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- Itinerary
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Helicopters give a jaw-dropping bird's eye view of the White Continent aboard this unique voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula's little-explored northeastern tip. Your outstanding purpose-built vessel has a highly experienced expedition team and two top-of-the range helicopters. Included charter flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia make for a hassle free adventure.
Trip Summary
- 5 full days exploring Antarctica’s Weddell Sea region
- Includes heli-flightseeing experiences, as well as a heli-landing excursion
- Travel on a purpose-built expedition ship with capacity for just 199 guests
- Antarctic operational experience since 1992
- Excellent expedition staff to guest ratio of 1:6
- Includes pre-cruise hotel night in Buenos Aires and return Buenos Aires-Ushuaia domestic charter flights
- Complimentary 3-in-1 expedition parka jacket and loan of boots
Trip Overview
From
$13,417 - $31,261
Operator's Itinerary
Arrive in the cosmopolitan, colourful capital of Argentina and make your own way to your hotel where a pre-voyage night is included as part of your trip. Settle in, then soak up the European roots and architecture of this grand destination before tomorrow’s flight to the country’s southernmost tip.
Fuel up with an early breakfast at the hotel before taking a group transfer to the airport for your included charter flight to Ushuaia. Upon arrival, you'll be whisked to the heart of this port city at the southernmost part of South America, leaving you with a few hours to explore.
In the late afternoon, you'll board the ship and begin your cruise along the emblematic Beagle Channel. This scenic waterway cuts through the Tierra del Fuego archipelago for a picture-perfect start to your journey. As you peel away from South America, the next time you spot land you will be in the wilds of Antarctica!
Sailing across this renowned 500-mile (800km) waterway is a bucket-list experience for many travellers. From the deck of the ship, take in the mesmerising seascapes as they extend towards the distant horizon. Watch out for a variety of seabirds, including albatrosses, petrels and skuas as they gracefully soar over the powerful waves. As you near the Antarctic Peninsula, stay alert for your first sight of towering icebergs, carved into mind-boggling shapes by the power of the polar winds.
By Day 4 you'll cross the Antarctic Convergence where the warmer subantarctic waters meet the colder Antarctic currents. During your days at sea, enjoy insightful presentations by the expedition team on topics such as photography, wildlife, glaciology and history.
When not attending lectures, take advantage of time on deck to spot wildlife or relax with fellow travellers over a drink at the bar.
As the vessel reaches the Antarctic Peninsula, the Captain and Expedition Leader will constantly assess the weather and ice conditions, looking for the best possible opportunities for your expedition. The intention is to head to the north-eastern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, into the little visited Weddell Sea.
Each day on the Antarctic Peninsula will showcase the adaptability and expertise of your highly trained crew, both on the ship and in the air. During the course of your time in Antarctica the team will be aiming to offer three helicopter flights for all guests. Two of these will be flightseeing adventures of around 10-15 minutes in the air giving you incredible views of Antarctica’s glacial beauty. The third excursion is intended to be a heli-landing, where the helicopter lands you in an otherwise inaccessible location. However, please note that helicopter flights in Antarctica are highly dependent on the weather. This itinerary is designed to make sure every day is spent in breathtaking destinations that allow you to take to the skies when conditions allow or to maximise the wildlife and scenery you experience down on the ground on foot and by zodiac cruising if conditions are less than favourable for flight.
If weather and ice conditions allow, you'll begin by sailing into the Antarctic Sound. Locations that you might explore here could include two towering geological landmarks: Madder Cliffs on Joinville Island and Brown Bluff at the northernmost tip of the Antarctic continent. There are large Adelie penguin colonies in the area, which you might explore via sturdy zodiac rib boat and gentoo penguins and seals are also often spotted along the coastline.
You may have the chance to admire the distinctive 678-meter (2,225-foot) volcanic cliffs of Brown Bluff. If the weather cooperates, you might switch marine activities for your first flightseeing adventure of the trip, taking in the vastness of Antarctica from a snow petrel’s perspective.
