Antarctica
Fly and Cruise Antarctica
Antarctica
Antarctica
Enjoy a smart 9-day air-cruise expedition to the White Continent. Fly comfortably over the Drake Passage in just two hours from Punta Arenas to King George Island for immediate embarkation. Explore the Antarctic Peninsula channels by Zodiac and sail back across the Drake to Ushuaia, connecting with your charter flight to Buenos Aires.
Duration: 9 days
Starts: Punta Arenas, Chile
Ends: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Language: English speaking voyage
The itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather and ice conditions. Your Captain and Expedition Leader will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible experience.
Polar Plunge More info about this activity
The ultimate icy challenge! The Polar Plunge is a classic rite of passage for every explorer, it is a heart-pumping experience that earns you a badge of courage and unforgettable memories.
Ship Cruise More info about this activity
Not only we travel from one point to another and find our shelter on board the ship we chose. We also enjoy from incredible scenery, landscapes and interactions that only our noble vessel can provide.
Everyday the Bridge Team navigates the ship to position ourselves on the best posible spots, looking for unique opportunities.
Many times, this includes sainig through narrow passages, on the vicinity of glaciers or entering bays and fjords only approachable from the ship.
Enjoy this incredible places from the comfort of the common areas on board, open decks or your own private balcony!
Shore Excursion More info about this activity
Shore excursions are the backbone of almost all itineraries, with most ships making landfall at least once every day once they reach their destination. The weather plays a huge role in your daily itinerary, although given the sheer array of fantastic landing sites all over there are plenty of options your Captain and Expedition Leader can choose from. On-shore excursions allow you to visit scientific research stations, communities, prominent wildlife colonies and take hikes to elevated viewing points for fantastic photography.
Photo Workshop More info about this activity
The photography workshops are composed of onboard lectures and practical activities led by dedicated expedition guide. Each session is meant to give you additional skills you can put into immediate practice out in nature.
You'll become more familiar with your own camera equipment while also learning best practices for taking pictures of moving wildlife and wide-open terrain in typical polar conditions, such as dim lighting and falling snow.
Zodiac cruising More info about this activity
On board the Zodiac you will discover a world of possibilities; accessing the most exclusive landing sites, cruising the coast in search of wildlife or simply enjoying a tour in the calm of the polar regions in search of marine wildlife or bird colonies.
The blue ice an its intimate presence is experienced at its best on zodiac tours.
It is not uncommon to meet curious seals, or humpback whales feeding.
Enrichment Program More info about this activity
Expedition cruising must be one of the most incredible ways of travelling. Not only for the amazing places you visit and the unforgetable wildlife but for the wildlife, the sensory overload and the unimaginable memories.
But all of this needs a context in order to understand where you are and what you are experiencing.
On board your expedition vessell you will find a group of experts, naturalists, zodiac drivers and guides that that will translate the language of nature for you, telling you the stories of the places you are visiting, reviewing the historical, biological, ecological and geological aspects of your trips.
You will experience first hand what surrounds you and arrive back home wiser and loaded with new knowledge.
Citizen Science More info about this activity
There’s important work being done every day, at some of the most renowned climate research facilities around the world, to record and study the incredible changes happening in remote places like Antarctica and th Arctic. As you might imagine, gathering critical on-site data on a regular basis would be a virtually impossible task for these groups. So we do it for them, in partnership with different research facilities.
If you’d like to get a first-hand look at how climate change is impacting our birds, sea life, glaciers, oceans, and weather patterns, and help scientists better understand our evolving planet, you’re welcome to join our Citizen Science program. And don’t let the word “science” scare you. We make it informative, interactive, and fun.
Snow Shoeing More info about this activity
This popular alpine activity is easy to learn. No experience is necessary – all you need is a willingness to try. All training is provided and our team of guides will have you trained and ready to go in no more than half an hour.
Participants should be confident in their footing and have an average level of fitness – outings may be up to three hours in duration. Those who enjoy hiking trails or taking long walks at home will possess enough fitness to enjoy this activity. As with any other activity, you will get more enjoyment out of it with some preparation in advance, such as long walks with uphill sections or bike riding.
In Antarctica, the longest hike can be 2-3 hours long, while in the Arctic it can be a full day tour.
Hiking More info about this activity
Hiking options include very easy beach hikes (good for photographers who need time for photography), easier short hikes, medium-difficulty extended hikes, and more challenging long hikes.
Kayaking More info about this activity
The experience of sea kayaking in the humbling wilderness of Antarctica or the Arctic is guaranteed to stir your soul.
Sea kayaking is one of the highlights for any Polar Traveller, providing ice and weather conditions are assessed as safe by your Expedition Team.
This activity requires previous kayaking experience.
