Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition (Ocean Explorer)

14 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
View all 9 photos
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
93%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
premier

Health Safety +

USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
Set foot on the 7th Continent – an achievement that few people get to experience in their lifetime! Even more rare is the incomparable milestone of crossing the Antarctic Circle and navigating south of 66°33' S! For most, this is the highlight of a 14-day adventure to Antarctica. See dramatic ice formations, spot humpback whales swimming alongside the ship, w...
19%
$25,124
From$20,426
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • Take a wild Antarctic journey and be one of the few travellers to venture to 66°33'S – very few people ever make it this far south!
    • Discover an unspoiled wilderness, looking out for polar wildlife like penguins, seals, whales and seabirds from your onboard deck and during your onshore landings on the White Continent.
    • Experience almost endless daylight in high summer once you’re inside the Antarctic Circle. Then, push further south than most Antarctic expeditions venture, exploring the remoteness of this less-visited part of the Antarctic Peninsula.
    • Benefit from various onboard activities, including educational lectures on history, geology and ecology by your expert expedition team. When you’ve learned your fill for the day, make the most of the onboard amenities, like the spa, sauna, restaurant, library and bar!
    • Visit Antarctic research stations during your daily Zodiac excursions and immerse yourself in history, with icebergs in a thousand different shades of blue in the background.

What's this trip about?

    Set foot on the 7th Continent – an achievement that few people get to experience in their lifetime! Even more rare is the incomparable milestone of crossing the Antarctic Circle and navigating south of 66°33' S! For most, this is the highlight of a 14-day adventure to Antarctica. See dramatic ice formations, spot humpback whales swimming alongside the ship, watch leopard seals dive beneath your Zodiac and take photos of all the penguins sliding off icebergs into polar waters – this is a southern expedition like no other!

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeGroup - max of 138 people
Age range8 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityUshuaia
End CityUshuaia

Travel Themes

  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 138

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Ushuaia

Welcome to Ushuaia – the gateway to Antarctica. Located at the southern tip of Argentina, these parts are known as Tierra del Fuego, often called ‘The End of the World’, but this is just the beginning of your Antarctic adventure. Those with a day or two may want to he...

Day 2 Embarkation in Ushuaia

This afternoon, you’ll board the Ocean Explorer and your epic adventure south will begin! Take some time to settle into your cabin as you begin cruising the stunning Beagle Channel, named after the famed vessel 'The Beagle' that facilitated some of Charles Darwin's mo...

Day 3-4 Crossing the Drake Passage

The infamous Drake Passage, named after the famous English explorer Sir Francis Drake, separates the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula from the southernmost tip of South America. It is often rough and turbulent but sometimes as calm as a lake. The next two days at sea of...

Day 5-7 South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula

You’ll spend the next three days exploring the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula – a region that has captivated explorers for centuries. Explore by Zodiac, cruising among the icebergs and making shore landings where you’ll see penguins, climb to vanta...

Day 8-9 Antarctic Circle

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is a memorable experience – few travellers reach so far south! If conditions allow, you’ll cross the famed latitude of 66°33 ́ S and toast the first explorers who ventured here. Raise a glass and take pride, knowing you’ve made it to a pa...

Day 10-11 Northbound Along the Peninsula

By now, your knowledge of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins will be matched by your ability to spot the difference between a leopard, crabeater and Weddell seal. Terms like ‘bergy bits’ and ‘pancake ice’ will become part of your vocabulary and as you head north, y...

Day 12-13 Crossing the Drake Passage

As you recross the Drake Passage, you’ll wave goodbye to Antarctica. Over the next two days cruising through the Drake Passage, reminisce with your newfound friends. Your Expedition Team will round up the series of presentations with a slideshow of the adventures you'...

Day 14 Disembarkation in Ushuaia

Today, you’ll arrive in Ushuaia, where your adventure comes to an end. With no further activities planned, you’re free to leave at any time after disembarkation. If you’d like to extend your stay here, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $20,426
Price per day$1,459
Last Updated: 11/10/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
09 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
$20,426
09 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
$26,906
09 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
$33,386
09 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
$31,226
09 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
$26,906
09 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
$29,066
09 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
$21,506
09 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
$22,856

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

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.

Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings

4.5/5  Excellent
Excellent
3,381
Great
677
Average
150
Disappointing
84
Terrible
226
Write a Review

Other Intrepid Travel Reviews

N

Nigel customer

Nov 2024

Written on

EBC trek with Intrepid.

I did the EBC trek with Intrepid in September and October. Our group missed the first 3 days of the planned 12 day trek due to bad weather. There was a real fear we...

D

Diana Louis

Nov 2024

Written on

Terrific organisation, unforgettable experiences.

I did my first Intrepid trip on the Camino de Santiago and it was simply excellent every step of the way. Pre-travel organisation was comprehensive and well organis...

A

Alison

Nov 2024

Written on

We travelled 8 days in Morrocco with…

We travelled 8 days in Morrocco with Mahdi as our guide. We loved the trip and found Mahdi and the other local guides very informative and friendly. The accommodatio...

Write a Review

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

premier
View Profile

The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Associations

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Accommodation

1 night comfortable hotel,12 nights expedition cruise ship

Transportation & Flights

Expedition cruise ship,zodiac,

Transportation & flights

Expedition cruise ship,zodiac
Guides
Your expedition will be led by an experienced Expedition Leader and at least one Assistant Expedition Leader. In addition, there will be a team of Polar experts and Expedition Guides who will be with you throughout. These experts will have various areas of expertise to inform you about the wildlife you may see, the terrain you'll pass through, the history of the area and to help you get the most out of photography opportunities. In addition, there will be specialist guides for kayaking and on some voyages, special guest presenters. There will always be someone around to answer any questions you may have.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is mandatory for all guests travelling to the Polar regions and is one of the most important components of any trip, especially in Antarctica - the most remote and inhospitable place on Earth. It is vital that you have the most suitable insurance with adequate levels of cover. We advise purchasing travel insurance at the same time as booking, ensuring you are covered for cancellation and curtailment from the moment that you confirm your Antarctic voyage, as well as ensuring cover for personal liability, loss of baggage and personal effects, as well as disruption to travel plans. Because of the remoteness of your expedition to Antarctica, advanced medical care and medical evacuations are extremely expensive which makes comprehensive travel insurance essential for all our clients. We encourage you to take the highest level of cover possible, but have a minimum requirement of USD50,000 coverage for medical-related expenses. The purchase of your expedition includes USD $500,000 of emergency evacuation insurance. There are many activities that can be undertaken in Antarctica. If you plan to participate in adventure options such as Kayaking, Day Paddle, Snowshoeing or Camping, please ensure your travel insurance specifically covers you for these activities. You need to ensure you know exactly what you are covered for and ensure that your policy covers this from the time you leave to arrive home. You must provide your travel insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number prior to the departure of your Cruise; you will not be able to join the Cruise nor receive your Final Travel Documentation without providing these details. If you have travel insurance connected to your credit card or bank account please ensure you have details of the participating insurer, the insurance policy number and emergency contact number with you rather than the bank's name and credit card details.
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements No visas are required to visit the Antarctic continent or its offshore islands. However, you will need to have your passport with you on the ship, as port authorities will wish to inspect passports on departure from Ushuaia and also again at the end of your voyage.
Age Requirements
8 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • Ushuaia Port
  • Array
  • Ushuaia
  • ARGENTINA
Trip ID
intrepid-GQMC

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >