Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle

Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas in southern Chile. This is the most populous city in southern Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants, and natural landscapes that can keep you busy for days. In the early afternoon, a representative from your expedition trip will meet you at the official starting point hotel to enjoy a welcome dinner and to prepare for your embarkation day the next day.

With your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica, you cross the legendary Drake Passage in just two hours. Your ship is already waiting for your arrival off the coast of King George Island. You experience your first glimpse of the dramatic Antarctic landscapes from a unique perspective as your plane descends onto the South Shetland Islands. After landing, you make your way to the shore before being taken by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula!

There are few places in the world as impressive as Antarctica. The Antarctic continent is indescribable and difficult to put into words. You have to see the landscapes with your own eyes. You will never forget your first Zodiac landing on the 7th continent! Setting foot on a beach inhabited by thousands of penguins is the most intimate way to experience Antarctica’s unique wildlife. Each landing is different and weather-dependent, but each day offers new sightings and photo opportunities, and it doesn’t take long before you can tell the difference between an Adélie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguin. One day you might take a Zodiac cruise in search of whales and icebergs in the morning, followed by a hike to a penguin colony in the afternoon. From the thunderous sound of a calving glacier to the thrill of seeing a leopard seal or orca – a new adventure awaits each day. Your expedition team will accompany you on all experiences, ensure safety, and provide insights into the places visited. The expert team will also provide detailed explanations about glaciology, history, and wildlife of the region during excursions and on board with lectures.

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is a memorable experience and an impressive achievement. Few travelers venture this far south. If conditions allow crossing the latitude of 66°33′ S, you will toast to the first explorers who ventured here more than 100 years ago. You can raise a glass and be proud that you have made it to a part of the world that very few people visit. This is pristine Antarctica, home to the midnight sun, Weddell seals, and your best chance to encounter sea ice – the foundation of the Antarctic ecosystem.

If you haven’t had enough impressions of Antarctic wildlife and icebergs yet, you will surely be satisfied when you return to King George Island. You will continue your explorations by Zodiac or on land as you travel north along the western Antarctic Peninsula. Your expedition team will always be on the lookout for seabirds, seals, and whales that you may have missed on your journey south.

After a week full of experiences, you bid farewell to your expedition team and disembark on King George Island. Your two-hour flight across the Drake Passage back to Punta Arenas marks the end of your adventure. After the group transfer to the hotel, you have free time to explore the city and spend the evening as you wish, whether in town or at the hotel. You can review the impressions and sounds of Antarctica or meet up with friends from the trip for one last drink.

After breakfast, you are free to continue your journey in Patagonia on your own or head to Punta Arenas airport to begin your journey home.