Expedition

Antarctic Basecamp Adventure

4.5/5 From 153 Reviews

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Antarctic Basecamp Adventure

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The ultimate Antarctic adventure, this trip is specifically for the active traveller. Spend 7 days kayaking, hiking, camping, mountaineering and snowshoeing, all included in the price. A medium-sized expedition ship acts as your floating ‘basecamp’. An excellent deal backed up by rave customer reviews.

Trip Summary

  • 7 full days in Antarctica = 14 planned ‘off ship’ excursions
  • The widest selection of activities on any Antarctic voyage available
  • Antarctic operational experience since 1996
  • Expedition staff to guest ratio of 1:10
  • Camping, kayaking, mountaineering and snowshoeing all included
  • A comfortable, homely (not luxury) 108 or 170 passenger ship
  • Bivouac under the stars, instead of camping in a tent

Trip Overview

Route
Trip length
13 Days
Ship Comfort
Expedition
Ship
Plancius
Total guests
108

From

$9,700 - $17,150

Operator's Itinerary

Start from Ushuaia and end at Ushuaia

Landmarks potentially visited on Antarctic Basecamp Adventure

NOTE: Activities are offered once during the voyage. Antarctica is a wonderful, wild destination; because of this, it is not guaranteed that every Basecamp departure will offer all activities.This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.

Why our customers love Swoop

The Antarctic Experts.
No Compromises

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Our team has visited Antarctica over 150 times and has 100 collective years of polar experience, so from which trip is right for you to what shoes to bring - there’s no question we can’t answer.

Expert impartial advice at no extra cost

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Choosing the right voyage is complicated, Swoop makes it easy. We offer no-nonsense advice on 1500 voyages across 30 ships to find you the right trip, cabin, price - and we don’t charge a fee.

The only B Corp certified Antarctic specialist

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We want to protect Antarctica for future generations - which is why we became a certified B Corp and set up our own conservation fund. So your adventures can be a force for good.

A full concierge service, unlike booking direct

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We leave nothing to chance in delivering your perfect trip and have over 6500 happy travellers to show for it. With a dedicated Antarctic co-ordinator & support throughout - you’re in safe hands.

Antarctica Basecamp Adventure

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What our customers think of Antarctic Basecamp Adventure

10/10 - It exceeded expectations and was extremely professional run. It also allows you to experience many varied activities in Antarctica.

Travelled: March 2024

Geoffrey Fogarty - Australia

10/10 - Combines the activities with the amazing views of Antarctica! Was everything I wanted in this trip.

Travelled: March 2024

George Vug - UK

10/10 - The Basecamp Adventure allowed us to do more than just walk on the continent or take a zodiac ride. We experienced kayaking, mountaineering and even camping overnight! This was a true expedition and not just a cruise, which is exactly what we wanted. We got to experience Antarctica on several levels.

Travelled: February 2024

Shirley Sutton - USA

10/10 - Highly organized and qualified crew and expedition staff. Excursions, meals, accommodation, all flawless. Loved the daily recaps and plans for the next day, the maps of where we sailed and anchored, and the lectures by staff. Entire 54 staff were friendly. Ship was clean, food was good, cabin was nicer than expected.

Travelled: February 2024

Monica Palme - USA

The staff were all sensational and did everything they could to give us the best experience possible.

Travelled: February 2024

Patricia Gleadle - Australia

10/10 - This was easily the best trip of my life. I think the Basecamp was perfect because of the variety of included activities.

Travelled: January 2024

Aaron Moskal - USA

Brilliant adventure holiday, super supportive guides on the boat, and they just kept us so busy with exploring trips every morning and every afternoon.

Travelled: January 2024

James Evans - UK

10/10 - I wanted something where I could be active and fully immersed in. Each day there were landings and other opportunities to engage, learn and grow. I also enjoyed the mix of engagements; kayaking, camping, climbing, snowshoeing, etc. This is what I wanted to do... be active and not sit around. I felt that I got more than my money's worth and I learned more than I ever imagined.

