Itinerary
- Day 1
Punta Arenas
You'll arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile's largest city in the Patagonia region. If your flight gets in early, there's time to walk around the museums, check out local restaurants, and browse shops before the afternoon activities. By 3pm at the latest, you need to be at your hotel to meet your Quark Expeditions representative for a welcome briefing and dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner
- Embarkation briefing
Optional Activities
- Museum visits in Punta Arenas
- Restaurant dining in Punta Arenas
- Shopping in Punta Arenas
Landmarks Punta Arenas - Day 2
Punta Arenas to King George Island
A charter flight departs from Punta Arenas and crosses the Drake Passage in a few hours. From your seat, you'll see Antarctica's dramatic landscape come into view as the plane descends toward King George Island in the South Shetlands. Once you land, you'll meet your fellow passengers and board the ship to head south.
Included Activities
- Charter flight to Antarctica
- Arrival at King George Island
Landmarks Drake Passage King George Island South Shetland Islands - Days 3 - 5
Antarctic Peninsula Exploration
The ship moves toward the Antarctic Peninsula as you get your first real look at the white continent. Grab binoculars and head to the deck to watch for whales and seabirds while expert lecturers talk through the region's geology, history, and wildlife. Daily Zodiac landings put you on beaches where penguins and seals hang out. Each day brings different activities, so you might do a Zodiac cruise around Pleneau Island hunting for whales and icebergs, or trek to a penguin rookery. You'll see calving glaciers at Petermann Island and learn to tell apart Adelie, Gentoo, and Chinstrap penguins.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal), Lunch (Three course set meal or buffet, or occasional BBQ), Dinner (Three or four courses with starter of soup and/or salad, choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and dessert, with tea and coffee)
Included Activities
- Daily Zodiac landings
- Zodiac cruise searching for whales and icebergs
- Hike to penguin rookery
- Expert lecturers on geology, history and wildlife
- Observation and photography of Antarctic wildlife
Optional Activities
- Camping on the ice in Antarctica
Landmarks Antarctic Peninsula Pleneau Island Petermann Island - Days 6 - 7
Antarctic Circle Crossing
The ship reaches the Antarctic Circle at 66 degrees 33 minutes South, a milestone most Antarctic Peninsula trips don't actually hit. Your team breaks out champagne to mark the moment and toasts to the early polar explorers. This is raw Antarctica with the midnight sun, Weddell seals, and ice formations you won't see anywhere else.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal), Lunch (Three course set meal or buffet, or occasional BBQ), Dinner (Three or four courses with starter of soup and/or salad, choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and dessert, with tea and coffee)
Included Activities
- Antarctic Circle crossing
- Celebration with champagne
Landmarks Antarctic Circle - Days 8 - 9
Drake Passage
The ship turns north and heads back up the western Antarctic Peninsula toward the Drake Passage. Zodiac excursions continue twice a day, with the Expedition Team keeping watch for any penguin species, seals, and whales you might have missed on the way down. You'll have more chances to see the region's wildlife and get photos of the incredible iceberg scenery.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet style – unlimited tea and coffee, selection of fruit juices, hot options including bacon and eggs or omelettes, selection of bread and toast and jam/honey/marmalade, fruit and cereal), Lunch (Three course set meal or buffet, or occasional BBQ), Dinner (Three or four courses with starter of soup and/or salad, choice of mains with at least one vegetarian option and dessert, with tea and coffee)
Included Activities
- Twice-daily Zodiac excursions
- Wildlife observation and photography
Landmarks Drake Passage Western Antarctic Peninsula - Day 10
King George Island to Punta Arenas
After saying goodbye to the Expedition Team, you disembark at King George Island and board a three-hour flight across the Drake Passage back to Punta Arenas. From there, a transfer takes you to your hotel, where a final dinner in the city gives you time to reflect on your Antarctic adventure.
- Meals
- Dinner (Final dinner in Punta Arenas)
Included Activities
- Disembarkation at King George Island
- Charter flight to Punta Arenas
- Airport transfer to hotel
- Final dinner
Landmarks King George Island Drake Passage - Day 11
Punta Arenas Departure
Have breakfast at the hotel, then a transfer takes you to Punta Arenas airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to airport
Landmarks Punta Arenas
