Active adventures in Antarctica

An adventure cruise to the edge of the harsh but so beautiful Antarctic. 

Let's go on a trip to the most inaccessible corners of our planet in an atmosphere of absolute comfort.

We will get acquainted with the animal world — albatrosses, seals, humpback whales, penguin colonies — these are only a small part of those we will see.

We will be able to test ourselves in kayaking, climb to the top of one or more Antarctic mountains and take a walk on snowshoes, and if desired, even stay overnight in a tent on the coast of Antarctica.

Location

Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands, Ushuaia
from
$8,864
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
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Duration
13 Days
12 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • 23 November – 5 December
    • 25 December, 2024 – 6 January, 2025
    • 29 December, 2024 – 10 January, 2025
    • Dates for next season
    • 13 – 25 February, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Cabin on the boat
    12 nights
Comfort
  • Premium
Difficulty
Moderate
Involves moderate physical activity
Group
Up to 174 people
Minimum age
3 years old
Group meet at
Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands, Ushuaia
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Majestic icebergs
Enjoy the stunning scenery with icebergs shimmering in the sun, which whales often swim past
Extreme sensations
We will test ourselves in kayaking, take a walk on snowshoes and climb to the top of several Antarctic mountains
Extraordinary fauna
We will see humpback whales, penguin colonies, imposing seals, elephant seals and numerous birds
The southernmost post office
We will be able to send a postcard to friends or to our home from the branch of the British Postal Service and take a photo with the penguins of Ghent
Zodiac Landings
We will travel by zodiac to remote and unexplored bays to visit the habitats of various animals and scientific stations
The fascinating bay of Neko
One of the most beautiful places on the peninsula — here mountains, ice and wildlife form a truly unique landscape

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Ushuaia, Argentina

    In the afternoon, boarding your expedition vessel.

    Getting to know the crew and expedition personnel on board.

    Your guides will inform you about all the details of your trip to Antarctica on board the ship.

  • Day 2 - Drake Strait
  • Day 3 - Drake Strait
  • Day 4 - The Antarctic Peninsula
  • Day 5 - The Antarctic Peninsula
  • Day 6 - The Antarctic Peninsula
  • Day 7 - The Antarctic Peninsula
  • Day 8 - The Antarctic Peninsula
  • Day 9 - The Antarctic Peninsula
  • Day 10 - The Antarctic Peninsula
  • Day 11 - Drake Strait
  • Day 12 - Drake Strait
  • Day 13 - Ushuaia, Argentina
Difficulty
Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Cabin on the boat
    12 nights
Comfort
  • Premium

The tour includes accommodation on an ice-class research vessel:

  • on tour with dates 23.11.24–05.12.24, the Hondius ship;
  • on tours with dates 25.12.24–06.01.25 and 13.02.24–25.02.25 the ship "Plancius";
  • on tour with dates 29.12.24–10.01.25 the ship "Ortelius".

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the dates of the tour and the cabin category:

Cabin categoryThe cost of the cruise 
23.11.24–05.12.24
The cost of cruises 
25.12.24–06.01.25, 
29.12.24–10.01.25, 
13.02.24–25.02.25
four-seater€ 8 400€ 9 150
triple room€ 9 450€ 11 250
double room with porthole€ 10 350€ 11 250
double room with a window€ 10 900€ 11 700
Deluxe€ 11 500€ 12 400
superior€ 12 250€ 13 250
junior suite€ 13 050
Grand Suite€ 14 600
The vessel "Plancius" or The Hondius vessel or 12 nights
The vessel "Plancius"

The ice-class expedition vessel Plancius was built in 1976 for the Danish Navy. The ship has been completely refitted for comfortable accommodation of passengers on expedition cruises. In 2010, she went on cruises in Antarctica for the first time. Now Plancius is a comfortable ice—class passenger ship that fully meets all SOLAS requirements.

The crew is international, consists of 17 people. The service staff consists of 19 people, 8 members of the expedition team (the expedition leader, and 7 lecturers-guides) and a doctor. 

The vessel is perfectly equipped for expedition cruises: a full set of Zodiac inflatable boats, kayaks and even diving equipment.

On board there is a restaurant, a lounge bar with panoramic windows and a lecture hall.