Paddling More info about this activity
Paddle Excursion Program provides sit-on-top, two-person, inflatable kayaks that provide guests with an intimate, water-level experience in unforgettable locations in both the Arctic and Antarctica. These stable, rugged and comfortable crafts are an ideal way to see the polar regions from a different perspective. On-ship, you'll be provided with instruction and equipment including dry suits, personal flotation devices (PFDs), and waterproof gloves. Experienced guides will lead you safely throughout the paddling excursion. Your group will always be escorted by a safety driver in another kayak who will stay close by to provide additional support.
Standup Paddleboarding More info about this activity
SUPing combines the immersive experience of kayaking but in a standing position. Participants, if they prefer, can kneel, sit or even lie down and stare up at the azure Antarctic sky. Because of their wide base and tail fins, SUP boards are quite stable, enabling participants – after a bit of practice – to stop staring at their feet and admire the surrounding scenery. Imagine seeing Gentoo penguins gliding below you, or making eye contact with a Weddell seal lying on a piece of ice as you paddle by.
Guests receive on-ship and on-water instruction from a qualified SUP guide. In addition, a safety driver (in a Zodiac) stays within range to offer assistance.
Optimize your polar adventure through a meticulously designed hybrid itinerary that bypasses the initial two days of open-sea navigation. The expedition begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, southern Patagonia's most populated urban center, where you will enjoy a welcome dinner and an operational briefing. The next day, you will board an exclusive charter flight to cross the Drake Passage in just two hours, granting you a privileged aerial perspective of the South Shetland Islands before landing on King George Island to embark via Zodiac.
For an intensive week, you will experience a profound sense of reverence before the most pristine and untouched landscapes on the planet. You will take daily Zodiac cruises to explore local glaciated bays and ice-choked channels. Guided shore landings will allow you to visit active research stations, hike along snowy pathways, and observe the behavior of thousands of Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins. Keep your camera ready to capture calving glaciers and to spot leopard seals, humpbacks, and minke whales in action. The return journey navigates the Drake Passage northbound, providing the ideal opportunity to spot wandering albatrosses and attend scientific lectures before disembarking in Ushuaia for your group charter flight to Buenos Aires.
Highlights:
Express Aerial Transit: One-way charter flight that reduces the initial Drake Passage crossing to just two hours.
Integrated logistics with an included hotel night and technical orientation briefing dinner in Punta Arenas.
Daily excursions and Zodiac cruising through glaciated bays and channels along the Antarctic Peninsula.
Close encounters with polar wildlife, including penguin rookeries, humpback and minke whales, and leopard seals.
Insightful guided visits to active scientific research stations on the White Continent.
Seamless departure connection featuring disembarkation in Ushuaia and an included group charter flight to Buenos Aires.
Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile
Hotel night and briefing dinner included
Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populated city in southern Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and shops to enjoy. By early afternoon, a Quark Expeditions representative will meet you at the official starting point hotel, where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about preparations for your embarkation day.
Day 2: Fly to King George Island and Embark
Crossing the Drake Passage by plane
Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will enable you to cross the legendary Drake Passage in only two hours. Down below, your ship will be awaiting your arrival at King George Island. Your first glimpse of dramatic Antarctic landscapes will be from a unique perspective, as your plane descends onto the South Shetland Islands. After landing, make your way to the shore, before being transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula.
Day 3-6: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Pristine wilderness exploration
The most common reaction upon reaching the 7th Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every time we visit Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other—creating a unique, personal experience. Each day, we will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore glaciated bays, channels and landing sites. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research station or observing chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins, all of which can be found here. Keep an eye out for Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals as well as curious whales, such as humpbacks, minkes, or perhaps orcas while on a Zodiac cruise. Each excursion will present a new array of creatures to fascinate you and keep your camera busy. Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier. Every day will be different, having been carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.
Day 7-8: Crossing the Drake Passage
Northbound return transit and wildlife spotting
A rite of passage for any Antarctic adventurer, crossing the Drake signals the end of your journey. No matter the sea conditions, you will benefit from having developed your sea legs over the course of the previous four days. While the journey home has begun, wildlife spotting continues. Your Expedition Team will be available on deck and on the ship’s bridge to help you spot the majestic wandering albatross and a number of whale species, such as minke and humpback. When you’re not looking at photos and reminiscing about the previous days’ adventures, the Expedition Team will conclude their series of engaging presentations on subjects such as marine biology, polar history and glaciology.
Day 9: Disembark Ushuaia, Argentina
Group charter flight connection
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. You will then make your way towards your group charter flight to Buenos Aires.
Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile
Hotel night and briefing dinner included
Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populated city in southern Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and shops to enjoy. By early afternoon, a Quark Expeditions representative will meet you at the official starting point hotel, where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about preparations for your embarkation day.
