Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle

11 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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Group Tour
Enjoy Antarctica in style — by flying and then cruising south of the Antarctic Circle! A short three-hour flight is all it takes to travel between Punta Arenas, Chile and King George Island in Antarctica. Skipping all the extra days at sea, you’ll enjoy only the best scenery and wildlife experiences of the Antarctic. Prepare yourself for a sensory overload, a...
From$16,195
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • The fastest, most direct way to Antarctica
    • Fly over Drake Passage
    • All the Antarctic Peninsula highlights
    • Photography instruction included
    • Optional polar camping along the Peninsula
    • On board lecturers and educational presentations from Polar specialists

What's this trip about?

    Enjoy Antarctica in style — by flying and then cruising south of the Antarctic Circle! A short three-hour flight is all it takes to travel between Punta Arenas, Chile and King George Island in Antarctica. Skipping all the extra days at sea, you’ll enjoy only the best scenery and wildlife experiences of the Antarctic. Prepare yourself for a sensory overload, as you’ll be inundated by the sheer beauty and dramatic landscapes of the white continent. Soon after, our team of Polar Experts on the ship will have you searching for penguins and whales in Antarctica.

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Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityPunta Arenas
End CityPunta Arenas

Travel Themes

  • Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • South America
  • Chile
  • Antarctica

Attractions

  • Patagonia
  • Punta Arenas
  • Shetland Islands

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • History
  • Sailing
  • Whale watching
  • Wildlife viewing

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 — Punta Arenas, Chile

Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, Chile, the most populated city in southern Patagonia.

Day 2 — Embarkation Day

Your charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica will have you crossing the legendary Drake Passage in only a few hours.

Days 3 to 5 — Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands

There are few places in the world as evocative as Antarctica. As your ship approaches the white continent, you may be overcome by feelings of excitement and awe.

Days 6 and 7 — The Antarctic Circle

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is an impressive achievement, as most expeditions to the Peninsula do not reach 66° 33' S.

Days 8 and 9 — Northbound Along the Peninsula

If you haven’t had your fill of Antarctic wildlife and icebergs by now, you’ll surely be satisfied by the time we return to King George Island.

Day 10 — Disembarkation and Fly to Punta Arenas

After your week of exploration, you’ll say goodbye to the Expedition Team and disembark at King George Island.

Day 11 — Depart Punta Arenas

After breakfast, you are welcome to continue on your own travels or make your way to the Punta Arenas airport for your homeward flights.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $16,195
Price per day$1,472
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Quark 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.

Quark Expeditions Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
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Great
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0
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1
Terrible
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Other Quark Expeditions Reviews

A

Anonymous

Mar 2024

Whales!!!

Zodiac trips are fantastic. The whale watching is amazing.

T

Tuck Wah

Mar 2024

Most memorable

Sunset, crossing the circle, zodiac cruises, watching all penguins, seals, wales especially while we were on the deck. Surprising orca visit, professional talks. Mak...

C

Carrie

Mar 2024

Stepping onto the 7th continent

During the zodiac cruise of Graham Passage we were very close to about 7 or 8 humpback whales and were able to see their feeding behavior close up. It was also wonde...

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Travelers also viewed

Tour Operator

Quark Expeditions

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Since 1991, Quark Expeditions has specialized in expedition cruising to the Arctic and Antarctica, in ships with ice-strengthened hulls or in icebreakers. Polar travelers will enjoy unparalleled technical expertise, leadership and passion for expedition trips to the Arctic and Antarctica.

Our first voyage - The Transpolar Bridge Cruise - began July 27, 1991, in Murmansk, Russia. The ship was the nuclear powered icebreaker Sovetskiy Soyuz, an older sister of 50 Years of Victory. She sailed across the top of the world via Franz Josef Land, the North Pole, the New Siberian Islands, the Wrangel Island area and the Chukotka Peninsula. That first group of adventurers disembarked in Provideniya. Our second adventure began in that same city on August 18, 1991.

Our Ships: Polar Adventure Ships and Icebreakers

We have the largest and most diverse fleet of adventure ships in the Antarctic and Arctic. Travelers choose from more departures and a greater variety of itineraries than is available anywhere else. Within the fleet is the only nuclear-powered icebreaker - 50 Years of Victory - sailing to the North Pole. Every ship is equipped with Zodiacs - inflatable landing craft - for shore transfers and ocean-level cruising.

Our Polar Adventure Ships are platforms for optional sea-kayaking, camping, mountaineering and cross-country skiing. Their small size enables them to sail channels and bays through which our icebreakers cannot sail. The ability to get close to landscapes and wildlife make these vessels extraordinary base camps for photographers.

None of our vessels carries more than 199 travelers from around the world - Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America and Africa. All share a preference for travel to remote wilderness areas accompanied by Expedition Team members eager to share their knowledge and love for the Arctic and Antarctica.

Our People: Technical Expertise, Leadership and Passion

Our Expedition Team members understand ice conditions and the impact of weather on ships and helicopters. Some are experts in polar history, marine biology and glaciology. All are experienced and understand the rigors of expedition travel. They drive Zodiacs for ocean-level cruising. They lead hikes to unnamed ridges. They tell stories about polar research station assignments and wildlife encounters. The Captains and their officers and crews are skilled at navigating through pack ice under extreme conditions. The Hospitality Teams prepare meals and pour beverages during gale force winds. There isn’t a more capable team of professionals.

Our talented people behind the scenes in IT, Finance, Operations, Administration and Management are equally passionate about the polar regions. Our team of Sales and Client Service people are who you meet before you travel.

From inception, the people who are Quark Expeditions have combined a spirit of adventure with a deep sense of environmental responsibility and a strong desire to educate others about the wonders of the Arctic and Antarctica. Making these remote regions accessible to travelers is our pleasure and passion.

What they’re known for
Adventurous polar expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic with optional outdoor sporting activities and excellent photography opportunities.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International Flights
    • Passport and Visa Charges
    • Personal Expenses

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
Sea Adventurer
Designed to carry travelers in comfort to the most remote corners of the world, Sea Adventurer was built in Yugoslavia in 1976, refurbished in 1999 and had further upgrades in 2002. You will be impressed by this ice-strengthened ship, which carries up to 117 passengers and features a spacious forward lounge and bar, window-lined dining room and promenades. The nimble, ice-strengthened Sea Adventurer is undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. Take a look at what to expect for 2017: A new look and feel throughout Renovations to the interior of the ship including outside cabins with ensuites, spacious forward lounge and bar, and other amenities The addition of new passenger cabins New bathrooms in every cabin, and upgrades to the Main Lounge and Main Dining Room, gym, and select suites Significant technical enhancements – including two new engines, generators, gear boxes, drive systems, and re-bladed propellers Increased fuel efficiency, and a minimized carbon footprint.
Staff and Crew: 83 Guests: 117 Lifeboats: 4 partially enclosed Length: 101.1 meters Breadth: 16.2 meters Draft: 4.5 meters Propulsion: Diesel Twin Engines - 5,200 horsepower. Ice Class: 1A Cruising Speed: 12 knots in open water Registration: Bahamas
Travel Insurance
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Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
quarke-antcroqua

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