Antarctica

Antarctica & South Georgia Air-Cruise

18 Days aboard Magellan Discoverer. From AUD $30,762pp.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details

Overview

Join us for a remarkable experience that takes you through the western Antarctic Peninsula, through Elephant Island to South Georgia. The South Georgia and Antarctica air-cruise allows you to sail through the nutrient-rich waters and, each day, disembark with our expert polar guides having time to either hike, snowshoe, or kayak in bays nearby. As we make our way to South Georgia, you will follow in the footsteps of famous Antarctic explorers, like Ernest Shackleton, and learn about their daring southerly adventures. After reaching South Georgia, visit some of the largest colonies of penguins in the world, including the king penguin, and see the nesting grounds of thousands of albatrosses.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Spot penguins, seals, and whales in their natural Antarctic habitat.
  • Encounter vast king penguin colonies in South Georgia
  • Explore the dramatic landscapes of the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula.

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Start of the Air-Cruise
  • Day 2: Scheduled flight to Antarctica
  • Day 3 to 6: Exploring Antarctica
  • Day 7: Elephant Island
  • Day 8 and 9: Sailing to South Georgia
  • Day 10 to 13: Exploring South Georgia
  • Day 14 to 16: Sailing towards South America
  • Day 17: At sea and Beagle Channel
  • Day 18: Ushuaia, Argentina

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond control.

Ship Information

For more information on the Magellan Discoverer please view the ship page.

View Magellan Discoverer

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1: Start of the Air-Cruise

Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile, where you are welcomed by staff and transferred to your hotel. Before 2 PM, you are expected at Explorers House for your check-in, for a mandatory briefing that provides important information about your air-cruise and essential guidelines for Antarctic visitors. Later, gather for a welcome dinner and meet your fellow adventurers while enjoying a typical regional menu.

Dinner included.

Day 2: Scheduled flight to Antarctica

A smooth two-hour flight takes you from Punta Arenas to King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands. Your adventure begins as you exit the airplane, and the clear Antarctic air fills your lungs for the first time. A short vehicle transfer takes you to the shore of Fildes Bay where a Zodiac takes you to your boutique expedition vessel.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 3 to 6: Exploring Antarctica

Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and among spectacular icebergs, while enjoying the company of seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. Each day, disembark by Zodiac and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. On board the ship, attend an engaging program of educational presentations and enjoy spectacular views from the lounge while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests. No journey is the same and flexibility is the key to success in Antarctica. The Expedition Team plans the voyage route to take advantage of the everchanging opportunities provided by nature, crafting a unique and extraordinary experience every time. While the exact itinerary changes with each expedition, you will explore several sites that offer the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment. Your voyage may include visits to sites in the South Shetland Islands, the Gerlache Strait, the Penola Strait, and the Antarctic Sound.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 7: Elephant Island

Sailing north, we hope to stop at Elephant Island. It was here that the crew of Shackleton’s Endurance found refuge while he and five handpicked men carried on to South Georgia. While the stormy conditions of this area rarely allow a shore landing, you will see the island from the ship.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 8 and 9: Sailing to South Georgia

As we sail northward, our historian and our naturalist guides offer a series of presentations. There is time to socialize in the ship’s lounge while keeping an eye out for the region’s abundant birdlife.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 10 to 13: Exploring South Georgia

The island of South Georgia is a diverse landscape of majestic mountains, massive glaciers, grassy uplands, and deep fjords. Visit the former whaling outpost of Grytviken, where you may pay your respects at the simple grave of Ernest Shackleton. At St. Andrew’s Bay be overwhelmed by the sight of 150,000 king penguins. At Cooper Island, the nesting home of thousands of black-browed albatrosses, see a large colony of macaroni penguins. At the peak of the breeding season, it is said that South Georgia has the highest concentration of wildlife per square meter on the planet. If the weather is favorable, we hope to visit Fortuna Bay, Salisbury Plain, Drygalski Fjord, and Elsehul Bay.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 14 to 16: Sailing towards South America

As the ship heads to South America, the program of presentations continues. Use this time to enhance your understanding of the region and its history.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 17: At sea and Beagle Channel

Approach the South American continent and sail along the Beagle Channel. Take in the beauty of Tierra del Fuego and Navarino Island as you make your way to Ushuaia.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 18: Ushuaia, Argentina

Arrival to Ushuaia, where your journey ends.

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change due to weather, sea state and other conditions beyond control.

Breakfast included.

