Fly & Cruise Antarctica

A short two-hour flight quickly and comfortably transports you to the White Continent. On arrival you then switch to an awaiting ship, aboard which you’ll spend the next few days…
Discover MoreSpecial Offers Available: Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
A depth of knowledge on board: As a team of ex-guides, tour leaders, & polar adventurers our Antarctic knowledge is leagues ahead of the rest.
Expert impartial advice at no extra cost: We help you choose the right boat, the right cabin, and at the right point in the season.
For the ends of the Earth: Sustainability is more than our carbon footprint (but we’re reducing that too).
Over 90% of Antarctic visitors travel by ship, which involves four days at sea and takes a minimum of ten days overall. Alternatively, there is a small but growing selection of flights to Antarctica which get you there within a few hours.
Choosing to fly to Antarctica offers the traditional benefits of aviation - namely speed and comfort. It's a very different proposition to booking a flight for a regular holiday, and here’s why:
Prefer to sail? If you are planning on flying to Argentina and taking a ship to Antarctica, find out more about Antarctic Cruises.
You can fly from Southern Chile to Antarctica in 2 hours from December to February. Charter flights to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Pole are increasingly popular. If you're looking to avoid the Drake Passage, a flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, is likely to be the best way to reach the white continent.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
4.5 out of 5
Fly over the Drake Passage in just 2 hours, both to and from Antarctica. Ideal for those wanting a high comfort level, but who have limited time or are anxious sailors. An outstanding program, successfully operated for over 15 seasons.…
For those travellers looking for seamless travel on a trip that is hassle-free from door-to-door and all-inclusive, this is the perfect option. Skip over the notorious Drake Passage on a comfortable two hour flight to Antarctica, then travel onboard a…
4.8 out of 5
Travel with the pioneers of fly & cruise Antarctic voyages, flying in both directions and bypassing a 2-day sail on the Drake Passage. Regular departure dates (Dec - Feb) to choose from. Explore Antarctica aboard a trusty 68-passenger expedition ship…
4.5 out of 5
A cost-effective Antarctic adventure. This itinerary is also ideal for those with limited time wanting to combine Antarctica with time exploring Patagonia. Sailing one way and flying back, you get to combine two iconic places: Antarctica and Cape Horn. Note,…
4.3 out of 5
A rare and popular voyage which flies one way and sails the other, maximising both expediency and experience. Spend 5-7 days exploring Antarctica on a small, newly-built expedition ship, with kayaking & snorkelling available. January - March…
4.1 out of 5
For maximum time in Antarctica with flights both ways, this trip really stands out. An extended fly & cruise voyage spending eight full days actually in Antarctica onboard a small, state-of-the-art expedition ship. Optional kayaking & polar…
Swoop has catered for travellers of every group size. Whether you’re adventuring solo or bringing a group of over 100. We can help.
With flying becoming an ever more popular route to Antarctica, there's an increasing number of flight options to consider, depending on time available, area of interest and budget:
The most popular way to fly to Antarctica, these trips combine the comfort and expediency of flying with all the benefits of then exploring Antarctica by small expedition ship.
An adaptation of the ‘Fly & Cruise’ concept, these trips fly in only one direction, the other leg is by ship.
The traditional route to Antarctica sailing south from the toe of South America remains the most popular choice for 90% of Antarctic travellers today.
If following in the footsteps of Shackleton & Scott is your chosen route, our Antarctic Cruises page has extensive information on all of the different voyages available, ranging from 10 - 30 days in length.
Fly into Antarctica’s vast, uninhabited wilderness which receives less than 500 visitors per year, compared to +1.2 million to Machu Picchu, Peru.
If you've got $6,000 per person to spend, are short on time and willing to accept that you won't step on the Antarctic continent itself - only an outer island - then there are day trips available to Antarctica.
However, Swoop feels that the high cost outweighs the diluted Antarctic experience and only a few hours you'll get to spend 'in Antarctica'. With more time and for not much extra cost you could do it properly and spend 4-5 whole days in Antarctica on an Antarctic Cruise.
For anyone planning to fly to Antarctica, the town of Punta Arenas in southern Chile is the principal gateway to The White Continent.
Flights to Antarctica trips scored 4.5/5 from 321 reviews
For ease and efficiency few things beat flying to Antarctica. If I'd have known it was that easy I would have gone years ago!
