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With a wide range of departure dates and a great choice of optional adventure activities to choose from, this itinerary offers flexibility and variety. Spend 4 full days exploring Antarctica with your experienced team of naturalist guides from the comfort of a spacious expedition ship.
Trip Summary
- 4 full days exploring Antarctica with daily landings and zodiac cruising
- Purpose-built expedition ship with capacity for just 172 guests
- Antarctic operational experience since 1992
- Excellent expedition staff to guest ratio of 1:7
- Optional adventure activities on select departures: camping, kayaking, one-off paddle and paddleboarding excursions (limited places, additional cost for each)
- Pre-cruise hotel night included in Ushuaia
- Complimentary 3-in-1 expedition parka jacket, boot loan & house alcoholic drinks included with dinner & evening bar service
Trip Overview
From
$9,756 - $23,540
Operator's Itinerary
On arrival in Ushuaia you will be met and transferred to your included hotel for the night.
Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. With the Beagle Channel stretching away to the south and snow-dusted mountains to the north, it’s a spectacular departure point for your Antarctic cruise. If you arrive early, you might like to spend time in the nearby picturesque Tierra del Fuego National Park or exploring the quirky Maritime Museum in the city’s old prison.
After spending your free time exploring this morning, you will embark on your ship in the late afternoon and set sail down the Beagle Channel. Get out on deck with your camera and binoculars as this is a great place to get your first wildlife sightings. As you head out into the Drake Passage tonight, you'll be in the world's southernmost continent the next time you see land!
As you sail across the infamous waters of the Drake Passage, your days will be kept busy with briefings to prepare you for the adventure ahead, along with educational lectures on the wildlife, ice and history of Antarctica.
Make time to head out on deck if conditions allow, as this is the perfect spot to photograph the incredible seabirds cruising around the ship, including huge albatrosses with their vast wingspans and curious giant petrels. As you come to the end of the Drake, keep your eyes peeled for your first iceberg!
As you arrive in Antarctica, the exploration begins in earnest. Every day will be different, with your skilled Captain and Expedition Leader adjusting the plans according to the weather and ice conditions, along with impromptu wildlife opportunities.
Your experienced Expedition Team will be on hand to help you explore and understand this jaw-dropping continent. During your time here you’ll head ashore to marvel at the cacophony of bustling penguin rookeries. You will also enjoy zodiac cruises, gliding between towering sculptural icebergs and looking for marine wildlife such as snoozing seals out on the ice or humpback whales feasting on krill.
Those who have signed up in advance for optional activities such as kayaking or paddleboarding may get the chance to experience Antarctica from a uniquely serene water-level perspective.
In the evening recaps your naturalist guides will expand on the wildlife behaviours you’ve seen that day and your Expedition Leader will talk through the Plan A for tomorrow morning. Spend any spare time you have out on the ship’s expansive decks, soaking up the incredible icy landscapes that surround you.
As you bid Antarctica farewell you will head north back across the Drake Passage. Spend time on the deck watching for seabirds and enjoy the continuing educational program from your Expedition Team. It’s also a great time to start sorting through all your photos and reminiscing with your fellow adventurers about your spectacular experiences.
This morning you will disembark and be transferred to Ushuaia airport. You can then make your own onward arrangements after midday.
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Ship Overview
- A sleek and spacious purpose-built expedition ship with 172 passengers
- Generously sized suites with floor to ceiling glass
- Impressive observation lounge with huge windows spanning 270° – ideal for soaking up the Antarctic vistas
- Daily off-ship excursions are complemented by onboard health & wellness facilities, including an unusual 360° walking track
- Active adventurers will appreciate optional activities including kayaking, camping & stand-up paddleboarding (additional cost)

What our customers think of Antarctic Explorer Refined
Antarctic Explorer Refined trips scored 4.9/5 from 7 reviews
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Prices & Departures
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.
- Transfers in Ushuaia as indicated
- Pre-embarkation hotel night and breakfast in Ushuaia
- 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 and meals during the voyage on full board
- Educational lectures by expert onboard polar guides
- Beer, standard wines and spirits, as well as cocktails, are 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 points of embarkation/disembarkation
- Any additional pre/post land services, including meals
- Transfers not specified in the itinerary
- Optional additional adventure activities (e.g. camping, kayaking, one-off paddling, paddleboarding)
- Visa, passport and any vaccination expenses
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Personal travel insurance including 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)
Single Supplement And Child Policy
For those travelling solo who would like their own cabin, the single supplement is 1.7 to 2 times the cost of a standard twin occupancy cabin. Please contact us for details. There is no single supplement for solo passengers willing to share a cabin, which is available on a twin share basis in select cabin categories.
At the date of embarkation, the minimum age restriction of 8 years and a minimum height and weight requirement of 64lbs (29kg) and 48ins (1.2m) must be met. Please contact us for details.