Antarctica: Through the Lens - Fly/Sail Expedition

Arrive in Punta Arenas, where an Aurora Expeditions representative will greet you and arrange your hotel transfer. Please arrive before 2:00 pm to ensure you attend essential pre-flight briefings. If weather conditions require, you may depart for King George Island on Day 1 instead of Day 2.

Between 2:00 and 6:00 pm, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby to collect your luggage cabin tags. The team will confirm embarkation details, answer questions, and provide recommendations for dining or last-minute purchases.

Overlooking the historic Straits of Magellan, Punta Arenas blends diverse cultural influences, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors. Today, this vibrant city offers a rich mix of history, restaurants, and bars serving local and international cuisine (meals at your own expense).

At 7:00 pm, meet fellow expeditioners for a voyage briefing covering transfer schedules, flight procedures to King George Island, and key IAATO regulations for visiting Antarctica.

This morning, transfer to Punta Arenas Airport for your charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The journey takes approximately one hour and 45 minutes. Upon arrival, the expedition team will welcome you and assist with your Zodiac transfer to the vessel. Once onboard, settle into your cabin before attending essential safety briefings.

Note: Luggage restrictions apply to our charter flight, 1 x checked piece (<20kg) + 1 x carry-on piece (<7kg). The overhead bins of a BAE146 are substantially smaller than those on a regular commercial flight. Dimensions are Height: 45 cm / Width: 40 cm / Depth: 20 cm 

If your camera gear combined with your usual luggage means you may go over these weight limits, please let your reservations consultant know. As we have chartered the plane, we have some flexibility with the weight. If you would like to bring your camera gear on board with you, please take note of the overhead bin dimensions above, otherwise it will need to be placed under the seat in front of you or checked in. It is important to note that your checked luggage will be taken from the plane directly to the ship, and you will not have access to your checked luggage until it is brought to your cabin.

Note: A clear sky with great visibility is required for safe take-off and landing at King George Island. Should the weather be uncooperative at this remote airstrip, flights can be moved earlier, or delayed later.  Historically, 85% of flights occur on the day they are scheduled.  But if this is not possible, the ship operator will follow their established contingency plan, which can be read here. 

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.  

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area in partnership with the team of photography experts, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, getting you in the best position based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions, and wildlife opportunities. Flexibility is key on an Antarctic expedition, especially a photography expedition. Rest assured that if a wildlife event presents itself or the light hits a glacier just right; the team will do what they can to allow you more time to capture it, provided it is possible and safe to do so! 

Once you arrive, the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are yours to explore, and you have many choices available. You generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day, and the timings will depend on what the day brings you. You are planning to make some landings at sunrise and sunset where/when possible, but with approximately 18-24 hours of daylight this far south, these sunrise/sunset landings are rewarding but quite challenging! 

Rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals, and porpoising penguins. You have been known to have longer Zodiac excursions than originally planned... sometimes you are just presented with a special moment that cannot be missed. One can never know what wonders Mother Nature will serve up! And that is all part of the beauty and the fun of an expedition to the Antarctic. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve from summit to sea. With the engine turned off, take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent. 

The Zodiac excursions are a major part of the expedition, and on this voyage, you have reduced the passenger numbers on the voyage and in the Zodiacs. This will allow your photographers to maneuver around the Zodiacs to easily capture their subject matter and allow sufficient room for their gear. 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, the expeditioners will choose how they would like to explore that site. Quite often, one of the options will be to hike up to a vantage point with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. The light can vary dramatically depending on the day's weather, but the ridgeline's view never disappoints. If you focus on the wildlife, you may wander along pebbly beaches where you are likely to find a variety of penguins (mainly Gentoo), seals, and birds in this area. Occasionally, you may capture a leopard seal coming close to shore to find a snack. Whichever option you choose, the team will be with you every step of the way. 

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 Glass Atrium Lounge inside the bow or the Observation Lounge, featuring huge windows and superb views. The bridge will be opened at the Captain's discretion, giving the photographers a different perspective of the running of an expedition through these waters. Of course, the tradition of the polar plunge, where those who dare to will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting! 

When you aren't exploring by foot or Zodiac, join as many lectures and workshops as possible. Various photography-focused workshops also offer lectures from the expedition team of naturalists, historians, marine biologists, etc. 

Note: The scheduler, where Antarctic operators book their dates and sites, opens closer to departure. Once your sites are booked, the team will be able to provide more information on places you are likely to visit on this voyage. Keeping in mind that this is an expedition and there is always an element of flexibility.

Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before re-entering the Drake Passage for your return journey to South America. With any luck, be blessed with the ‘Drake Lake’! 

With lectures, recaps, and film presentations to complete your Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. 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 to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here. The team hopes the images you captured during your adventure inspire, bring joy, and continue to remind you of a life-changing experience.

As you approach the tip of South America, your Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.

During the early morning, you cruise up the Beagle Channel before quietly slipping into a dock in Ushuaia, where you can disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell to your expedition team and fellow passengers as you continue your onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.   

Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation. 

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, it is not recommended to book flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.