BOOK AND SAVE: Up to 33% off select cabins and departures when paid in full within 30 days of reservation*
Departing from Ushuaia you will embark on an incredible journey to Antarctica and the seldom visited South Georgia. Set foot on beaches teaming with elephant seals and the largest colonies of king penguins on Earth before setting out for the legendary frozen white continent. Experience this incredible journey on the Ultramarine, a purpose-built vessel pushing the boundaries of polar expeditions and including a flight-seeing tour that will let you experience these remote locations from an entirely new perspective.
*All offers aboard the Ultramarine end 30 Sept 2022 and are subject to availability. Discounts vary and apply to selected departures and selected cabin types. Not combinable with any other promotion. Prices are subject to change based on currency fluctuations. Discounts are applied to the regular retail price. No discount applies to the transfer packages. Further conditions apply, contact us for more information. Pay in full within 30 days from time of booking to receive the 5% early payment bonus (included in discounted price).
Optional Activities : Kayaking, Hiking, Stand-up Paddle Boarding, Cross Country Skiing
Trip Code: ACQEUP
Travel Style: Expedition Cruise
Location: Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia
Ship: Ultramarine
Flights: MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE NOT INCLUDED (Additional 995 USD)
Experience this incredible journey on the Ultramarine the latest of polar expedition vessels, which will include a helicopter flight-seeing experience (weather permitting)
Undertake a true expedition experience - kayak near giant icebergs, hike sparkling glaciers, sit on rocky beaches home to thousands of endemic penguin species - No experience is the same.
You may arrive in Buenos Aires at any time during Day 1 of your itinerary. Upon arriving in this splendid city, known for its architecture and rich European heritage, you will independently transfer to your group hotel (pre-expedition hotel night included in mandatory transfer package).
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 have some time on your own to explore this quaint port town before making your way to the 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. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart!
There are many activities to keep you engaged while you are at sea. Learn to identify seabirds that glide alongside the ship, or attend dynamic presentations by your Expedition Team. You will be prepped on safety procedures for Zodiac cruises and shore landings, and also be given instructions for getting the most out of your optional sea kayaking adventures (extra cost), a truly intimate way to experience Antarctica.
If conditions are right, the first indication that you are approaching South Georgia is the sight of birds around a group of rocky spires called Shag Rocks. Have your binoculars and cameras ready to capture these rocks rising out of the icy ocean waters. Shags and prions often rest here, and due to nutrient rich upwellings around the rocks it can be a good place to keep a lookout for whales.
After enjoying South Georgia from a distance, we’ll head toward its numerable beaches to find a bay for your first land excursion. Landing sites are varied, largely determined by the weather conditions of your voyage. Whichever sites we visit, they’ll provide you with wildlife encounters unrivalled anywhere else on earth.
You’ll find that South Georgia, once a popular base for whalers and sealers, is also scattered with abandoned relics and evidence of human activity from centuries gone by. Your Expedition Team will help bring those days to life while you visit old whaling stations and enjoy presentations on the South Georgia of then and now.
One of the most significant sites you will visit on the island is Grytviken. This settlement is one of the first whaling stations established in sub-Antarctic waters. Many travelers find that this place has a special appeal, as it is home to the remains of Sir Ernest Shackleton, one of the most famous Antarctic explorers.
Say goodbye to the king penguins, as your next destination is Antarctica! Your days at sea are filled with presentations and workshops led by your Expedition Team, who will prepare you for the wildlife and landscapes that will surround you upon your arrival.
The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is hard to put into words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica.
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 at the next moment 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.
Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each excursion, whether you are Zodiac cruising, visiting a historical site or consorting with penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins are found here, along with Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals. Keep a lookout for Antarctic whales, such as minkes, while on a Zodiac cruise. Each day and each excursion will present a new collection of creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy.
As exciting as the Zodiac excursions and landings are, perhaps you’ll treat yourself to an extra-special Antarctic experience by partaking in an optional paddling excursion (at an extra cost) or cast reason aside and jump into Antarctic waters for the polar plunge!
After more than a dozen days of unique wildlife encounters and remarkable landscapes, your journey home begins. Crossing the Drake is your unofficial rite of passage. Spend time on deck watching for seabirds and whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team, or simply relax and reminisce about your experiences.
You will arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. The mandatory transfer package includes a little taste of Patagonia with a Tierra del Fuego National Park tour before transferring to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.
Departing | Ending | Duration |
---|---|---|
20 Nov 2022 | 05 Dec 2022 | 16 |
04 Dec 2022 | 19 Dec 2022 | 16 |
19 Feb 2023 | 06 Mar 2023 | 16 |
29 Oct 2023 | 13 Nov 2023 | 16 |
Cabin accommodation on board ship
All meals on board
All scheduled landings and excursions
Guiding and lectures by experienced expedition team
Expedition parka (yours to keep)
Loan of expedition boots for duration of voyage
One 10 to 15 minute helicopter flight-seeing excursion (weather permitting)
EXCLUSIONS
International airfare
Mandatory flight package - $1,400 AUD / $995 USD per person
Any activities not mentioned as included
Visa and reciprocity fees (if applicable)
Baggage, cancellation and medical travel insurance
Available upon request, contact us for more details.
Please note this itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and ice conditions.
Departure date, season and availability
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Chimu Adventures is passionate and dedicated to sustainbility measures and understands the crucial part sustainability plays within the tourism industry.
A trip to the Antarctic is a completely different experience and quite unlike any other trip you have probably been on. We use a highly regulated, licensed vessel which is well equipped to operate in this vulnerable ecosystem. We are fully compliant with all rules set down by the IAATO and all activities are governed by the Antarctic Treaty System. We carefully select all ships we work with and choose them for their small size as this creates far less impact on shore landings with wildlife. We view the voyage to the Antarctic as an expedition, not a sightseeing trip. Smaller boats such as ours can navigate narrow waterways and are far less polluting than the larger ships in Antarctic waters. By carrying less passengers, we have far less waste, and all waste is carried back to the home port to allow for environmentally conscious waste management and disposal, unlike some of the larger ships which do not facilitate this. This trip begins in Ushuaia where you will have time to sample local food and shop at local boutiques which we encourage individuals to take part in for experience and in support of the local community. We discourage the buying of souvenirs made from endangered species or wrongfully taken from the environment i.e. shells. Our pre-departure pack provides you with all the information required for your tour, from what to take with you to practical advice about how to minimise your impact on the Antarctic environment. This pack highlights initiatives such as waste reduction, and how to appropriately engage with wildlife and the environment around you.
For more information visit our sustainability page.