HIGHLIGHTS
- Be
awestruck by the array of wildlife that play and hunt in the Antarctic
Sound.
- With
favourable conditions, we hope to experience the incredible sea ice and
enormous icebergs in the Weddell Sea.
- Learn
about the incredible fossil-rich volcanic islands from our onboard
palaeontologist.
- Keep
a close watch for whales that have migrated tremendous distances to
feed on plentiful krill in Antarctica.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Stateroom Triple | Stateroom Twin | Superior Stateroom Twin | Balcony Stateroom C | Balcony Stateroom B | Balcony Stateroom A | Superior Balcony Stateroom | Junior Suite | Captain's Suite |
|---|
| Feb 17, 2026 | Mar 01, 2026 | 20,095 | N/A | 21,895 | 22,495 | 23,595 | 25,395 | 27,795 | 34,895 | 41,295 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Stateroom Triple | (Mid-range)
Balcony Stateroom B | (High-end)
Captain's Suite |
|---|
| Feb 17, 2026 | Mar 01, 2026 | 20,095 | 23,595 | 41,295 |
ITINERARY
Day
1 Arrive Punta Arenas
Arrive
in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred to our hotel. We ask that you arrive no
later than 2:00pm on this day. In addition to ensuring your arrival in
time for our important pre-flight briefings, if weather conditions deem
it necessary, we may depart for King George Island on Day 1 as opposed
to Day 2.
Please
visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby between
2:00pm – 6:00pm to collect your luggage cabin tags. Our team
will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any
questions and provide you with information about where to dine or
purchase last minute items.
Overlooking
the Straits of Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world's most
historic trade routes. Today, Punta Arenas reflects a great blend of
cultural backgrounds, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese
sailors. It remains an utterly fascinating testament to Chile's rich
history. Modern day Punta Arenas is home to many popular restaurants,
and bars, offering a mix of local and international fare (meals at your
own expense today).
At
7.00 pm this evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage
briefing where we will reconfirm your transfer times for tomorrow,
explain the procedures for your flight to King George Island and
outline important IAATO regulations for visitors to Antarctica.
Day
2 Embarkation
This
morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our charter
flight to King George Island, Antarctica (weather permitting). The
flight will take approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. On
arrival into King George Island our expedition team is on hand to greet
you and to prepare you for your Zodiac transfer to the vessel. You will
have time to settle into your cabin before our important safety
briefings.
Note:
King George Island is located at the northern part of the Antarctic
Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote
places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for
safe take-off and landing. A contingency plan will be applied to your
itinerary should your flights not proceed today. Your safety is our
upmost priority. We apologise in advance for any delays caused due to
this unpredictable situation. Please refer to our terms and conditions
for a more detailed explanation.
Days
3-10 Weddell Sea & Antarctic Peninsula
It’s
almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica.
Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the
most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you
forever.
Once
we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South
Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices
available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience
approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as
you wish.
Your
experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this
area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day,
choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice
conditions and wildlife opportunities.
We
generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want
to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or
among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising
penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where
you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore
some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.
While
ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or
perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains
towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an
optional activity, you will have the option to do that whenever
conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the
chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions
permitting!
In
addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise
some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from
the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or
feeding.
This
is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge for uninterrupted views
of Antarctica in all its splendour. Keep an ear out for the creak and
deep rumble of glaciers as they carve their way from summit to sea.
Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white
continent.
Central
to the story of where Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, the
Endurance became trapped in formidable sea ice, the Weddell Sea
certainly is high on the list for many polar adventurers. A small set
of islands standing off to the east of the Antarctic Peninsula
collectively form the Antarctic Sound – the gateway to the
Weddell Sea. With a well-deserved reputation as being an iceberg alley
where large icebergs try to escape the Weddell Sea through Antarctic
Sound, often making navigation difficult. However, the rewards can be
great. Fossils are a reminder of a more temperate era –
gastropods, large clams, and spiral-shaped ammonites, all turned to
stone.
We
hope to experience memorable wildlife encounters as the Weddell boasts
a large Adélie penguin colony just outside of Antarctic
Sound, some of which breed on the rocky slopes of a small volcanic
island, where a large colony of Antarctic blue-eyed shags jostle for
space with nest-building Wilson’s storm petrels. On thrilling
Zodiac excursions or slicing a path through the maze of sea ice in your
kayak, keep watch for chinstrap and gentoo penguins in and out of the
water, as well as humpback, minke and orca whales. Your camera is sure
to get a solid workout during your time in the Weddell Sea.
Days
11-12 Drake Passage Crossing
Enjoy
a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we
re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America.
With
lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience,
there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean
and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and
discussion about what we have seen and experienced. We hope you become
ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends and colleagues
about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its
conservation and preservation so that they might one day visit the
region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.
As
we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to
legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.
Day
13 Disembark Ushuaia
During
the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly
slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark
around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as
we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of
the immense power of nature.
Upon
disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region,
transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who
have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in
downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior
to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with
flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia
before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and
details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation.
Note:
At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights
departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in
case there are delays.
Sylvia Earle (Luxury Expedition, 126-guests)
Due to sail in October 2021 our new ship honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998 - this vessel pays tribute to Sylvia's long standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife. Sylvia Earle will be actively involved in the development of her namesake.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All
airport transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
- One
night’s hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Punta
Arenas on Day 1.
- Charter
flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island.
- Onboard
accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
- All
meals, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices during voyage.
- Beer
and house wine with dinner.
- Captain’s
Farewell reception including four-course dinner, house cocktails, house
beer and wine, non-alcoholic beverages.
- All
shore excursions and Zodiac cruises.
- Educational
lectures and guiding services provided by Expedition Team.
- Complimentary
access to onboard expedition doctor and medical clinic (initial
consultation).
- One
3-in-1 waterproof, polar expedition jacket.
- Complimentary
use of Muck Boots during the voyage.
- Comprehensive
pre-departure information.
- Port
surcharges, permits and landing fees.
- Wi-Fi*.
*
Please note we travel to remote regions and therefore the connection
can be unreliable.
Exclusions
- International
or domestic flights – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Transfers
– unless specified in the itinerary.
- Airport
arrival or departure taxes.
- Passport,
visa, reciprocity and vaccination fees and charges.
- Travel
insurance or emergency evacuation charges.
- Hotel
accommodation and meals – unless specified in the itinerary.
- Optional
excursions and optional activity surcharges.
- All
items of a personal nature, including but not limited to alcoholic
beverages (outside of dinner service), gratuities*, laundry services,
personal clothing, medical expenses or phone charges.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
Add-on
Activities
- Sea Kayaking: USD 1,300
- Scuba Diving: USD 1,295
- Snorkelling: USD 675
- Paddling: USD 640
Included
Activities
- Bird watching
- Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and
destinations
- Near shore cruises
- Photography
- Polar plunge
- Trips ashore
- Walking
- Whale and mammal spotting
- Zodiac cruises
