The Ultimate Active Expedition on the Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica abounds with stellar scenery, translucent icebergs, massive glaciers, and marvelous wildlife. Here is your chance to explore it all with kayaking, snowshoeing, camping, photography, citizen science, and hiking included at no extra charge. Cruise from Ushuaia, crossing the renowned Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands and continuing to the Antarctic Peninsula. Spend four full days adventuring by sea and land around the continent, watching humpback whales, seabirds, gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and elephant and fur seals. Your expert Expedition Team will guide you each day and make evening presentations. Use the skills you learn in the photography workshop to capture images of the most life-changing moments of the cruise. Experience the best all-access Antarctica cruise!
Antarctica abounds with stellar scenery, translucent icebergs, massive glaciers, and marvelous wildlife. Here is your chance to explore it all with kayaking, snowshoeing, camping, photography, citizen science, and hiking included at no extra charge. Cruise from Ushuaia, crossing the renowned Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands and continuing to the Antarctic Peninsula. Spend four full days adventuring by sea and land around the continent, watching humpback whales, seabirds, gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and elephant and fur seals. Your expert Expedition Team will guide you each day and make evening presentations. Use the skills you learn in the photography workshop to capture images of the most life-changing moments of the cruise. Experience the best all-access Antarctica cruise!
Arrive at the southernmost city in the world with a day to explore (or a cushion of time in case of flight delays). Check in to the luxurious Arakur Resort & Spa where you can take a dip in one of the heated pools, unwind with a spa treatment, or stretch your legs on paths right from the hotel's doorstep. Get over jet lag with a good night's sleep and look forward to your first adventures tomorrow.
Accommodation: Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa
Board Your Ship & Depart for Antarctica
Day 2
Enjoy one more leisurely morning exploring Ushuaia or relaxing at the hotel before being transferred to your awaiting ship. You will be welcomed onboard by your Expedition Team and ship staff, who will help you get settled into your cabin. Check out the views, have a cocktail in the bar or find your way to the onboard sauna. Gather this afternoon for a safety and orientation briefing followed by the captain's welcome dinner as you begin your journey to Antarctica!
Accommodation: Seaventure
Transportation: 30-minute van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin Crossing Drake's Passage
Day 3
Enter the iconic waterway that is the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. Cross 600 miles over two days, moving closer towards the white continent. As you cruise, learn from the Expedition Team's experts about the continent's incredible wildlife and adventure-filled history. Participate in citizen science projects, collecting data to help uncover more of Antarctica's mysteries, or station yourself in the observation lounge, scanning the horizon for icebergs and whale species.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue an Epic Crossing
Day 4
Named after 16th century English explorer Sir Francis Drake, proceed further south across the famed waterway, feeling temperatures plummet after passing the Antarctic Convergence. Watch for seabirds that escort the ship as it nears land and keep your binoculars handy for glimpses of other wildlife along the passage.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
South Shetland Islands
Day 5
Make landfall at the Antarctic archipelago of the South Shetlands. Formed by volcanic activity, their geology is as interesting as their wildlife. Take in the majestic mountains, gleaming glaciers, and wonderful wildlife such as chinstrap and gentoo penguins. There are also opportunities to spot elephant and fur seals along the shoreline, and whales further offshore. Board Zodiacs to get up close to these bountiful islands, or, if you wish to get a different perspective, glide through Antarctic waters by kayak. However you explore, the South Shetland Islands are an enchanting introduction to Antarctica.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head South Towards the Antarctic Peninsula
Day 6
For the next four days, slow the pace and immerse yourself in the surreal surroundings of Antarctica. Here is your chance to get up close and really experience the white continent, its geology, history, and wildlife. Your exact itinerary is dictated by the weather, with the captain choosing the route that will give you the best opportunities for breathtaking scenery, wildlife encounters, and thrilling activities. Perhaps you will cruise through the Lemaire Channel, also known as Kodak Gap, where steep mountains plunge into an iceberg-filled sea making for an exciting navigation.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Adventure through Antarctica
Day 7
Wake in a new destination and get ready for the day's activities. Take to the water in a Zodiac, being whisked between the brilliant blue hues of enchanting icebergs and along the shoreline where wildlife awaits. Paddle a kayak through icy waters soaking up the stunning scenery at your own speed. Head for land where you may hike or strap on snowshoes, depending on the conditions, and explore by foot. Or spend a once-in-a-lifetime night, camping under southern hemisphere stars, listening for whale songs as you drift off to sleep, and waking to morning light on the mountains.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Watch for Antarctic Wildlife
