Beyond the Antarctic Circle – In the Wake of Jean-Baptiste Charcot

A 16-day expedition aboard the Le Commandant Charcot following Jean-Baptiste Charcot's wake, crossing the Antarctic Circle and exploring the remote Bellingshausen Sea. Discover magnificent polar landscapes, observe abundant wildlife, and attempt landings on the enigmatic Charcot Island.


Antarctic Polar Circle
© PON

Duration: 16 días / 14 noches on board
Starts: Ushuaia, Argentina
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.


Included


This 16-day expedition aboard the Le Commandant Charcot is a profound journey following in the footsteps of Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s polar expeditions. The adventure takes guests beyond the Antarctic Circle—a mythic line few people cross—and deep into the Bellingshausen Sea. The itinerary is designed for a fully immersive and enlightening experience, with a dedicated expedition team of glaciologists, ornithologists, and marine mammal specialists.

Highlights include sailing through The Gullet, a narrow channel known for its sumptuous, ice-palace landscapes, and attempting an expedition to the largely untouched and enigmatic Charcot Island. The voyage explores Marguerite Bay and Pourquoi Pas Island, both named by Charcot, offering dramatic scenery and opportunities to observe wildlife such as penguins, seals, whales, and orcas amid ice floes and majestic icebergs. Included activities are numerous, ranging from Zodiac landings, kayaking, and polar hikes on foot or snowshoes, to the thrilling Polar Plunge.

Highlights:
Follow in the footsteps of Jean-Baptiste Charcot's polar expeditions aboard the Commandant Charcot.
Achieve the crossing of the mythic Antarctic Polar Circle.
Explore the narrow channel of The Gullet, known for its ice palace-like landscapes.
Attempt an expedition and landing on the largely untouched and enigmatic Charcot Island.
Discover Marguerite Bay and Pourquoi Pas Island, sites named by Charcot, offering views of leopard seals, whales, and Adélie penguins.

Itinerary

© PON
© PON
© PON

Day 1: Ushuaia
Embarkation at the End of the World
Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. The city is nicknamed “El fin del mundo” and is situated where the Andes plunge straight into the sea. Embarkation is from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with departure at 6:00 PM.

Days 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage
Familiarization and Polar Lectures
Use these days to familiarize yourself with the ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will present the IAATO rules and explain the Zodiac outings. Look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds.

Day 4: Crossing the Antarctic Circle
The Mythic Line and Midnight Sun
Weather permitting, cross the mythic line of the Antarctic Polar Circle (66°33’ south of the Equator). This is the point from which it is possible to view the midnight sun during the December solstice.

Day 4: The Gullet
Ice Palace Landscape and Historic Passage
Explore The Gullet, a narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land, known for its sumptuous, ice palace-like landscapes. This passage was first explored by the Jean-Baptiste Charcot expedition in 1909.

Days 5-6: Expedition to Charcot Island
Untouched Island Exploration
Attempt an expedition to Charcot Island, an island surrounded by sea ice discovered by Charcot in 1910. Very few people have landed on this largely untouched island, whose waters attract numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns and skuas.

Day 7: Bellingshausen Sea
Amid Ice Floe and Emperor Penguin Habitat
Explore the Bellingshausen Sea, named after the Russian admiral and explorer. You will explore this sea amid ice floe and majestic icebergs. The coastal areas are renowned as the home of colonies of emperor penguins.

Day 8: At sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot
Luxury Polar Sailing and Scientific Research
Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel. Take advantage of the onboard lectures and opportunities for discussion with specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT.

Day 9: Marguerite Bay
Charcot’s Namesake and Cetacean Spotting
Explore Marguerite Bay, one of the most beautiful regions in the Antarctic, named by Charcot after his wife. The bay is home to a number of cetaceans and you may get the chance to observe leopard seals or Adélie penguins.

Day 10: Pourquoi Pas Island
Named in Honor of Charcot’s Ship
Land on the coast of Pourquoi Pas Island, named by John Riddoch Rymill in honour of Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s ship, Le Pourquoi Pas?. You will go to shore in a Zodiac dinghy to observe Adélie penguins on the island’s rocky shores.

Days 11-12: Antarctic Peninsula
Glaciers, Exploration Wake, and Whaling Vestiges
Succumb to the magic of the mythical Antarctic Peninsula, exploring a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white. The Expedition Leader will suggest Zodiac outings or landings to discover glaciers, ice floe, volcanic beaches, and vestiges of the whaling industry. Sail in the wake of great explorers like Charcot and Shackleton.

Days 13-14: Crossing the Drake Passage
Furious Fifties and Diverse Marine Fauna
Cross the dreaded Drake Passage, situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds. As the Antarctic convergence zone, it harbors a very diverse marine fauna. Look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels.

Day 15: Ushuaia
Disembarkation
Arrive in Ushuaia. Disembarkation is at 8:00 AM.

Itinerary

Day 1: Ushuaia
Embarkation at the End of the World
Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. The city is nicknamed “El fin del mundo” and is situated where the Andes plunge straight into the sea. Embarkation is from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with departure at 6:00 PM.

Days 2-3: Crossing the Drake Passage
Familiarization and Polar Lectures
Use these days to familiarize yourself with the ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will present the IAATO rules and explain the Zodiac outings. Look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds.

