Wild Antarctica Fly & Cruise

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Famed for its tremendous tabular icebergs, year-round sea ice, fascinating fossils and the pivotal role it played in Shackleton’s Endurance expedition, the Weddell Sea offers unsurpassed opportunities for exploration. Embark on a true Antarctic expedition as we not only explore the west Antarctic Peninsula, but also attempt to venture east towards the icy perimeter of the Weddell Sea, often guarded by impenetrable pack ice and home to awe-inspiring tabular icebergs.

Highlights

  • Be awestruck by the array of wildlife that play and hunt in the Antarctic Sound.
  • With favourable conditions, we hope to experience the incredible sea ice and enormous icebergs in the Weddell Sea. 
  • Learn about the incredible fossil-rich volcanic islands from our onboard palaeontologist.
  • Keep a close watch for whales that have migrated tremendous distances to feed on plentiful krill in Antarctica.

Map & Itinerary

Day 1 Punta Arenas, Welcome Briefing

Arrive in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. Upon arrival at your included hotel, kindly remind hotel check-in staff to provide you with Aurora Expeditions cabin tags. Please clearly label the tags with your name and ship cabin number. 

Overlooking the Straits of Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world’s most historic trade routes. Today, Punta Arenas reflects a great mix of cultures, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors, and it remains an utterly fascinating testament to Chile’s rich history.

Enjoy free time to explore Punta Arenas at your own pace and discover the town’s excellent restaurants. Between 5.00-7.00 pm, meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception and Pre-Embarkation Briefing. Afterwards, there’s free time to dine at your leisure. (Dinner not included). 

Accommodation: Hotel Cabo de Hornos (or similar)

 

 

Day 2Fly Punta Arenas to King George Island

This morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The flight will take approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes.

On arrival into King George Island our expedition team is on hand to greet you for your Zodiac transfer to board the vessel. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important briefings. 

Note: King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for safe take-off and landing. We apologise in advance for any delays. 

Day 3 - 11Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever. 

Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish. 

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You’ll want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula. 

While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you’ll have the option to do that whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting!

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea, and take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.

Central to the story of where Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance became trapped in formidable sea ice, the Weddell Sea certainly is high on the list for many polar adventurers. A small set of islands standing off to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula collectively form the Antarctic Sound – the gateway to the Weddell Sea. With a well-deserved reputation as being an iceberg alley, many large tabular bergs escape the Weddell Sea through the Antarctic Sound, often making navigation difficult. However, the rewards can be great. Fossils are a reminder of a more temperate era – gastropods, large clams, and spiral-shaped ammonites, all turned to stone. 

Be spoiled for wildlife encounters as the Weddell boasts a large Adélie penguin colony just outside of the Antarctic Sound, some of which breed on the rocky slopes of a small volcanic island, where a large colony of Antarctic blue-eyed shags jostle for space with nest-building Wilson’s storm petrels. On thrilling Zodiac cruises or slicing a path through the maze of sea ice in your kayak, keep watch for chinstrap and gentoo penguins in and out of the water, as well as humpback, minke and orca whales. 

 

Day 12-13Drake Passage

Our landings come to an end as we enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America. With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced, and the impact this voyage has had on our attitude to life.

As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.

Day 14Disembark in Ushuaia

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature. A transfer to Ushuaia airport or to your hotel is included in the voyage fare.  

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays. 

Inclusions/Exclusions

Inclusions

  • All airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary. 
  • One night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Punta Arenas on Day 1.  
  • Charter flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island.  
  • Onboard accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.  
  • All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage.  
  • Beer, house wine and soft drinks with dinner.  
  • Captain’s Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.  
  • All shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.  
  • Educational lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team.  
  • Complimentary access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial consultation).  
  • One 3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.  
  • Complimentary use of Muck Boots during the voyage.  
  • Comprehensive pre-departure information.  
  • Port surcharges, permits and landing fees. 
  • Wi-Fi*.  

* Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection can be unreliable. 

Exclusions

  • International or domestic flights – unless specified in the itinerary.  
  • Transfers – unless specified in the itinerary.  
  • Airport arrival or departure taxes. 
  • Passport, visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.  
  • Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges.  
  • Hotel accommodation and meals – unless specified in the itinerary.  
  • Optional excursions and optional activity surcharges.  
  • All items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), gratuities, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses or phone charges.  

Adventure Activities

Sea Kayaking From US$ 1,330 pp

Snorkelling From US$ 675 pp

Paddling From US$ 640 pp

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Wild Antarctica Fly & Cruise

Start : 17 Feb, 2026  End : 1 Mar, 2026
Departure : Punta Arenas   Arrival : Ushuaia
13 Days
From $20,095
$16,076
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Aurora Stateroom Triple Share
$20,095 $16,076
Aurora Stateroom Superior
$21,895 $17,516
Balcony Stateroom Category C
$22,495 $17,996
Balcony Stateroom Category B
$23,595 $18,876
Balcony Stateroom Category A
$25,395 $20,316
Balcony Stateroom Superior
$27,795 $22,236
Junior Suite
$34,895 $27,916
Captain Suite
$41,295 $33,036

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