Travelled: December 2023

William Ramirez - Hong Kong

10/10 - It is an ideal mix of activity and getting to see the peninsula. We never felt we were stuck on the ship. The size of the ship meant we could always land and explore and the staff and expedition team were outstanding.

Travelled: December 2023

Erin Blanton - USA

10/10 - It met and exceeded my expectations.

Travelled: December 2023

Margery Keskin - USA

10/10 - This is the perfect package for folks looking to get off the boat and out into the environment as much as possible. The expedition staff are knowledgeable and entertaining. The whole experience is stunning.

Travelled: December 2023

Amanda Wedige - USA

10/10 - Everything happened exactly as planned. Everyone was incredibly competent, friendly and professional. The ship, crew, food, accommodations, etc, were awesome.

Travelled: December 2023

Donald Appel - USA

I enjoyed the camping in a snow pit, kayaking through brash ice, snowshoeing in blizzard conditions, the polar plunge, the photo workshops, the many related talks about wildlife, glaciers, avalanches, history. The travelers were as excited and enthusiastic about our adventures as I was. I have found a new "tribe" to which I am proud to belong.

Travelled: December 2023

Carol Masheter - USA

10/10 - I chose this Antarctica Basecamp Adventure expedition because it advertised more activities than the cruises I considered. It did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded my expectations.

Travelled: December 2023

Carol Masheter - USA

10/10 - This is the one to do! So much more than a cruise, enough time to adapt to the changing weather and get to experience so much more than just looking.

Travelled: December 2023

Thomas Pritchard - Australia

10/10 - Loved all of the activities. The staff and food were great!

Travelled: December 2023

Kaitlin Curry - USA

Great team, all experts in their fields; very friendly, always mixing in with passengers to make everyone feel welcome and included.

Travelled: December 2023

Larry Heslop - USA

Everything was great: activities for many interests, super helpful and friendly crew, lectures interesting and informative.

Travelled: November 2023

Arthur Edward Salgado - USA

10/10 - Great ship, professional service, good food and we were always kept busy.

Travelled: November 2023

Linda Chime - USA

10/10 - The crew and staff on the boat were top notch! We had amazing weather. The activities were phenomenal and there were so many opportunities for landings and zodiac cruising. Every day was packed full of amazing activities.

Travelled: November 2023

Midori Shibuya - USA

10/10 - Amazing experience. Impossible to fully describe the trip, but anyone who's interested in adventures and Antarctica will love it.

Travelled: November 2023

Jake Given - USA

10/10 - Value for money was excellent. Small ship felt intimate and never over crowded. Great food. All activities included.

Travelled: March 2023

Libby Chamberlain - UK

10 - A fantastic trip. The crew and staff were excellent. The programme had to be adapted due to weather, but even plan C was exciting.

Travelled: March 2023

Andrew John Griffiths - UK

10/10 - Excellent adventure staff, very supportive, activities well planned and executed. I felt fully engaged throughout the tour. Great ship, food, zodiacs and guests.

Travelled: March 2023

Peter Williams - UK

Experienced captain and crew, great food, whole activity program was first class.

Travelled: March 2023

George Maloney - Ireland

10/10 - We got a taste of everything (kayaking, mountain climbing, bivvying, polar plunging, seeing a ton of wildlife). The staff positioned us to get the most out of everything. We lucked out with the weather the first couple days, and even when it wasn't favorable, the staff made sure we had a great time. Life-changing experience.

Travelled: February 2023

Chris Poli - USA

10/10 – The expedition team and boat crew were outstanding. Every aspect of the trip, from getting us out 2x per day and expedition expertise to the ship (with stabilizers), room accommodations and hotel service, food was excellent, etc. As it turned out, the weather was very good almost the entire trip.

Travelled: February 2023

Chris Poli - USA

10/10 - Great staff and great atmosphere among the whole crew and expedition team. The leaders were top class. The Captain and his crew were so obliging and so accommodating. The housekeeping and catering team were so professional and warm and friendly.

