Antarctic Express Crossing the Circle

0
HighlightsMap & ItineraryInclusions/ExclusionsAdventure ActivitiesGalleryDates & PricesContact Us

Check off a travel milestone by crossing the Antarctic Circle. Maximize your adventure by skipping the ocean transit and flying over the Drake Passage by charter plane. Simply combine our exciting Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition itinerary with a direct round-trip flight from Chile to your polar-ready ship, to get our Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle voyage. Then, explore the wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula by sea, and continue further to reach 66⁰33´ south. Check other achievements off your bucket list as well, such as sea kayaking through channels dotted with icebergs.

Map & Itinerary

Day 1Punta Arenas, Chile

Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populated city in Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and shops to keep you busy for days. By early afternoon, a Quark Expeditions representative will bring everyone together to your starting hotel, where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about preparing for your embarkation day.

Day 2Fly to King George Island and Embarkation

 Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will have you crossing the legendary Drake Passage in only two hours. Far below, the ship will approach King George Island for your arrival. Your first glimpse of dramatic Antarctic landscapes will be from a unique perspective, as your plane descends for landing in the South Shetland Islands. After landing, stretch your legs with a one-mile (1.6 km) walk to the shore, before being transferred by Zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula!

Day 3–5Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands

There are few places in the world as evocative as Antarctica. As we approach the white continent, don’t be surprised if you are overcome by feelings of excitement and awe. Much of Antarctica is indescribable and can only be fully appreciated through the human eye.
Your first sightings will be from the ship itself. As the Captain and Expedition Team keep their eyes out for whales and seabirds, you’ll be alerted to any new sightings. Our team of expert lecturers will also provide in-depth explanations of the geology, history and wildlife of the region.
Even more exciting are your daily excursions to land. Your first Zodiac landing is something you’ll never forget! Walking up to a beach that is dotted with penguins and seals is the most intimate way to experience the unique wildlife of Antarctica. Each landing is different and is dependent on weather, but every day presents new sightings and photo opportunities. You may take a Zodiac cruise in search of whales and icebergs in Pleneau Island one day, followed by a hike to a chinstrap rookery the next day. From the booming shot of a calving glacier at Petermann Island to the complete silence of night while camping in Antarctica, you’ll welcome each day with the excitement and energy of a young child. Our Expedition Team will be with you all along, providing insights into the places you visit and offering photography tips to get the most out of your expedition.

Day 6 - 7Antarctic Circle

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is both a memorable experience and impressive achievement, as few travelers reach so far south. If conditions allow us to cross this famed latitude of 66°33´ S, we’ll toast the first explorers who ventured here, and you can raise a glass and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world visited by very few people. This is raw Antarctica, home of the midnight sun, Weddell seals, and your best chances of encountering sea ice – the foundation of the Antarctic marine ecosystem.

Day 8 - 9Northbound Along the Peninsula

If you haven’t had your fill of Antarctic wildlife and icebergs by now, you’ll surely be satisfied by the time you return to King George Island. You will continue to explore by Zodiac or on land as you travel north along the western Antarctic Peninsula.

Your Expedition Team will always be on the lookout for species of seabirds, seals and whales that may have eluded you on your journey south.

Day 10Disembarkation and Fly to Punta Arenas

After your week of exploration, you’ll say goodbye to your Expedition Team and disembark at King George Island. Your two-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas, Chile, brings your adventure to an end. After your group transfer to the hotel, you are free to explore and enjoy an evening on your own, in the city or at the hotel to reminisce about the sights and sounds of Antarctica.

Day 11Depart Punta Arenas

After breakfast, you are welcome to continue on your own travels or make your way to the Punta Arenas airport for your homeward flights.

