Arrive in Punta Arenas and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, attend a briefing that provides important information about your voyage and reviews the essential guidelines for Antarctic visitors. Later, gather for a welcome dinner and meet your fellow adventurers while enjoying a typical regional menu.

Please note: Passengers must be at their hotel in Punta Arenas no later than 2 PM.   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!  

Your Antarctic adventure begins with a two-hour flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands. As you exit the airplane, the clear Antarctic air fills your lungs for the first time. You then walk 2-km (1.25-mi), passing Chile’s Frei Station and Russia’s Bellingshausen Station, to reach the shore and board a Zodiac that will take you to your boutique expedition vessel.

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 well-established 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 the contingencies that Antarctica21 has developed over its two decades of providing fly cruises.

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

No journey is the same, as flexibility is the key to success in Antarctica. The Expedition Team sets the voyage route to take advantage of the ever-changing opportunities provided by Nature, crafting a unique and extraordinary experience each time. While the exact itinerary changes with each expedition, you are sure to explore several locations which offer the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment. Your voyage may include visits to sites such as Paulet Island, Hope Bay, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Deception Island, the Lemaire Channel, or many other magnificent places.

Return to King George Island and bid farewell to Antarctica before boarding your flight back to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night. This evening's meals are at your leisure and not included in the program.

Please note: If the weather at King George Island does not allow for flights this morning, the ship operator will follow their well-established contingency plan, again.   

After breakfast, transfer to the Punta Arenas airport for your onward flight.

Please note: Flights arranged for later in the day provide more buffer against any of those potential flight delays out of King George Island.