Epic Ross Sea & Antarctica Circle

Arrive independently to the Chilean capital of Santiago and join your transfer to your 5* hotel for your included overnight stay. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the city before dinner in your room (as per current Chilean regulations).

After breakfast on day 2 you will take your transfer to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas where upon arrival you will transfer to the port to board your luxury expedition vessel. Settle into your beautiful stateroom and watch as we sail away from South America and begin our journey to Antarctica.

The next two days will be spent at sea sailing towards Antarctica and into the legendary Drake Passage. These days can be spent relaxing in your comfortable surroundings, availing of the luxury onboard facilities, and enjoying some time on deck searching for whale and seabird sightings including albatrosses and cape petrels.

Your informative and entertaining lecture programme will begin, covering everything from Antarctic wildlife and geology to historical polar explorations, and there will be briefings around the strict IAATO rules that must be adhered to during your visit to the natural wonderland of Antarctica. There will also be briefings for the Zodiac (small inflatable boat) excursions, and as the icebergs begin to appear on the horizon and we reach the awe-inspiring Antarctic continent the excitement will build even more!

Today you will experience something that only a few lucky people in the world have ever experienced…crossing the Antarctic Circle! Weather and ice conditions dependent, we will cross the mythical line of the Antarctic Polar Circle, located along 66°33’ south of the Equator. This is sure to be a moment to remember and one that will be celebrated with aplomb!

As with all Polar expeditions, flexibility is key. Each day your experienced captain and crew will assess the weather and ice conditions to chart the perfect course for adventures, and planned routes can not always be guaranteed.

Having crossed the Antarctic Circle, it’s now time to begin our in-depth exploration of the lands below the Circle. Lands that few travellers have ever explored and that hold sights and delights that are completely unique to this part of the world. Sailing into the heart of the Bellingshausen Sea - this area is covered by ice floe for the majority of the year - this sailing has been timed to coincide with the best time to discover these remarkable lands. First up will be Charcot Island which is entirely covered in ice and sheer cliffs, with the exception of the rocky outcrops extending over a dozen kilometres in the far north-west. Very few people have ever landed here, but with the help of our Zodiac boats we plan to achieve just that. Whilst we explore around, we will also be on the lookout for the numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns and skuas that abound here.

We now make our way even further into the deep south in the direction of the legendary Peter I Island. Surrounded by pack ice and with about 95% of its surface covered by ice, this volcanic island, whose highest peak reaches 1,640 metres, is protected by ice cliffs some 40 metres tall, making any approach difficult. With our fully ice-strengthened ship we will attempt to get as close as possible for some marvellous vistas.

Stretching from the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula to the Amundsen Sea, the waters of the Bellingshausen Sea surround two of the largest islands in the Antarctic: Alexander Island and Thurston Island. With 2 days of exploration in this area we will sail along the coastal areas through ice floes, majestic icebergs and blocks of sea ice. Depending on the season, we may even be lucky enough to observe some of the emperor penguin colonies that are known to be found here at certain times of the year. Emperor penguins are endemic to Antarctica so catching sight of them is likely to be a real highlight of the trip!

We now make our way further west as we continue our sail towards the Ross Sea area. Some of these days will involve exciting expedition cruising where you will be at sea surrounded by enchanting scenery at every turn. There are unlikely to be excursions on these days but should the opportunity arise we will be sure to take it. Stops you will make, however, include the volcanic Siple Island which is dominated by Mount Siple, a dormant, potentially active shield volcano which rises to an altitude of 3,000 metres.Considered Antarctica’s highest unclimbed peak, the foot of this ice-covered cone plays host to a colony of adelie penguins which we will hope to meet as we stop here to explore. We will also try to get a closer look at the magnificent Thurston Glacier.

Pushing further on, we also hope to make various stops along the beautiful Ruppert Coast, one of the least explored areas on the continent.

Today’s adventures will likely bring us to the ice-covered Cape Colbeck which forms the northwestern extremity of Marie Byrd Land. This is the easternmost point and last stop before the vast bay that contains the Ross Sea.

Welcome to the incredible Ross Sea, the world’s largest marine protected area.Visited by very few visitors each year, this sailing is one of only a handful of expeditions that venture this deep into Antarctica. Sailing around the humongous icebergs of this deep bay that runs along the edge of Antarctica between Marie Byrd Land and Victoria Land you will soon understand why the area is the pinnacle of adventure in the White Continent. One third of the world’s Adelie penguin population lives in the area and as we spend our days exploring around there will be plenty of opportunities to meet them up-close.

As we make our way into the southern portion of the Ross Sea area our goal will be to reach the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in the world. With a surface area equivalent to the size of France, you are sure to be awe-struck by the sheer size and stature of this incredible sea barrier and its caves, caverns and bays.

During our time in the area we will enjoy both expedition cruising and Zodiac cruising, and as we make our way back east we will explore more of the bays and landfalls that are of particular interest here including the ice-covered Burke Island which is known as Antarctica’s “no man’s land”.

Making our way back north, we plan to spend an extra couple of days exploring more of the areas surrounding the legendary Peter I Island. Expect Zodiac cruises, land visits and fascinating insights from your team of destaination experts.

We sail further north and eventually leave Antarctica in our wake as we sail back into the Drake Passage to make our way back to Punta Arenas. Enjoy the final lectures and presentations delivered by your expert team and some final whale watching and birdwatching from the deck. Or simply relax on your luxurious ship and catch your breath after what will have been an incredibly 3 weeks of exciting adventures.

Arrive back in Punta Arenas in the early morning, disembark after breakfast and join your transfer to the airport for your included flight back to Santiago. Upon arrival in Santiago your itinerary will come to an end. Please enquire should you wish to extend your trip to spend more time in this unique capital city.