Antarctic Express: Sail South, Fly North

This picturesque city at the southernmost point of South America is your gateway to Antarctica. The city itself offers a variety of cafés, equipment shops and restaurants that you can explore before your trip. Outside the city, snow-capped mountains and hikes in Tierra del Fuego National Park invite you to numerous adventure activities if you enjoy exploring nature.

You board in the afternoon and begin your journey through the picturesque Beagle Channel. Keep your eyes open and stay on deck, as the channel is home to a variety of wildlife, including seabirds and seals. Rainbows are also frequently seen here and offer a great opportunity for photos to herald the start of your Antarctic adventure.

The Drake Passage between the tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula is famous for its strong winds. But you may also be lucky and find a surprisingly calm sea. You spend your time in the lounge or chatting with your fellow travelers. As you develop your sea legs on the crossing, your expedition team begins a series of presentations to prepare you for your upcoming Zodiac and land excursions. You officially enter Antarctica when your ship crosses the Antarctic Convergence, a biological boundary that fluctuates around the 60th parallel south.

Icebergs are the first harbingers of Antarctica. The closer you get to land, the more icebergs you will see. In addition to spotting icebergs, you will likely see Adélie penguins relaxing on ice floes, as well as minke or humpback whales feeding and swimming in the ice-cold waters. As soon as possible, the Zodiacs will be prepared for your first landing on the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Experiencing this natural wonder up close for the first time can be overwhelming. The silence is great, the vastness even greater. Fortunately, the loud locals – penguins and seals – are there to remind you that this wonderful landscape is not a dream. Your expedition team will monitor the ice and weather conditions to determine which landing sites can be visited. With many locations to choose from, each expedition offers new opportunities to explore the white continent by Zodiac and on land. Swimming in Antarctica is perhaps the most adventurous option you can try by taking a polar plunge! A typical day in this animal paradise is spent listening to glaciers calving, watching penguins waddle on a beach, or climbing a hill for a panoramic view. Whatever you prefer, the photographic opportunities are endless.

You say goodbye to the penguins and your shipmates as you head north. With only the Drake Passage ahead of you, you disembark and enjoy some time on King George Island before flying to Punta Arenas in Chile. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, a transfer from the airport takes you to your hotel, where you have free time to explore the city and enjoy a final dinner.

You begin your journey home or explore the landscapes of Patagonia in southern Chile on your own.