As you continue through the Antarctic Sound and into Erebus and Terror Gulf, your Captain will strategically position the ship to make the most of both helicopter and zodiac excursions. The James Ross Island archipelago offers numerous opportunities to explore historically significant sites first trodden by humans during the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901-04. Upon landing, the team will check conditions to offer a trek to a summit for panoramic views of an Adelie penguin colony and the northern Weddell Sea.
Home to fossil discoveries and ventifacts (ancient rocks smoothed by wind and sand) this area is renowned for its geological importance. The team will aim to show you ventifacts up close, offering a deeper understanding of how wind erosion, driven by sand or ice particles, shapes the landscape over time.
Before heading back across the Drake Passage, there may be some time to explore the rugged South Shetland Islands. The team will see if conditions allow for a scenic helicopter flight over Livingston Island, home of the South Shetlands' most sublime peaks. From the air, you might see the impressive Tangra Mountains, stretching 20 miles (32km) in length and 5 miles (8.5km) in width, along with the sky-scraping Mount Friesland, Bowles Ridge and Pliska Ridge.
As you travel back across the Drake Passage, spend some time unwinding after all those adventures by land and air. The onboard spa is the ideal spot for a rejuvenating facial or massage. You can also relieve aching muscles in the sauna without missing any views – the floor-to-ceiling windows are perfect for gazing out to sea and watching passing seabirds.
Your Antarctic educational programme also continues apace. Your team of onboard experts will keep sharing their extensive polar knowledge during scheduled lectures in the Ambassador Theatre. This is also a fantastic chance to pose any curious questions you may have about wildlife or geology you have seen or experienced during your expedition.
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. After this, you will be whisked to the airport for your return flight to Buenos Aires.
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Ship Overview
- Onboard helicopter facilities (available in selected locations only)
- 4 zodiac embarkation points for swift landing opportunities
- Nine different cabin types
- 1A+ Ice Class rating
- The most exciting range of adventure activities available in Antarctica, including flightseeing, kayaking and paddleboarding, on select departures
Prices & Departures
Prices are per person based on two people sharing. Cabin availability changes all the time, so please contact us for up-to-date details.
- Pre-embarkation hotel night and breakfast in Buenos Aires
- Return domestic charter flights Buenos Aires-Ushuaia
- One heli-landing and two heli-flightseeing excursions (weather and logistics permitting)
- Transfers as indicated in the itinerary
- Online photo journal of the voyage
- Complimentary 3-in-1 parka jacket
- Loan of rubber boots for the voyage's duration
- Voyage aboard the vessel as indicated in the itinerary
- All shore excursions and zodiac activities
- Accommodation, meals and soft drinks during the voyage on full board
- Educational lectures by expert onboard polar guides
- Beer, standard wines and spirits, as well as cocktails, included during bar service hours (typically pre-dinner and evenings) and dinner
- Basic complimentary WIFI access for one device at a time per guest
- Access to an onboard doctor and basic medical services
- Comprehensive pre-departure information
- Port taxes and any entry fees to landing sites
- Any flights to and from expedition beginning/end point that are not listed as included
- Any additional pre/post land services, including meals
- Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance
- Excess-baggage fees on international flights and domestic flights
- Transfers not specified in the itinerary
- Mandatory waterproof pants/trousers for zodiac landing and cruising excursions, or any other gear not mentioned
- Premium WIFI for data-intensive internet usage
- Visa, passport and any vaccination expenses
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Personal travel insurance including emergency evacuation cover
- Items of a personal nature, e.g. laundry, premium beverages and high data communication
- Customary staff gratuity at the end of the voyage
- Additional onboard purchases (i.e. gift shop)
A mandatory hassle-free Buenos Aires transfer package (USD $1,195 per person for departures between November 2025 and March 2026 and $1,295 for departures between November 2026 and March 2027) applies for this trip. This cost is already included in the pricing shown above.
Single Supplement And Child Policy
For those travelling solo who would like their own cabin, there are a number of dedicated single cabins. Alternatively, the single supplement is 1.7 times the cost of a standard cabin and 2 times the cost of a superior category. Please contact us for details. There is no single supplement for solo passengers willing to share a cabin.
At the date of embarkation, the minimum age restriction of 8 years and a minimum height requirement of 48ins or 1.2m must be met. Please contact us for details.