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Worldwide Small Group and Tailor Made Adventure Travel

What’s included

  • All internal flights and hotel/airport transfers in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
  • 2 nights good standard 4* hotel accommodation, in Buenos Aires (1 each at the start and end)
  • 2 nights 3* accommodation in Ushuaia
  • Prices based on Category 2 cabins
  • A free high...

Antarctica Classic

Polar Cruising

Antarctica, Argentina, Argentine Patagonia | Polar Cruising

Antarctica Classic Great value
  • Duration: 16 days from the UK

Flight inclusive from £9495, Land only from £8500

Antarctica is a destination of spectacular icy white scenery, where astounding encounters with wildlife await

Highlights

  • Time in Buenos Aires and in Ushuaia included
  • The Beagle Channel, Drake Passage, South Shetland Islands & the Antarctic Peninsula
  • Amazing wildlife and breathtaking scenery
  • Zodiac excursions, taking you closer to beautiful landscapes and wildlife
  • Expert guides, great food and en suite cabins on board the M/S Expedition cruise ship

Reviews          

Nothing quite prepares you for a trip to the great white continent. It was the most breathtaking, jaw dropping, tears in the eyes, and lump in the throat experience of my life to have had the privilege to visit Antarctica.

Mr S, Wiltshire

Next

There's nowhere to compare with Antarctica. Whether it's staring at the jaw-dropping magnificence of the scenery or being delighted by the antics of the penguins, you won't find a similar experience anywhere else. For me, as for many others, it was the chance to finally encounter the seventh continent. I walked on and sailed past ruggedly and eerily beautiful mountains, volcanic islands, glaciers...

Mr F, London

Next

This was the most perfect trip we have ever undertaken. The guides and staff on the M/S Expedition were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble and the service was excellent. The scenery and wildlife sightings were beyond expectations and the knowledgable guides gave us lots of information on everything we saw.

Mr T, Devon

Next

There's nowhere to compare with Antarctica. Whether it's staring at the jaw-dropping magnificence of the scenery or being delighted by the antics of the penguins, you won't find a similar experience anywhere else. For me, as for many others, it was the chance to finally encounter the seventh continent. I walked on and sailed past ruggedly and eerily beautiful mountains, volcanic islands, glaciers...

Mr A Ford

Next

This was the most perfect trip we have ever undertaken. The guides and staff on the MV Expedition were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble and the service was excellent. The scenery and wildlife sightings were beyond expectations and the knowledgable guides gave us lots of information on everything we saw.

David Tyrrell

Next

Antarctica is beyond words, a calming, incomparable continent which claimed my silence.

K Robins

Next

Nothing quite prepares you for a trip to the great white continent. It was the most breathtaking, jaw dropping, tears in the eyes, and lump in the throat experience of my life to have had the privilege to visit Antarctica.

Mr S

Next

View All

Your adventure begins in Buenos Aires, where you have a night in the vibrant capital city of Argentina, before you fly down to Ushuaia the southernmost city in the world and starting point for the rarest of adventures. We include two nights in Ushuaia to give you ample time to recover from your long journey south and to explore this small city, with its beautiful mountain backdrop, in the southerly reaches of Tierra del Fuego. There is plenty to see and do before you board the superbly equipped M/S Expedition cruise ship – your home for the next nine nights.

Next stop Antarctica but first you must cross the Drake Passage. The 800km (497mile) crossing of the passage was named in honour of the 16th Century English Sea Captain and Privateer Sir Francis Drake. Sailing out through the Beagle Channel while settling down to your first dinner aboard the ship is a sublime introduction for what is to come. When you awake the next morning you will be miles away from landfall in Antarctic waters. Keep an eye out for whales and albatross following in the M/S Expedition’s wake from the ship’s large observation decks, and you will soon be in competition with your fellow passengers to be the one to spot the first iceberg of the trip. Never mind if you are not the first, it won’t be the last, soon you will be lost for superlatives to describe the more spectacular icebergs carved by wind and sea into incredible shapes.

As you cruise the Antarctic waters you will experience some of the most unique wildlife viewing and inspiring scenery in the world. You may be lucky enough to see Minke and Humpback whales breaching in the sun of a late evening dusk, with a backdrop of stunning landscapes. And, once you reach the Antarctic Peninsula you will be stepping on to land with two planned shore landings per day (weather permitting). Here you will tread carefully as you walk through enormous rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adélie penguins whilst Weddell seals bask in the sun and Leopard seals prowl on the ice flows.

Travelling aboard the M/S Expedition provides an intimate small-ship cruising experience with spacious cabins, great food and passionate expert guides.

