Antarctic Express: Fly South, Sail North (PUQ)

The fastest way to Antarctica: fly one way over the Drake Passage (3-hour flight) and sail the other. Spend four days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, enjoying intimate encounters with penguins, seals, and icebergs.


Fly and Cruise Antarctica
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Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
Starts: Punta Arenas, Chile
Ends: Ushuaia, 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.
Includes a pre-voyage hotel night in Punta Arenas with a welcome dinner and a mandatory pre-flight briefing.


Included
Optional


The 9-day Antarctic Express: Fly South, Sail North expedition offers the fastest and most efficient access to the White Continent. Your adventure begins with a brief, three-hour charter flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, soaring over the 800-km (500-mile) Drake Passage, allowing you to glimpse the 7th Continent from a unique aerial perspective. Upon arrival at King George Island, you board your waiting ship to commence an intense four-day exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands.

This journey provides the best of both worlds—swift access and the traditional sailing rite of passage on the return. Expect daily Zodiac excursions and landings where you can walk among thousands of penguins (Adélie, Gentoo, Chinstrap) and encounter seals. The experience is deepened by presentations from world-class polar experts on glaciology, history, and marine biology, ensuring you gain intimate knowledge of this unparalleled wilderness. The return sailing across the Drake Passage is a period of reflection and continued wildlife spotting, including majestic albatrosses and feeding whales.

Highlights:
Fly over the Drake Passage and experience the fastest, most direct way to Antarctica (3-hour flight).
Spot iconic Antarctic wildlife, such as penguins, seals and whales.
Marvel at many of the Antarctic Peninsula highlights, with four full days of exploration.
Enjoy presentations on wildlife, history, glaciology & geology by our onboard polar experts.
Experience the ultimate polar journey: flying one way and sailing the other.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile
Arrival, Briefing, and Welcome Dinner
Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile. A Quark Expeditions representative will meet you at the official starting point hotel by early afternoon. Enjoy a welcome dinner and receive a detailed briefing about preparing for your embarkation day. If you arrive early, the city offers many museums, restaurants, and shops.

Day 2: Fly to King George Island and Embark
Charter Flight Over the Drake Passage and Ship Boarding
Transfer to Punta Arenas airport for your charter flight to Antarctica, crossing the legendary Drake Passage in only two hours. You will get your first glimpse of the dramatic Antarctic landscapes as your plane descends onto the South Shetland Islands (King George Island). After landing, make your way to the shore and be transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula.

Days 3–6: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Four Days of Immersive Polar Exploration
The Antarctic Continent is an indescribable land that must be appreciated firsthand. Your Captain and Expedition Team will constantly alert you to sightings of whales and seabirds. Expert presenters will deepen your experience with explanations of glaciology, history, wildlife, and photography. Daily excursions are the core of the adventure: your first Zodiac landing will be unforgettable, allowing you to walk on shores inhabited by thousands of penguins (Adélie, Gentoo, Chinstrap). Excursions, dependent on weather, may include Zodiac cruises in search of whales and icebergs or hikes to penguin rookeries. Be alert for the booming sound of calving glaciers and the thrill of spotting apex predators like leopard seals and orcas.

Days 7–8: Crossing the Drake Passage
Sailing North and Expedition Conclusion
Crossing the Drake Passage marks a rite of passage and the beginning of your journey home. Having developed your sea legs over the previous days, you can continue wildlife spotting, with the Expedition Team available on deck and the bridge to help you spot majestic wandering albatross and various whale species (minke, humpback). The Expedition Team will conclude their series of engaging presentations on subjects such as marine biology, polar history, and glaciology.

Day 9: Disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina
Morning Arrival and Onward Journey
You will arrive and disembark in Ushuaia in the morning, after which you can continue your onward journey, or catch your flights home.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile
Arrival, Briefing, and Welcome Dinner
Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile. A Quark Expeditions representative will meet you at the official starting point hotel by early afternoon. Enjoy a welcome dinner and receive a detailed briefing about preparing for your embarkation day. If you arrive early, the city offers many museums, restaurants, and shops.

Day 2: Fly to King George Island and Embark
Charter Flight Over the Drake Passage and Ship Boarding
Transfer to Punta Arenas airport for your charter flight to Antarctica, crossing the legendary Drake Passage in only two hours. You will get your first glimpse of the dramatic Antarctic landscapes as your plane descends onto the South Shetland Islands (King George Island). After landing, make your way to the shore and be transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula.