Travelled: December 2016
Agi - Hungary
Fly & cruise worked very well and was a great option. All excursions were well organised and conducted safely. We enjoyed them all, especially the snowshoeing treks.
Travelled: December 2016
John - UK
Definitely, fly across the Drake. Definitely sign up for the kayak program. Definitely choose a ship with less than 100 passengers. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2019
Kelly, Shannon and Robin Politte - United States of America
To fly the Drake Passage gave us a particular advantage - more time where we wanted to be. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2019
Alison Murdoch - United Kingdom
Review:
Operating charter flights to Antarctica is challenging due to Antarctica’s harsh environment and the specialist aircraft and experienced pilots required - all of which adds to the cost. While flying to Antarctica saves travel time and avoids the Drake Passage, the bottomline is that it costs more to fly than to sail, and so convenience comes at a price:
To fly to the Antarctic Peninsula in both directions on a Fly & Cruise trip it will typically cost 20% more than to sail in both directions. However, the growing demand for these trips clearly demonstrates that this investment is still perceived as good value and worth paying.
Fly to Antarctica & Cruise back trips which combine flying one way and sailing the other make savings with only one charter flight and can be attractively priced, starting from around $5,000 per person, depending on trip duration.
The deeper you fly into Antarctica the more expensive it becomes as the logistics, challenges and aircraft required become more specialised. A week at Union Glacier camp in the Ellsworth Mountains starts from $25,000 per person, a similar cost to a top cabin on a Fly & Cruise trip, however it’s a very different experience and fewer than 1% of visitors to Antarctica each year reach this point.
For anyone planning to fly to/ from Antarctica, the town of Punta Arenas in southern Chile is the main departure point for all:
The only other flying route to Antarctica for visitors is from Cape Town in South Africa, which flies into Queen Maud Land to a luxury camp which accommodates only 12 people at a time.
There are other airfields and bases scattered across Antarctica which service field research or governmental traffic only.
If you are wondering which airlines operate in Antarctica, there is only one. If you would like further information please get in touch.
The types of planes used for flights into the Antarctic Peninsula are most commonly a BAE 146. For flights into and within the interior, the smaller more specialised Ilyushin, Twin Otter and Basler are utilised.
These planes are more ‘workhorse’ than luxury, but are perfectly comfortable for the short 2 hour flight between Punta Arenas and King George Island.
Originally designed in 1967 for delivering heavy machinery into Russia’s hinterland, this iconic plane only operates between Punta Arenas and Union Glacier camp in Antarctica’s Ellsworth Mountains.
Deployed throughout the interior of Antarctica, these twin engined Twin Otters are the continent’s workhorse providing both vital passenger and cargo transportation.
The modified version of the original Douglas DC-3, the Basler is only used within Antarctica’s interior for getting larger groups than the Twin Otter can handle into remote areas.
The King Air is the world’s most popular business turboprop aircraft. In Antarctica it's exclusively used for the 1 & 2 day trips to The White Continent only. Comfortably accommodating up to 6 passengers, it's also ideal for chartering.
“ Highly recommend the fly in and boat out via the Falklands setup of our trip. ”
Alan, UK Customer
“ Be smart and give yourself a day extra in Punta Arenas before and after your trip like we did...less stress. ”
Lora & Mitchell, Texas Customer
Even though the chances of experiencing a delay are relatively low, it's crucial that all visitors flying to Antarctica are prepared for the possibility and have contingency factored into their travel plans, just in case.
Flights to King George Island, South Shetlands
Although delays are possible, one of our principal Fly & Cruise operators has an impressive 80.9% success rate of flights arriving on the correct day across 141 flights over the last 14 years. A further 14.9% arrived the day before or day after, while only one trip has ever had to be totally cancelled. In reality, the majority of delays experienced are only a few hours.
Why are flights sometimes delayed?
Low clouds, fog and heavy winds are the main culprits, with King George Island being particularly prone to fog and low cloud. To be able to confidently depart from and return to Punta Arenas, pilots who are landing in Antarctica by sight need a minimum 5 hour clear weather window. With such rapidly changing conditions, this is the real challenge, to successfully identify that ‘weather window’ and get there and back before it closes.
What happens if I am delayed?
If your flight from Punta Arenas is delayed, the local representatives will keep you regularly updated. Typically it's only a wait of a few hours, but in the unlikely event that its longer there are detailed contingency plans in place. Unfortunately you won’t be able to ‘make up’ any time lost once you get to Antarctica and will still leave on the day you were scheduled to.