Our 'Land Only' and 'Flight Inclusive from' prices are based on category 2 cabins, twin-share with porthole windows. Our price includes two internal flights (Buenos Aires - Ushuaia return), all airport-hotel-airport transfers, two nights accommodation in Buenos Aires and two nights in Ushuaia, all in 4-star hotels.


At a glance

Duration: 16 days from the UK

Guaranteed to run for a minimum of 1 clients

Accommodation types: Hotels, Expedition ship

Meal arrangements: Full board is provided during your cruise. Bed and breakfast in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.

Itinerary overview
Day Activity
1 Fly London to Buenos Aires overnight.
2 Arrive and overnight in Buenos Aires
3 Fly Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, overnight in Ushuaia
4 Free day Ushuaia
5 Embark M/S Expedition at 1600, sail the Beagle Channel.
6-7 At sea, Drake Passage
8-11 Antarctic Peninsula & South Shetland Islands.
12-13 At sea, Drake Passage
14 Disembark M/S Expedition. Fly back to Buenos Aires for last night.
15 Transfer to airport to fly Buenos Aires to London
16 Arrive UK
Leader: Specialist Leaders, Polar cruises

On board are expert, English-speaking guides who have an intimate knowledge of the area and an infectious passion for nature. They are very hard-working, attentive and helpful. On your Expedition cruise, shore excursions, and on board, lectures will be provided by knowledgeable, expert members of the crew.


The M/S Expedition has one of the highest ratios of expedition team members to guests – with one expert for every 10 guests there is always someone on hand to answer your questions and provide greater insight and appreciation of the world at its extremes. The expedition team is comprised of professional and highly skilled historians, marine biologists, and naturalists who offer keen insight and a unique personal perspective to each and every adventure. Their goal is to provide an informed and balanced interpretation of the destination, accomplished through stimulating lectures, day-to-day briefings, and informal discussions. Your lecturers and Expedition Leader will cover all aspects of the voyage including ornithology, marine biology, geography, geology, history and the environment, as well as practical things like photography. The expedition staff work conscientiously with you on deck and in the field, improving your observational skills to allow you to experience all that the destination has to offer. Their strong sense of ethics and ecological knowledge make for stimulating and mindful conversation whether onshore or at the dinner table. The Expedition Staff will pilot the Zodiac landing craft used for shore landings and Zodiac cruises; they are experienced drivers who operate the Zodiacs in a responsible manner.

Specialist Leaders, Polar cruises

Holiday Itinerary

Download a detailed itinerary
Day 1 - Fly London to Buenos Aires

Fly overnight London to Buenos Aires.

Overnight icon Overnight: In flight

Day 2 - Arrive Buenos Aires. Group transfer to hotel. Time at leisure.

On arrival in Buenos Aires you will be met and transferred to your hotel. You are free to enjoy the sights and sounds of Buenos Aires.

Overnight icon Overnight: Hotel Intersur Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Day 3 - Fly to Ushuaia.

Transfer to the domestic airport for your flight to Ushuaia. On arrival in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Ushuaia has plenty of bars, coffee shops and restaurants catering for all tastes and plenty of shops to get those last minute bits of extra kit you forgot to pack.

Overnight icon Overnight: Hotel Albatros Or Similar, Ushuaia

Day 4 - At leisure in Ushuaia.

Sitting on the shores of the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia actually means 'the bay facing westward' in the language of the original Yamna inhabitants. It was once a penal colony (the presidio was disbanded in the 1940s) for political prisoners as well as hardened criminals. Ushuaia is now a major tourist attraction, particularly catering for people about to embark on a cruise to Antarctica. The town of 40,000 is also a major ski resort area for both alpine and cross-country skiers and offers magnificent hiking in Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, the only coastal national park in Argentina.

Overnight icon Overnight: Hotel Albatros Or Similar, Ushuaia

Day 5 - Free morning. Embark on the Polar cruise ship, M/S Expedition. Sail the Beagle Channel.

After a night in a hotel and a good breakfast your sense of anticipation grows as your ship, the MS Expedition is positioned in the port being readied for your embarkation in the afternoon.

Embarkation time is set for 16:00hrs. The morning is free to do any last minute shopping, an optional excursion to Tierra Del Fuego National Park or a good hike up to the Marshall Glacier (arranged locally). The evening is spent on board the ship watching the sunset over the Beagle Channel which is around 150 miles long and forms part of the border between Argentina and Chile. The Beagle Channel was named after the HMS Beagle from its 1820s voyage around the southern coasts of South America. On board was Captain Robert Fitzroy whose name was later given to the famous Fitzroy and Paine mountains in Chile. On a later voyage to the region he brought along a young naturalist called Charles Darwin!

