Destination : Antartica
Program Type : Crossings on Sale

Duration : 10 Days / 9 Nights
Price : $7.395 / €5.620
Cost of the program (based on triple occupancy) Taxes included

Ushuaia, Argentina – Beagle Channel – Crossing The Drake Passage – Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands – Punta Arenas

This expedition saves you time and lets you experience the first sighting of Antarctica after crossing Drakes passage with your fellow shipmates. After your penguin, seal, whale, iceberg and glacier cravings have been satisfied you will take the relaxing way home by flying from King George Island to Punta Arenas, Chile.

Day 1 – Ushuaia, Argentina

This quaint city at the southernmost tip of South America is your gateway to Antarctica. The city itself provides a wide range of shops, cafes, and restaurants to explore before your voyage, while the surrounding mountains offer ample adventure activities if you want to discover the rugged nature of Tierra del Fuego.

Day 2 – Embarkation Day

We will embark in the afternoon, with a journey through the picturesque Beagle Channel. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled and be out on deck, as the channel is home to a wide variety of wildlife including seabirds and seals. Rainbows are common here too, creating a great photography opportunity to kick off the start to your Antarctic adventure.

Day 3-4 – Crossing The Drake Passage

Legendary for its high winds and rolling seas, you may get lucky and have a surprise with calm seas. Spend your time in the lounge or circulating with your fellow travellers. Our Expedition Team will begin their series of presentations and help prepare you for your upcoming Zodiac and land excursions. You officially enter Antarctica when your ship crosses the Antarctic convergence, a biological boundary that fluctuates around 60° south.

Day 5-8 – Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands

Icebergs are the first attractions that welcome you to Antarctica. Massive floating bergs become more common as we get closer to land and you catch your first glimpse of the Peninsula, with its grand snow-covered mountains. You will likely spot penguins chilling out on ice floats and whales feeding and swimming in the frigid waters. As soon as we can, the Zodiacs will be readied for your first landing in the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula. The first time you experience this immense wilderness up close can be a numbing experience. The silence is great, the vastness is even greater.  Thankfully the noisy locals – penguins and seals – are there to remind you that this wonderful landscape is not just a dream. Your Expedition Team will monitor the ice and weather conditions to determine which landing sites we can visit. Each expedition presents new opportunities for exploring the white continent by Zodiac and land. Swimming in Antarctica is perhaps the most adventurous option you can enjoy, by taking a polar-dip in the water at Neko Harbor. If you would rather stay on land, then how about taking a camping trip in Antarctica? A typical day will be spent listening to calving glaciers at Petermann Island, watching penguins waddle around a beach, or taking a hike atop a hill for a panoramic view of Port Lockroy. The photographic opportunities are endless.

Day 9 – Disembarkation & Fly To Punta Arenas

As the ship turns north, you will say goodbye. With only the Drake Passage ahead, you’ll disembark and enjoy some time on King George Island before flying off to Punta Arenas, Chile. Once you are in Punta Arenas, we will transfer you from the airport to your hotel, where you are free to explore and enjoy a final dinner out.
Important reminder: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy – and excitement – of expedition travel. There are no guarantees that we can achieve everything we set out to accomplish. A measure of flexibility is something all of us must bring to a voyage. There are nearly 200 recognised sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands and the places mentioned above may be changed to others equally as interesting.

• Rates valid during season 2014
• Rates subject to the variations of the market

Prices Include

• One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast.
• Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping.
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board throughout your voyage.
• All shore landings per the daily program.
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader.
• All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program.
• Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled.
• Photographic Journal on DVD, documenting the voyage.
• A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for shore landings.
• An official expedition parka to keep.
• Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock.
• Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin.
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader.
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
• All luggage handling aboard ship.
• Emergency Evacuation Insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $100,000 per person.
• All flights to or from Antarctica as specified in the itinerary.
• Pre night hotel on all Fly and Cruise programs in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas.
• One night post expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast
• Group transfers between the hotel and airport in conjunction with the charter flight.
• Group transfers in Ushuaia from the airport to any local hotel.

Prices Do Not Include

• Any airfare unless otherwise specified in the itinerary.
• Passport and visa expenses.
• Government arrival and departure taxes.
• Any meals ashore unless otherwise specified.