Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent

12 days
Dec 2025 - Mar 2027
Ultramarine
Included: hotels, transfers, flights
Helicopter Tours
Glacier Excursion
Zodiac Landings
2025
2026
2027

From

$12,234

per person

If this is your first visit, our classic Antarctic Explorer voyage gives you the best of the stunning Antarctic Peninsula in 11 days. Conquer the famed Drake Passage in your choice of four stabilized, polar-class vessels; explore majestic natural environments by zodiac and on foot; get up close and personal with penguins, whales and other wildlife; and enjoy talks on history, biology and glaciology by onboard polar experts. You can personalize your adventure with options that suit your interests, and cross the 7th Continent off the list—your way.

Highlights

Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Upon arriving in this splendid city, known for its vibrant Argentinian culture, European architecture and cosmopolitan vibe, you will independently transfer to your group hotel (pre-expedition hotel night included in mandatory transfer package).

Day 2 | Fly to Ushuaia and Embark

After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport and board our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to a central downtown location to explore this quaint port town on your own before making your way to the designated meeting spot pier.

After a late afternoon embarkation, you will sail along the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Excitement builds in anticipation of your next stop: the Antarctic!

Day 3-4 | Crossing the Drake Passage

The unpredictable and exciting Drake Passage is an adventure unto itself. While being well taken care of by our expert onboard staff and leaders, you’ll have plenty of time to gaze out at the ocean, take pictures of seabirds swooping around the ship, and get to know your Expedition Team and fellow travelers.

Day 5-9 | South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

Once the Drake Passage is left in our wake and the South Shetland Islands come into view, your Antarctic adventure truly begins. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. On every visit to Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means your expedition will be unlike any other—a unique, personal experience.

Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore local bays, channels and landing sites. With wildlife always at the forefront of our minds, you will visit penguin rookeries, scout for humpback and minke whales, and search for a number of southern seal species, including the cunning leopard seal.

The majesty of the Antarctic Peninsula’s mountains will enchant as you hike snowy pathways to vantage points offering panoramic views of your surroundings. You will discover that Antarctica is a land of extremes. At one moment you’ll be overcome with a feeling

of complete isolation and silence, and the next you’ll be inspired by nature as a calving glacier crashes into a brilliant blue sea or a penguin waddles by to inspect your footwear.

Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes—such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles—become indelible memories.

Each day will be different, carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.

Day 10-11 | Crossing the Drake Passage

The journey back across the Drake Passage provides a final opportunity to enjoy the invigorating Southern Ocean air. Spend time on the deck watching for seabirds and scouting for whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team, and celebrate the experiences you’ve shared exploring the remarkable world of Antarctica.

Day 12 | Disembark in Ushuaia and Fly to Buenos Aires

You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. You will then make your way towards your group charter flight to Buenos Aires.

Ships

Ultramarine

Ultramarine is designed to go beyond the familiar in polar exploration, to discover new places, and to immerse you in the best the region has to offer.

Equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, Ultramarine offers the most robust portfolio of adventure activities in the industry, the most spacious suites in its category, breathtaking public spaces, and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships its size. It also features an innovative mix of sustainability features that exceed all industry standards.

40-day Operational Range: Ultramarine is designed to go beyond the familiar in polar exploration, to discover new places, and to immerse you in the best the region has to offer and relies on its best-in-class 40-day operational range to do so.

Four Embarkation Points: Embarkation points on the starboard, port, and stern of the ship mean we can load and embark Zodiacs faster, safer and easier than ever before.

MAGS: Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS) is the industry-leading system that converts waste into energy at the site that it’s generated. MAGs eliminates the environmental impact of waste transportation, offering an innovative sustainability feature that exceed all industry standards.

Twin Engine Helicopters: Two twin-engine helicopters operated from two helidecks allow more passengers to simultaneously experience new destinations accessible only by air, and to enjoy more unique aerial perspectives of the polar regions than on any other ship.

Water-level Zodiac Hangar: An internal Zodiac hangar quickly and safely deploys Ultramarine’s twenty Zodiacs, allowing for more spontaneous off-ship adventures and more intimate wildlife engagement. This unique design allows guests to get off the ship in half the time of other vessels.​

Wraparound Deck: The wraparound deck located on Deck 5 of Ultramarine offers generous outdoor viewing opportunities to take in the polar landscapes and seize the moment when wildlife encounters occur.

With all this and more, Ultramarine is set to deliver the ultimate polar expedition experience.