Please note that while it is our intention to adhere to the itinerary described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. On the first day onboard, your Expedition Leader will give you an expedition overview.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 6 - Crossing the Drake Passage.

Your adventure begins with a 497 mile crossing of the passage that bears the name of the 16th Century English explorer Sir Francis Drake. The M/S Expedition is at home in this part of the Southern Ocean, known for the unimpeded never-ending fetch of the winds that encircle the Antarctic.

As you make the passage you have time to become acquainted with the ship and frequent the common areas which include the lounge, dining hall, library and lecture hall where you meet your guides, ship's crew and expedition staff. The lecture and information sessions begin as you start to learn the extraordinary human and natural history of the Antarctic region.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 7 - Crossing the Drake Passage.

At some point today you cross the Antarctic Convergence, a meeting of cold polar water flowing north and warmer sub-Antarctic water moving in the opposite direction. It is the largest biological barrier on earth and is marked by a change in temperature, salinity and nutrient levels. The north flowing Antarctic waters predominantly sink beneath southward moving sub-Antarctic waters, while further south associated areas of mixing and upwelling create an ocean very high in marine productivity. When you pass this zone, you have entered the most nutrient rich waters on the earth - the Southern Ocean.

Wandering, Black-browed and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Prion's and Cap Petrels are among some of the species of seabirds that may join you in your journey as you cross into Antarctica.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 8 - Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands.

This is what you have all been waiting for - a chance to explore and step foot on the Great White Continent! Over the next 4 days you will navigate southwards making stops in the South Shetland Islands then through the Bransfield Strait and to the Antarctic Peninsula. The goal is to attempt 2 excursions per day while you navigate through the area, but your itinerary and daily schedule will be based on the local weather and ice conditions that you encounter.

The continent itself is roughly circular with a spindly arm, called the Antarctic Peninsula, reaching northwards towards Tierra del Fuego. South America is the nearest landmass, some 600 miles away. Considerably larger than either the United States or Europe, and twice the size of Australia, the continent is surrounded by a frozen sea that varies in area from one million square miles in summer to 7.3 million square miles in winter. Ninety-five percent of the continent of Antarctica is ice covered and contains the freshest water on earth - about 70 percent of all fresh water on earth in fact. The highest point in Antarctica is Vinson Massif, with an altitude of 4,897m/16,067ft above sea level; the lowest point is the Bentley Subglacial Trench at 2,500m/8,200ft below sea level, located in West Antarctica. Antarctica has the highest average elevation of all the continents at 2,300m/7,500ft above sea level.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 9 - Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands.

The Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands abound with wildlife activity. If you are travelling early in the season your landing today will have you walking amongst penguins as they gather with their fast-growing chicks, and later in the season whales are seen in great numbers, seals haul out onto ice floes and beaches, and always numerous seabirds trail in the ship's wake. There is plenty of time to enjoy the sheer beauty and the breathtaking scenery of ice-choked waterways, blue and white icebergs, impressive glaciers and rugged snow-capped mountains. The peninsula also has a remarkable history and, during the voyage, you will learn about some of the most important and dramatic expeditions to this remote corner of the world. Keeping a lookout from the bridge or the deck of the ship, as you thread our way along the continent, you will feel the same sense of excitement as many of those early explorers.

Penguins 'Penguin' is the common name for all flightless, aquatic birds and they are only found south of the equator. Penguins have been grouped into 18 species and 6 genera, with most making their homes in Antarctica and the sub Antarctic islands, though others are native to the coasts of Australia, South Africa, South America, and the Galapagos Islands. Penguins are speedy and agile swimmers, but extremely slow on land. The regions you visit aboard MS Expedition are inhabited by 6 different species including the Giant King Penguin which can grow up to 1m in height (found only on South Georgia Island), the Adelie Penguin named after French explorer Dumont d'Urville's wife, the Chinstrap Penguin identified by the distinctive black line connecting the black cap to below the chin, the Gentoo Penguin with its orange bill and white flash above and behind its eyes and the Macaroni Penguin which is the most numerous and the most difficult to see (only on South Georgia Island). They number roughly 12 million and are easily identified by the orange tassels meeting between the eyes. There is also the Rockhopper Penguin (seen only in the Falkland Islands) and similar to the Macaroni in appearance, but slightly smaller and with yellow tassels.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 10 - Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands.

