HIGHLIGHTS
- See
and hear the busting activity of a penguin city
- Chance
to spot leopard seals on ice floes from our Zodiacs
- Zodiac-cruise
in search of feeding and breaching whales
- Skip
one or two legs of the Drake Passage to maximise your holiday time in
the white continent
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jan 19, 2025 | Jan 31, 2025 | 18,836 |
19,895 |
| Jan 26, 2025 | Feb 07, 2025 | 18,836 |
19,895 |
| Feb 12, 2025 | Feb 24, 2025 | 18,268 |
19,295 |
| Feb 20, 2025 | Mar 03, 2025 | 16,280 |
17,195 |
| Mar 01, 2025 | Mar 14, 2025 | 17,795 |
18,795 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | Mar 28, 2026 | 13,417 |
14,171 |
Rates are listed per person
|
| Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
|---|
| Jan 19, 2025 | Jan 31, 2025 | 18,836 |
19,895 |
| Jan 26, 2025 | Feb 07, 2025 | 18,836 |
19,895 |
| Feb 12, 2025 | Feb 24, 2025 | 18,268 |
19,295 |
| Feb 20, 2025 | Mar 03, 2025 | 16,280 |
17,195 |
| Mar 01, 2025 | Mar 14, 2025 | 17,795 |
18,795 |
| Mar 17, 2026 | Mar 28, 2026 | 13,417 |
14,171 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 Arrival airport transfer and overnight in Punta Arenas
Arrive
in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred to your downtown hotel (preferred flights
only). 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.
Tonight,
we will gather to meet our fellow expeditioners and a briefing on the
first leg of our expedition – our flight to Antarctica!
Day
2 Fly Punta Arenas to King George Island. Embarkation
This
morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our early
morning charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather
permitting). The flight will take approximately one-and-a-half hours. 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 in order for the
plane to take off and land safely. We apologise in advance for any
delays. Ushuaia,
capital of Tierra del Fuego is located at the shores of the Beagle
Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains giving you a unique
landscape in Argentina, which is the combination of mountains, sea,
glaciers and forests.
On
this half day introductory tour, you will visit “La
Mision” neighbourhood, the old Government House, and the
upper area of the city, which offers beautiful panoramic views of
Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. During the
excursion you will see the antique houses that belonged to the first
families settled in Ushuaia. The excursion ends with a visit to the Old
Prison Museum before transferring to the pier for embarkation at
approximately 4.00 PM.
After
embarkation, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin
before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from
port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with
spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This
evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition
team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling
adventure to Antarctica.
(Breakfast
and dinner included. Lunch is at own expense)
Day
3-9 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.
Day
10-11 Drake Passage crossing
Today,
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
12 Disembark 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 downtown Ushuaia before
continuing to the airport is included in the cost of the voyage.
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.
Sylvia Earle (Luxury Expedition, 126-guests)
Due to sail in October 2021 our new ship honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998 - this vessel pays tribute to Sylvia's long standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife. Sylvia Earle will be actively involved in the development of her namesake.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Arrival
transfer from airport to hotel on Day 1
- One
night’s hotel accommodation with breakfast in Punta Arenas on
Day 1
- Transfer
from hotel to airport in Punta Arenas on Day 2
- Flight
from Punta Arenas to King George Island on Day 2
- Transfer
to downtown Ushuaia or airport on Day 12
- On-board
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
Welcome and 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 from expedition team
- Free
access to our onboard doctor for consultations relating to
sea-sickness. A standard fee of US $60.00 (reclaimable through your
travel insurance provider) applies for medical consultations not
related to sea-sickness
- A
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
ADVENTURE OPTIONS - Sea Kayaking: USD 1,260
- Snorkelling: USD 640
- Photography: Free