Day 8
Each day you are in Antarctica, keep your binoculars handy for spotting breaching humpback whales and birdlife such as snow petrels and albatross offshore. As you cruise by Zodiac, curious leopard seals may surface. On land, have your camera in hand for close up encounters with wildlife such as gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and elephant and fur seals. Capture memories of these wild creatures that you can share with friends and family once you are at home.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Become a Citizen Scientist
Day 9
While enjoying the extraordinary scenery, exciting excursions, and wonderful wildlife, you can join ongoing science projects such as counting penguins, collecting phytoplankton samples, or observing cloud cover. The data you collect will be used by institutions such as NASA and Scripps Institution of Oceanography to learn more about the changes in Antarctica's climate and how they impact weather and wildlife.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Antarctica
Day 10
As the ship turns northward, you leave feeling inspired, exhausted, and most likely changed forever. Entering the famed Drake Passage once more, settle in to swap stories, share photos, and toast your adventure with fellow travelers. Rest and catch up on journaling or species lists as you head back towards the Antarctic Convergence.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cross the Drake Passage
Day 11
Watch for final sightings of seabirds and marine mammals on your second crossing of this epic passage. Your Expedition Team has prepared a special slideshow and photography awards ceremony to celebrate the conclusion of your incredible expedition. Enjoy a farewell dinner with the team and crew before arriving in Ushuaia.
Accommodation: Seaventure
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Ushuaia
Day 12
Disembark in the morning with time to catch your departing flight to Buenos Aires.
Offering polar voyages since the mid-'90s, MT Sobek has built strong relationships with Polar outfitters and ships that cruise the 7th continent—we include in-house expertise to assist you every step of the way.
This trip gives you an all-access pass to loads of adventures, from kayaking, snowshoeing, and camping to a photo workshop and citizen science program, all included at no additional cost.
Cruise with polar experts on your Expedition Team, who will guide you by day and educate you in the evenings with presentations about the white continent's natural and political history.
Pricing Please call for an exact quote. Pricing varies by cabin category. A 30% nonrefundable deposit is needed to secure your reservation.
This cruise is not privately chartered for MT Sobek travelers. In order to offer the widest selection of travel dates and flexibility for our guests, MT Sobek works directly with the ship owner to book MT Sobek travelers on scheduled departures throughout the year, and we are pleased to offer our in-house expertise and services to assist you every step of the way.
Dates & Prices
2025
Go Custom
Inclusions
2025
Scheduled Dates
Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
The earlier you book, the more choice of available dates you’ll have and once you book, your price is guaranteed.
Dreaming of an adventure designed exclusively for you? With insider access and decades of experience, our travel experts create custom tailored adventures that are perfect for families, couples, and large groups. MT Sobek's custom adventures are designed to our exacting standards and led by our award-winning adventure guides.
When to start planning? Earlier is always better when designing a custom trip. More time allows for better availability of preferred accommodations, guides and your desired activities. Ideally, start the conversation with us at least 6 months before you want to travel. If you are looking for a custom trip that departs within three months, chances are greatly diminished in securing requested accommodations and the best guides.
*Custom trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit once an itinerary is agreed upon.
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.
Jeff R.
As a child, Jeff was stung by a jellyfish at summer camp, an event that would inspire his entire future. In that moment, he realized how mysterious the oceans were and couldn't wait to unravel those mysteries. His career as a marine biologist has ranged from classifying the biodiversity of glass sponge reefs off the coast of Canada to conducting fish and marine mammal surveys for Alaska's shoreline. An avid sailor, scuba diver, and photographer, Jeff has worked in and on the ocean for over a decade and, no matter what the temperature or weather brings, you'll always see him smiling with camera in hand.
Ruth P.
Ruth studied Zoology and Science Communication in college. As a wildlife filmmaker, Ruth has spent more than a decade working on documentaries for BBC, PBS, National Geographic, and Discovery, including spending five months in Port Lockroy to film Penguin Post Office and the award winning Planet Earth II. Her most recent project has her sailing around the South Sandwich Islands filming a wildlife documentary called Expedition Penguin. She looks forward to sharing her penguin tales onboard this season!