Travelled: February 2023

Liam Mc Cabe - Ireland

Most memorable moment? Mountaineering and seeing Antarctica from up high.

Travelled: February 2023

Bhavini Joshi - UK

10/10 - Everything was awesome, kayaking, camping, mountaineering and the zodiac rides!

Travelled: February 2023

Jessica Naff - USA

10/10 - Simply amazing and words can’t really describe

Travelled: January 2023

Marc Halgreen - Denmark

The team do their best to give their customers the best possible experience, while taking into consideration the safety of the wildlife and guests.

Travelled: January 2023

Jill Pryor - USA

Hiking on the continent and seeing the penguins, seals, whales, glaciers and icebergs. Kayaking, camping, mountaineering and going out on the Zodiacs were special as well.

Travelled: January 2023

Patricio Sarceda - USA

10/10 - Awesome staff, in every way. The ship exceeded my expectations. The trip and activities were a lot of fun, Antarctica was amazing.

Travelled: January 2023

Talia Salenger - USA

Everything was incredibly well organised: the food was fantastic and all the activities were completed for everyone - in fact by the end of the second day, we had kayaked, mountaineered, done the Polar Plunge, snowshoed around penguin colonies and were camping out in a snow hole we'd dug!

Travelled: January 2023

Virginia Campbell - UK

Camping on the ice with Saskia was 10/10. The absolute "polar silence" was incredible and unmatched, only broken by humpback whale blows and glacier cracks - incredible.

Travelled: January 2023

Tyler White - USA

10/10 - We had incredible weather and wildlife sightings (which was definitely an element of luck) - but also the boat, staff, guides and kitchen were absolutely incredible. Really well run operation with things kept on time and all the adventures engaging.

Travelled: January 2023

Ryan Heyrana - USA

Make sure you’re fit to fully enjoy basecamp trip. Be open-minded that all activities are all weather-dependant in order to avoid disappointment.

Travelled: January 2023

Rowena Chislett - UK

We learned a lot about the animals in Antarctica, the geopolitics, the whaling history and the expedition histories. Very interesting. This makes us more closely connected to Antarctica and appreciate all its beauty and complexity. The animals are just adorable.

Travelled: December 2022

Cindy He - Switzerland

10/10 - The basecamp adventure was definitely the best option for us, as we wanted to see and experience as much as possible outside of the ship. Some big cruises don’t even allow you to set foot on land, but we got the full experience by choosing this option.

Travelled: December 2022

Joseph Gabriano - USA

I'd say the staff was incredible all around. All were easy to talk to on board the ship and gave freely of their time. On shore or in a Zodiac, they were knowledgeable and friendly, and at all times helpful.

Travelled: December 2022

Jason Maynard - USA

Stepping onto the continent for the first time was really a special moment, I loved camping on the continent...the kayaking was amazing, I could go on forever. What a fantastic trip!

Travelled: December 2022

Dale Matthews - USA

I wanted a trip that included a lot of activities, so this particular trip was perfect for me.

Travelled: December 2022

Dale Matthews - USA

I could have never expected such a special trip as the one I had! The voyage was magnificent, the team made the experience unforgettable, there was not a single moment I would change, our guides were so passionate to provide us all the opportunities they could to spot wildlife, enjoy breathtaking landscapes and get as close as possible to this frozen land, never compromising safety.

Travelled: December 2022

Viktoria Tsvetkova - Bulgaria

The crew and guides were exceptional. Everyone would go above and beyond to make our stay just a little bit better.

Travelled: December 2022

Chris Waters - Canada

10/10 - It is a once in a lifetime trip. Created true core memories for me and my family. This was an active trip; we definitely experienced Antarctica from the hiking, kayaking, mountaineering and zodiac cruises. The camping and polar plunge were amazing experiences! Our guides were friendly, knowledgeable and simply awesome. They truly enhanced the experience. Perfect ship for the experience too. Right size, right capabilities. The entire adventure from what we did, who helped us do, the ship (and the entire crew ) were great.