Read More

What's included

Inclusions

RATES INCLUDE:

For all voyages:

  • 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.

  • Free beer, standard wines, spirits, and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner

  • Complimentary coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock

  • 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

  • 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.)

  • 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

  • One 10- to 15-minute helicopter flightseeing excursion (weather and logistics permitting).

Mandatory Transfer Package Includes:

  • One night’s pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires 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.)

  • Group flight departing from Buenos Aires’ domestic airport (Aeroparque/AEP) to Ushuaia, and returning to Buenos Aires’ international airport (Ezeiza/EZE)

  • Group transfer from hotel to airport in Buenos Aires

  • Group transfer from Ushuaia airport to the ship, and return (Note: Transfer on arrival in Buenos Aires from airport to hotel at the beginning of the journey is not included. Please make your way to the included hotel.)

  • Combined airport transfer and express bus tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park after disembarkation in Ushuaia

Exclusions

RATES SPECIFICALLY DO NOT INCLUDE:

For all voyages:

  • 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, spa services and other personal charges, unless specified

  • Phone charges may vary by location

  • Our basic complimentary Wi-Fi service does not include Premium packages which enable more data-intensive applications

  • 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

Excursions

Zodiac Cruising in the Antarctic Quark Expeditions

Included

Zodiacs are used for transferring you ashore, transporting your luggage when necessary and for taking you ocean-level cruising among icebergs, whales and seabirds. During the expedition, you will visit remote and isolated sites that are accessible only by Zodiac.

These large, heavy-duty inflatable vessels are extremely safe and were specially designed for expedition work. Zodiacs are the workhorses of Polar expeditions. Separate air compartments retain a large reserve of buoyancy even if these sturdy boats are damaged. Their flat bottom design permits the craft to land directly onto the cobble and ice-strewn beaches that you will encounter on your Polar expedition.

Polar Plunge in the Antarctic Quark Expeditions

Included

The Polar Plunge is scheduled once during each voyage. Throughout the journey, the Expedition Leader and Captain constantly monitor conditions in order to choose the optimal time and location. The Polar Plunge sometimes takes place onshore or, in many cases, from the gangway or Zodiac. All participants wear a tethered harness and plunge into the polar waters from the side of Zodiac or safety of the gangplank cheered on, of course, by fellow passengers and Expedition Team.

Safety is paramount—the onboard physician always attends the Polar Plunge. Guides in survival gear circle the area in Zodiacs as guests take their turn jumping or cannon-balling into the polar waters.

Flightseeing Quark Expeditions

Included

Imagine soaring over the polar regions from the comfort of a helicopter and enjoying the most astounding aerial views imaginable of the frozen Antarctic Ocean, of snow-capped ice ridges, massive crevices, and of melt pools ranging from cerulean to deep, spectacular turquoise.

Flightseeing on polar vessels like Ultramarine and Kapitan Khlebnikov provides guests with an entirely different perspective of the polar regions. Helicopters take passengers to places Zodiacs and ships can’t reach.

Helicopter flightseeing typically includes 7 to 9 passengers. No experience is necessary. Bring your camera—and enthusiasm.

Recommended Gear/Clothing

  • Thermal base layers

  • Quark Parka

  • Fleece

  • Waterproof pants

  • Thick wool socks

  • Neck warmer

  • Waterproof gloves

  • Warm hat

  • Sunglasses

  • Sunscreen

  • Camera

  • Small backpack (optional)

Hiking in the Antarctic Quark Expeditions

Included

Hiking in the polar regions differs from your typical trail experience. Here, in a tree-less terrain, you are the tallest figure on the landscape as you walk over spongy tundra, crusty snow or sandy beaches in remotes parts of the Arctic and Antarctica. Stepping ashore anywhere in the polar regions means you’re not a distant observer.

Our organized hikes range from short jaunts to the top of lookouts or visits to see wildlife or longer walks of several kilometers over ice and rock and snow. Hiking excursions may last from two to three hours with plenty of time for photographs of wildlife, learning moments from your experienced guides, or just time to stand back and admire the incredible polar surroundings.

No experience is necessary but participants should be able to get in and out of a Zodiac and walk on uneven terrain. Hiking options are tailored to all interests and abilities, from those who want to contemplate the landscape in silence to photographers who want that perfect image to energetic travelers who want to summit a peak in the hopes of seeing wildlife in their natural habitat.

