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Onto the Antarctic Ice

With three medium-sized expedition ships to pick from and regular departure dates throughout the season, this well-priced voyage is a popular option. Across striking landscapes and icy seas, your company includes penguins, seals, whales and skuas. For the adventurous, optional kayaking and camping come highly recommended by past customers.

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Onto the Antarctic Ice

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Trip type

Antarctic Peninsula

Trip length

10-13 Days

From

$6,300 -$16,750

Ship Comfort

Comfort & Adventure

Onto the Antarctic Ice - 10-13 Days - $6,300

Trip Summary and Itinerary Map

  • 4-5 full days in Antarctica = 8-10 planned ‘off ship’ excursions depending on your preferred departure
  • Wide selection of well priced voyages to choose from
  • Antarctic operational experience since 1996
  • Expedition staff to guest ratio of 1:10
  • Kayaking & camping. Diving on limited departures (additional cost for each)
  • Complimentary snowshoeing on early season departures when snow conditions allow

Start from Ushuaia and end at Ushuaia

Landmarks potentially visited on Onto the Antarctic Ice

Operator's Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ushuaia 

Where the world drops off in Ushuaia, your voyage begins. Located on South America's far southern tip, this destination is the world's southernmost city. You'll embark on your vessel in the afternoon and sail into the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.


Days 2 & 3: Sailing on the Drake Passage

Over the next two days, you’ll enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: rolling seas, cool salt breezes and maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing through the Antarctic Convergence – the continent's natural boundary, where north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Both marine and avian life changes here. Wandering albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars and blue petrels are a few of the birds you might see.


Days 4 to 7: Entering Antarctica

Towers of broken blue-white ice and grey stone peaks sketched with snow welcome you to Antarctica. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, before sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands.

Sites you may visit include:  

Danco Island – There are gentoo penguins nesting on the island, and Weddell and crabeater seals to be found nearby.

Neko Harbour – With mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a zodiac cruise and a landing that affords the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.

Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a zodiac cruise in the ice-flecked waters, with a good chance that you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales. 

Pléneau & Petermann Islands – If the ice allows, you could sail through the Lemaire Channel, searching for Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. You may also encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as leopard seals.

Port Lockroy - After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.

Wilhelmina Bay & Guvernøren  – A great place to spot humpback whales, you also may embark on a zodiac trip ending at the ghostly wreck of the Guvernøren, a whaling vessel that caught fire here in 1915. Amid a frozen landscape, around the Melchior Islands, you may encounter more whales, leopard and crabeater seals. Conditions on the Drake Passage will determine the exact time of our departure.


Days 8 & 9: Return to Ushuaia

Your return voyage will be far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, the vast number of seabirds from the passage south will greet you again, but this time, they'll seem a little more familiar.


Day 10: Ushuaia

Your adventure must eventually come to an end, so it’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia. You'll depart with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.

Why Swoop

Expert Impartial Advice At No Extra Cost

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Antarctic travel options are complicated. We help you choose the right ship, the right cabin, and at the right point in the season.

A Depth Of Knowledge On Board

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As a team of ex-guides, tour leaders, & polar adventurers our Antarctic knowledge is leagues ahead of the rest.

For The Ends Of The Earth

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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’re With You At Every Step

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We’ll make sure you have the adventure of a lifetime.

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What our customers think of Onto the Antarctic Ice

Onto the Antarctic Ice trips scored 4.7/5 from 82 reviews

Honestly, every single thing about this trip was incredible. My husband and I travel a lot, but this was hands down the most incredible experience we've ever had. If I had to pick one thing, I would say kayaking was our favorite part. We really enjoyed being able to explore and see wildlife from a completely unique view.

Travelled: February 2024

Elyse -

Camping on the continent

Travelled: February 2024

Anonymous -

Waking up to the view of the icebergs after two days of seeing only water crossing the Drake Passage, the view of Antartica on top of the hills after a long hike, Penguins of different types nesting together, seeing penguins giving pebbles to their partner for their nests, the seals watching us watch them, polar plunge and lots of choices at the buffet

Travelled: February 2024

Nidia Eileen Diaz -

Carving a bed in the snow and spending the night sleeping in wide open Nature.

Travelled: February 2024

Richard -

Walking on Antartica and seeing all the wildlife right in front of me.

