Wild Antarctica + Weddell Sea Fly/Sail/Fly

Your journey begins in Punta Arenas in Chile. Arrive independently and transfer to the hotel for your included overnight stay. Enjoy time seeing the sights of the city, before enjoying a good night’s sleep in preparation for the adventures ahead.

In the morning you will transfer to the airport for your charter flight to King George Island in Antarctica. Flying over the Drake Passage is a momentous feeling as you watch civilisation disappear below you and anticipate landing in the white continent. Upon arrival at King George Island there may be time to explore the penguin and seal-rich waters of Fildes Bay and visit the surprising Trinity Church at Bellingshausen Station, before boarding your ship and settling in to your comfortable surroundings.

On the morning of day 3 you will awake sailing through the Antarctic Sound, the entrance to the mesmerising, ice-filled Weddell Sea, where huge ice shelves calving monstrous tabular icebergs, waters rich in krill and otherworldly landscapes combine to create one of Antarctica’s most unique regions. A land of superlatives, Antarctica’s vast proportions are a sight to behold. As you sail through this spectacular area make sure to keep an eye out on deck or in one of the many observation areas for wildlife. Your onboard photography expert can help you to capture the perfect iceberg photos. Throughout your time in Antarctica you can enjoy twice daily Zodiac excursions to explore penguin rookeries, visit historic sites and scientific stations, and get up close to the masses of elaborate icebergs. Watch seals basking on the ice floes, join an excursion in search of orca sightings, and enjoy the exhilaration of stepping foot on the white continent.

Your exact itinerary in Antarctica, and especially in the often ice-clogged Weddell Sea area, will be dictated by weather, ice conditions and wildlife sighting opportunities so be prepared for the unexpected. Making the most of every moment, your experienced captain will choose the best course each day for wildlife viewings and adventures, with a new experience guaranteed each day.

As we sail through the sound, possible landings around this incredible area may include the penguin hotspot of Brown Bluff where you can enjoy some observations of some of the 20,000 nesting pairs of Adélie penguins and hundreds of Gentoo penguins that reside here, along with seabirds such as kelp gulls, skuas, snow petrels and cape petrels. Your knowledgeable expedition team will introduce you to the history behind this enchanting area’s geology including the distinctive volcanic boulders scattered across the landscape acting as shelter and nesting sites for the busy penguin populations.

Journeying further into the Weddell Sea area we will hope to visit Paulet Island to see some of the 120,000 pairs of Adélie penguins found here as well as a blue-eyed shag colony and good numbers of Leopard seals and Weddell seals. You can also learn all about the area’s rich history in regards to polar exploration. Our next adventure will bring us to the geologically fascinating James Clark Ross Island where you can enjoy a hike across the fossil fields to Hidden Lake. If ice conditions allow there may also be time for a Zodiac cruise around the whole of the island; a rarely accomplished feat. Other sites we may make land at in this area include Devil Island where we will see more Adélie penguins and search for nesting snow petrels and Wilson's Storm Petrels. There will also be some excellent hikes available here as well as a Zodiac cruise amongst the huge numbers of glistening icebergs grounded in the surrounding waters. At View Point we hope to set foot on the Antarctic continent proper for the first time before beginning our sail west towards the Peninsula.

The next stop on this exciting itinerary is the stunning Antarctic Peninsula. Sailing west along the Peninsula we will stop regularly for exciting Zodiac excursions and land visits to some of the most impressively wildlife-rich and scenic spots. Areas we expect to visit include the important scientific research spot of Port Lockroy where we can learn all about Antarctica’s history and where you can send a postcard from the world’s most southern Post Office! If ice conditions allow, your ship will sail through the exceptionally scenic Lemaire Channel, where time in the observation lounge or on deck will reward in incredible views of the surrounding towering cliffs and majestic icebergs reflecting off the silky still water surfaces.

Throughout your time in Antarctica we will have approximately 18-20 hours of daylight in which to enjoy exploration on land and by sea, with your expert expedition team and resident photography coach accompanying you throughout. For the more adventurous there will be ample opportunities for kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, scuba diving and snorkelling excursions. Please note, kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, scuba diving and snorkelling incur an additional cost and should be booked in advance.

After your thrilling exploration of Antarctica your ship will arrive back at King George Island where you will disembark for the final time. If time and weather permits you may be able to further explore the island, before catching your charter flight back to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas you will transfer to your hotel for your included overnight stay.

After breakfast in the hotel it will be time to bid farewell to your fellow passengers as you check out and head to the airport for your onward or homeward travel.