer to the hotel for a post-cruise overnight stay.

Please note:  If the weather at King George Island does not allow for flights this morning, the ship operator will follow its published contingency plan here, again.

After Breakfast, bid farewell to hotel staff and catch your flight way back home.

Please note:  Charter flights back to Santiago will be scheduled to arrive late afternoon today, but are contingent on the successful / timely return to Punta Arenas as planned on Day 9.