HIGHLIGHTS
- Witness
extraordinary wildlife including fledging penguin chicks.
- Zodiac
cruise in secluded bays and quiet coves filled with brash ice and
photograph enormous glaciers and spectacularly shaped icebergs in
various shades of blue.
- Keep
a close watch for the tail fluke of whales as they take a deep dive,
see porpoising penguins ice seals such as Weddell and crabeater seals
hauled out on ice floes.
- Observe
skuas patrolling penguin colonies preying on vulnerable juveniles.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| 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 |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Stateroom Triple | (Mid-range)
Balcony Stateroom B | (High-end)
Captain's Suite |
|---|
Antarctic
Explorer Express is a FLY/FLY expedition that skips the Drake
completely.
Day
1 Ushuaia
Having
made your way to Ushuaia, you will be met by a representative of Aurora
Expeditions and transferred to our group hotel. This evening, enjoy a
light refreshment as you meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome
Reception. Afterwards, dine at your leisure (dinner not included).
Accommodation:
Las Hayas Hotel (or similar)
Day
2 Embarkation
This
morning, please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags
clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Your luggage will be
collected from your hotel and transferred directly to the port for
clearance and delivered to your cabin ahead of your arrival on board.
Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the
day. Enjoy free time after check-out, meeting back in the hotel lobby
at 2.00 pm to commence a short sightseeing tour of Ushuaia.
Ushuaia,
capital of Tierra del Fuego is located at the shores of the Beagle
Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains giving you a unique
landscape in Argentina, which is the combination of mountains, sea,
glaciers and forests. On this brief introductory tour, you will visit
"La Mision" neighbourhood, the old Government House, and the upper area
of the city, which offers beautiful panoramic views of Ushuaia and the
Beagle Channel. During the excursion you will see the antique houses
that belonged to the first families settled in Ushuaia. The excursion
ends with a visit to the Old Prison Museum before transferring to the
pier for embarkation at approximately 4.00 pm.
If
you choose to not participate in the sightseeing tour, you will need to
make your own way to the Prison Museum carpark by 3.45 pm to re-join
the group for the transfer to the pier for embarkation.
After
embarkation, you will have time to settle into your cabin before our
important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we
will gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular
views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.
Day
3-4 Drake Passage crossing
As
we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time
getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team
prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines
and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you
learn more about Antarctica's history, wildlife and environment.
Our
wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the
many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels
following our vessel. On sea days, you may can enjoy the facilities on
board the vessel including the gym, wellness centre or the relaxing in
one of the observation lounges.
Nearing
the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on
the afternoon of day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone
converging on one of the observation decks watching for our first
iceberg.
The
ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic
Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice
sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to
remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, we may
attempt our first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.
Days
5-7 Antarctic Peninsula
It
is 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 participate in the
activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers
will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters -
conditions permitting! The polar plunge can take place at any time
during the voyage, so listen out for the announcement from the
expedition team and get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your
life!
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 or make
your way to the bridge (open at the captain's discretion) for
uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Listen out for
the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve. Take a quiet
moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the
splendid white continent.
Day
8 Fly King George Island to Punta Arenas
As
we approach Frei Base on King George Island, it is time to farewell
Antarctica and our amazing adventure before boarding our flight
(approximately one hour and forty-five minutes) to Punta Arenas, Chile.
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.
In
Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to our group hotel for an
overnight stay.
Accommodation:
Hotel Cabo de Hornos (or similar)
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 for
safe take-off and landing. We apologise in advance for any possible
delays.
Day
9 Punta Arenas
After
breakfast, bid a fond farewell to your fellow travellers as we continue
our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense
power of nature (breakfast included). A transfer to the airport is
included in the voyage fare.
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 Ushuaia on Day 1.
- Charter
flight King George Island to Punta Arenas on Day 8.
- One
night's hotel accommodation including breakfast, in Punta Arenas on Day
8.
- Onboard
accommodation during voyage, including daily cabin service.
- All
meals, snacks, tea and coffee during voyage.
- Beer,
house wine and soft drinks with dinner.
- Captain's
Welcome and Farewell receptions 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.
- Gratuities
for ship's crew.
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 and soft drinks (outside of dinner service), laundry
services, personal clothing, medical expenses, wi-fi, email or phone
charges.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Included
Activities
- Bird
watching
- Lectures
on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations
- Photography
- Polar
plunge
- Trips
ashore
- Walking
- Zodiac
cruises
- Whale
and mammal spotting
Add-on
Activities
- Sea
Kayaking USD 995
- Snorkelling
USD 640
