Big trip · expedition
An Antarctica Expedition Cruise
The White Continent: ten days at sea among icebergs the size of cathedrals, colonies of curious penguins and whales feeding beside the ship. An Antarctic voyage is the journey people talk about for the rest of their lives.
The trip
Almost every Antarctic voyage leaves from Ushuaia, at the tip of Argentina, and crosses the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. Once there, small expedition ships make two landings or Zodiac cruises a day, weather permitting: gentoo and chinstrap penguin colonies, seals on the floes, humpback whales and glaciers calving into still bays. Evenings bring talks from the ship's naturalists and dinner with the light still in the sky.
The route
Fly to Buenos Aires for two nights to recover from the journey, then on to Ushuaia to board. The voyage itself is ten or eleven nights: two days crossing the Drake each way and five or six days exploring the peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. If the Drake worries you, fly-cruise departures from Punta Arenas cross by air to King George Island instead.
Day by day
Expedition plans are set each morning by the captain and expedition leader according to ice and weather; the outline below is typical.
Days 1-2
Buenos Aires
Arrive and recover. Recoleta, San Telmo's antiques, the Teatro Colón and a steak dinner with a good Malbec.
Stay Hotel in Buenos Aires
Travel Airport transfer, about 45 minutes
Day 3
Ushuaia
Charter or scheduled flight to Ushuaia, time to see the Beagle Channel, then board the ship in the late afternoon and sail at dusk.
Stay Expedition ship
Travel Flight, about 3 hours 30 minutes
Days 4-5
Drake Passage
Two days at sea with lectures on wildlife, history and ice, albatrosses gliding alongside and your first icebergs.
Stay Expedition ship
Travel At sea
Days 6-10
Antarctic Peninsula
Landings and Zodiac cruises at places such as Paradise Bay, Neko Harbour, Port Lockroy and the Lemaire Channel: penguins, seals, whales and towering glaciers.
Stay Expedition ship
Travel Cruising between landing sites
Days 11-12
Drake Passage and Ushuaia
Return crossing, a farewell dinner, and arrival in Ushuaia on the morning of day 13 for flights home via Buenos Aires.
Stay Expedition ship
Travel At sea, then flights home
When to go
The season runs from November to March. November brings pristine snow and penguins courting; December and January have the longest days, nearly 20 hours of light, and chicks hatching; February and March are best for whales. Every month is spectacular.
Where to stay
On board, choose between expedition ships carrying 100 to 200 guests; smaller ships land everyone at once. Before and after, stay in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. Price bands are a typical night for two sharing; expect more at peak dates.
Featured stay
Alvear Palace Hotel
Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina
£££Travellers who want classic grand-hotel style in Buenos Aires before heading to Patagonia or Antarctica.
The Alvear Palace is Buenos Aires' grand hotel: gilded, chandeliered and quietly impeccable, on the city's most elegant avenue in Recoleta. It has welcomed travellers since 1932 and remains the classic place to recover from the long flight before heading south to Ushuaia and Antarctica.
- Rooms
- 207 rooms and suites, French style; butler service
- Food
- L'Orangerie, Lobby Bar and Alvear Roof Bar
- Best time to go
- October to May
£Under £200 a night
Hotel Albatros, Ushuaia
On the waterfront, a few minutes' walk from the port.
Mil810 Ushuaia Hotel, Ushuaia
Small and friendly, with every room facing the Beagle Channel.
Hotel Patios de San Telmo, Buenos Aires
A converted colonial house in the city's historic tango district.
£££200–400 a night
Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, Ushuaia
On a hillside nature reserve with views over the town and channel.
Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa, Ushuaia
Quiet, on the shore of the Beagle Channel outside town.
Legado Mítico, Buenos Aires
A characterful boutique hotel in Palermo.
££££400–800 a night
Alvear Palace HotelReviewed, Buenos Aires
The city's grand dame, with butler service and a famous afternoon tea.
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
A restored palace and garden in Recoleta.
Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
A Belle Époque mansion and modern tower with excellent service.
£££££800+ a night
Silver Endeavour (Silversea), Antarctic Peninsula
All-suite, all-inclusive, with butlers and polar-class comfort. See Silversea.
Le Commandant Charcot (Ponant), Antarctic Peninsula
A luxury icebreaker for deeper polar voyages. See Ponant.
Scenic Eclipse, Antarctic Peninsula
A discovery yacht with its own helicopters and submarine.
Prefer a different style of stay? Our advisors can suggest more.
What it costs
Allow from about £9,000 per person for a good expedition ship in a balcony cabin, with hotels and flights to Ushuaia, excluding international flights. Ultra-luxury ships and suites run to £20,000 or more. Early-booking offers can be generous, so book a year or more ahead.
Pace and fitness
You need to step in and out of Zodiac boats with crew helping and walk on snow, rocks and shingle, sometimes uphill. Ships provide waterproof boots and usually a parka. The Drake can be rough; modern stabilisers help, and sea-sickness remedies work well for most people.
How to book
Our advisors plan this trip end to end: flights, hotels, guides and the small details that make the days easy. Tell us your dates and the style of stay you like, and we will build it around you. Speak to an advisor. For more on the ships, see HX Hurtigruten Expeditions and our expedition cruise pages.
Questions
How rough is the Drake Passage?
It varies from glassy calm to big swells. Most crossings are somewhere in between, and fly-cruise options avoid it altogether.
Will I actually set foot on Antarctica?
Yes. Ships under IAATO rules make landings with up to 100 people ashore at a time, usually twice a day when weather allows.
What should I pack?
Layers, thermal base layers, waterproof trousers, gloves, a warm hat and sunglasses. The ship usually provides the parka and boots.
Do I need to be very fit?
No, but you must be able to manage Zodiac transfers and uneven ground. Ships carry a doctor and ask for a medical form before you travel.
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