Antarctic Explorer in Style

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires

Arrive into the elegant capital city Buenos Aires today, making your own arrangements to transfer to your group hotel where your pre-cruise hotel night is included in the mandatory transfer package.

Please note that select departures dates follow an amended itinerary, beginning with an included pre-cruise night in Ushuaia rather than in Buenos Aires. These Ushuaia-starting departures do not include the charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, which must be purchased independently.  For these trips we strongly recommend that you add in a stay in Buenos Aires prior to flying down to Ushuaia for your included pre-night.

Day 2: Flight to Ushuaia & Embarkation

After an early breakfast at your Buenos Aires hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board a private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to a central downtown location giving you some time on your own to explore this quaint port town before making your way to the pier. The ship sets sail in the late afternoon and you begin your Antarctic journey, passing along the Beagle Channel. Named after the famed ship on which Charles Darwin voyaged, keep your camera ready as this is a great location to spot black-browed albatross in the water along with Magellanic penguins and sea lions. Eventually the channel opens up to the wild Southern Ocean, and you will sail onwards to Antarctica.

For those travelling on Ushuaia-starting trips, you will have the morning at leisure to relax and explore Ushuaia.  Perhaps take a half day trip into the Tierra del Fuego National Park or explore the quirky Maritime Museum in the old prison.  In the afternoon you will embark on the ship and set sail as above.

Days 3 & 4: At Sea

We always hope for a smooth sailing but as the Drake is unpredictable and always changing, it's best to prepare yourself for potentially rough water. You'll spend the first couple of days getting to know your shipmates and we'll provide you with safety briefings and insights into what excitement lies ahead.

Days 5 to 8: Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands

When the Antarctic Convergence is left in our wake and the first sight of land on the Antarctic Peninsula is spotted, it feels as if it is the true beginning of your Antarctic expedition.

This region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travellers alike and you will immediately appreciate why this is. Every visit to Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, and your expedition will be unlike any other - creating a unique, personal experience. Each day, we will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore bays, channels and landing sites. Wildlife is always at the forefront of our minds: visits to penguin rookeries, scouting for humpback and minke whales and searching for a number of the southern seal species, including the cunning leopard seal.

The majesty of the Antarctic Peninsula's mountains will captivate you, as you scramble up snowy pathways to vantage points offering you 360 degree views of your surroundings. One of these in particular, at Orne Harbour, gives the opportunity to visit a chinstrap penguin colony located high up on a ridge. Here you can choose between going for a mountain hike or spending time sitting quietly on a pebbled beach, enjoying the antics of curious penguins. If you're feeling extra adventurous, you might consider participating in the Polar Plunge swim.  You will forge indelible memories such as noisy penguins squabbling over prized pebbles or the boom and crack of a calving glacier in Neko Harbour. Carefully crafted by your Expedition Team, every day will be different and guaranteed to entertain and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.

Days 9 & 10: At Sea 

Travelling back across the Drake Passage allows you some final opportunities to enjoy the crisp Antarctic air, spend time on deck scouting for seabirds and whales or enjoying a few final presentations by your Expedition Team.

Day 11: Disembarkation 

You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning allowing for you to either continue your adventure elsewhere on land or catch flights home.

NOTE: 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.