Antarctica Explorer

From Ushuaia to Punta Arenas OR From Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas
  • All Antarctic Cruises
  • Antarctic Peninsula
  • Small Ship Cruising
  • Wildlife and Nature
View Similar Tours

Tour Description

Make the most of Antarctica. Cruise one way, fly the other, so there in more time to spend exploring. In this frozen region of extraordinary beauty, powerful orcas and leopard seals patrol the waters, while ethereal snow petrels grace the skies against a backdrop of bristling mountain ranges and surreal icebergs. Taking in the Drake Passage, the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula we thread our way on our Antarctic cruise through an intricate system of icy waterways, as we explore the white continent. Cruising by zodiac will allow you to touch down on the ice and experience the natural inhabitants up close, when we visit penguin colonies, research stations and other beautiful landing sites.

Our Antarctica cruise ship is warm and comfortable and our expert crew of naturalists and historians will entertain you with amazing lectures that compliment your Antarctica tour. Your vessel is designed with a special X-BOW that will cut through the swell and make a quicker passage through the waves. There are plenty of activities to keep all the long hours of daylight full! Landing and walks ashore, zodiac cruising around the icy landscapes, bird watching, whale and mammal spotting, photography opportunities...and even time for a quick dip in the polar waters! Or add on an extra activity, there is kayaking or even snorkelling in Antarctica! 

Give something new a go! An Antarctic cruise like this is a trip of a lifetime.

Viva's Best Bits...

Save time, fly the drake one (or both ways) Plus this comfortable expedition vessel with a bow specially designed for polar waters will get you up close with the wildlife in no time!

Plenty of time to walk in Antarctica, enjoy nature, the serenity, and stunning vistas.

"Do something super unique, snorkel in Antarctica and see a different angle! Or just dare to do a polar plunge - why not! And it is free!" Tara, Team Viva

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Ushuaia

**Please note: this voyage ranges from 11-12 days, some departure dates Sail/fly, fly/sail or fly fly, please ask us for more details

At approximately 6.00 pm this evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage briefing. Afterwards, there’s free time to enjoy the local cuisine at one of Ushuaia’s many restaurants. (Dinner not included).

Accommodation: Las Hayas Hotel (or similar)

Day 2
Embarkation day

This morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Please take your cabin luggage down to hotel reception by 8.00 am. Your luggage will be collected from your hotel and transferred directly to the port for clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day. Once you have checked out of your hotel by 11.00 am, you have free time before meeting back in the hotel lobby at 2.00 pm to commence a short sightseeing tour of Ushuaia. Alternatively, enjoy time at leisure and make your own way to the Prison Museum carpark by 3.45 pm to re-join the group to be transferred to the pier for embarkation.

Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego is located at the shores of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains giving you a unique landscape in Argentina, which is the combination of mountains, sea, glaciers and forests. On this brief introductory tour, you will visit “La Mision” neighbourhood, the old Government House, and the upper area of the city, which offers beautiful panoramic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. During the excursion you will see the antique houses that belonged to the first families settled in Ushuaia. The excursion ends with a visit to the Old Prison Museum before transferring to the pier for embarkation at approximately 4.00 pm.

After embarkation, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.

This evening get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

Day 3
Drake Passage

As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.

Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following in our wake. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.

Day 4
Drake Passage and South Shetland Islands

Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks, watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Weather permitting, we may attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.

Day 5-9
Antarctic Peninsula

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You’ll want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.

While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you’ll have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting!

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea, and take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.

Day 10
King George Island Punta Arenas

As we approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to farewell Antarctica and our amazing adventure before boarding our flight (approximately one-and-a half-hours) to Punta Arenas, Chile. On arrival at the Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to our preferred downtown hotel.

NOTE: King George Island is located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote place on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required in order to take off and land safely. We apologise in advance if you experience any delays.

Day 11
Punta Arenas

After breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow travellers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature (breakfast included).

Day 1
Punta Arenas

**Please note: this voyage ranges from 11-12 days, some departure dates Sail/fly, fly/sail or fly fly, please ask us for more details

Arrive in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel.

Overlooking the Straits of Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world's most historic trade routes. Today, Punta Arenas reflects a great mix of cultures, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors, and it remains an utterly fascinating testament to Chile's rich history.

At approximately 6.00 pm this evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage briefing. Afterwards, there’s free time to enjoy the local cuisine at one of Punta Arenas’s many restaurants. (Dinner not included).

Accommodation: Hotel Cabo de Hornos (or similar)

Day 2
Punta Arenas King George Island

This morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The flight will take approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes.

On arrival into King George Island our expedition team is on hand to greet you for your Zodiac transfer to board the vessel. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important briefings.

Note: King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. We apologise in advance for any delays.

Day 3-10
Antarctic Peninsula

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.

The western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You’ll want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.

While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you’ll have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting!

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea, and take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.

Day 11
King George Island to Punta Arenas

As we approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to farewell Antarctica and our amazing adventure before boarding our flight (approximately one-and-a half-hours) to Punta Arenas, Chile. On arrival at the Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to our group hotel.

NOTE: King George Island is located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote place on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required in order to take off and land safely. We apologise in advance if you experience any delays.

Day 11
Punta Arenas

After breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow travellers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature (breakfast included). A transfer to the airport is included in the voyage fare. .

What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 Onboard accommodation during voyage including daily cabin service
  • Included Copy 20 One night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast (first night)
  • Included Copy 20 1 night in Punta Arenas *select departures
Food
  • Included Copy 20 All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage
  • Included Copy 20 Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner
  • Included Copy 20 Captain’s Welcome and Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails & house beer
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises, walks, photography & polar plunge
  • Included Copy 20 Educational lectures and guiding services from expedition team
  • Included Copy 20 A 3-in-1 waterproof polar expedition jacket (to keep)
  • Included Copy 20 Complimentary use of muck boots during the voyage
  • Included Copy 20 Comprehensive pre-departure information
  • Included Copy 20 City tour in Ushuaia on Day 2 * Select departures
  • Included Copy 20 Port surcharges, permits and landing fees
  • Included Copy 7 International flights, Gratuities, Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges
  • Included Copy 7 Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
  • Included Copy 31 Add on kayaking, snorkelling * select departures
Transportation

Greg Mortimer | Arctic & Antarctic Cruise Ship

average of 132 passengers Passengers

Sylvia Earle | Arctic & Antarctic Cruise Ship

138 Passengers

Activities

  • Included Photographer onboard to help you get the best out of your shots
  • Included Zodiac cruising through stunning landscapes
  • Included Take a polar plunge...if you dare!
  • Included Landings & walks in the Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetlands
  • Included Adventure activities to add on: snorkelling, kayaking
  • Included Birdwatching, whale and mammal spotting, visits to penguin colonies...
  • Included Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations
  • Included Fly the Drake Passage (one or both ways)
Click here for dates & prices
Duration

11 days

Price from

$13,756 USD

Per person, sharing

Based On Lowest Cabin, triple

Select Date