Free Kayaking (one excursion) & Camping available on the 9 Jan 2026 departure ONLY
Subject to availability, capacity limits apply
Available until booked out or withdrawn
See additional T&Cs below*
STYLE: Small Ship Expedition Cruise
Trip Code: ACTSAPS
DIFFICULTY RATING: 2 (Light Adventure)
Start: Ushuaia, Argentina
Finish: Ushuaia, Argentina
SHIP: Plancius
Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
09/01/2026, 06/02/2026, 29/12/2026, 08/02/2027
All Meals On Board The Ship
Group Transfers On Disembarkation To The Airport
Cabin On Board Ship
Daily Antarctica Excursions In Location, Zodiac Cruising, On Board Expert Lectures & Briefings By The Experienced Expedition Team
NOTE: Itinerary Is Subject To Change Depending On Weather & Ice Conditions
Join us on board the newly refurbished M/V Plancius, journeying from Ushuaia, the most southern city in the world and to the Antarctic Peninsula over an 11 day expedition. The Plancius is a new generation of Antarctic vessels and will ensure your trip to Antarctica won't be forgotten.
Please Note: For 2026/27 Antarctic season departures Long Hikes are included in the cost of the trip, but subject to availability.
Long Hikes:
Long walks in Antarctica are designed for small groups of up to 24 passengers, accompanied by at least two expedition staff with experience in this terrain. These walks offer an immersive experience in the pristine polar landscape, requiring participants to be prepared for up to six hours of hiking on semi-rough, rocky and snowy terrain with notable elevation changes. While the pace will be steady and manageable, the conditions can be demanding and change quickly. A good level of fitness and willingness to walk for extended periods are essential. The total duration will vary depending on site conditions and explore the untouched expanses of the Antarctic wilderness. For those who prefer not to join the long hikes, alternative activities or shore landings will be available during this time.
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands. Sites you may visit include:
Danco Island – Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be found nearby.
Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales.
The volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often cloaked in mist, but they do offer subtle pleasures: There’s a wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and no small amount of fauna (gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels). In Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded caldera. Here you find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels – along with kelp gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns. A good hike is a possibility in this fascinating and desolate volcanic landscape.
As an alternative, you may be able to engage in activities near Half Moon Island. Here chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul out onto the beach near Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific research station. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
You will embark your voyage in Ushuaia, the worlds southernmost town and a quaint experience, set in a backdrop of incredible mountains and full of rich history.
You will encounter a variety of unique wildlife including seals, whales, penguins and a wide array of bird species, all within their natural habitat.
This Antarctic itinerary is easily combined with land-based experiences in South America, allowing you to experience two mysterious and dynamic continents in the one journey.
M/V Plancius started life as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy. After a change of owner, the ship underwent a complete refit and refurbishment to be converted into a comfortable ice-strengthened vessel, that now cruises the polar regions. Accommodating up to 108 passengers, M/V Plancius has 50 cabins, all with private bathrooms. The cabins come in a range of configirations, with quadruple, triple and twin/double cabins available. Quadruple cabins include two bunk beds, triple cabins feature 1 bunk bed plus 1 single bed. The ship has a large restaurant/lecture room and a spacious observation lounge with bar and huge panoramic windows. There are large open deck spaces, including full walk-around possibilities on one deck, providing excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting and to feast on the spectacular scenery. The 10 Zodiacs and 2 gangways ensure a swift Zodiac operation, so no time is wasted getting you ashore to explore the stunning beauty and amazing wildlife of the Antarctic and the Arctic regions.
Ice Class:
Length: 89 m / 293 feet
Breadth: 14.5 m / 47 feetMax
Draft: Cruising
Speed: 12 knots
Electricity: 240 volts Passenger
Capacity:108
View Ship Details
We believe that appropriate accommodation should add to the authentic travel experience, as well as providing utmost enjoyment. For that reason our accommodation is scrutinised by our staff on the ground frequently, ensuring the properties adhere to our high standards. This key will help you understand the levels of accommodation available on this tour.
Comfortable properties with dependable facilities and service.
Comfortable properties with dependable facilities and service.
Luxurious properties with impeccable facilities and service.
These are included in your cruise fare. Activities vary by itinerary and destination and are subject to regulations, weather conditions and other factors.
These can be booked in advance at an extra cost. Activities vary by itinerary and destination.
Experience the unforgettable thrill and serenity of kayaking in Antarctica as part of a small, expertly guided paddling group.
Learn MorePricing & Availability last updated 27 May 2025
Antarctica: Discovery & Learning Voyage | Plancius from AUD 15,000 | ||
Departing | Ending | Duration |
---|---|---|
09 Jan 2026 | 19 Jan 2026 | 11 |
06 Feb 2026 | 16 Feb 2026 | 11 |
29 Dec 2026 | 08 Jan 2027 | 11 |
08 Feb 2027 | 18 Feb 2027 | 11 |
* FREE Kayaking (one excursion) & Camping
Available on the 9 Jan 2026 departure ONLY
Subject to availability, activities have maximum capacities
Offer valid until spots filled or offer withdrawn
This offer is valid for new bookings only
Please Contact Us for the latest availability, pricing and details of your preferred voyage. Chimu Adventures are Antarctica Experts and we will endeavour to find you the perfect Antarctica expedition cruise to ensure you have an unforgettable adventure!
NOTE: Pricing is subject to change, currency fluctuation and availability at the time of booking and may be varied without notice by us or any of the operators and partners we work with. It is only confirmed and guaranteed at the time of making a booking, agreeing to our terms and conditions and paying a deposit.
Prices are based on per person, and may be based on quad/triple/twin share.
Prices are correct at time of publishing but are subject to change at any time.
Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and ice conditions.*
Diving is an optional activity. Experience with cold-water diving and dry-suit dives (at least 30) is a must!
Please Note: For 2026/27 Antarctic season departures Long Hikes are included in the cost of the trip, but subject to availability.
Cabin Accommodation on board MV Plancius
All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes
Group departure transfers in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation)
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
Comprehensive pre-departure material
Access to 1.5 GB of free internet connectivity per person, which resets every 24 hours. Supplementary vouchers available to purchase on onboard. Subject to satellite coverage
Airfares to/from disembarkation city
Visa & passport fees (if applicable)
Travel insurance
Beverages (other than tea & coffee)
Meals ashore
Personal expenses such as laundry & bar
Gratuities for the crew (guidelines will be provided)
Pre and post land arrangements
Government arrival or departure taxes (if applicable)
Additional optional activities
Available upon request. Please contact us for more details. No single supplement will apply if willing to share in selected cabins.
Departure Date, Fuel Surcharges, Cabin Category, Currency Fluctuations, Seasonality & Availability.