BOOK AND SAVE: Up to 28% off select cabins and departures when paid in full within 30 days of reservation*
Undertake an incredible journey to the sights of dramatic ice formations, magnificent icebergs and crackling ice. The Southern Expedition is a true Antarctic expedition that will take you across the legendary Antarctic Circle. From the South Shetland Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula you will encounter curious penguins, resting leopard seals and sightings of humpback whales.
*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, Camping, Hiking, Stand-up Paddle Boarding
Trip Code: ACQEUS
Travel Style: Expedition Cruise
Location: Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle
Ship: Ultramarine
Flights: MANDATORY TRANSFER PACKAGE NOT INCLUDED (Additional 995 USD)
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.
As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon, you will begin your Antarctic journey, passing through the Beagle Channel. Named after the famed ship on which Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel presents great photo opportunities of landscapes and seabirds. Eventually the channel opens up to the Southern Ocean, and onwards to Antarctica.
Your days at sea are filled with presentations and lectures led by your Expedition Team, who will prepare you for the wildlife that will greet you upon your arrival. In between presentations, spend time chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar, or enjoy the fresh air and views on the outer decks.
The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every visit to Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other—creating 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.
Your days will be busy spotting wildlife and being mesmerized by the astounding beauty of Antarctica. Listening to the crackling and crumbling of icebergs and glaciers and watching penguins waddling on the beach will become your daily entertainment, while sea kayaking, paddle excursions, or camping are optional activities available on select voyages (at an extra cost).
Crossing the Antarctic Circle is an impressive achievement, as most expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula do not reach this far south — 66°33´S. If conditions allow us to cross this famed line at 66°33´ S, you and your shipmates will celebrate in style with a well-earned glass of sparkling wine!
Make a toast and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the world visited by very few people. This is raw Antarctica, home of the midnight sun, Adelie penguins and some of the most awe-inspiring ice formations you’ll see anywhere on the planet.
By now, your knowledge of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins will be matched by your ability to differentiate between a leopard, fur and Weddell seal. Terms like ‘bergy bits’ and ‘pancake ice’ will become part of your vocabulary, yet there are still many tales to be told. As you head north, Zodiac excursions will fill your days, and your Expedition Team will continue looking out for species of seabirds, seals and whales that may have eluded you on your journey south.
As you recross the Drake, Antarctica fades away, leaving you with a collection of memories to last a lifetime. Excited conversations with your newfound friends will make the crossing fly by, regardless of weather and sea conditions. Your Expedition Team will round up its series of presentations as well, with a slideshow of the great landing sites and wildlife you’ve witnessed over the course of your voyage. Be sure to take some time to reflect on everything you’ve experienced so far.
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.
Southern Expedition: Crossing the Circle | Ultramarine from USD 17,877 | ||
Departing | Ending | Duration |
---|---|---|
06 Jan 2023 | 19 Jan 2023 | 14 |
01 Mar 2024 | 14 Mar 2024 | 14 |
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 - This is an additional $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.