Travelled: December 2022

Marc Ganz - USA

Fantastic staff. Everyone on expedition team was friendly and amazing. Safety was first. Every team member was enjoyable to spend time with daily.

Travelled: December 2022

Alison Rosebrough - USA

The wildlife was incredible. Landing right next to penguins and viewing leopard seals up close was unbelievable.

Travelled: December 2022

Jagadeesh Hathwar - USA

The wildlife was pretty spectacular. We saw orcas, whales, birds, penguins and seals. Photos turned out wonderful.

Travelled: December 2022

Tammie Pech - USA

10/10 - Damn near perfect. There was nothing that the ship could have done better to make this a magical trip in every single way. Staff was on point, clean, nice rental gear, boots, equipment. They invited us into their 'home' for two weeks. As a solo female traveller, I was safe at all times, whether in cabins or on land.

Travelled: December 2022

Cathy Tapley - USA

Most memorable moment: the experiences offered, including daily landings, kayaking, mountaineering and zodiac cruises as available. This provided days filled with adventure and bringing you up and close and personal to the vast and beautiful landscape.

Travelled: December 2022

Alyson Winemberg - USA

Tip: choose a trip that includes excursions and activities in the overall cost. Your days will be filled with a well curated and active schedule. You will have the flexibility to relax and there is something for everyone. There was never a dull moment.

Travelled: December 2022

Alyson Winemberg - USA

10/10 - Utterly amazing trip! The team and the ship were just incredible in every way

Travelled: December 2022

Stephanie Weaver - USA

Friendly knowledgeable staff, great excursions that maximized time off the boat, and food that was far higher quality and varied than anyone expected.

Travelled: December 2022

Daniel Yates - USA

10/10 - I'm still mentally processing all the things we saw and the experiences I had; it's almost overwhelming how much got packed into 'only' two weeks.

Travelled: December 2022

Derek Vandivere - Netherlands

Penguins are one of the funniest animals and thieves I have ever seen! Whale sightings from the deck and Zodiac boats was one of the best and top listings on my bucket list. Thanks!

Travelled: December 2022

Steve Rimel - USA

Mountaineering 1.2 miles fairly straight with ice pick in one hand and roped to guide with one other - when we reached the top it was exhilarating.

Travelled: December 2022

Joan Siegel - USA

10/10 - The trip and ship operations and crew were fantastic!

Travelled: December 2022

Sarah Moore - USA

10/10 - Great ship, activities and food

Travelled: December 2022

Joanne Liddle - USA

10/10 - It was a fantastic trip and the Expedition Guides were great fun.

Travelled: December 2022

Brent Crowle - UK

The staff was just super. They bent over backwards to accommodate the myriad of abilities and desires of their guests. We were also blessed with perfect weather. I enjoyed the variety of excursions to include kayaking, snowshoeing, zodiac tours, hiking, and camping.

Travelled: December 2022

Darwin Webster - USA

The expedition leaders were exceptional - SO knowledgeable in their fields, competent, inclusive - their lectures were a high point when we were on the boat. Camaraderie among the passengers was also memorable - such a diverse and eclectic group of travelers!!! The experience was unparalleled in every respect !

Travelled: November 2022

Shelley Springer - USA

If you have any doubts, Antarctica it's one of the best and most fantastic destinations, and basecamp is the best way to experience it.

Travelled: November 2022

Eduardo Vidal - Argentina

The kayaking was one of the best days, and the ice camping was the best night (and morning thereafter with a beautiful sunrise on the mountain tops). The most exhilarating moment was the polar plunge (while it was lightly snowing). OMG the water was so cold! But it brought up this feeling of great anticipation and excitedness that I haven't felt since I was a child.

Travelled: November 2022

Kelly DeBey - USA

The only misgivings I had were that it would be too "easy" or "luxurious" or something, but the activities were certainly challenging and authentic and experientially rich. Exactly what I had hoped for.

Travelled: November 2022

Matt Martin - USA

10/10 - All activities all the time. We were always doing something, which is exactly what I wanted.

