Extraordinary Antarctica: Cross the Polar Circle

Arrive in Santiago, Chile's bustling capital and transfer to your hotel in Lastarria, a bustling part of the city full of great restaurants and lively bars. We've included a private city tour with an expert guide, who will give you a great overview of the city, its different districts and fascinating political history through the eyes of a local. Your next day is free for you to decide what to do. Our experts can recommend something to best suit your interests, be it winery tours in the nearby premier winelands, an active day in the nearby Cajón de Maipo or a visit to Valparaiso, the colourful port city perched on Chile's coast.

Fly south today to the Chilean port city of Punta Arenas and the gateway to your Antarctic adventure. Upon arrival, you will meet members of your expedition team, who will advise you on the schedule for your boot fitting, pre-departure briefing and the welcome dinner, where you will get to meet your fellow adventurers.

As you set sail across the Drake Passage, there will be one goal in mind: cross the Polar Circle at 66°33’S and join the small band of explorers, scientists and most adventurous travellers who have made it this far south.

Sailing down the frozen coastline of the western Antarctic Peninsular offers further opportunities to set foot on the Antarctic Continent, where alpine peaks tower over vast glaciers that calve with a mighty roar. With gentoo penguins, Weddell seals, minke whales and humpback whales, the wildlife is as abundant as the landscape is spellbinding. Weddell seals and chinstrap penguins can often be spotted on the beach near the Argentina research station on Half Moon Island, while a visit to Paulet Island or Brown Bluff is an opportunity to observe the vast population of Adélie and gentoo penguins.

While challenging conditions mean that most expeditions will not make it as far south as the Antarctic Circle, to do so is an impressive achievement and one certainly worth celebrating in style with your fellow shipmates. Ice conditions allowing, you may reach the Crystal Sound, pass through the Gullet and Marguerite Bay, spotting orcas humpback and minke whales, or visit historic Stonington, Pourquoi Pas and Detaille Islands. Sailing through this rugged, little-visited part of Antarctica, you pass spellbinding ice formations and abandoned wooden shacks and a landscape seen by very few other people.

Once the corks have popped, the ship turns northbound once more, charting its route back to the South Shetland Islands with stops at various landing sites along the way.

Arriving at King George Island, it is time to bid farewell to Antarctica and board your charter flight back to the Chilean mainland. Once on dry land in Punta Arenas, transfer to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

It’s back to the Chilean capital for your final stop before your flight home. We’ve selected the same great hotel that welcomed you at the outset of your trip so you may have a favourite bar and restaurant you want to head back to to toast your adventure. If not, let us know and we’ll set you up with something really special.