Antarctica & South Georgia Fly/Cruise

Antarctica & South Georgia Fly/Cruise 18 Days

Prices From £13,329pp
March Only | 17 nights

Single Cabins Available

Antarctica & South Georgia Fly/Cruise 18 Days

Aboard: Magellan Explorer

This fantastic itinerary offers you the chance to follow in the path of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as you visit two of the Southern Hemisphere’s most enchanting and remarkable destinations. Flying from Punta Arenas to King George Island in Antarctica means you will skip out the Drake Passage sailing, allowing for more time to explore the mysterious icy waterways and spectacular landscapes of Antarctica. After a visit to the famous Elephant Island you will then sail on to the wildlife wonderland of South Georgia to discover a diverse landscape of majestic mountains, deep fjords and grassy uplands swarming with millions of penguins! Exploring by Zodiac and on foot your time in these magical corners of the world will bring a new adventure each day, with up-close wildlife encounters, historical visits and unrivalled photo opportunities. Prepare to be truly amazed!

Various departures available. Some departures may operate in reverse, sailing from Ushuaia to South Georgia and flying back from Antarctica to Punta Arenas. Please enquire for full rates and dates.

Highlights

  • Discover the wonders of Antarctica and South Georgia in one fantastic itinerary
  • Enjoy amazing wildlife viewing with seabirds, whales, seals and millions of penguins
  • Spectacular scenery at every turn
  • Exciting Zodiac excursions
  • Visit historical sites and learn all about the great explorers of the past
  • Fly the Drake Passage
  • Kayaking & snowshoeing options available

What's Included

  • Full board accommodation on board ship, including wine/beer/soft drinks with lunch and dinner
  • Pre-cruise hotel stay in Punta Arenas with breakfast, dinner and drinks
  • Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island
  • All shore and Zodiac excursions
  • Programme of expert lectures
  • Loan of waterproof boots
  • Transfers in Punta Arenas

Single Cabins Available

This vessel offers single occupancy cabins, which is a perfect option for solo travellers. Travelling alone is often the best way to see the world. No responsibilities, no difficult choices and no trying to please anyone else…just you, your itinerary and your adventurous spirit!

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Punta Arenas
1Day

Punta Arenas

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.

King George Island
2Day

King George Island

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.

Antarctica
3 - 6Days

Antarctica

As our exploration of Antarctica begins in earnest we will sail along the ice-filled fjords between the South Shetland Islands and the eastern 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 particular iconic areas in the South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Sound that you can expect to visit over the course of your 4 days here. These locations will give you the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment and every day will bring a new adventure. We will explore each day by Zodiac and on foot to experience all that this remarkable area has to offer.

Throughout your voyage an engaging program of lectures and presentations will be offered on board, covering everything from the history of polar exploration to the wildlife and geological features that you will experience on your trip.

Elephant Island
7Day

Elephant Island

After our thrilling exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula, today we will be sailing north of the Peninsula towards Elephant Island where we hope to make a stop to discover more about Sir Ernest Shackleton’s famous Endurance expedition. It was here where Shackleton’s crew sought refuge while he and five crew members used a small open lifeboat to cross the 1,300 km of wild seas to South Georgia to arrange their rescue. Due to the stormy conditions that often surround Elephant Island, a shore visit may not be possible, but we will be able to see the island from our ship and learn all about Shackleton’s exceptionally brave feats.



At Sea
8 - 9Days

At Sea

Over the course of the next 2 days we will be sailing northwards towards the wildlife paradise of South Georgia. As we sail your informative lecture and presentation programme will keep you entertained, whilst some time on deck with your cameras should reward in excellent sightings of seabirds and maybe various whale species.



South Georgia
10 - 13Days

South Georgia

Welcome to the wildlife wonderland wilderness of South Georgia, where a spectacular diverse landscape of massive glaciers, majestic mountains, deep fjords and grassy uplands play host to millions of penguins, birds and marine animals. Over the course of the next 4 days we will explore this remarkable area on foot and by Zodiac to get up close to the action and experience all that this wonderful island has to offer. Places we expect to visit include St Andrew’s Bay where we will be greeted by the overwhelming sight of over 150,000 king penguins, and Cooper Island where we will find thousands of black-browed albatrosses and a large colony of macaroni penguins. Continuing our Shackleton theme, we will also visit the former whaling outpost of Grytviken to pay our respects at Shackleton’s grave and learn more about his remarkable feats. Other places we hope to visit include Elsehul Bay, Sailsibury Plains, Prion Island and Fortuna Bay, where the photo opportunities and wildlife encounters will be boundless.