Technical specifications:

  • The length is 89 m.
  • The width is 14.5 m.
  • The draft is 5 m.
  • The tonnage is 3,211 tons.
  • The speed is 10.5 knots.
  • The crew consists of 47 people.
  • Passengers — 116 people.
  • The ice class is 1D.
  • The year of construction is 1976.
  • The year of renovation is 2019 (partially).
  • The flag is the Netherlands.

Cabins

All cabins have: 

  • shower, toilet;
  • table and chair;
  • fan;
  • wardrobe;
  • flat-screen TV;
  • telephone and Wi-fi (for an additional fee).

Distinctive characteristics of the cabins:

  • Four-seater (with a capacity of up to 4 passengers in the cabin) — porthole, 2 upper and 2 lower berths.
  • Triple (capacity up to 3 passengers in the cabin) — porthole, 1 upper and 2 lower berths. 
  • Double room with porthole (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — porthole, 2 lower berths.
  • Double room with a window (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — window, 2 lower berths.
  • Deluxe (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 2 windows, 2 lower berths.
  • Superior (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 2 Windows, double bed, sofa, refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities.

The order of photos of cabins corresponds to the order of description of cabins.

10 more photos
Another option
The Hondius vessel

Hondius is the world's first registered Polar Class 6 vessel, meeting the latest highest Lloyd's Register standards for ice—enhanced cruise ships. Exceeding the requirements of the Polar Code approved by the International Maritime Organization, Hondius is the most versatile, modern and innovative tourist vessel for the polar regions. It is fully optimized for expedition cruises and is designed to ensure the closest possible contact with the nature of the Arctic and Antarctic.

Hondius has a rich infrastructure and numerous amenities that will make your cruise unforgettable, and is also the most environmentally friendly vessel in the polar seas. By choosing Hondius, you can be sure of the safety of the environment. The vessel uses LED lighting, steam heating, biodegradable paints and oils, as well as a modern energy saving system that minimizes fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. This means that on board Hondius you will get the maximum pleasure from observing exotic landscapes and nature, minimally affecting them.

The public areas are designed in an elegant style and have all the amenities. On board there is a cozy lounge area and a library, a separate lecture hall, a spacious restaurant with large windows.

The crew is international, consists of 72 people (including maintenance staff, members of the expedition team and a doctor). 

Technical specifications:

  • The length is 107.6 m.
  • The width is 17.6 m.
  • The draft is 5.30 m.
  • The tonnage is 5,590 tons.
  • The speed is 15 knots.
  • The crew consists of 72 people.
  • Passengers — 174 people.
  • Ice class — 6 (1A-Super).
  • The year of construction is 2019.
  • The flag is the Netherlands.

Cabins

All cabins have: 

  • shower, toilet;
  • table and chair;
  • fan;
  • wardrobe;
  • flat-screen TV;
  • telephone and Wi-fi (for an additional fee).

Distinctive characteristics of the cabins:

  • Four-seater (with a capacity of up to 4 passengers in the cabin) — 2 portholes, 2 upper and 2 lower berths, a small sofa.
  • Triple (capacity up to 3 passengers in the cabin) — 2 portholes, 1 upper and 2 lower berths.
  • Double room with porthole (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 2 portholes, 2 lower berths, a small sofa.
  • Double room with a window (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — window, 2 lower beds, a small sofa.
  • Deluxe (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 2 Windows, 2 lower beds, sofa, refrigerator, tea and coffee making set, bathrobe.
  • Superior (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 2 Windows, double bed, sofa, refrigerator, tea and coffee making set, bathrobe.
  • Junior suite (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — double window, double bed, sofa, refrigerator, tea and coffee making set, bathrobe.
  • Grand Suite (for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — double window, balcony, double bed, sofa, refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities, bathrobe.

The order of photos of cabins corresponds to the order of description of cabins.

17 more photos
Another option
The ship "Ortelius"

The Ortelius ice-class expedition vessel is perfect for cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic, including the Ross Sea and Franz Josef Land.

The vessel was built in Poland in 1989 and was named Marina Tsvetaeva, and was used by the Russian Academy of Sciences for special purposes. After changing the flag, it received a new name — "Ortelius" in honor of the Flemish cartographer. Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) compiled the world's first geographical atlas "Theater of the World" in 1570. The atlas became the most expensive book ever published at that time.