Next Departure Date: 12 Nov 2027
DatesCabinFromAdditional
12 Nov 2027 - 29 Nov 2027 AUD$30762ppExpand to view prices
Triple Veranda SuiteAUD$30762ppContact us
Family Veranda SuiteAUD$38454ppContact us
Deluxe Veranda CabinAUD$38454ppContact us
Grand Veranda SuiteAUD$46146ppContact us
Single Veranda CabinAUD$46146ppContact us

**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply

Cabin Details

Triple Veranda Suite

Approx. Size: 560 ft² / 52 m²
Two-room suite with sitting area and balcony

Triple  Veranda Suite
Triple Veranda Suite
Deluxe Veranda Cabin

Approx. Size: 280 ft² / 26 m²
Cabin with sitting area and balcony

Deluxe  Veranda  Cabin
Deluxe Veranda Cabin
Family Veranda Suite

Approx. Size: 560 ft² / 52 m²
Two-room suite with sitting area and balcony

Family  Veranda Suite
Family Veranda Suite
Grand Veranda Suite

Approx. Size: 409 ft² / 38 m²
Suite with sitting area and balcony

Grand  Veranda Suite
Grand Veranda Suite
Single Veranda Cabin

Approx. Size: 280 ft² / 26 m²
Cabin with sitting area and balcony

Single  Veranda  Cabin
Single Veranda Cabin

Magellan Discoverer Deckplan

deck plan

Specifications

  • Passengers: 76 guests for Antarctic air-cruises
  • Staff & Crew: 67
  • Breadth: 17.2 m
  • Length: 94 m
  • Draft: 4.3 m
  • Lifeboats: 2 Fully enclosed, capacity 57 Persons (both equipped to serve as rescue boats)
  • Propulsion: 2 x 1,800 kW
  • Ice class: PC6
  • Cruising speed: 13 knots in open water

What's included?

  • Ship cruise as indicated in the program corresponding to each voyage.
  • Flight from Punta Arenas to Frei Station on King George Island and/or vice versa as indicated in the program corresponding to each voyage.
  • For air-cruises starting in Punta Arenas, exclusive group transfers airport/ hotel on Day 1 and last day of the expedition.
  • For air-cruises starting in Punta Arenas, one night at the Cabo de Hornos hotel in Punta Arenas or similar with breakfast.
  • One night at the Cabo de Hornos hotel in Punta Arenas or similar with breakfast on the day of the scheduled return flight from Antarctica.
  • For air-cruises starting in Punta Arenas, enjoy special access to Explorers House where you will enjoy a welcome dinner on Day 1.
  • Exclusive group transfers airport/ hotel on the day of the scheduled return flight from Antarctica, and exclusive group transfers hotel/ airport on the last day of the air-cruise.
  • Daily buffet breakfast and lunch on board the ship, offering a variety of dishes.
  • Three-course dinner served daily on board the ship offering a choice between one of three main courses.
  • Wine, beer, juice, and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner on board.
  • Coffee, tea, chocolate, cappuccino, water, and snacks on board the ship throughout the expedition.
  • All guided shore excursions.
  • Lectures and entertainment on board.
  • Comprehensive pre- and post-voyage information material.
  • Loan of waterproof boots.
  • Access to exclusive content on the app on board both vessels.
  • A voucher for premium internet access. Conditions apply.
  • Contingency Plan.
  • IAATO passenger fee.

What's not?

  • Accommodation, meals, excursions, and transfers other than those included in the itinerary and the Contingency Plan corresponding to each voyage. Specifically, dinner in Punta Arenas upon return from Antarctica is not included.
  • Beverages purchased at the ship’s bar.
  • Personal travel and medical insurance.
  • Extra expenses (communication, laundry, souvenirs, etc.).
  • Gratuities.
  • Visas for Chile, Argentina and/or United Kingdom (for South Georgia), passport expenses, and any arrival and/or departure tax, if applicable.
  • Application for required entry permit to South Georgia (for the Antarctica & South Georgia air-cruise).

Important notes and additional information

Optional Adventure Activities:

  • Sea Kayaking: US$995

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Antarctica

On any cruise to Antarctica you can expect to experience a wide variety of landscapes, unprecedented wildlife viewing opportunities and a healthy mix of historic landing sites. Be astounded by the sensory overload of the huge amount of ice-bergs, glaciers, high mountains and the abundant and tame wildlife.

Downloadable travel guide

Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.

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Antarctica & South Georgia Air-Cruise

18 Days aboard Magellan Discoverer. From AUD $30,762pp.