Antarctic Explorer
Discover The "Last Continent"

HIGHLIGHTS

• Catch a glimpse of Gentoo penguins, Weddel seals and blue whales
• Shore landings offer amazing opportunities for wildlife viewing
• Included RIB excursions present stunning scenery for photos
• Cross-country ski or snowshoe into the peninsula’s interior
• Excursions include an undersea dive in a panoramic submarine
• As a citizen scientist, assist onboard scientists with research
• Gain bragging rights for crossing the legendary Drake Passage

ITINERARY

Day 1  Buenos Aires, Argentina
Day 2  Ushuaia, Argentina
Day 3  Sail the Drake Passage
Day 4-10  Explore Antarctica
Day 11  Sail the Drake Passage
Day 12  Scenic Sailing: Cape Horn
Day 13  Ushuaia, Argentina

Day 1  Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive and check in to your hotel. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, is an eclectic combination of Latin and European influences. The tree-lined streets and postcolonial architecture draw on the city’s Spanish, French and Italian heritage, while the many cafés and bodegas and vibrant nightlife are decidedly Argentine. Its barrios, or neighborhoods, exude an intimate atmosphere that belies the city’s size. Full of bohemian flair, historic San Telmo’s cobblestone streets and Belle Époque–style buildings reverberate with the mesmerizing melodies of the tango.

Day 2  Ushuaia, Argentina
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and board your charter flight to your embarkation city.  Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. Its splendid setting, tucked between the Beagle Channel and the southernmost slopes of the Andes, lends it an outpost atmosphere, as do the Antarctic explorers readying for the expeditions that depart from here. Ushuaia is the capital of and gateway to the celebrated Tierra del Fuego, the “Land of Fire,” named by Spaniards upon seeing the constant flames burned by the indigenous Yámana to keep warm. This largely unspoiled region comprises the large island of Tierra del Fuego and countless Chilean and Argentine islands.

Day 3  Sail the Drake Passage
Named for 16th-century English privateer Sir Francis Drake, the frigid waters of the Drake Passage stretch for some 600 miles between Cape Horn and Livingston Island in the South Shetland archipelago. As you sail today, attend an informative lecture or watch a film on our 8k laser-projected panoramic screen in The Aula, one of the world's most advanced venues for learning at sea. This indoor-outdoor experience allows nature to take center stage with its retractable floor-to-ceiling windows that unveil 270° views.

Day 4-10  Explore Antarctica
At once ethereal and majestic, Antarctica has inspired explorers and adventurers for centuries. In this icy wilderness, marvel at icebergs glimmering in serene bays and mountains cloaked in white rising from the mainland basalt cliffs. These stunning landscapes evoke both utter tranquility as fur seals lounge on a floating sheet of ice, and breathtaking drama as glaciers thunderously calve into the sea. In these cold and nutrient-rich waters, humpback, fin and giant blue whales have been known to greet expedition ships that venture into their habitat.

Day 11  Sail the Drake Passage
The Drake Passage has a notorious reputation for being the roughest seas on Earth. Traversing it required braving massive waves, hurricane-force winds and icy conditions that tested the mettle of both sailor and ship. Soak up the views from the Finse Terrace, a unique outdoor lounge area named after a famous mountain plateau in south-central Norway. Relax amid your surroundings in comfort, with heated couches and lava rock “firepits,” allowing you to enjoy the outdoors no matter the temperature, as you admire the dramatic scenery or expansive ocean vistas.

Day 12  Scenic Sailing: Cape Horn
Rising above the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans converge, Cape Horn, named for the Dutch city of Hoorn in The Netherlands, is part of the Hermite Islands archipelago. This remote, stark and treeless place is often considered the continent’s southernmost point. Soaring from Hornos Island is an enormous prehistoric-looking massif of Jurassic volcanic rock. Atop, stands its historic lighthouse near the water’s edge. A beacon of assurance and safety for countless sailors since 1991, it is the world’s southernmost traditional-style lighthouse.

Day 13  Ushuaia, Argentina
The “city at the end of the world” is one of the planet’s most breathtaking destinations; Andean peaks, pristine lakes and boreal forests create a dramatic backdrop, surrounding this captivating coastal town. Although Ushuaia lies more than 600 miles north of Antarctica, the city’s port is still the closest to the “Last Continent” and the starting point for its exploration. The majesty of Antarctica’s landscape attracts visitors seeking adventure, with its packed ice plains, rugged mountains and abundance of wildlife, such as whales, seals and various species of penguin. Disembark your ship and transfer to the airport for your charter flight. Bid farewell to your fellow travelers and journey home from Buenos Aires.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

ATTENTION!! Difefrent departures have free flights included and some have an extra charge from 999 USD - 1499 USD p.p. Please request the final quote from us! Thank you!

MORE FEATURES, SERVICES AND EXCURSIONS INCLUDED

• One complimentary landing or shore excursion in every port of call
• Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
• Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner
• 24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water
• Port taxes & fees
• Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase
• Visits to UNESCO Sites
• Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances
• Complimentary access to The Nordic Spa & Fitness Center.
• Self-service launderettes
• Alternative restaurant dining at no extra charge
• 24-hour room service
• Kayaks, Zodiacs & Special Operations Boats — A Viking Expedition Kit with a variety of equipment to explore at no extra charge
• Keepsake Viking expedition jacket (on polar itineraries)
• All Viking excursion gear needed for any relevant excursions

YOUR STATEROOM INCLUDES

• 24-hour room service
• King-size bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
• 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring CNN, CBC, MBC2, beIN Sports
• Interactive TV with complimentary movies and documentaries, as well as Viking.TV proprietary content, lectures and expert interviews
• Mini-bar
• Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
• Floor-to-ceiling heated drying closets for expeditions gear
• Spacious glass-enclosed shower
• Heated bathroom floor
• Anti-fog mirrors
• Premium Freyja® toiletries
• Hair dryer
• Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
• 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
• Meopta Optika MeoPro 8x42 binoculars

Gear Up for Adventure
Use of our specialty outerwear and expedition equipment—including walking poles and snowshoes—is included in your fare, so you can experience the destination in comfort.

Kayak Among Glaciers
These intimate vessels allow you to experience your surroundings up close. Note the distinct crackling sound glacial ice makes as air bubbles trapped inside are released.

Explore More On Board
As with all Viking ships, your expedition vessel doubles as a classroom in which you can learn more about your destination. Join a Viking Resident Scientist for lunch on board before heading back out.

Partake in a Shore Landing
Take a short Zodiac ride to a pristine, snow-covered beach while seals nap in the distance. It is an indescribable moment.

Dive Below the Surface
Board a Viking DNV classed submarine for an incredible experience in the icy depths of the “Last Continent."

Dinner & Daily Briefing
Get details on tomorrow’s activities; perhaps plan a trip in a Special Operations Boat, or a shore landing by Zodiac. Then, enjoy a healthy, hearty meal.