At Sea
14 - 17Days

At Sea

As our exploration of South Georgia and Antarctica comes to an end it will be time to head back towards South America as we set sail for Ushuaia in southern Argentina. These 4 days will be the perfect time to relax and let the unforgettable experiences you will have had sink in. Spend some time on deck looking out for the wandering albatrosses that are often spotted on this crossing, attend the last of your fantastic lecture series, or simply relax in the lounge with a drink and a book from the library and enjoy your last days on board. As we sail into the scenic Beagle Channel we recommend spending some time on deck to see the beautiful Tierra del Fuego to the north and Navarino Island to the south.

Ushuaia
18Day

Ushuaia

Arrival into the port of Ushuaia, Argentina sadly signals the end of our journey and after breakfast it will be time to disembark and bid a fond farewell to your expedition team and new-found friends.

A view from Above

All Aboard

Magellan Explorer
First class vessel

Magellan Explorer

The world’s first expedition ship custom designed for Antarctic air-cruise operations, the stylishly designed Magellan Explorer effortlessly combines boutique hospitality with expedition excellence to provide a supremely comfortable experience for your Antarctica adventures. Every element of this strong and agile expedition ship has been expertly designed to enhance guests’ expedition experience and it has been built to the very latest Polar Code specifications. Advanced features include Polar Class 6 ice-class rating, stabilizers, bow and stern thrusters and ice-detecting radar. An energy-recovery system that recycles the heat produced by the engines to warm up the ship and its water supply enables the ship to reduce its environmental footprint and allows guests to travel in a more eco-friendly and conscientious manner.

The Magellan Explorer offers five different accommodation categories, with each berth having been styled by a renowned interior design studio based in Santiago de Chile. The finest details have been carefully considered to provide a modern, comfortable and stylish environment in which to relax in after a long day of Antarctic adventures. Each cabin is spacious and bright and features large king-size or twin beds, private bathrooms and seating areas. The majority of cabins feature private verandahs or balconies.

The public areas of the ship include a grand dining room which offers buffet breakfast and lunch and table-service dinner, a BBQ deck for al-fresco dining, a spacious forward-facing observation lounge and bar that is also used to deliver briefings and educational presentations, an outdoor observation deck that has been designed to allow close contact with the surrounding environment, a library, gymnasium, sauna and gift shop.

we work hard to earn passionate reviews from our clients.

4.9
44 Google reviews

Now that I am back from my odyssey voyage, I thought I would let you know that after all that planning it really did exceed my expectations – we managed landings everywhere even on Tristan da Cuhna and had great bird sightings. The guides all knew what they were talking about too and made sure I got some great photos – still sorting them all out! Thanks for everything and see you at Birdfair!

Dave Martin

I want to thank you for all you did to make my recent Falklands trip run so smoothly and comfortably. Thank you for all your help over the diet too.

Dr Lorna Mairs

Just a quick note to express my sincere thanks to you and all your staff for making this an epic adventure of immense proportions. Everything went smoothly, pickups, hotels and most of all the expedition itself. Truly a mind blowing experience unlike any I have ever taken.

Mr J Borg, Malta

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Antarctica adventure for you.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike has more than fifteen years hands-on experience in the industry, travelling to some of the most incredible wild places on the planet. His far-reaching knowledge and invaluable skills will ensure that your wildlife travel adventure is a dream come true.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Having amassed a host of extraordinary adventures in destinations all over the world, Sheena’s experience, skills and enthusiasm for helping clients plan their ideal itinerary will help make your holiday unforgettable, action packed and life-changing.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

As Senior Travel Expert, Simon has an absolute wealth of experience in adventure travel in some of the most fascinating places in the world. With in-depth knowledge and fantastic organizational skills, Simon’s first-hand experience and genuine passion drive him to work to create your perfect itinerary.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

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0800 195 3385
Outside the uk
+ 44 1625 5811 43
Call us
+ 44 1625 5811 43
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+ 44 1625 5811 43

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

Chat Now

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callback

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

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