Antarctic Explorer Express

Upon your arrival in Ushuaia, you will be greeted by an Aurora Expeditions representative and taken to the pre-booked hotel. Check-in is possible from 3:00 PM. In the afternoon, you should visit the hospitality desk in the hotel to collect your luggage tags and receive information about embarkation and the Beagle Channel cruise. If you arrive later, you will find a welcome package at check-in and can visit the desk the next morning between 8:00 and 10:00 AM.

After breakfast, you check out and bring your labeled cabin luggage to the reception, where it will be transported to the port. You have the morning at leisure to explore Ushuaia, or you can participate in a catamaran trip at 12:15 PM. Alternatively, meet in the hotel lobby at 3:00 PM for the transfer to embarkation. On board, you have time to settle into your cabin before the important safety briefings begin. You end the evening with a welcome dinner, where you get to know your fellow travelers and the expedition team.

As you cross the Drake Passage, you get accustomed to the movements of the sea. The expedition team prepares you for your first landing with important wildlife and biosecurity guidelines and starts the lecture program on the history, wildlife, and environment of Antarctica. Keep an eye out for numerous seabirds such as albatrosses and giant petrels, which you can observe and photograph. You also have the opportunity to use the onboard facilities such as the gym, sauna, hot tubs, or observation lounges.

Arriving in Antarctica is an unforgettable experience with the first iceberg and the fresh, clear air. After our arrival, we can explore the western Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. With 18 to 24 hours of daylight, you actively shape the day.

Your experienced expedition team selects the best options daily, depending on weather and wildlife. We typically undertake two landings or Zodiac excursions per day while keeping an eye out for whales, seals, and penguins.

The Zodiacs take you ashore, where you can visit penguin colonies and historic huts. Adventurers have the opportunity to plunge into the cold waters! Also enjoy dramatic straits and scenic bays while experiencing the views from the observation lounge or the bridge.