When you arrive in this amazing city, known for its lively Argentinian culture, European-style architecture, and international feel, you'll go to the hotel for your pre-expedition stay. This night is included in your Charter Flight and Hotel Package.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group heads to the airport for a private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Upon arrival, you’ll be taken to a central downtown location, where you’ll have free time to explore this charming port town. When ready, make your way to the designated meeting spot near the pier for your transfer to the ship. After boarding in the late afternoon, sail through the historic Beagle Channel, which runs through the Tierra del Fuego archipelago at the southern tip of South America. Excitement builds as you depart— the next land you see is the remote Antarctic wilderness.

Crossing the legendary 800-km stretch of water is a must-do for many travelers. Prepare yourself for dramatic seascapes as you stand on the deck of Ultramarine and gaze at the water stretching beyond the distant horizon. Be on the lookout for dolphins, whales, and seabirds, especially albatrosses, petrels, and skuas as they glide over the sometimes rough waters. As the ship approaches the Antarctic Peninsula, keep your eyes peeled for your first glimpse of towering, multi-shaped icebergs.

Today, as you continue crossing the Drake Passage, you experience the Antarctic Convergence, where the warmer waters of the sub-Antarctic meet the cold Antarctic. Your days at sea are filled with presentations led by your Expedition Team on photography, wildlife, glaciology, and history. In between presentations, spend time on deck looking for wildlife or chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar.

The most common reaction upon reaching the Antarctic Peninsula is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every visit to Antarctica, you witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition is unlike any other— creating a unique, personal experience. Each day, you take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore local bays, channels, and landing sites. With wildlife always at the forefront of your minds, you visit penguin rookeries, scout for humpback and minke whales, and search for a number of southern seal species, including the elusive leopard seal. Your Expedition Team takes care of you at each landing, whether you are exploring the Antarctic terrain, visiting a research station, or consorting with penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie, and gentoo penguins are found here, along with five different species of seals. Zodiac cruising can offer opportunities to view some of the larger local marine mammals more intimately, such as Antarctic minke and humpback whales. Days 5 and 6 are also ideal times to experience Ultramarine’s portfolio of helicopter-supported adventures exclusive to Quark Expeditions. Your days are busy spotting wildlife and being mesmerized by the astounding beauty of Antarctica. Listening to the crackling and crumbling of icebergs and glaciers and watching penguins waddling on the beach become your daily entertainment. That’s in addition to the spectacular experience of soaring in a helicopter over the Antarctic landscape.

Helicopter operations in the Antarctic are acutely weather-dependent. This itinerary is designed so you can spend time each day in stunning locations that allow you to enjoy helicopter opportunities if the weather allows and, alternately, to maximize your experience of Antarctic wildlife, ice, and landscapes when flying conditions are not favorable. Each day near the Antarctic Circle showcases the flexibility and technical prowess of the industry-leading expedition team, pilots, and crew, who look for opportunities to experience Antarctica well beyond its coasts. As Ultramarine gains access to the Antarctic Circle, you’ll have accomplished an impressive achievement as most expeditions to the Peninsula do not come close to navigating this far south. Toasting the first explorers who ventured here over a century ago, you can raise a glass and take pride in the knowledge you’ve reached part of the world visited by a relative few. Next on the itinerary are Crystal Sound and Marguerite Bay, which comprise the geographical theater of focus on this incredible venture into the “deep south” of Antarctica. After visiting some of the region’s iconic penguin colonies and glacial features, you continue south into Crystal Sound to cross the Antarctic Circle. Crystal Sound is known for its massive expanse of steep mountains that rise directly out of the sea. Hopefully, to visit Detaille Island and, weather permitting, fly into the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula at the Antarctic Circle. The goal is to visit the British Antarctic Survey’s historical hut, and the Adélie penguin colony of Detaillle Island. Also, hope to Zodiac cruise in this area to see the colossal icebergs that formed from the glaciers fed by the snowfall in the coastal mountains of Antarctica. Seals frequently roam this coastal area. There is time to marvel at the impressive topography, which features Castle Peak, a 2,380 meter (7,800 foot) massif. If the weather allows, you may add to the marine operations and embark on your flightseeing experiences. What you have just seen from the sea, you now experience from the sky as you witness the vastness of Antarctica and Crystal Sound. Continuing further south, you’ll set out toward Marguerite Bay, which is rich in human history, stunning geological features, and expansive ice fields. The bay is separated from Crystal Sound by Adelaide Island. Ice conditions permitting, you may be able to transit slowly through the narrow passage between the mainland and the island. This channel is known as The Gullet, known for pulsing currents that can lodge and dislodge ice throughout the summer months. Keep your eyes focused off-ship for potential marine mammal sightings. To the west of Adelaide Island, the 70-kilometer-long Fuchs Ice Piedmont stretches out like a long ice tongue to the east Arrowsmith Peninsula with multiple peaks rising 1,800 to 2,100 meters (6,000 to 7000 feet). Also, hope to explore Debenham Islands, named after Frank Debenham, a member of the advisory committee for the British Graham Land Expedition of 1934-37. The six main islands are named after Debenham’s children.

By now, your knowledge of Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins is matched by your ability to differentiate between a leopard, crabeate, and Weddell seal. Terms like ‘bergy bits’ and ‘pancake ice’ become part of your vocabulary. As you head north, Zodiac excursions occupy your days, and your Expedition Team continues looking out for species of seabirds, seals, and whales that may have eluded you on this journey south.

As you recross the Drake Passage at the end of your expedition, rest assured you’ll do so with a storehouse of memories to last a lifetime. You’ll have experienced moments—soaring in a helicopter over remote parts of Antarctica being one of the most memorable—which few travelers can ever claim. Your Expedition Team has a few remaining presentations for you—including the guest favorite, the end-of-voyage photo, and a video compilation showcasing the most unforgettable moments of your voyage. Remember to take advantage of Ultramarine’s amenities, especially Tundra Spa & Sauna, on the final days onboard.

You arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast —but the adventures aren’t over. Your Charter Flight and Hotel Package includes your transfer to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.