Day 4: Crossing the Antarctic Circle
The Mythic Line and Midnight Sun
Weather permitting, cross the mythic line of the Antarctic Polar Circle (66°33’ south of the Equator). This is the point from which it is possible to view the midnight sun during the December solstice.

Day 4: The Gullet
Ice Palace Landscape and Historic Passage
Explore The Gullet, a narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land, known for its sumptuous, ice palace-like landscapes. This passage was first explored by the Jean-Baptiste Charcot expedition in 1909.

Days 5-6: Expedition to Charcot Island
Untouched Island Exploration
Attempt an expedition to Charcot Island, an island surrounded by sea ice discovered by Charcot in 1910. Very few people have landed on this largely untouched island, whose waters attract numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns and skuas.

Day 7: Bellingshausen Sea
Amid Ice Floe and Emperor Penguin Habitat
Explore the Bellingshausen Sea, named after the Russian admiral and explorer. You will explore this sea amid ice floe and majestic icebergs. The coastal areas are renowned as the home of colonies of emperor penguins.

Day 8: At sea aboard Le Commandant Charcot
Luxury Polar Sailing and Scientific Research
Spend exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury polar exploration vessel. Take advantage of the onboard lectures and opportunities for discussion with specialists to learn more about the poles. Participate in furthering scientific research with PONANT.

Day 9: Marguerite Bay
Charcot’s Namesake and Cetacean Spotting
Explore Marguerite Bay, one of the most beautiful regions in the Antarctic, named by Charcot after his wife. The bay is home to a number of cetaceans and you may get the chance to observe leopard seals or Adélie penguins.

Day 10: Pourquoi Pas Island
Named in Honor of Charcot’s Ship
Land on the coast of Pourquoi Pas Island, named by John Riddoch Rymill in honour of Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s ship, Le Pourquoi Pas?. You will go to shore in a Zodiac dinghy to observe Adélie penguins on the island’s rocky shores.

Days 11-12: Antarctic Peninsula
Glaciers, Exploration Wake, and Whaling Vestiges
Succumb to the magic of the mythical Antarctic Peninsula, exploring a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white. The Expedition Leader will suggest Zodiac outings or landings to discover glaciers, ice floe, volcanic beaches, and vestiges of the whaling industry. Sail in the wake of great explorers like Charcot and Shackleton.

Days 13-14: Crossing the Drake Passage
Furious Fifties and Diverse Marine Fauna
Cross the dreaded Drake Passage, situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds. As the Antarctic convergence zone, it harbors a very diverse marine fauna. Look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels.

Day 15: Ushuaia
Disembarkation
Arrive in Ushuaia. Disembarkation is at 8:00 AM.


© PON
© PON
© PON


INCLUSIONS

Full board from arrival to departure day
High-end gastronomy in all restaurants
All beverages in restaurants, bars, and minibars. All drinks are included¹ (a selection of champagnes, wines and spirits, beers, cocktails, water, soft drinks, hot beverages)
24-hour room service
Butler service for certain suites²
Unlimited internet access onboard
Evening events, shows, and other entertainment
Access to the fitness area and hammam or sauna, depending on the ship
All port and security charges
One included activity per person, per day, and per port, supervised by naturalist guides (hiking, Zodiac outings, etc.)
Exclusive stopovers with limited or no infrastructure will be offered for self-exploration. Passengers will thus be free to explore the area and enjoy independent activities.
Lectures by our naturalist guides or destination experts (excluding Sea Voyages)
Non-motorized water sports (excluding diving), such as kayaking on the Le Commandant Charcot or stand-up paddleboarding depending on the ship, subject to weather and safety conditions, local authorizations, and the Captain's approval
National park and protected area fees
Accompaniment by a team of naturalist guides; on land or, depending on the destination, during Zodiac outings and/or landings

¹Excluding premium à la carte beverages.
²Butler service is available for the following suites: Owner’s Suite, Duplex Suites, Privilege Suites, and Prestige Suites; Le Paul Gauguin: Owner’s Suites, Grand Suites, Veranda A Suites, and Veranda B Cabins.

The itinerary may be modified depending on weather conditions, port authorizations, and applicable government regulations. Landings, activities, and wildlife encounters are provided for information purposes only and cannot be guaranteed. Activities may change depending on weather conditions and navigation opportunities (see each activity’s description for more details).

EXCLUSIONS

Anything mentioned in the programme.
Personal expenses.


Dates & Rates


Ship: Le Commandant Charcot | Date: 01 Dec 2027 - 16 Dec 2027 (4817)
Balcony Stateroom LD
$26,030
Balcony Stateroom UD
$26,490
Deluxe Suite
$27,620
Prestige Suite
$37,370
Grand Suite
$39,650
Privilege Suite
$41,920
Suite Duplex
$56,660
Owner´s Suite
$93,860
Ship: Le Commandant Charcot | Date: 27 Dec 2027 - 11 Jan 2028 (4818)
Balcony Stateroom LD
$26,030
Balcony Stateroom UD
$26,490
Deluxe Suite
$27,620
Prestige Suite
$37,370
Grand Suite
$39,650
Privilege Suite
$41,920
Suite Duplex
$56,660
Owner´s Suite
$93,960

* 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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