Marty G.
Born in Sydney, Australia, Marty's love of the ocean led him to a degree in Marine Science, extensive SCUBA qualifications, and a very hands-on job as Head Penguin Keeper at the Sydney Aquarium. While he did have some very unique experiences (try being a foster parent to penguin chicks!) seeing penguins in their natural environment is his ultimate thrill. He will never forget being greeted by a party of King Penguins at the largest colony in the world on the shores of South Georgia Island.
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[ActivityHighlight] => You can expect 1 or 2 half-day excursions for each day in Antarctica depending on weather conditions. During guided shore excursions, guests break up into smaller special interest groups with several options ranging from an easy shoreline walk to snowshoeing, kayaking and more strenuous hiking (1-3 hours.) Excursions may include a Zodiac cruise to observe icebergs and wildlife (1-1.5 hours.)
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Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 2. You can expect 1 or 2 half-day excursions for each day in Antarctica depending on weather conditions. During guided shore excursions, guests break up into smaller special interest groups with several options ranging from an easy shoreline walk to snowshoeing, kayaking and more strenuous hiking (1-3 hours.) Excursions may include a Zodiac cruise to observe icebergs and wildlife (1-1.5 hours.) Learn more about activity levels here.
Accommodations
Cruise comfortably on board a luxurious world-class small ship, able to explore small coves, bays, and channels. Comfortable lodging awaits in Ushuaia at the Arakur Resort & Spa.
Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, surrounded by nature inside the Reserva Natural Cerro Alarken, is a luxurious property set above the city, yet minutes from downtown Ushuaia. Designed with sustainable architecture in mind, each room and suite uses local Argentine materials and decor for a contemporary and warm feel. Geothermal air conditioning, humidity control and acoustic insulation systems also add to the guest room experience. Facilities include fine dining restaurants and bars, swimming pools, hot tubs, a fitness center and more.
The stylish Seaventure is one of the finest small expedition vessels in the world, crafted in an Italian shipyard with spaciously appointed suites and modern public areas. Each suite includes a sitting area, private bathroom, picture windows, and twin beds that may be joined to form queen-size beds. Some suites boast private balconies with tinted doors, while triples include a sofa bed. Public areas include a bar lounge, library with computers, dining room, exercise room, and a panoramic observation deck.
Weather
In Antarctica there may be days of warm sunshine, but be prepared for wind, rain, and possible snow. Daytime temperatures are usually 20°- 40°F.
Nov
Dec
Antarctica
High
Low
High
Low
Antarctica
40
30
39
29
FAQs
Is insurance required?
Yes, all passengers must carry an insurance policy to cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, evacuation expenses, and pre-existing medical conditions. Additionally, passengers are strongly advised to carry a plan which includes coverage for cancellation, curtailment, trip interruption, and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to or otherwise involving a passenger. As any potential evacuation from Antarctica can cost up to $150,000 we recommend that no policy carry less than this amount of coverage. Our operator will require information from you as to the carrier, policy number, and a 24-hour contact number.
What kind of experience does the Expedition Team have?
Our Antarctica ship operators know your voyage is more than the ship or even the destination, it is the people who bring that experience to life. Staff come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are professional adventure guides, some expert academics, others passionate educators. All apply their specific skills in a way to complement each other and collectively deliver truly life-changing trips.
Do I need my own waterproof gear?
A waterproof expedition jacket, yours to keep, is included in the cost of your voyage, and will be given to you on board. This jacket is a fully wind- and waterproof outer layer, with a protective collar to help keep body warmth from escaping on windy days. Please note, as this is not an insulated ski parka, we recommend wearing a heavy fleece and/or thermal layers under the jacket for additional warmth in Antarctica.
You will also be loaned a pair of insulated rubber boots for you to use during the voyage. They are great for getting in and out of Zodiacs and are plenty warm with a good pair of thermal or wool socks.
You will need to bring a pair of waterproof pants, as these are not provided.
"I've taken six MTS trips and they have all exceeded my expectations. The staff, the food, the logistics and the communications have always been exceptional. Thank you for being my "go to" adventure travel company!"
Margaret I. MT Sobek Guest
"I have traveled extensively around the world. The experience with MTS was by far the best I have ever had. Thank you for such excellence."