Days 3–6: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Four Days of Immersive Polar Exploration
The Antarctic Continent is an indescribable land that must be appreciated firsthand. Your Captain and Expedition Team will constantly alert you to sightings of whales and seabirds. Expert presenters will deepen your experience with explanations of glaciology, history, wildlife, and photography. Daily excursions are the core of the adventure: your first Zodiac landing will be unforgettable, allowing you to walk on shores inhabited by thousands of penguins (Adélie, Gentoo, Chinstrap). Excursions, dependent on weather, may include Zodiac cruises in search of whales and icebergs or hikes to penguin rookeries. Be alert for the booming sound of calving glaciers and the thrill of spotting apex predators like leopard seals and orcas.

Days 7–8: Crossing the Drake Passage
Sailing North and Expedition Conclusion
Crossing the Drake Passage marks a rite of passage and the beginning of your journey home. Having developed your sea legs over the previous days, you can continue wildlife spotting, with the Expedition Team available on deck and the bridge to help you spot majestic wandering albatross and various whale species (minke, humpback). The Expedition Team will conclude their series of engaging presentations on subjects such as marine biology, polar history, and glaciology.

Day 9: Disembark in Ushuaia, Argentina
Morning Arrival and Onward Journey
You will arrive and disembark in Ushuaia in the morning, after which you can continue your onward journey, or catch your flights home.


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INCLUSIONS

Specialist Expedition Leaders
Our team is comprised of the most professional and passionate Expedition Leaders in the world, who bring a wide range of experience and expertise to every adventure.

Immersive Off-ship Activities
Itineraries are packed with adventure options designed to immerses travelers in the polar wilderness, enabling them to connect with the natural wonders of their surroundings.

On-Ship Experiences & Facilities
Designed for comfort and adventure, each ship accommodates no more than 200 guests. Facilities include comfortable cabins, exceptional dining options, wellness treatments, and breathtaking panoramic views of the polar landscape.

Food & Beverages
Premium dining, with a wide selection of options that accommodate a variety of dietary preferences.

Quark Expedition Perks
Complementary Wi-Fi, alcohol on all voyages, and the Official Quark Expeditions parka to take home.

Transfers
Select voyages include essential transportation and accommodation arrangements for guests, ensuring seamless travel to and from the expedition starting point.


World Explorer and World Voyager guests will receive a free 1GB data card for limited Wi-Fi access. (Additional data can be purchased on the ship.)

EXCLUSIONS

International airfare & visa expenses
Travel insurance, mandatory expedition gear
On-ship expenses, adventure options and trip extensions


Dates & Rates


Ship: World Voyager (QRK) | Date: 11 Dec 2026 - 19 Dec 2026 (3918)
Infinity Suite
$16,490
$15,696
Veranda Suite
$17,290
$16,456
Superior Suite
$22,290
$21,206
Deluxe Suite
$23,990
$22,821
Owner´s Suite
$25,690
$24,436
Ship: Ocean Explorer | Date: 03 Feb 2027 - 11 Feb 2027 (3920)
Deluxe Veranda Forward
$16,395
$14,018
Veranda Stateroom
$17,195
$14,702
Veranda Suite
$18,295
$15,643
Studio Single
$21,495
$18,379
Junior Suite
$21,495
$18,379
Studio Veranda Single
$23,195
$19,832
Penthouse Suite
$24,995
$21,371
Owners Suite
$26,695
$22,825
Ship: World Voyager (QRK) | Date: 26 Feb 2027 - 06 Mar 2027 (3919)
Infinity Suite
$13,990
$12,048
Veranda Suite
$14,690
$12,647
Superior Suite
$18,890
$16,238
Deluxe Suite
$20,290
$17,435
Owner´s Suite
$21,690
$18,632
Ship: Ocean Explorer | Date: 04 Jan 2028 - 11 Jan 2028 (4729)
Deluxe Veranda Forward
$18,995
$15,386
Veranda Stateroom
$19,995
$16,241
Veranda Suite
$21,195
$17,267
Studio Single
$24,995
$20,516
Junior Suite
$24,995
$20,516
Studio Veranda Single
$26,995
$22,226
Penthouse Suite
$28,995
$23,936
Owners Suite
$30,995
$25,646
Ship: Ocean Explorer | Date: 07 Feb 2028 - 15 Feb 2028 (4730)
Deluxe Veranda Forward
$18,995
$15,386
Veranda Stateroom
$19,995
$16,241
Veranda Suite
$21,195
$17,267
Studio Single
$24,995
$20,516
Junior Suite
$24,995
$20,516
Studio Veranda Single
$26,995
$22,226
Penthouse Suite
$28,995
$23,936
Owners Suite
$30,995
$25,646

* 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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