Comfort & Adventure

Express South Georgia & Antarctica Wildlife Safari

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The most time-efficient trip for combining the top highlights of the Southern Ocean: the dramatic Antarctic Peninsula and the wildlife mecca of South Georgia. Travelling on a comfortable, ice-strengthened expedition ship you'll experience everything from king penguin rookeries to vast sculptural icebergs. Optional kayaking, paddleboarding and camping activities.

Trip Summary

  • 7 days ‘off ship’ exploring: South Georgia (3) & Antarctica (4)
  • Choice of two purpose-built expedition ships with capacity for 138 & 172 guests
  • Antarctic operational experience since 1992
  • Excellent expedition staff to guest ratio of 1:7
  • Pre-cruise hotel night included in Ushuaia, Argentina
  • Complimentary 3-in-1 expedition parka jacket & loan of boots
  • House drinks included during onboard bar service hours & dinner
  • Optional kayaking, paddleboarding and camping activities (extra cost, selected departures only)

Trip Overview

Route
  • South Georgia

  • Antarctic Peninsula

Trip length
18 Days
Ships
Total Guests
Ship Comfort
World Explorer
172
Comfort & Adventure
Ocean Explorer
138
Comfort & Adventure

From

$21,756 - $41,135

Operator's Itinerary

After a complimentary transfer from the airport, your trip begins in Ushuaia, the port city at the southern tip of Argentina nicknamed the “End of the World”. It's the ideal launchpad for an unforgettable adventure.

Don’t miss the pre-departure briefing at 6pm in the lobby of your hotel. Tonight’s hotel stay is included as part of your trip.

After a complimentary breakfast at the hotel, you’ll have much of the day free to enjoy more of Ushuaia’s sights before embarking on your ship, usually at around 4pm. Feel the crackle of anticipation in the air as you sail down the Beagle Channel, the mountain-trimmed body of water that cuts through the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. This is a great location to get out on deck and start ticking off wildlife species, with black browed albatross and giant petrels often sighted here. Also look out for brief glimpses of Magellanic penguins and perhaps even your first whales if you're lucky.

While sailing across the iconic Drake Passage and into the lively waters surrounding South Georgia, the experienced polar experts in your expedition team will keep you busy with a programme of educational talks. They might be out on deck teaching you to identify the seabirds that follow the wake of the ship or host lectures on the region’s history of whaling and exploration, along with wildlife and glaciology. These sessions will also include briefings to help prepare you for the upcoming excursions, such as zodiac cruising past cathedral-sized icebergs and landing on shores home to bustling penguin rookeries.

On the approach to South Georgia, stand out on the spacious deck to catch a glimpse of atmospheric Shag Rocks, where whales sometimes gather to feast on nutrient-dense upwellings and the air is filled with passing shags and prions.

Excursions around South Georgia will depend on the weather conditions, but the ship’s Expedition Leader and Captain will aim to have you exploring the bays of this wildlife-rich destination - known as the “Serengeti of the South” - by zodiac boat and on foot where possible.

As one of the planet’s most fertile breeding grounds for subantarctic animals, the island is home to four penguin species and 30 types of seabird, all jostling for space with huge elephant seals and feisty fur seals. The sheer density of wildlife crowding the beaches is mind-boggling, and they can sometimes even be too packed to land on.

Remnants of the now-defunct whaling industry litter the island in the form of abandoned warehouses and crumbling boats. The Expedition Team will enrich your trip by sharing the history behind these relics at destinations such as Grytviken. This former whaling station is more famously known as the resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton. You may visit the cemetery to pay your respects to 'The Boss', as the legendary polar explorer was affectionately known by his crew.

As you set sail once again, the Expedition Team will turn their attention to teaching you about the Antarctic Peninsula’s wildlife and landscapes with a series of immersive presentations. This is also the ideal time to sit next to the windows of the observation lounge with its panoramic views over the iceberg-laden seas or get out on deck to look for whales and seabirds.

After two days at sea, you’ll catch sight of the Antarctic Peninsula for the first time. In this land of extremes, one minute you’ll experience tranquil moments cruising serenely through iceberg-strewn landscapes, while the next you might be surrounded by the cacophonous calls of a huge rookery of gentoo penguins. Look out for the snoozing sausage shapes of Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals hauled out on the ice, along with the blow of whales gorging on krill.

Again, the aim will be for you to enjoy a mix of landings and zodiac cruises, depending on the weather and ice conditions you encounter each day. The Captain and Expedition Leader will also take advantage of impromptu wildlife opportunities such as watching the spectacle of a pod of whales from the vantage point of the ship.

After an epic adventure of memorable wildlife encounters and landscapes, it’s time for your journey home, returning across the Drake Passage. The educational programme continues, and there is also time to decompress after the sensory rollercoaster that is Antarctica.

The vessel’s Captain will plan to arrive in Ushuaia by the early morning. Your group transfer to the airport is included, so you can carry on your adventure from here or catch your flights back home.

Start from Ushuaia and end at Ushuaia

Landmarks potentially visited on Express South Georgia & Antarctica Wildlife Safari

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What our customers think of Express South Georgia & Antarctica Wildlife Safari

10/10 - The wildlife and we had the best weather to enjoy! Brilliant efficient crew and team.

Travelled: February 2025

Brett Tysoe - Australia

10/10 - It was more than I could have ever imagined! It was the best holiday by far. It was amazing, we were so lucky with the weather and excursions and wildlife excursions.

Travelled: February 2025

Suzann Tysoe - Australia

Seeing all of the wildlife was absolutely fantastic. The level of expertise of the staff on board and the quality of the excursions was one of a kind!

Travelled: February 2025

Sadie Neve - UK

Review:

1 / 3

Prices & Departures

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

2 Trips Found2/2
Availability
7 cabin options
Departure Date24-Jan-2026
PriceSave up to 15%
Availability
6 cabin options
Departure Date01-Feb-2026
PriceSave up to 20%

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*Note: Prices are per person. The actual voyage price is paid in USD ($) - the indicative pricing above is based on today's exchange rate.
  • Transfers as indicated in the itinerary
  • Pre-embarkation hotel night and breakfast in Ushuaia, Argentina
  • 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, 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 not listed as included
  • Any additional pre/post land services, including meals
  • Transfers not specified in the itinerary
  • Optional additional adventure activities (e.g. kayaking)
  • 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)

Please note that not all optional activities are available on all departures. Contact us for details.

Single Supplement And Child Policy

For those travelling solo who would like their own cabin, there are two dedicated single cabins. Alternatively, 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.


Children over 8 years old with a height of 48ins (1.2m) or above are permitted on this trip. 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.

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