Dive deep into both complexity and diversity on your 14-day Antarctica trip designed for an immersive experience spent amidst whales, penguins, seals, and snow. The world’s borders disappear behind the open seas, and the floating icebergs as dramatic mountains are blanketed with snow and enchanting ice formations that encapsulate the imaginative world near the South Pole. Humpback, Orca, and minke whales swim through the waters of the Drake Passage, and the penguins slide down slippery snow-paved...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Ushuaia – Arrive in the Exciting Ambiance of the Gateway to Antarctica
The spirit of Ushuaia celebrates the adventurers, explorers, and discoveries of the past while continually looking to the future. The natives arrived in the region of Tierra del Fuego around 10,000 years ago and have left traces of their occupation along the stunning geography that wraps around the bustling port.
Your flight will land at Malvinas Argentinas International Airport as the cold air sweeps down from the edge of the Andes Mountains and passes through the streets. The aroma of the sea drifts in from the port and the Beagle Channel, and your private transfer will greet you at baggage claim and escort you to your luxurious hotel near the center of the surprisingly lively city. Ushuaia has grown as an international port since its beginnings in 1884, and international ships continue to make port before and after rounding the renowned tip of the South American continent at Cape Horn.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure to enjoy the views of the streets, the snow-capped peaks of the Martial Range, and the dramatic image of the Andes Mountains plunging into the Beagle Channel. The scent of hops and barley emanates from the brewery celebrating its position as the world’s southernmost microbrew. The Martial chain stands less than five miles outside of the city center and harbors spectacular ski slopes and access to the Martial Glacier. A chairlift takes visitors from the base of the mountain to the top at nearly 3,450 feet above sea level, providing spectacular panoramas to the cobalt waters of the Beagle Channel and Chile’s Isla Navarino.
What's Included:
Day 2
Beagle Channel – Board the Cruise Ship to Begin the Journey to Antarctica
Day 3
Drake Passage – Travel the Infamous Waters of the Drake Passage
Day 4
Drake Passage – Attend Lectures and Presentations at your Leisure
Day 5
Neko Harbor – Explore Floating Icebergs and Glaciers at Neko Harbor
Day 6
Neko Harbor – Visit the Unique Topography of Deception Island
Day 7
Paradise Harbor – Cruise in a Zodiac to Visit the Receding Glacier and Coast
Day 8
Paradise Harbor - Search for Gentoo Penguins, Whales, and Seals
Day 9
Anvers Island – Discover the Unique Scenery Inside the Arctic Circle
Day 10
Adelaide Island – Traverse Frigid Waters and Glaciated Terrain
Day 11
Anvers Island – Voyage North along the Arctic Peninsula to Ushuaia
Day 12
Drake Passage – Search for Pristine Wildlife and Waves on the Passage
Day 13
Drake Passage – Relish a Day at Leisure en route to Argentina
Day 14
Ushuaia – Arrive in Argentina and Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Take the “Polar Plunge” as you jump into the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean from the Antarctic coast at Stony Point near Paradise Harbor
- Discover colonies of chinstrap penguins on Elephant Island and watch their daily activities and listen to their vibrant, honking call
- Bask in the gorgeous scenery of the Lemaire Channel, a narrow stretch of water between Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula
- Scour the waterways for a variety of whales and an assortment of seals when traversing the different bays, channels, and shorelines across Antarctica
- Dip your toes into the warm baths of Deception Island on a coastline heated by volcanic activity for thermal springs reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit
- Visit research stations on secluded islands and in the Arctic Circle for better insight into the examination of the world’s impact on the region
- Travel the infamous waters of the Drake Passage, the waterway separating South America’s southernmost point and the northern tip of Antarctica
Detailed Description
Reach beyond the milestone at the edge of Seventh Continent to travel deep into the Arctic Circle during your in-depth, custom tailored tour to Antarctica. The marvels of your trip to Antarctica will move beyond the familiar images of mountains capped with ice and glaciers that glisten in the nearly endless summer sunlight. Search for soaring petrels as they circle above the waters that move the ship closer to the northernmost islands that connect to the southernmost continent. Celebrate your triumph over the Drake Passage and explore beyond the more-common shores of the South Shetland Islands to the isolated waters of the Arctic Circle.
Your Antarctica cruise will ferry you to the end of the world and back accompanied by a small group of fellow passengers, an enthusiastic expedition team, and knowledgeable lecturers eager to share information beyond the Arctic islands vacation for insight into the peninsula, flora, and fauna. The excitement will begin with your arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina as your private transfer will greet you at the airport upon and escort you to a hotel near the center of the important port. The day is yours to wander around the streets of a city happy to celebrate its position at the edge of the South American continent.
Board your ship for a thrilling 13-day Antarctica cruise and back, beginning on the Beagle Channel. Learn about the unique properties of the southern continent while passing through the long stretch of the Drake Passage. Search for whales, track the flight patterns of petrels and cormorants, and then relax in the galleries and dining room at your leisure while taking in the shifting scenery through the portholes of the ship. Visit a selection of islands that connect to the South Shetland archipelago, including Elephant Island—to find chinstrap penguins—and Deception Island—to indulge in the unique experience of bathing in the natural thermal springs of a volcanic island.
Take zodiac boats from the ship to the shore, kayak to pebbled beaches to find whales, seals, and Gentoo penguins. Traverse the secluded islands near the Antarctic Circle to visit research stations and laboratories as they study the effect of the greater world on the ecology, glaciology, and topography of the Seventh Continent. You will travel north along the western edges of the peninsula, venturing through the Lemaire Channel, over the Drake Passage, and returning to Ushuaia, Argentina to bring an end to your extravagant in-depth tour of Antarctica.
Looking for more inspiration? Browse our Antarctica trips page to make your dream Antarctica vacation tour come true.
Starting Price
$18,200 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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