Antarctica Crossing the Antarctic Circle Adventure Cruising

Today is all yours to explore Ushuaia's many city sights. At the extreme southern tip of South America, from famous leather markets to its maritime museum. Nestled underneath the Martial mountain range, this explorers' hub is the gateway to Antarctica. Continue to indulge at the lovely Arakur, and attend an optional evening briefing on the days ahead—adventure awaits.

Embark on a mid-afternoon transfer to the Island Sky, and board the ship for your Polar expedition, meeting our team of regional experts and the ship's commanding officers onboard. View a concise safety and orientation briefing, and take part in the Captain's welcome dinner. After dinner, take in the scenery on our early evening sail through the Beagle Channel, past Magellanic penguins, rock shags and the large black-browed albatross.

Approach the iconic waterway that is the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans meet. Cross 600 miles over two days, inching closer towards the white continent. Learn about Antarctica's history and its native flora and fauna from our Polar experts. Partake in SeaBird sighting surveys or collecting salinity samples and weather data while enroute, scanning the horizon for icebergs and whale species.

Continue onwards through the Drake Passage, named after 16th century English explorer Sir Francis Drake. Feel temperatures plummet once past the Antarctic Convergence, spotting wildlife or delving deeper into the history of this uncharted territory.

Arrive to the highly volcanic South Shetland Islands in the Antarctic Peninsula and board a Zodiac boat to marvel up close at nature's glory in a custom itinerary created by our expedition leader and captain based on weather, ice and opportunity. Visit the most scenic bays and channels, with stops to penguin rookeries, seal wallows, bird colonies and whale feeding areas.

Spend another day discovering the incredibly diverse and rich terrain of the South Shetland Islands with a custom itinerary. Visit Half Moon Island nestled inside Livingston's eastern shore, or the historic Deception Island, weather permitting. Spot sub-Antarctic species along the way, including chinstrap penguins and southern elephant seals.

For three days, adventure across the Bransfield Strait, whose undersea trough was formed by rifting which began 4 million years ago. Sail south through ice-filled channels towards the Antarctic Circle before heading back north, enjoying sightings of spectacular icebergs and enjoying the company of sea birds, penguins, seals and whales.

Discover the best possible overview of the Antarctic environment-from spectacular waterways such as the Crystal Sound, the living museums of Detaille Island in Lallemand Fjord, or Horseshoe Island along the west coast of Graham Land-with a flexible itinerary created to maximize opportunities to explore.

Embrace the pioneering spirit of famous explorers from time past, including James Cook, Sir Ernest Shackleton and beyond, spending another day venturing into the Antarctic Circle. See what surprises are in store in this beautiful, rugged world.

Journey southwest for the next three days, entering Gerlache Strait, which separates the Palmer Archipelago from the Arctic Peninsula, and Trinity Coast. The expedition team sets the voyage route to take advantage of the ever-changing climate, ensuring an extraordinary experience every time. Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins abound, while Weddell and crabeater seals are often found resting alongside predatory leopard seals and the assertive Antarctic fur Seal. Minke and humpback whales are also frequent visitors in the late season, as are orcas.

Continue exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, whether Neko Harbor on Andvord Bay, named for a Scottish whaling boat, the Neko, sheltered Paradise Harbor behind Lemaire and Bryde Islands, home to huge whales and porpoising penguins, or Wilhelmina Bay. Visit the renowned Lemaire Channel or "Kodak Gap," with its steep cliffs and iceberg-laden passage, 11-kilometers long.

Discover the wildlife-filled Penola Channel, or the majestic Neumayer Channel between Anvers Island and Wiencke and Doumer Islands. Stop at an active research base, whether Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station Arctowksi, the Ukranian Vernadsky Research Base, or the U.K.'s Port Lockroy or Wordie House on Winter Island.

As we begin to leave this magical place and make our way north across the Antarctic Convergence and Drake Passage, share and swap stories of tales with your fellow expeditioners, as we continue our presentation series and wildlife spotting.

Cross Drake Passage for one last time, sailing back to Ushuaia through the Beagle Channel, where it all began. Celebrate the conclusion of our epic expedition with a special slideshow.

Set foot on land, disembarking the Island Sky in the morning upon arriving to Ushuaia. Catch a flight to Buenos Aires or stay in Ushuaia for more adventure and sights.