The ship was completely refitted in 2005 to comfortably accommodate 116 passengers. Now it is a full-fledged expedition vessel, providing all the amenities for comfortable accommodation and travel. In 2012-2017, the ship underwent a phased renovation of all decks.

The spacious bridge is always open to passengers (except in emergency navigation cases). The ship has 10 Zodiac rubber boats that will take you to the most inaccessible places.

The crew is international and consists of 22 people. The staff consists of 19 people, 8 members of the expedition team (expedition leader, 1 assistant and 6 lecturer guides) and one doctor.

There is a restaurant, a bar and a lecture hall on board.

Technical specifications:

  • The length is 90.95 m.
  • The width is 17.20 m.
  • The draft is 5.4 m.
  • The tonnage is 4090 tons.
  • The speed is 14 knots.
  • The crew consists of 52 people.
  • Passengers — 116 people.
  • The ice class is UL 1 (1A).
  • The year of construction is 1989.
  • The year of renovation is 2012-2017.
  • The flag is the Netherlands.

Cabins

All cabins have: 

  • shower, toilet;
  • table and chair;
  • fan;
  • wardrobe;
  • flat-screen TV;
  • telephone and Wi-fi (for an additional fee).

Distinctive characteristics of the cabins:

  • Four-seater (with a capacity of up to 4 passengers in the cabin) — 2 portholes, 2 upper and 2 lower berths.
  • Triple (capacity up to 3 passengers in the cabin) — 2 portholes, 1 upper and 2 lower berths.
  • Double room with porthole (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 2 portholes, 2 lower berths.
  • Double room with a window (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 2 small windows, 2 lower berths.
  • Deluxe (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 3 small windows, 2 lower berths, a small sofa, a refrigerator, a tea and coffee making set.
  • Superior (capacity for up to 2 passengers in the cabin) — 2 small windows, a double bed, a small sofa, a refrigerator, a tea and coffee making set.

The order of photos of cabins corresponds to the order of description of cabins.

15 more photos

Tour conditions

Group
up to 174 tourists
Minimum age
3 years old
Duration
13 days 12 nights
Group meets at
Argentina, Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands, Ushuaia

Included in price

  • accommodation on board in a cabin of the selected category;
  • full board on board, coffee and tea;
  • all landings and excursions on the Zodiac;
  • all additional options: Active adventures;
  • services of lecturers and expedition team;
  • rubber boots rental;
  • main port charges;
  • information materials before the cruise.

Paid extra

  • international flight to Ushuaia and back; 
  • any activities ashore before and after the cruise;
  • Visa support;
  • mandatory medical insurance covering emergency evacuation from hard-to-reach places;
  • Personal expenses: bar, communication, laundry;
  • tips.

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour

For our compatriots, the selection of clothes for polar expedition cruises will not be difficult: our winter sportswear fully meets the climatic conditions during most of our trips. Thermal underwear, wind and waterproof clothing, rubber boots will become a reliable basis for your comfort in the polar regions.

Layering in clothing is the most important thing in Arctic expeditions. It is better to wear several light items of clothing than one very warm one. This will help you optimally adapt to temperature changes: it is always easier to remove a layer of clothing if you feel hot, or put on something else if it gets cool.

1) Base layer

Choose thermal underwear made of merino wool or polypropylene, depending on the temperature of the region and the planned level of activity.

2) The middle layer

Wool or fleece sweaters, longsleeves, turtlenecks to create layers of clothing. The middle layers can be worn both under the park on landings and on board the ship.

3) The top layer

Windproof and waterproof parka and trousers. The park can be single-layer (insulated with protection from wind and water) or double-layer (consisting of a warm layer and an upper wind and water protection layer).

4) Shoes and accessories

Rubber boots (regular or insulated) are the most suitable option for expeditions. Take with you several pairs of gloves/mittens (1 light, 1 warm waterproof, 1 spare), a hat, a scarf /buff, several pairs of warm (for example, woolen) and ordinary socks.

Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
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General conditions of participation in expedition cruises
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Dates and Prices

  • from
    $8,864
    23 Nov – 5 Dec 13 days 12 nights
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  • from
    $9,656
    25 Dec, 2024 – 6 Jan, 2025 13 days 12 nights
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  • from
    $9,656
    29 Dec, 2024 – 10 Jan, 2025 13 days 12 nights
    No seats left
  • from
    $9,656
    13 – 25 Feb, 2025 13 days 12 nights
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