Across the Antarctic Circle - Sail/Fly

Arrive in Ushuaia, where an Aurora Expeditions representative will meet you and transfer you with fellow expeditioners to your designated pre-voyage hotel. If you are already in Ushuaia, please proceed directly to your hotel. Check-in is available from 3:00 pm.

This afternoon, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the hotel lobby between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to collect your luggage tags and confirm your participation in tomorrow’s Lake Escondido pre-embarkation tour. The team will provide embarkation details, answer questions, and offer dining and shopping recommendations.

If arriving after 7:00 pm, a welcome pack will be available at check-in. Please stop by the hospitality desk tomorrow between 8:00 am and 10:00 am.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. All meals today are at your own expense.

This morning, enjoy breakfast and check out. Ensure your cabin luggage is labeled with your name and cabin number, then drop it off at hotel reception before or during check-out. Your luggage will be securely stored, transferred to the port for clearance, and placed in your cabin before your arrival on board. Keep valuables and personal items with you throughout the day.  

If you are joining the Lake Escondido tour, meet in the lobby at 8:45 am. This scenic drive takes you through the Andes Mountains' glacial valleys, lush forests, waterfalls, and rivers. Travel northeast from Ushuaia, passing peat bog valleys before ascending the winding road to Garibaldi Pass, where panoramic views of Lake Escondido—and, weather permitting, Fagnano Lake—await. Descend toward Fagnano Lake's shore to visit a local ranch, where you can take in the landscape and enjoy a traditional Fuegian lamb barbecue. After some free time, return to Ushuaia for embarkation.  

Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely morning and meet at your hotel lobby or the designated meeting point near the pier (details provided by the ground staff) for your transfer to the ship.  

Once on board, settle into your cabin and attend mandatory briefings. As the ship departs, gather on deck to take in stunning views of Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego, marking the start of your Antarctic adventure.  

This evening, join your fellow expeditioners, expedition team, and crew for a welcome dinner to celebrate the journey ahead.

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 will 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 can enjoy the vessel's facilities, including the gym, sauna, and jacuzzis, or relax 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 new perspective once you are below the Antarctic Convergence and surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting will likely remain with you forever. 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 many 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, will use their expertise to design your voyage daily, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities.

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, you 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 do that whenever conditions allow. 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 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 go 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 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 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 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 and experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.

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

Note:  King George Island is located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. Apologies in advance for any possible delays.

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; you remain on the ship until it is deemed achievable to return to Punta Arenas. Refer to the terms and conditions for further details.