Equipment you’ll be provided with for hiking outings

  • Trekking poles are available upon request

  • Bring your Quark Parka and collapsible water bottle provided at embarkation (they’re yours to keep)

  • Muck boots (loaned to you for the duration of your expedition)

Other recommended gear/clothing

  • Base and mid-layer clothing

  • Waterproof breathable pants

  • Wool or synthetic hiking socks

  • Warm hat

  • Brimmed hat

  • Sunglasses

  • Waterproof and sunscreen and lip balm (minimum SPF 30)

  • Backpack, preferably water-resistant (or with a rain cover)

  • Warm gloves

  • Camera and accessories

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Practical information

The Antarctic cruise season runs from November to March, during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer. Each month offers a unique experience:

  • November – Early Season: Pristine landscapes, fresh snowfall, and active penguin courtship.

  • December & January – Peak Season: Warmer temperatures, 24-hour daylight, and hatching penguin chicks.

  • February & March – Late Season: Best whale watching opportunities and more ice-free waters for deeper exploration.

Antarctica is home to incredible wildlife, including:

  • Penguins: Emperor, Adélie, Chinstrap, Gentoo, and more.

  • Whales: Humpback, Minke, Orca (Killer Whales), and Blue Whales.

  • Seals: Weddell, Leopard, Elephant, and Crabeater Seals.

  • Birds: Albatross, Petrels, Skuas, and more.

No visa is required for Antarctica itself, but depending on your nationality, you may need visas for Argentina or Chile, where most cruises depart from. Quark Expeditions will provide all necessary permits for landing in Antarctica as part of the IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) guidelines.

Despite being a frozen continent, temperatures during the cruise season are warmer than many expect, ranging from:

  • Early Season (Nov - Dec): -5°C to 5°C (23°F to 41°F)

  • Peak Season (Jan - Feb): 0°C to 8°C (32°F to 46°F)

  • Late Season (Feb - Mar): -2°C to 6°C (28°F to 43°F)
    Wind and weather conditions can change rapidly, so layering is key.

• Your passport and a copy of it!

• Cash in the applicable currency. Please check your travel documents for information about card payments on board

• Regular indoor shoes

• Sun protection

• A good pair of binoculars (ask the Cruise Norway team if they are included in your cabin)

• A small waterproof backpack

• Sunglasses with UV filter lenses

• Lip balm with UV protection

• Moisturizer

• Enough medication and other essentials to last through unforeseen delays

• Extra memory cards

• Extra batteries. Battery life can be reduced in cold climates

• Chargers

• Electrical adapters and converters if needed, please check your travel documents for information

• Sea sickness medication

• Sleeping mask

Clothing:
Layering clothes helps to keep you warm and dry. We recommend layering with wool, silk or synthetic fabrics rather than cotton. Dress code on board is casual (expedition style). Clothing should be comfortable and informal, including shoes. Dressing up for meals is not required.

• Summer clothing to wear in Buenos Aires

• Comfortable shoes for exploring South America

• Warm winter jacket

• Wind and water-resistant trousers or ski pants (some cruises require waterproof pants for landings and zodiac cruises, do not wear jeans or similar)

• Long thermal base layer

• Warm hat or headband

• Scarf or fleece tube

• Warm wool jumper and fleece jacket

• Gloves and mittens, fleece and wool

• Warm socks

Quark Expeditions’ Antarctica cruises offer daily landings and Zodiac excursions, depending on weather conditions. Activities may include:

  • Wildlife Watching: Close encounters with penguins, whales, and seals.

  • Zodiac Cruising: Exploring icebergs, glaciers, and remote shorelines.

  • Guided Hikes: Walks led by expert expedition guides.

  • Photography Workshops: Capture Antarctica’s stunning scenery.

  • Scientific Lectures: Learn from onboard experts about Antarctic history, geology, and wildlife.

Some cruises may offer optional activities such as kayaking and camping (availability varies).

Crossing the Drake Passage (between South America and Antarctica) can be rough or calm, depending on weather conditions. While some travelers experience motion sickness, Quark Expeditions’ advanced stabilized ships and onboard medical assistance help make the journey more comfortable. Those prone to seasickness may consider bringing medication or using natural remedies like ginger or acupressure bands.

Quark Expedition guest are provided limited Wi-Fi access for use on one device, permitting basic Internet browsing, email, posting on social media and voice applications. (Additional data can be purchased on ship.)

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DISCLAIMER: Rates are per person, subject to availability and can change at any time

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