Travelled: February 2024

Todd -

Watching humpback whales

Travelled: January 2024

Diana -

Penguin watching

Travelled: January 2024

Cameron -

Iguazu, Perito Moreno and Antarctica

Travelled: December 2023

PNR & Anu Govind -

Wow - so hard to select just one! I would say the day we were on the Zodiac, and our guide - unfortunately I don't remember who it was! - had us close our eyes and be silent for one minute. When I opened my eyes I felt like I entered a new, amazing, world of peace and love. Hard to describe, but so powerful.

Travelled: December 2023

Leslie -

Mainly the sky at night,when we camped out in the open

Travelled: March 2023

Umesh -

Seeing gentoo penguins and their sociable nature with humans

Travelled: February 2023

Carl -

Watching whales.

Travelled: February 2023

Chung Wai -

I loved seeing the Penguins.The whole trip was so memorable

Travelled: February 2023

Helen -

Seeing the whales come up for feeding by our zodiac.

Travelled: February 2023

Steven Randall -

In zodiac in the iceberg graveyard and the whales feeding by us

Travelled: February 2023

Ruth -

My partner proposed to me at Orne Harbor as chinstrap penguins wandered by, and then we got to see a group of humpback whales on the zodiac cruise right after!

Travelled: February 2023

Leanne -

The first morning waking up to the view of glaciers and icebergs.

Travelled: January 2023

Phil -

Seeing humpback whales feeding on New Year's at Paradise Harbor!

Travelled: January 2023

Jagadeesh -

Everything since reservation until disembarking

Travelled: January 2023

Dharasra -

Kayaking with the whales, among the ice bergs.

Travelled: January 2023

Gene -

Review:

Prices, Departures and Inclusions

Prices quoted below are per person based on 2 people sharing. Cabin availability changes all the time so please contact us for up-to-date details and information on specific cabin availability.

2024

2025

2026

* Note: Prices are per person. Paid in USD ($) - figure above is based on today's exchange rate. Actual cost $6300

Additional Notes

The length of the voyages are as follows: 

  • 14-Mar-2025: 9 days long 
  • 23-Mar-2026: 10 days long
  • All other departures: 11 days long

Departures on 14-Mar-202510-Mar-2026 & 23-Mar-2026 have a whale watching focus. 


The departure on 22-Jan-2026 includes a complimentary workshop where guests will learn about the history, theory and practice of land and sea navigation. 

Single Supplement And Child Policy

For those travelling solo who want their own cabin, the single supplement is 1.7 times the cost of a single berth. Please contact us for details. There is no single supplement for passengers willing to share a cabin. 

Children aged 8 years old or over are permitted on this trip. On select departures, children under 16 may receive a 40% discount. Please contact us for details.

Optional Adventure Activities

Enhance your trip with the following add ons. Limited places per activity.
Get in contact to check availability.

Activity Cost Additional Information
Add on icon Camping Camping $225 Select departures from November to February. Fee is USD $250 for 2025-26.
Add on icon Kayaking Kayaking $560 Kayaking competency required. Select departures.
Add on icon Polar diving Polar diving $640 Limited spaces available. Cold water and dry suit experience required. Select departures. Additional charge of between USD $640 and USD $1600, depending on voyage and season.
Add on icon Snowshoeing Snowshoeing Complimentary Select departures, as long as snow conditions allow. Snowshoes provided.

Includes

  • Voyage aboard the vessel as indicated in the itinerary
  • Accommodation and meals during the voyage on full board
  • All shore excursions and zodiac activities
  • Educational lectures by expert onboard polar guides
  • Access to an onboard doctor and basic medical services
  • Loan of rubber boots and snowshoes for the voyage's duration
  • Luggage transfer from pick-up point to the vessel on the day of embarkation, in Ushuaia
  • Pre-scheduled group transfer from the vessel to the airport in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation)
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information
  • Port taxes and any entry fees to landing sites

Excludes

  • Flights to and from points of embarkation/disembarkation
  • Any additional pre/post land services, including meals
  • Transfers not specified in the itinerary
  • Optional adventure activities (e.g. kayaking)
  • Visa, passport and any vaccination expenses
  • Airport arrival or departure taxes
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Items of a personal nature - laundry, beverages, etc
  • Customary staff gratuity at the end of the voyage
  • Additional onboard purchases (i.e. gift shop)

Questions about this Voyage?