Arrival in Santiago in Chile or Ushuaia in Argentina for a pre-cruise stay.

For Silversea Cruises

Group transfer from hotel to airport.  Fly from Santiago in Chile to Puerto Williams. Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to the pier for embarkation.

For Quark Expedition cruises

Transfer from Ushuaia hotel to pier for embarkation.

Day at sea is the perfect time to relax, unwind, make the most of the many services and activities on board. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species.

Cruise the Falkland Islands, admire the distinctive rugged cliffs above the waves. Enter heard of colony of crowds rockhopper penguins, one of the largest gentoo penguin colonies, as well as huge colonies of black-browed albatross and army of birdlife, wrinkled seals, and imperial shags.  You are also likely to encounter Magellanic penguins.  Also learn of the region’s long history and unique culture.

Days at sea is the perfect time to relax, unwind, make the most of the many services and activities on board. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species.

Charcoal-black mountains ladled with snow, giant glaciers and thriving wildlife combine to make South Georgia one of the great natural islands.

It is one of the most fertile breeding grounds in the world for sub-Antarctic wildlife: King and Gentoo penguins, elephant seals, fur seals… It won’t take you long to realize that you are in a bird paradise, as burrowing seabirds, albatross and petrels can be seen in abundance.

You might get the chance to discover the majestic glaciers and witness a wonderful spectacle: crowds of colourful king penguins stretching out as far as the eye can see. They are joined by smaller penguin species like Macaroni penguins.

You’ll find that South Georgia, once a popular remote base for whalers and sealers, is also scattered with abandoned relics and evidence of human activity from centuries gone by. You can still visit the former whaling stations.

Written into explorer history due to its links with Ernest Shackleton’s tale of Antarctic exploration,  a museum commemorates the legendary mission, and you can see the memorial to Shackleton that stands over his final resting place on this fabled island.

[For Ocean Adventure & World Explorer & Ultramarine, the itinerary includes one additional day in South Georgia]

Say goodbye to the king penguins, as your next destination is Antarctica! Your days at sea are filled with presentations and workshops led by your Expedition Team, who will prepare you for the wildlife and landscapes that will surround you upon your arrival.

[For L’Austral, it cruises one day at sea, then spend one day at South Orkney Islands which is more than 85% glaciated, with sizeable leopard seal population, chinstrap penguins and snow petrels. Then L’Austral continue another day at sea to Antarctica Peninsula]

Journey down to one of the planet’s most remote, extreme and enchanting wilderness, Antarctica. You will ultimately land on the frozen shores of the nearly inaccessible White Continent.

Cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula, the untamed landscape of snow-blanketed fjords, cathedral-sized icebergs and calving glaciers.

Lying close to the north-western tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, separated by the Bransfield Strait, the South Shetland Islands, is home to plump elephant seals, crowds of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie Penguins with research bases of several countries.

Depending on weather condition, every day is different and bring new discoveries into your adventure. Partake in zodiac excursions across remote bays in the company of curious penguins, whales, orcas, seals or seabirds one day, then hike through the vast wilderness of spongy tundra, crusty snow or sandy beach on another day.

[For Ocean Adventure & World Explorer & Ultramarine, the itinerary includes one additional day in South Georgia]

[For Ultramarine, the itinerary includes two additional days cross the famed latitudes of 66°33’S into Antarctic Circle, home of the midnight sun, Weddell seals and the best chances of encountering sea ice.  Spend one additional day cruise northbound.]

[For Silver Endeavour, cruise to King George Island, from where to take the private charter flight to Punta Arenas Chile, and continue fly to Santiago for the night]

After more than a dozen days of unique wildlife encounters and remarkable landscapes, your journey home begins.

We will cross the legendary Drake Passage, where cold currents rising up from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial water masses, notorious for its turbulent seas which push nutrient to the surface and often attracting seabirds and whales. Spend time on deck watching for wildlife, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team, or simply relax and reminisce about your experiences.

You will arrive in Puerto Williams in Chile and be transferred to airport to fly to Santiago for an overnight.  

For Quark Expedition cruises

Arrive in Ushuaia in Argentina, be transferred from pier to airport for your onward flight.