Days
Price from
Bypass the Drake Passage and set sail on Antarctic waters
Skip the Drake Passage and journey to the deep south of the globe. With included charter flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island, you’ll begin your polar expedition in no time. Be immediately dazzled by some of the world’s most unbelievable landscapes, including calving glaciers, penguin rookeries and floating icebergs dotting the deep blue of the Antarctic Ocean. Sailing aboard your well-appointed expedition vessel, participate in a series of onboard lectures and workshops presented by an expert team of scientists and researchers, further enhancing your polar knowledge. No day will be the same, and with a crew focused on maximising wildlife sighting and shore landing opportunities, you will witness these wilds in all their icy wonder.
- Start
- Punta Arenas, Chile
- Finish
- Punta Arenas, Chile
- Destinations
- Antarctica, Chile
- Style
- Peregrine
- Theme
- Polar
- Code
- PPFLA
- Physical rating
- Ages
- Min 8
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 132
Why you'll love this trip
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Flying from Punta Arenas to the South Shetland Islands is the fastest, most direct way of travelling to Antarctica, and the view over the Drake Passage is unforgettable
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Witness penguins playing in their natural habitat at inland rookeries during daily Zodiac landings along the Antarctic Peninsula led by your expert polar team.
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Enjoy a comprehensive series of onboard lectures presented by polar specialists in Antarctic history, geology and glaciology, provide great insight into landscapes.
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Let the crew of well-seasoned Antarctic experts monitor weather, sea and ice conditions and modify your itinerary to ensure shore landings and Zodiac cruises are abundant in wildlife sightings.
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Keep your eyes peeled up on deck for migrating seabirds or whale pods cruising between icebergs as you traverse the icy southern seas in your polar expedition vessel.
Is this trip right for you?
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This trip runs on a number of polar expedition vessels, depending on the departure date. Each ship is equipped with well-appointed and comfortable staterooms, spacious common areas and outdoor viewing decks, but the exact layout and features do vary between ships. When booking a polar expedition, ensure that you note the ship name carefully in the ‘Dates & Availability’ section and consult its individual boat page to learn more about your vessel. For further information, speak to a Peregrine booking agent.
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Although our ice strengthened ships are big and sturdy, Antarctic waters can be unpredictable and rough. Some people may experience seasickness, especially through the Drake Passage and other open water crossings. Please be prepared with medications to combat this. There is also a doctor on board should you need further assistance.
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As you’d expect, temperatures in the Antarctic are freezing. A warm parka will be provided along with waterproof boots and unlimited hot drinks. Please see the ‘Packing’ section of the Essential Trip Information for details on what you will need to bring with you.
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Weather depending, you will be making regular excursions in a Zodiac boat to explore the local area and look for wildlife. It can get very cold and wet on the Zodiac, so make sure you have dressed appropriately and that you keep your camera safe and dry. Sturdy sea legs are needed as you make wet and dry landings from the boat, and on steep terrain, snow and other uneven surfaces. Some ships have a lot of stairs, so please hold on to the handrails if seas are rough.
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The weather plays a pivotal part in this adventure and although there’s an itinerary in place, there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to do everything that is planned for. A level of flexibility and openness to embracing the unexpected are important in expedition travel, especially to such a remote area. There are nearly 200 recognised sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands; the places mentioned in the itinerary may need to be changed to others (which are equally as interesting). We may also be confined to the ship during rough weather. The onboard library and educational lectures are ideal ways of keeping entertained.
Gallery
Boats
Ocean Adventurer
This sturdy expedition ship was built in 1975 and underwent an $8 million refurbishment in 2017 which included new engines and refurbished cabins...
- Boat type
- Expedition Ship
- Passengers
- 128
World Explorer
Newly built in 2018 and designed specifically with polar cruising in mind, the beautiful World Explorer is one of our newest ships.
- Boat type
- Expedition
- Passengers
- 172
Itinerary
Meals Included
- Dinner
Special Information
Please note, arrival transfers are included for those arriving at Punta Arenas Airport today. If you are arriving any earlier, you will need to make your own way to your hotel. Please arrive by 3 pm so you can collect your parka and boots and you can take part in the welcome briefing.Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Special Information
Please note that the luggage allowance for your charter flight is strictly limited to 15 kg for checked baggage and 5 kg for carry on.Meals Included
- Breakfast (4)
- Lunch (4)
- Dinner (4)
Special Information
The exact destinations you visit (and when you visit them) are dependent on factors such as weather conditions, sea ice and wildlife movement, but you can see a full list of potential landing sites at peregrineadventures.com/antarctica/landing-sites.If you would like to participate in optional activities such as kayaking, you must organise this in advance. See the ‘Important Notes’ section for more detail on these options. As space is limited on optional activities, we recommend you speak to a Peregrine booking agent at the time of booking to secure your place.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinnersTransport
Expedition cruise ship, Plane, ZodiacAccommodation
Expedition Voyage, HotelDates & availability - 2021 season
Trip departures are unavailable.
There are currently no scheduled departures on our Antarctic Express - Fly the Drake from Punta Arenas trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
Jump to a departure month
Important notes
BOOKING CONDITIONS
Arctic and Antarctic bookings have an increased deposit requirement of 20% of the full voyage cost (before any discount). The balance is due 120 days before departure.
If a booking is cancelled 120 days or more before departure – the cancellation fee is the full loss of the deposit paid.
If a booking is cancelled between 119 days and departure – the cancellation fee is 100% of the total price of the voyage.
Other fees may apply for air tickets and other arrangements booked in conjunction with a Polar voyage.
ADVENTURE OPTIONS
The following activities are available on some or all of the departures of this itinerary. These must be booked in advance, space is limited, and additional costs may apply.
KAYAKING – Taken in small groups of maximum 16 people, multiple times per voyage, kayaking adventures are only conducted during calm weather conditions. Kayaking is open to all levels of experience, however kayaking in the polar waters is not suitable for novices. Beginners interested in kayaking should first take an introductory course prior to the voyage which includes how to do a ‘wet exit’. Regardless of your experience, we recommend you take part in some kayaking practice prior to the voyage to ensure that you are comfortable on the water in the icy conditions.
Your voyage is operated by our polar partner, Quark Expeditions. All accommodation and transfer arrangements as listed in the itinerary are also operated by Quark Expeditions or their local representatives.
Strict luggage limits apply. Please see the ‘Packing’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
Essential trip information
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
View Essential Trip Information