Those delayed leaving Antarctica benefit from staying on at no extra cost. If you are on a Fly & Cruise trip, you continue to use the ship as your floating hotel and landings will be arranged while you wait for the weather to clear.
Will I receive a refund for delays or cancellation?
If you are very unfortunate to have your trip cancelled altogether due to weather, operators have a clear refund policy in place or will offer you the choice to re-book on an alternative date.
For shorter delays, compensation isn’t typically offered as weather is beyond anyone’s control and must be accepted as one of the risks of opting to fly. If you are uncomfortable with this, perhaps sailing to Antarctica, which is less prone to delays through adverse weather, may be a better option.
Due to the combination of the short flying season, limited flights and their huge popularity, these trips are in increasingly high demand and planning well ahead is crucial. You should definitely be booking your place(s) 10 - 18 months in advance of your departure date, but the general rule of thumb is the earlier the better, particularly for the prime dates around Christmas and New Year.
Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.
4.5 out of 5
Fly over the Drake Passage in just 2 hours, both to and from Antarctica. Ideal for those wanting a high comfort level, but who have limited time or are anxious sailors. An outstanding program, successfully operated for over 15 seasons.…
4.1 out of 5
For maximum time in Antarctica with flights both ways, this trip really stands out. An extended fly & cruise voyage spending eight full days actually in Antarctica onboard a small, state-of-the-art expedition ship. Optional kayaking & polar…
4.8 out of 5
Travel with the pioneers of fly & cruise Antarctic voyages, flying in both directions and bypassing a 2-day sail on the Drake Passage. Regular departure dates (Dec - Feb) to choose from. Explore Antarctica aboard a trusty 68-passenger expedition ship…
4.3 out of 5
A rare and popular voyage which flies one way and sails the other, maximising both expediency and experience. Spend 5-7 days exploring Antarctica on a small, newly-built expedition ship, with kayaking & snorkelling available. January - March…
This narrow neck of water between the tip of Patagonia (Cape Horn) and the Antarctic Peninsula is the point at which the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans collide and is infamous as one of the roughest stretches of sea in the world. The ensuing currents can cause huge upwellings, or 'Waves of Terror', which at times can reach heights of 50 feet/15 metres. Typically only 30% of Drake crossings experience rough weather, however, those prone to seasickness may do well by choosing to fly and not take the risk.
As with so much in life, the answer sadly isn’t a simple one and there isn’t an optimal window. There are no set patterns to Antarctic weather and so it's better to focus on when it suits you to travel.
Travelling to Antarctica by plane definitely requires light packing! The luggage allowance is only 15 kg per passenger, including hand luggage. You do have the option to leave items in Punta Arenas and if joining a ship in Antarctica there will be a laundry service on board.
If you are flying to King George Island in the South Shetlands you won’t fly over Antarctica as you will be largely flying over water and then landing in the South Shetland Islands, which are located 90km/ 55 miles northwest of the Antarctic continent. If it's a clear day though, you may lucky enough to see Cape Horn en route.
For those select few flying into the interior, and perhaps all the way to the South Pole, you will certainly get some grand views of The White Continent from above.
Antarctic travel options are complicated. We help you choose the right boat, the right cabin, and at the right point in the season.
As a team of ex-guides, tour leaders, & polar adventurers our Antarctic knowledge is leagues ahead of the rest.
Swoop is proud to be B Corp Certified as we know sustainability is more than our carbon footprint (but we’re reducing that too).
We’ll make sure you have the adventure of a lifetime.
A short two-hour flight quickly and comfortably transports you to the White Continent. On arrival you then switch to an awaiting ship, aboard which you’ll spend the next few days…
Discover MoreThese trips cruise one way and fly the other. They’re a hybrid between a traditional Antarctica cruise and a Fly & Cruise trip which either fly or sail in both directions. In…
Discover MoreThe interior is a vast, untouched playground accessed by less than 500 people a year. Nevertheless, there's a surprising range of challenging adventures here: fly or ski to the …
Discover MoreWe'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
With over 150 years of Antarctic experience between us, we can help guide you to exactly the right trip for you.
1-855-369-8288Our Global Sales Team has Polar Specialists in the US, Canada, South America, UK, Europe & Australasia allowing us to get back to you quickly, and work with you at times most convenient to you
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