Across the Antarctic Circle
Overview
Highlights
- Fly/Sail voyage means only one Drake Passage crossing
- International scientific stations
- Antarctic circle crossing celebrations
- Reach 66° 33’ South or futher!
- Penguin chicks preparing to fledge
- Orca, humpback and minke whales
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Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Trip includes
- Luggage transfer from Ushuaia hotel to Polar Pioneer on day of voyage departure
- Luggage transfer from Polar Pioneer to King George Island airstrip
- Flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas
- Transfer from Punta Arenas airport to hotel
- One night accommodation in Punta Arenas post voyage (29 Feb 2016).
- Accommodation during the voyage
- All meals, snacks, tea and coffee during the voyage
- All shore excursions and Zodiac (inflatable boat) cruises
- Educational lectures and guiding services from our expert team
- Access to our on board doctor and basic medical services
- Complimentary custom-designed Polar Expedition jacket
- Free gumboot hire during the voyage
- Daily cabin service
- An Aurora Expeditions' multi-purpose waterproof jacket
- Comprehensive pre-departure information
- Professionally produced voyage journal (one per booking)
- Port taxes and charges
- All entry fees to historic landings sites.
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Itinerary
Step aboard Polar Pioneer in Ushuaia and settle in to your comfortable cabin. There is time to greet fellow passengers and explore the ship before evening cruise down the Beagle Channel.
We cross the Drake Passage, accompanied by albatross, petrels, fulmars and prions. Our polar experts speak about Antarctica’s unique wildlife and history, and prepare us for landings with environmental and Zodiac briefings.
All eyes are peeled for first iceberg, first penguin and first glimpse of land, the mercurial sea stacks outlying the South Shetland Islands. If conditions allow, we go ashore this afternoon.
We explore the Peninsula’s west coast, with the frenzied activities of penguin parents and chicks as the summer days begin to shorten. Cormorant chicks bravely making their first flights from sea cliffs. Zodiac cruise amongst ice floes replete with basking Weddell and...
We arrive at mountainous King George Island. If time and weather permit we explore penguin and seal-rich waters of Fildes Bay and visit the surprising Trinity Church at Bellingshausen Station, before catching our charter flight back to Punta Arenas in Chile, where we transfer to our overnight accommodation.
After breakfast bid farewell to fellow expeditioners before continuing on with your own arrangements.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Aurora Expeditions.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Aurora Expeditions Reviews & Ratings
Fantastic
We went on the Polar Pioneer to Antarctica and it was fantastic. Now ...
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Inappropriate leadership
I just returned from Aurora’s NW passage trip from Greenland to Nome Alaska. I wish to warn potential passengers that out of 26 sea days, we had 10 landings, out of ...
It was an amazing experience
Went to Antarctica with these guys a good few years ago. I was looking at my pics only the other day. It was an amazing experience, Antartica of course, but these gu...
Great trip
Great trip to Antarctica with a caring, enthusiastic and knowledgeable expedition company. It was delightful to travel with staff who genuinely cared both about th...
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International or domestic flights to or from ship, unless specified
- Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
- Airport arrival or departure taxes
- Visa, passport, and vaccination charges
- Travel insurance or emergency evacuation charges
- Hotels and meals not included in itinerary
- Optional excursions not included in the itinerary
- Optional activity surcharge. Please contact us if you wish to book any optional activities, such as sea kayaking
- All items of a personal nature including but not limited to: alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, laundry services, personal clothing, medical expenses,
Accommodation
Polar Pioneer is one of the most popular style of vessel currently used in Antarctica and the Arctic. Originally built as an ice-strengthened research vessel in Finland in 1982, she was refurbished in 2000 and converted into a passenger ship for expeditions to the Polar Regions. Polar Pioneer’s excellent reputation for polar expedition cruising is due to her strength, manoeuvrability and size. She is small and nimble, which means she can sail up close to landing sites and venture where other, larger ships can’t. Carrying just 54 passengers, she allows us to offer you a far more personal and intimate experience of the destination we are visiting.
Passengers: 54 Staff: 10 to 12 Crew: 23 Cabins: 26 Decks: 3 Built: 1982 Refurbished: 2000 Length: 71.6m Beam: 12.8 metres Draft: 4.5m Cruising Speed: 10 knots Gross tonnage: 1753 Registry: Russian Voltage: 220v. European round, two pin plug. Active Stabilzers
We recommend cancellation insurance. If it becomes necessary to cancel your expedition, we ask that you notify your Travel Agent or our Sales Team immediately in writing. Cancellation will take effect upon receipt by Aurora Expeditions of your written notice. Cancellation made before 90 days of expedition departure are subject to a non refundable deposit of $2,500, however your deposit may be transferred towards a different expedition for a fee of $500. Transfers are subject to availability and are only valid on expeditions that depart within 12 months from date of transfer and you are permitted one transfer only. Funds will not be held in suspense and new booking must be advised at time of requested transfer. You must pay the difference between the original booked price and the price of any transferred booking including the new deposit amount. If cancellation takes place less than 90 days prior to departure, you will be required to pay the full cost of the expedition.
Any person under 18 years of age must travel with their legal guardian. Travelling when pregnant is not recommended.
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