Day 2: Fly to King George Island and Embark
Crossing the Drake Passage by plane
Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will enable you to cross the legendary Drake Passage in only two hours. Down below, your ship will be awaiting your arrival at King George Island. Your first glimpse of dramatic Antarctic landscapes will be from a unique perspective, as your plane descends onto the South Shetland Islands. After landing, make your way to the shore, before being transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula.
Day 3-6: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Pristine wilderness exploration
The most common reaction upon reaching the 7th Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every time we visit Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other—creating a unique, personal experience. Each day, we will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore glaciated bays, channels and landing sites. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research station or observing chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins, all of which can be found here. Keep an eye out for Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals as well as curious whales, such as humpbacks, minkes, or perhaps orcas while on a Zodiac cruise. Each excursion will present a new array of creatures to fascinate you and keep your camera busy. Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier. Every day will be different, having been carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.
Day 7-8: Crossing the Drake Passage
Northbound return transit and wildlife spotting
A rite of passage for any Antarctic adventurer, crossing the Drake signals the end of your journey. No matter the sea conditions, you will benefit from having developed your sea legs over the course of the previous four days. While the journey home has begun, wildlife spotting continues. Your Expedition Team will be available on deck and on the ship’s bridge to help you spot the majestic wandering albatross and a number of whale species, such as minke and humpback. When you’re not looking at photos and reminiscing about the previous days’ adventures, the Expedition Team will conclude their series of engaging presentations on subjects such as marine biology, polar history and glaciology.
Day 9: Disembark Ushuaia, Argentina
Group charter flight connection
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. You will then make your way towards your group charter flight to Buenos Aires.
INCLUSIONS
An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
Leadership throughout your voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities
All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
All shore landings as per the daily program
Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage (Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible.)
Complimentary select beer, wines and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner
Complimentary coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
A photographic journal documenting the expedition
A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
Complimentary Wi-Fi service on one device permitting basic Internet browsing, email, posting on social media and voice applications. (Premium packages are available for more data-intensive applications.) Note: Internet access in the polar regions is subject to geography, climate, and other factors beyond our control
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
All luggage handling aboard the ship
A group arrival transfer in Punta Arenas from airport to pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast. (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
A briefing dinner on Day 1 in Punta Arenas
A pre-expedition group transfer in Punta Arenas from the hotel to the airport
Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island
EXCLUSIONS
Charter Flight & Hotel Package* (when applicable – please review trip-specific details below)
International airfare
Arrival and departure transfers
Passport and visa expenses
Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned above
Meals ashore unless otherwise specified
Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended
Excess-baggage fees on international and domestic flights
Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac cruising, or any other gear not mentioned
Laundry, bar, spa and other personal charges unless specified
Phone charges may vary by location
Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for shipboard staff and crew
Additional overnight accommodation
Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities
Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 270 sq. ft. (25 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a floor-to-ceiling glass Juliet balcony. A sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 215 sq. ft. (20 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 55 sq. ft. (5 sq. m) walk-out balcony. A sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 270 sq. ft. (25 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 100 sq. ft. (9.5 sq. m) walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and bedroom. A separate sitting area with sofa, walk-in closet, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Deck 5, and approximately 345 sq. ft. (32 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 100 sq. ft. (9.5 sq. m) walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and bedroom. A separate sitting area with sofa, double closets, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 365 sq. ft. (34 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 100 sq. ft. (9.5 sq. m) walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and bedroom. A separate sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower, dual vanity, and bathtub is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 270 sq. ft. (25 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a floor-to-ceiling glass Juliet balcony. A sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 215 sq. ft. (20 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 55 sq. ft. (5 sq. m) walk-out balcony. A sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 270 sq. ft. (25 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 100 sq. ft. (9.5 sq. m) walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and bedroom. A separate sitting area with sofa, walk-in closet, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Deck 5, and approximately 345 sq. ft. (32 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 100 sq. ft. (9.5 sq. m) walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and bedroom. A separate sitting area with sofa, double closets, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower is also featured in each cabin.
Located on Decks 5 and 6, and approximately 365 sq. ft. (34 sq. m) in size, these cabins have one double or two single beds, and a 100 sq. ft. (9.5 sq. m) walk-out balcony with access from sitting room and bedroom. A separate sitting area with sofa, refrigerator, TV, state of the art “infotainment” system, and private bathroom with shower, dual vanity, and bathtub is also featured in each cabin.
* The prices are per person in US Dollars, unless expressly specified in a different currency. In that case, payment will be in US dollars at the exchange rate of the day.
** Rates are correct at the time of publication. All prices will be re-confirmed by email at the time of booking.
NOTE: Embracing the unexpected is part of the legacy—and excitement—of expedition travel. When traveling in extremely remote regions, your expedition staff must allow the sea, the ice and the weather to guide route and itinerary details. This itinerary is a tentative outline of what you’ll experience on this voyage; please be aware that no specific itinerary can be guaranteed.
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