Antarctica - a journey to the end of the world

Day 1: Arrival in Punta Arenas

Arrive in Punta Arenas by 2:00 PM, where our dedicated team will meet you and take you to the hotel where we’ll be staying. Today, we’ll cover essential safety briefings and enjoy an introductory lecture about our ship and the exciting days ahead. In the evening, we’ll celebrate with a festive dinner (included) and toast to our upcoming voyage. Overnight at the Cabo de Hornos Hotel.

Day 2: The Adventure Begins

Today, we start our adventure with a two-hour flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island on a chartered plane. Upon arrival, we’ll take a short walk from the airstrip to the beach, where Zodiac boats will shuttle us to our ship – our home for the journey. We’ll begin sailing south toward the large penguin colonies. If our morning flight goes as planned, we’ll aim to disembark on a beach in the South Shetland Islands by afternoon, visiting a colony of 4,000 Gentoo penguins. Overnight on the ship as we cross the Bransfield Strait to our next destination.

Day 3: Discovering Antarctica

By morning, we’ll arrive in a beautiful bay home to various seals and penguins. During lunch, we’ll sail south to Wilhelmina Bay, known for its large populations of whales. We’ll board Zodiacs around sunset for close encounters, then return to the ship to rest as we sail further south. Overnight on the ship.

Day 4: The Southern Colonies

In the morning, we’ll arrive at the stunning Lemaire Channel, one of Antarctica’s most scenic spots, and sail through breathtaking landscapes. By midday, we’ll land on Petermann Island, home to large colonies of hardy Adélie and Gentoo penguins, each nurturing their fast-growing chicks. We’ll have lunch back on the ship and explore this region known for whale and leopard seal sightings. Later in the afternoon and evening, we’ll continue south towards the Antarctic Circle. Overnight on the ship.

Day 5: Crystal Sound and the Antarctic Circle

Overnight, we’ll cross the famed Crystal Sound, navigating through many bays and islands filled with wildlife and enormous glaciers. We’ll make shore landings based on local wildlife activity. Very few ships venture this far south, giving us unique flexibility. By evening, we’ll reach the southernmost point of our journey – Adelaide and Detaille Islands. These islands once housed research stations that are now abandoned, and the area is home to the southernmost colonies of cormorants and Adélie penguins. Here, the midnight sun will be in full view as we cross the Antarctic Circle. Overnight on the ship.

Day 6: Port Charcot and Flandres Bay

After a slightly later breakfast (we stayed up late the previous night!), we’ll arrive at the beautiful Port Charcot on Booth Island. Here, we’ll land on penguin-filled shores, with an excellent trekking route for those interested. During lunch, we’ll sail north to Flandres Bay, arriving in the late afternoon. If the ice permits, we’ll launch Zodiac boats, as previous visits to this bay offered incredible whale-watching experiences. The Zodiac excursions will last several hours, depending on the action in this deep bay. Overnight as we sail to Neko Bay.

Day 7: Neko Bay and the Northern Islands

In the morning, we’ll arrive in the famous Neko Bay, one of Antarctica’s most scenic spots. For those interested, there’s a stunning mountain trail with views over the bay, and for wildlife enthusiasts, hundreds of penguins and seals rest along the shores. During lunch, we’ll sail to Cuverville Island, where we’ll disembark to view an impressive array of wildlife in a beautiful setting. After dinner on the ship, we’ll sail into Orne Bay to photograph Chinstrap penguins in the evening light. Overnight as we sail towards the South Shetland Islands.

Day 8: South Shetland Islands

After breakfast, we’ll enter “Neptune’s Bellows” to reach the heart of a volcanic caldera with our ship. We’ll walk along the beach, learn about the historic colony here, and hear about two major volcanic eruptions that occurred in the 20th century. This is an excellent spot for photography, with trails leading to “Neptune’s Window” and through well-preserved buildings. For those interested, this is a fantastic place to take a dip in Antarctic waters! We’ll then sail to Half Moon Island, a crescent-shaped island where we’ll spend the evening among large colonies of Chinstrap penguins, various seals, and occasionally elephant seals. Overnight as we sail back to King George Island.

Day 9: King George Island

By morning, we’ll reach King George Island, likely quite tired after a packed itinerary of activities, experiences, and excitement. In coordination with the flight crew, we’ll determine the time for disembarking and preparing for the return flight. If our flight is in the afternoon, we’ll have time for one last shore visit. Otherwise, we’ll head to the Chilean base and walk back to the airstrip for our return flight to Punta Arenas. During the two-hour flight, we’ll enjoy aerial views of the Drake Passage waves while relaxing with food and drinks. After landing, buses will take us back to our hotel in Punta Arenas to unwind at the trip’s end. Overnight at the Cabo de Hornos Hotel.

Day 10: Farewell to Paradise

After breakfast, transfers will be available to Punta Arenas Airport for your journey home, or you can choose to extend your stay and explore the rugged beauty of Tierra del Fuego and the pristine landscapes of southern Chile. For those eager to continue exploring, we offer breathtaking workshops and guided tours of this remarkable region.