Travelled: November 2022

Matt Martin - USA

10 - It was so much more than "just a cruise." Activities were safe and allowed for participation regardless of your age, ability, etc. The educational aspects of the region, the wildlife, the history, the current processes in place to "manage" the area and preserve its unique wild state - everything was phenomenal !!!

Travelled: November 2022

Shelley Springer - USA

I waited over two years to go on this trip because of Covid. It was well worth the wait. Everyone who has ever thought of going to Antarctica and has the means should go. Go now while you still can!

Travelled: December 2021

Kent Kimball - USA

Most memorable moment: hard to choose just one! Penguins swimming underwater en masse. A huge, unusually large pod of orca feeding. The magnificent mountain peaks and sunlit valleys beneath them, and on and on. Truly something I will remember every day of my life!

Travelled: December 2021

Kent Kimball - USA

Absolutely spectacular expedition team. So incredibly smart and knowledgeable. Very friendly and accommodating as well.

Travelled: December 2021

Elizabeth Bunnen - USA

Our guide, Steffie, told us to put down our cameras when we were on an outing on the zodiac, and just listen! It was surreal - the peace that surrounded us, the sound of the whales, blowing through their blowhole, the water lapping around us - I realized, I have not actually been listening for years!

Travelled: February 2020

Rosarii Nuala Falvey - United States Of America

Loved it! We saw lots of penguins, whales, and some seals! We got more and better pictures than expected :)

Travelled: December 2019

Kayla Kissane - United States Of America

The expedition staff far surpassed all my expectations. My favourite moment was just sitting with the penguin colonies and watching them interact with each other. An absolutely incredible experience!

Travelled: December 2019

Jill Pickett - United States Of America

The expedition team was one of a kind. They were incredibly talented, knowledgeable and would sit and discuss anything at length.

Travelled: December 2019

Nancy Jones - Canada

Most memorable moment was seeing penguins for the first time as we were on the mountaineering walk. Chinstrap penguins - they were so close! 🥰

Travelled: December 2019

Sarah Gillett - Switzerland

This was an absolutely spectacular trip. We booked for and achieved all of the activities and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in fantastic weather. Both clients and staff/crew on board were very friendly and the big surprise was the amount and quality of the food.

Travelled: December 2018

Gill & Richard Starling - United Kingdom

The ship's crew - both staff and guides - were amazing and there were great fellow travellers too.

Travelled: December 2018

Connie Parkinson - New Zealand

An amazing experience, it was beyond my expectations.

Travelled: November 2018

Rebecca Kronick - Guatemala

We totally enjoyed and were absolutely happy with all the activities, including shore landings, mountaineering, kayaking, camping and the zodiac cruises.

Travelled: November 2018

Nora & Zoltan Patsenker - Switzerland

This was truly a trip of a lifetime. The staff ensured it was a safe and incredible experience. The other guests were interesting, like minded individuals. The wildlife was up close and personal. To be a guest in such a magical place was a true privilege.

Travelled: January 2018

Carla & Ross - Canada

This was truly a trip of a lifetime. The staff ensured it was a safe and incredible experience. The views were beyond imagination. To be a guest in such a magical place was a true privilege.

Travelled: December 2017

Carla & Ross MacHattie - Canada

For active people who wanted to do everything, this was absolutely the best trip. First and foremost, the entire crew was excellent, everyone was professional, knowledgeable and hard working. Having all the excursions, kayaking, mountaineering, etc. included made it stress-free and a lot of fun. As an active person, I think this is the best way to see the continent.

Travelled: December 2017

Nick - Canada

The trip lived up to expectations, we have already recommended to others. And with our active lifestyle, the basecamp experience was a great match.

Travelled: December 2017

Travis & Kalli - Texas

The highlight of the trip was mountain climbing in a snowstorm. I was surprised by a lot of interesting and accomplished people.

Travelled: November 2017

Shawn Faessler - United States Of America

Kayaking and snowshoeing were brilliant. The highlight was the grandeur of the landscape.

Travelled: November 2017

Prue & Dominique - Australia

Review:

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