Antarctic Circle Fly/Cruise

Your Antarctica itinerary begins in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas where, after having arrived independently, a representative will greet you at the airport for your transfer to your hotel for your included overnight stay. An afternoon briefing will take place at the hotel which will offer an insight into what to expect on your expedition, guidelines for visitors to Antarctica and Zodiac boat procedures. In the evening you can enjoy a typical Magellan welcome dinner with your fellow expeditioners before enjoying a good night’s sleep in preparation for the adventures that lie ahead. Many guests choose to arrive in Punta Arenas, the gateway to Patagonia, a day before their tour starts in order to enjoy some of the nearby countryside and national park. If this is something that may be of interest to you please feel free to ask for details and special offers that may be available for extending your stay.

This morning your adventure truly begins, and after breakfast you will transfer to the airport for your flight to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands. This scenic 2 hour flight will see you fly across Cape Horn and the famous Drake Passage, and will have you touched down in the heart of Antarctica in next to no time. Upon arrival you will be greeted with the awe-inspiring feeling of the clear Antarctica air filling your lungs and the sense that you have truly arrived in the greatest and most remarkable wilderness on the planet. After an exploration around the area where the Frei Chilean Base and the Bellingshausen Russian Base are located we will make our way to Fildes Bay to hop into Zodiac boats which will take you to your expedition ship for embarkation. As you settle in to your comfortable cabin and explore your new surroundings your ship will begin its sail towards the Antarctic Peninsula. We recommend some time on deck or in the observation lounge for your first spot of iceberg photography and perhaps some whale and Antarctic bird spotting.

As our exploration of Antarctica begins in earnest we will sail along the ice-filled fjords between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Peninsula to discover a world of spectacular icebergs, penguins, whales and seabirds. As with any expedition to Antarctica, flexibility is the key, and your captain and experienced crew will take advantage of the ever-changing opportunities provided by nature to chart the best course for unrivalled wildlife and scenic opportunities. Every Antarctica expedition is different but there are a number of specific areas you can expect to visit over the course of your 6 days here. These locations will give you the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment and include such iconic spots as Paradise Bay, Paulet Island, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island and Hope Bay, as well as sailing through the incredibly scenic Lemaire Channel and much more. Every day will bring a new adventure and we will explore by Zodiac and on foot to experience all that this remarkable area has to offer. The ultimate goal of the expedition will be to sail far south to reach the Polar Circle, and the fantastic achievement of crossing the Circle will be truly celebrated and rewarded with the sometimes overwhelming thought of being one of very few people to have ever achieved this.

Throughout your time here an engaging program of lectures and presentations will be offered on board, and for the more adventurous there will be ample opportunities for kayaking, hiking and snowshoeing. Please note that these activities should be booked in advance and incur an additional cost.

After your exhilarating exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula it will be time to make our way back to King George Island to disembark the ship and board our flight back to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas you will be transferred to your hotel for your included overnight stay. Please note that there are no meals included for this portion of your stay in Punta Arenas, apart from breakfast.

After breakfast at your hotel this morning your itinerary will sadly come to an end. A transfer will be provided to the airport for your onward or homeward flights.