Inclusions/Exclusions

This expedition includes:

  • An official Quark Expeditions parka to keep
  • Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Team, including shore landings and other activities
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
  • All shore landings as per the daily program
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage. Please inform us of any dietary requirements as far in advance as possible. Unfortunately, the ships’ galleys cannot prepare kosher meals
  • Free beer, standard wines, spirits, and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner
  • Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
  • A photographic journal documenting your expedition
  • A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
  • Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
  • All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
  • Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person
  • A group arrival transfer in Punta Arenas from airport to pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
  • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast. (Note: The number of guests per room is the same as cabin occupancy on the ship. Due to limited availability, travelers who reserve a suite on board are accommodated in standard rooms at the hotel. Triple rooms may not be available.)
  • A briefing dinner on Day 1 in Punta Arenas
  • A pre-expedition group transfer in Punta Arenas from the hotel to the airport
  • Flights to and from King George Island
  • A post-expedition group transfer in Punta Arenas from the airport to the hotel
  • One night’s post-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi service on one device permitting basic Internet browsing, email, posting on social media and voice applications. (Premium packages are available for more data intensive applications.)

This expedition excludes:

  • International airfare
  • Passport and applicable visa expenses
  • Government arrival and departure taxes not mentioned
  • Meals unless otherwise specified
  • Baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical travel insurance—strongly recommended
  • Excess-baggage fees on international and domestic flights
  • Mandatory waterproof pants for Zodiac landing and cruising excursions, or any other gear not mentioned
  • Laundry, bar, spa services and other personal charges, unless specified
  • Phone and Internet charges (connectivity may vary by location)
  • Voluntary gratuity at the end of the voyage for expedition staff and shipboard crew
  • Additional overnight accommodation
  • Arrival and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated
  • Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities

Adventure Activities

Sea Kayaking: US$ 995 pp

Paddling Excursion: US$ 295 pp

Stand-up Paddleboarding: US$ 295 pp

 

Gallery

Dates & Prices

All prices are subject to availability, quoted per person and expressed in USD. Use our advanced filters to tailor your search by month, year, trip length and/or budget. Find the perfect adventure for you and discover beautiful and exciting destinations!

Advanced filters:
Destination: 
Month: 
Year: 
Trip Length: 
Price: 

Antarctic Express Crossing the Circle

Start : 24 Jan, 2025  End : 3 Feb, 2025
Departure : Punta Arenas   Arrival : Punta Arenas
11 Days
Ocean Explorer
From $26,995
$24,295
Show Prices
Ask Us a Question
Deluxe Veranda Forward
$26,995 $24,295
Veranda Stateroom
$28,495 $25,645
Veranda Suite
$30,495 $27,445
Studio Single
$35,995 $32,395
Junior Suite
$35,995 $32,395
Studio Veranda Single
$38,495 $34,645
Penthouse Suite
$41,495 $37,345
Owners Suite
$44,495 $40,045

Antarctic Express Crossing the Circle

Start : 9 Jan, 2026  End : 19 Jan, 2026
Departure : Punta Arenas   Arrival : Punta Arenas
11 Days
Ocean Explorer
From $33,695
$20,316
Show Prices
Ask Us a Question
Deluxe Veranda Fwd
$33,695 $20,316
Deluxe Veranda Forward
$35,295 $28,501
Veranda Stateroom
$37,195 $30,035
Veranda Suite
$39,395 $31,812
Studio Single
$46,495 $37,545
Junior Suite
$46,495 $37,545
Studio Veranda Single
$50,195 $40,533
Penthouse Suite
$53,895 $43,520
Owners Suite
$57,595 $46,508

Antarctic Express Crossing the Circle

Start : 28 Feb, 2026  End : 10 Mar, 2026
Departure : Punta Arenas   Arrival : Punta Arenas
11 Days
Ocean Explorer
From $30,495
$18,526
Show Prices
Ask Us a Question
Deluxe Veranda Fwd
$30,495 $18,526
Deluxe Veranda Forward
$31,995 $24,316
Veranda Stateroom
$33,695 $25,608
Veranda Suite
$35,695 $27,128
Studio Single
$42,095 $31,992
Junior Suite
$42,095 $31,992
Studio Veranda Single
$45,395 $34,500
Penthouse Suite
$48,795 $37,084
Owners Suite
$52,095 $39,592

Contact Us

Read More

Proceed Booking

Open chat
Hi! Glad to be in touch! How can we help you?