Emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill, Antarctica

Family-Friendly Vacation & Cruise to Antarctica

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Antarctica

Places Visited

Ushuaia, Drake Passage, Weddell Sea, Deception Island...

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Suggested Duration

12 Days

Wonder will engage you all during your family-friendly tour to Antarctica. Explore together with a cruise that promises to unveil the picturesque drama of the Seventh Continent as you pass through iceberg rattled channels and into the depths of the Weddell Sea. Enjoy the historical tales of shipwrecks around Elephant Island, and then listen to emperor penguins call out from the rocky beaches of Snow Hill Island. Watch for whales as they migrate through the Drake Passage and slap their tails against...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Reach the secluded waters of the Weddell Sea situated against the northern edges of the Antarctic Peninsula and pass over the Arctic Circle
  • Explore the narrow, watery passageways and towering coarse icebergs on zodiac tours that will connect your family to the shores of Antarctica
  • View four different species of penguins as you visit the distinctive islands around the Arctic Peninsula, including the famous emperor penguins
  • Relish the unforgettable family moment of plunging into a thermal hot spring on Deception Island in view of the tepid waters of the volcanic caldera
  • Visit the residents of Esperanza Base, one of two permanent civilian settlements on Antarctica
  • Search for whales, seals, penguins, dolphins, and birdlife as you sail across the infamous waters of the Drake Passage
  • Delight in the stories and tales of the Antarctic, including the memorable story of Ernest Shackleton and the Yelcho at Elephant Island

Detailed Description

Your family will receive the gift of a lifetime with unforgettable memories of time spent adventuring across the iceberg-laden waters and snowy shores on your 12-day Antarctica tour. Whether familiar with the wildlife and whaling legends of the Arctic Circle, or just eager to travel along the mythologized waves of the Drake Passage, your cruise between Ushuaia, Argentina, and the Antarctic Peninsula will offer the perfect blend of custom-tailored excitement and fascinating, immersive information. Discover the daily habits of Antarctic seabirds, seals, whale, and bustling penguin colonies. Pass towering icebergs and mesmerizing mountain ranges blanketed with snow. Capture picturesque scenery, engage in specialized zodiac tours, and indulge in the family-friendly ambiance shaped by your welcoming captain and his crew.

Your luxury experience will begin with your arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina. Your private transfer will escort you from the airport to the port of Ushuaia to board your modified Antarctic ship that is meant to hold less than 100 passengers for an intimate and informative adventure. Travel through the Beagle Channel, named for the ship on which Charles Darwin first sailed around South America. Enter into the famous and infamous waters of the Drake Passage, known to many around the southern continent as Mar de Hoces in a dispute about which European navigator first traveled across the waterway, Sir Francis Drake or Francisco de Hoces.

Listen to family-oriented seminars on the intriguing life of whales, penguins, seals, and dolphins, and learn about the ways in which the current of the passage affects the waves and climate in the area. Watch for icebergs and passing minke or humpback whales as you travel closer to the Antarctic Circle at Antarctic Sound and Hope Bay. Stop at Esperanza Station to meet local families in one of the world’s most southerly civilized settlements before traveling northbound to visit Paradise Bay and Cuverville Island.

Venture into distinctive straits and view chinstrap, Gentoo, Adelie, and emperor penguins. Use the zodiac boats to travel through the South Shetland Islands, including the Deception and Half Moon islands. Depending upon the seas, you may have time to stop at Elephant Island to learn more about the 1916 shipwreck of the Endurance and the ways the crew survived the stranded on the shores before traveling back through the Drake Passage to reach Ushuaia, ending your adventure on the open waters and beaches of the Antarctic continent.  Begin planning your dream Antarctica tour by connecting with one of our Antarctica travel specialists.

Starting Price

$15,600 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.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.86 stars based on 14 reviews.

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"[our agent] was extremely responsive to all our needs and...

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"We just returned from another fabulous trip -Argentina...

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"Alejandro is a real pro and a delight to work with."

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