Save 15% on selected 20/21 season departures! Subject to availability - contact us for more information.
This Fly/Sail itinerary features the best of Antarctica and allows for more exploration, crossing the Drake Passage either once or fly across both. Get up close with iridescent icebergs, vast colonies of Adelie and Gentoo penguins as well as islands that are alive with leopard seals busy with courtship, bustling penguins and maybe feeding whales!
Duration: 11 Days
Arrive in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to your downtown hotel (preferred flights only).
Overlooking the Straits of Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world's most historic trade routes. Today, Punta Arenas reflects a great mix of cultures, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors, and it remains an utterly fascinating testament to Chile's rich history.
Tonight, we will gather to meet our fellow expeditioners and a briefing on the first leg of our expedition – our flight to Antarctica!
This morning we will be transferred to Punta Arenas airport for our early morning charter flight to King George Island, Antarctica
(weather permitting). The flight will take approximately one-and-a half-hours. On arrival into King George Island our expedition
team is on hand to greet you and provide you with gumboots for your Zodiac transfer to board the Greg Mortimer. You’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important briefings.
NOTE: King George Island is located at the northern tip 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 in order to take off and land safely. We apologise in advance if you experience any delays. Satellite and weather information is checked before departure and during the flight. As bad weather conditions in Antarctica can delay our charter flight from departing on time, Aurora Expeditions has developed programs to offer you if we are delayed.
Over the next six days a host of choices are open to us , and depending on ice and weather conditions, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula is ours to explore. Our experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design our voyage from day to day. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-20 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy
as you wish. We will generally make landings or Zodiac excursions two, and occasionally three, times a day; cruising along spectacular ice cliffs, following whales that are feeding near the surface, and landing on the continent and its off-shore islands to visit penguin rookeries, seal haul outs, historic huts, and a few of our other favourite spots along the peninsula. There will be plenty of time for sleep when you get home!
During this voyage, there will be an opportunity to camp ashore (weather and time permitting). This will give you the chance to sample the style of adventure that Scott, Shackleton and other legendary Antarctic explorers experienced, although with slightly better equipment! Rest assured, our warm and comfortable ship with its hot showers will only be a short distance away!
A sample of some of the types of places where we may cruise through, land, hike, photograph or view spectacular wildlife include:
Paradise Harbour - A protected bay surrounded by magnificent peaks and spectacular glaciers, the rocky cliffs of this spectacular harbour provide perfect nesting sites for blue-eyed shags, terns and gulls
Hydrurga Rocks - This group of low-lying unprotected granitic rocks protrude from the sea, swept by ocean swells. At first these rocks
appear uninteresting, but on closer investigation, calm channels lead to a hidden interior where Weddell seals are hauled out on protected snow beds and noisy chinstrap penguin s raise their families on rocky platforms.
Half Moon Island - This wildlife-rich island is tucked into a neat bay at the eastern end of Livingston Island. On a clear day, the glaciers
and mountains of Livingston Island dominate the vista.
Lemaire Channel - If ice conditions allow, standing on the observation deck of the Greg Mortimer quietly as the ship sails along the narrow Lemaire Channel could certainly be one of the highlights of our voyage.
Port Lockroy - Located on Goudier Island, British Port Lockroy is an important site for both scientific research and visitors to the Antarctic continent.
Neko Harbour - Located in Andvord Bay, Neko Harbour is an inlet home to gentoo penguins, and regularly welcomes Weddell seals. The scenery is dramatic-towering peaks and calving glaciers surround the harbour. The thundering crack of the glaciers as they calve is sure to stop you in your tracks.
Robert Point - A fine example of the South Shetland Islands–tiny toes of land that are lite rally alive with wildlife. Here, there are two species of penguins breeding- chinstrap and gentoo. It is not uncommon to find wallows of elephant seals that are 60 beasts strong. Giant petrels nest on the ridgeline.
Today, our landings come to an end as we re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to Ushuaia. With lectures and videos to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced, and the impact this voyage has had on our attitude to life. As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.
During the early morning, we sail along the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where we begin disembarking at around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow travellers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature. A transfer to either downtown Ushuaia or to the airport is included in the cost of the voyage.
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
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 2020 - 04 Feb 2020 | $15846 AUD pp | ||
| 13 Jan 2021 - 23 Jan 2021 | $18308 AUD pp | ||
| 01 Mar 2021 - 11 Mar 2021 | $15039 AUD pp | Save 15% on selected 20/21 season departures! | |
21.4 - 22.8sqm, located on deck 3, 3 single beds, private en-suite bathroom, porthole window, desk area, closet, room-controlled thermostat & 42" flat screen TV.
*Please note the Aurora Stateroom (Triple) cabins are only available on certain departures.
15.8 - 22.8sqm, located on deck 3, 2 single beds, private en-suite bathroom, porthole window, desk area, closet space, room-controlled thermostat, safe & 42" flat-screen TV.
Most economical Balcony Stateroom
20.9 - 24.8sqm (cabin + balcony), located on deck 4 & 6, twin or double bedding, private en-suite bathroom, floor to ceiling window, desk space, closet space, private balcony, room-controlled thermostat, safe & 42" flat screen TV.
Standard Balcony Stateroom
23.6 - 24.8sqm (cabin + balcony), located on deck 4 & 6 (fore and aft), twin or double bedding, private en-suite bathroom, floor to ceiling window, desk area, closet space, private balcony, room-controlled thermostat, safe & 42" flat screen TV.
* Many fitted with interconnecting features making them great for families or groups.
Premium and most abundant Balcony Stateroom
24.1 - 31.3sqm (cabin + balcony), located on deck 4 & 6 (close to internal stairs/elevator), twin or double bedding, private en-suite bathroom, floor to ceiling window, desk area, closet space, private balcony, room-controlled thermostat, safe & 42" flat screen TV.
30.5 - 40.2sqm (cabin + balcony), located on deck 4, twin or double bedding, private en-suite bathroom, full size window, desk area, closet space, private balcony, room-controlled thermostat, safe & 42" flat screen TV.
Benefits:
- One free pair of binoculars per suite
- One free bottle of champagne per suite
- Free stocked mini bar (stocked once only)
- 1-hour massage or facial treatment per person
- Gratuities/tips for crew included - to the value of USD$15 per person per day
38.9sqm (cabin + balcony), located on deck 7, twin or double bedding, private en-suite bathroom, full size window, desk area, closet space, private balcony, room-controlled thermostat, safe, 42" flat screen TV & separate lounge area.
Benefits:
- One free pair of binoculars per suite
- One free bottle of champagne per suite
- Free stocked mini bar (stocked once only)
- 1-hour massage or facial treatment per person
- Gratuities/tips for crew included - to the value of USD$15 per person per day
44.5sqm (cabin + balcony), located on deck 4, twin or double bedding, private en-suite bathroom, full size window, desk area, closet space, private balcony, room-controlled thermostat, safe, 42" flat screen TV & separate lounge area.
Benefits:
- One free pair of binoculars per suite
- One free bottle of champagne per suite
- Free stocked mini bar (replenished as needed)
- 1-hour massage or facial treatment per person
- Gratuities/tips for crew included - to the value of USD$15 per person per day
*Optional activities
*Gratuities
A $15USD per person per day gratuity for the crew is automatically added to your on board account. It is at your discretion if you would like to remove the tip (or increase/decrease the amount) when you settle your bill. It is not necessary to tip the expedition team members