Another day of exploring and more landings as the Zodiacs deliver you to shore. You might enjoy a walk up a small peak to get a magnificent vista back across the bay and towards the shore. Your guides will accompany you and assist in picking out the best route and one that does not interfere with the wildlife. The schedule can vary greatly in Antarctica and while no two days are alike we cannot guarantee which days certain excursions will occur.

Whales Thanks to the abundance of the small, shrimp like krill as the basis of the food chain, many species of whale make the water south of the Antarctic Convergence their summer home. Some of the species found in the frigid southern waters include: the Humpback Whale, which consumes over a ton of krill each day, the Southern Right Whales easily identified by the whitish callosities on the jaws and forehead, the Sperm Whales made famous in Moby Dick, the Killer Whale which is actually not a whale at all, but the largest of the dolphin family, the Sei Whale which can achieve speeds up to 55km/h over short distances, the playful Minke Whales very common in the peninsula area, and the Fin Whale which can attain a length of 25 to 27m, making them the second largest whales.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 11 - Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands.

Today there will more landings in the Zodiacs. It is possible that today you will enter a massive caldera (as always the schedule varies from trip to trip). It is incredible when you get to shore inside the caldera, pulling up on beaches that appear to bubble slightly due to the heat from beneath. This of course is in contrast to the air temperature and an imposing glacier that stops short of the sea. You might even spot some krill on the beach that has been gently and slowly cooked to a pinkish colour. As well as taking in the spellbinding scenery this could be your chance to brave the waters and take an Antarctic plunge. On almost every Expedition there are a few game souls, so if you do elect to take a dip you won't be alone. This is a spa with a difference!

Antarctica is a continent of superlatives. It is the coldest, windiest, driest, iciest and highest of all the major landmasses in the world. It is the continent with the longest nights and the longest days. The coastal areas you will visit have some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on the continent. It is also one of the last true wildernesses and largest wilderness area left on earth - largely unchanged since the first sealers, whalers, and early explorers landed on its inhospitable shores less than two centuries ago.

The lowest temperature ever recorded anywhere on earth, -89.2°C, was recorded on July 21, 1983, at Vostok Station. Winds have been recorded at 200 mph in the interior of the continent and the average annual water precipitation in the interior is only about 50mm.

Historical figures Some of the bravest and best known explorers have sailed south in search of adventure and recognition. James Cook, the most travelled explorer of his time, was the first to circumnavigate Antarctica and the first to cross the Antarctic Circle. There was Roald Amundsen, who led the first expedition to reach the South Pole and reached the pole on 14th December 1911, followed by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, famous for being 35 days late, who arrived at the South Pole on 17th January 1912 only to find the dark green tent and a note left by Amundsen. All 5 men in the Scott expedition perished on their way back from the pole. The best-known adventurer would have to be Sir Ernest Shackleton. On his attempt at the South Pole his ship, Endurance, was captured by pack ice in the Weddell Sea on 19th January 1915. The ship was destroyed by heavy ice, forcing him and his men to travel over the ice and sea to Elephant Island. However, because the island was uninhabited, Shackleton and 5 others made the 1300 km voyage for help to South Georgia, amazingly arriving at Stromness Harbour whaling station on 20th May 1916.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 12 - Crossing the Drake Passage.

Today you leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. In between bird watching and whale watching and enjoying some final lectures by our expedition staff, remember, the best way to experience the wildlife of the Drake Passage is to be on deck keeping a look out for albatross, prions, and whales.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 13 - Crossing the Drake Passage.

This is a chance to relax and review the adventures of the past week before returning to Ushuaia. This is your last night onboard the M/S Expedition and a chance to celebrate having had the experience of a lifetime with your fellow travellers.

Overnight icon Overnight: M/S Expedition

Day 14 - Disembark the M/S Expedition. Fly Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.

Today you will disembark the MS Expedition between 08:00-09:00hrs. Depending on the time of your flight back to Buenos Aires you will either be transferred directly to the airport at Ushuaia, or have free time with additional transfers provided at 12:30hrs or 16:30hrs. Fly to Buenos Aires for your last night. You might choose to take in a Tango show or enjoy a meal in one of the many fine restaurants available. For steak lovers, Argentinean steak is arguably the best you will ever taste.

Overnight icon Overnight: Hotel Intersur Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Day 15 - Group transfer to the airport for flight to London.

Some free time to enjoy the city before your transfer to the airport for your overnight flight from Buenos Aires to London.

Overnight icon Overnight: In flight

Day 16 - Arrive London.

