Antarctica

Antarctica & South Georgia

18 Days aboard Magellan Explorer. From AUD $26,658pp.
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

  • Stunning glaciers and icebergs in Antarctica.
  • Abundant wildlife including penguins, seals, and whales in South Georgia.
  • A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore remote and untouched landscapes.

Itinerary in Brief

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

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

Staff members welcome you in Punta Arenas, Chile, before 2 PM. Transfer to your hotel, visit Explorers House, and attend a mandatory briefing that provides important information about your air-cruise and reviews the essential guidelines for Antarctic visitors. At Explorers House, enjoy local gastronomy as you meet your fellow adventurers.

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 - 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 - 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 - 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 to have the highest concentration of wildlife per square meter on the planet. If the weather is favorable, visits are also planned at Fortuna Bay, Salisbury Plains, Prion Island, and Elsehul Bay.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 14 - 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.

Breakfast included.

Next Departure Date: 08 Mar 2026
DatesCabinFromSpecial Offer
08 Mar 2026 - 25 Mar 2026 AUD$26658ppExpand to view prices
Porthole CabinAUD$26658ppContact us
Triple SuiteAUD$29992ppContact us
Veranda CabinAUD$33325ppContact us
Deluxe Veranda CabinAUD$36658ppContact us
Deluxe SuiteAUD$41658ppContact us
Penthouse SuiteAUD$44992ppContact us
Single Veranda CabinAUD$44992ppContact us
07 Mar 2027 - 24 Mar 2027 AUD$29992ppExpand to view prices

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

Cabin Details

Triple Suite

Approx. Size: 480 ft2 – 44 m2
Details: Suite with two bedrooms, balcony, and sitting area

Triple Suite
Triple Suite
Porthole Cabin

Approx. Size: 200 ft2 – 18 m²
Details: Cabin with sitting area and porthole

Porthole Cabin
Porthole Cabin
Veranda Cabin

Approx. Size: 210 ft2 – 19 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony

Veranda Cabin
Veranda Cabin
Deluxe Veranda Cabin

Approx. Size: 240 ft2 – 22 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony

Deluxe Veranda Cabin
Deluxe Veranda Cabin
Penthouse Suite

Approx. Size: 360 ft2 – 33 m2
Details: Suite with sitting room, balcony, and bedroom area

Penthouse Suite
Penthouse Suite
Deluxe Suite

Approx. Size: 480 ft2 – 44 m2
Details: Two-room suite with sitting room, balcony, and bedroom

Deluxe Suite
Deluxe Suite
Single Veranda Cabin

Approx. Size: 210 ft2 – 19 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony

Single Veranda Cabin
Single Veranda Cabin

Magellan Explorer Deckplan

deck plan

Specifications

  • Passengers: 100 max
  • Lifeboats: 2, fully enclosed, capacity of 160 (in addition to 8 life rafts, capacity of 160)
  • Breadth: 16.2 m
  • Propulsion: Diesel engines, 3,440 kW
  • Cruising speed: 14 knots in open water
  • Staff & crew: 60
  • Length: 90.7 m
  • Draft: 4.3
  • Ice class: LR PC6

Whats included?

  • For air-cruises starting in Punta Arenas, exclusive group transfers airport/hotel on Day 1.
  • For air-cruises starting in Punta Arenas, one night at the Cabo de Hornos hotel in Punta Arenas or similar with breakfast and a welcome dinner including drinks on Day 1.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Flight from Punta Arenas to Frei Station on King George Island and/or vice versa as indicated in the program corresponding to each voyage.
  • Ship cruise as indicated in the program corresponding to each voyage.
  • Daily buffet breakfast and lunch on board the ship offering a variety of dishes.
  • 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 for landing in Antarctica.
  • Access to exclusive content on the app on board Magellan Explorer.
  • Contingency Plan as described on page 39.
  • IAATO passenger fee.

What’s not included?

  • 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.
  • Internet connection on board the ship.
  • Personal travel insurance.
  • Extra expenses (communication, laundry, souvenirs, etc.).
  • Gratuities.
  • Visas for Chile and/or Argentina, passport expenses, and any arrival and/or departure tax, if applicable.

Notes

Optional Extras:

  • Kayaking: $895

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

18 Days aboard Magellan Explorer. From AUD $26,658pp.