Sign-up to receive our Best Deals!

    The Weddell Sea & Larsen Ice Shelf

    Highlights

    Antarctica, a land of infinite mysteries, will plunge you into the heart of an extraordinary adventure. Discover the immense diversity of its ice formations and set course for the vast Larsen ice shelves. Crossing the Drake Passage carries you through the tumultuous waters of the Southern Ocean, until the first lands of the Antarctic Peninsula emerge. Observe Adélie, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins, Weddell seals, and perhaps even orcas, and let yourself be overwhelmed by the raw beauty of the world. The sea ice stretches to the horizon, and tabular icebergs drift around you. If you are lucky, you may even catch sight of the rare and majestic emperor penguins.

    • An exploration that will take you into the heart of the ice of the Weddell Sea, as close as possible to the gigantic Larsen Ice Shelf and its immense tabular icebergs.
    • Exceptional wildlife: Adelie, chinstrap and Gentoo penguins ; leopard, crabeater and Weddell seals; humpbacks, Minke whales and orcas, and the possibility of observing emperors penguins and Ross seals.
    • Many activities offered on board led by your naturalists: zodiac excursions, hiking or snowshoeing.

    Map/Itinerary

    Please note: This itinerary is meant to serve as a general guide. Plans may change along the way, depending on weather, sea conditions, or choices made by the Expedition Leader and team to give you the safest and most rewarding experience.

    Day 1Santiago, Chile

    Upon arrival in Santiago, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. After meeting a local representative, check-in will be available from late morning. Lunch is on your own, followed by free time in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

    Day 2Embarkation Day – Santiago/Ushuaia

    Enjoy a light breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia (approx. 3 hours). Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport with English-speaking assistance and transferred to your ship for embarkation.

    Capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…

    Day 3-4Crossing The Drake Passage

    Use your days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarise yourself with your ship and deepen your knowledge of the Antarctic. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of the Antarctic will be an opportunity for you to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience.  You will experience exceptional sailing moments on board and join the naturalist-guides on your ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.

    Day 5Antarctic Peninsula

    Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife.

    Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula.

    Day 6-7Sailing toward Larsen Ice Shelf

    As you explore the Weddell Sea, you will sail towards the gigantic Larsen Ice Shelf. The beauty of this immense ice formation is fascinating; nonetheless, its monumental size must not make us forget the fragility of its existence. These floating platforms are what protect the continental ice cap – also called the inlandsis – from erosion and are thus of paramount importance for the entire balance of our planet. As you get up close to this equally majestic and vertiginous spectacle, you will really understand the need to protect these ice shelves. Our team of passionate experts will share their knowledge of these ice shelves that create gigantic tabular icebergs – among the largest ever observed – that drift in the Southern Ocean.

    Day 8The Weddell Sea exploration

    Impassable, extreme and captivating: this is the best way to describe the Weddell Sea, much of which is covered by a layer of thick, densely packed ice. It is a challenge and a privilege to sail upon this sea. Polar exploration finds its full meaning here. Heading towards the South is a real quest, with the promise of highly-charged encounters with the continent’s endemic fauna. This is the kingdom of the emperor penguin, the largest penguin in the world, renowned for its elegance. Unlike other penguins that live on the rocks, the emperor nests on the ice floe which it needs for its reproductive cycle. It is therefore on the ice floe that you will be able to observe it walking around with its characteristic gait. In this southern sea, where the ice changes and is transformed constantly, there is never any monotony. The new reliefs and new colours ensure never-ending wonderment. You will sail into the heart of the immaculate ice floe, which is dislocated or densely packed, into an alley of icebergs. Among them are immense blocks of ice, tabular icebergs, that drift and illuminate the ocean with their cerulean blue haloes.

    Day 9North Antarctic Peninsula

    Throughout your time in the north of the Antarctic Peninsula, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife. You will sail through the Antarctic Sound, named after Swedish explorer Otto Nordenskjöld’s ship, which was trapped by the ice during an important scientific expedition in 1902. The gateway to the Weddell Sea, this sound is filled with gigantic tabular icebergs and plates of sea ice drifting northward from the coastal areas of this vast sea. It is home to Adelie penguins and a great many leopard seals.

    Day 10-12Antarctic Peninsula

    Succumb to the magic of a place unlike any other. To this day, the mythical Antarctic Peninsula still holds real fascination and promises its visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure in this icy realm, you will find yourself in the heart of a spectacular decor in subtle shades of blue and white, surrounded by exceptional wildlife.

    Each day, based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will suggest zodiac outings or landings to discover the infinite riches of the Antarctic Peninsula.

    Day 12-13Crossing the Drake Passage

    If there is one place, one sea, one waterway dreaded by tourists, researchers and hardened seafarers alike, it is undoubtedly Drake Passage. Situated at the latitude of the infamous Furious Fifties winds, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, it is the shortest route to connect Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent! As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, Drake Passage harbours a very diverse marine fauna. Don’t forget to look to the sky to catch a glimpse of elegant albatross and Cape petrels, playfully floating about in the wind around your ship.

    Day 14Disembarkation Day – Ushuaia/Santiago

    After disembarkation, you will be greeted at the port with English-speaking assistance and transferred to the airport for your flight to Santiago (approx. 3 hours). It is highly recommended you schedule your international flight for the following day.

    Inclusions/Exclusions

    Inclusions

    • Transfer from the airport upon flight arrival.
    • 1-night accommodation at a hotel, the night before embarkation.
    • Hospitality desk at the hotel in Santiago.
    • Return flight Santiago/Ushuaia/Santiago, in economy class. Seats in business class may be available; please contact your travel agent.
    • Meals as mentioned in the programme and a beverage package.
    • Transfers as mentioned in the programme.
    • Full board from arrival to departure day
    • High-end gastronomy in all restaurants
    • All beverages in restaurants, bars, and minibars. All drinks are included² (a selection of champagnes, wines and spirits, beers, cocktails, water, soft drinks, hot beverages)
    • 24-hour room service
    • Butler service for certain suites³
    • Unlimited internet access onboard
    • Evening events, shows, and other entertainment
    • Access to the fitness area and hammam or sauna, depending on the ship
    • All port and security charges

    ²Excluding premium à la carte beverages.

    Exclusions

    • Tips for the local guide.
    • Personal expenses.
    • Other meals and services not mentioned in the programme.

    Dates & Prices

    Filter all trips

    Regions

    Destinations

    Price

    Vessel Category

    Month

    Year

    Duration

    Sort by

    Start: Dec 15, 2028

    End: Dec 28, 2028

    Departure: Santiago

    Arrival: Santiago

    Le Commandant Charcot

    Duration: 14 Days

    Show Prices
    From$40,129$28,090

    Gallery

    Contact Us