Map

Map Key

  • Airport Airport
  • Point of interest Point of interest
  • Mountain Peak Mountain Peak
  • Day walk in this area Day walk in this area
  • Flights Flights
  • Internal Transfers Internal Transfers
  • Trek Trek

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No Surcharge Guarantee

No surcharges will be applied to your holiday after you book. Prices on this website are updated regularly. The Flight Inclusive holiday price, or Land Only holiday price, will be confirmed to you at the time you make your booking. There will be no surcharges after your booking has been confirmed.

Flight inclusive holidays

The 'flight inclusive' holiday prices shown on this website are based upon our preferred airlines and the best priced economy class fares we are able to secure at the time of publication.

We will be able to advise on fares with alternative airlines, upgrades to Business Class, and the options for flights from regional UK airports, please contact us for more details.

Booking your holiday
  • Deposit
    From £1,600.00

For the majority of our holidays, a deposit payment of £400.00 per person is required to secure your place(s), however a small number of holidays require a higher deposit - please refer to the holiday itinerary for more details. If the holiday departs within 60 days, a deposit of £1,000.00 per person is required.

Book now!
  1. Book your small group holiday securely online – click the ‘Book’ button next to your chosen departure or visit our How to Book page
  2. Complete and return a Booking Form available to download here.
  3. Call us on +44 (0)1453 844400 and one of our travel specialists will talk you through the booking process.

What’s included

  • All internal flights and hotel/airport transfers in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
  • 2 nights good standard 4* hotel accommodation, in Buenos Aires (1 each at the start and end)
  • 2 nights 3* accommodation in Ushuaia
  • Prices based on Category 2 cabins
  • A free high performance expedition parka
  • 9 nights aboard the M/S Expedition in twin-share cabins (all with en suite bathrooms and porthole window).
  • Zodiac excursions with our expert expedition team. Lectures and educational programs
  • Use of onboard gym, sauna and library
  • Economy class return air fares from the UK & UK Departure Tax (flight inclusive only)
  • Single, timed group airport transfers for international flights on arrival and departure
  • Waterproof boots supplied
  • All meals included on board the M/S Expedition. Breakfast included at the hotels.
  • One Expedition team member per 10 guests.(the highest ratio amongst Polar ships 1:10)
  • Carbon offsetting with the Ecoan Tree Planting Project for clients taking our flight-inclusive option
  • A free Mountain Kingdoms Water-to-Go bottle

What’s not included

  • Travel insurance
  • Visa fees
  • Lunch and dinner in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
  • Airport departure taxes, excepting UK Departure Tax
  • Optional kayaking and camping excursions from the M/S Expedition (must book in advance - contact the office for details)
  • Tips


Read holiday reviews by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.

Overall score:           (Based on 4 reviews)

Majestic and Miraculous Antarctica          

There's nowhere to compare with Antarctica. Whether it's staring at the jaw-dropping magnificence of the scenery or being delighted by the antics of the penguins, you won't find a similar experience anywhere else. For me, as for many others, it was the chance to finally encounter the seventh continent. I walked on and sailed past ruggedly and eerily beautiful mountains, volcanic islands, glaciers and icebergs and saw with my own eyes a constantly changing array of birds, whales and seals. There was something new every day. The experience was supported by lectures on the ship, given by the same environmental and wildlife experts who accompanied us on every excursion. The food and quality of service on the ship were faultless. This isn't a cheap holiday but, if you can afford it, one you'll never forget.

Fullfilling a lifelong dream          

This was the most perfect trip we have ever undertaken. The guides and staff on the MV Expedition were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble and the service was excellent. The scenery and wildlife sightings were beyond expectations and the knowledgable guides gave us lots of information on everything we saw.

A scenery beyond words          

Antarctica is beyond words, a calming, incomparable continent which claimed my silence.

Incredible          

Nothing quite prepares you for a trip to the great white continent. It was the most breathtaking, jaw dropping, tears in the eyes, and lump in the throat experience of my life to have had the privilege to visit Antarctica.


Extend your holiday

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Iguazu Falls
  • See the spectacular Iguazu Falls on both the Argentine and Brazilian sides
  • Stay in a 4* hotel in Puerto Iguazu
  • Tour with an expert local guide
  • Choose a 2 or 3 night extension option including flights, transfers, accommodation and guide
More Details

Visit one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights on a 2 or 3 night extension to Iguazú Falls. Fly from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú and visit both the Argentine and Brazilian sides of the Iguazú National Park in the company of an expert guide. Walk along the park's many trails that wind through rainforest, and feel the raw power of the falls from numerous viewing points. The extension includes accommodation in a good quality hotel in Puerto Iguazú, domestic flights and all airport transfers.

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