Antarctica Fly & Adventure Cruise Tours

Unforgettable Glacial Majesty & Incredible Wildlife

Journey through narrow straits of jaw-dropping majesty and gaze at vast glaciers of incandescent blue on this trip of a lifetime. A two-hour flight from Punta Arenas brings you to Antarctica's doorstep where you'll board your comfortable cruise ship. While sea conditions determine the itinerary, our ships call on remarkable places such as Deception Island - a volcanic caldera that we can sail into - and Paradise Bay, a favorite spot for Zodiac cruising to see fantastical iceberg sculptures. Few places on Earth make a deeper or more lasting impression than Antarctica.

Note: 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.

The actual itinerary routes vary from departure to departure - for additional dates and more information about each departure, call for details.

Discover the otherworldly beauty of Antarctica from the comfort of your luxury expedition ship

Save precious time by swapping the Drake Passage for a flight

Explore the Antarctic panorama of stunning icebergs, glaciers, whales, penguins, and other wildlife

Why take this trip with us?

Reason #01

Polar planning can get complicated! We offer in house expertise and services to assist you every step of the way.

Reason #02

Enjoy a boutique Antarctica experience on ships that carry up to 72 passengers on the Ocean Nova and up to 100 passengers on the brand new and purpose-built Magellan Explorer!

Reason #03

Over 30 years offering polar voyages we have built strong relationships with Polar outfitters and ships that cruise the 7th continent.

Meet your guides

Andre Belem

Andre earned a degree in Oceanography and spent his first Antarctic winter on board the R/V Nathaniel Palmer cruising the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas. This expedition reached the furthest south position for a ship in these waters! Andre then went on to earn a PhD in Polar Oceanography at the Alfred-Wegener Institute. For the last 20 years he has studied Antarctica's role in global climate change, working with other scientists focusing on physical and biological processes in sea ice. When he isn't leading trips, André is Professor of Earth Sciences at Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, leading his research as part of the international team of Past Climate Change Group.

Nigel Millus

Nigel has always had an interest in the outdoors and wildlife, initially visiting Antarctica as a chef where he spent six summers and three winters at British research stations. He eventually learned to scuba dive and bird-watch, and proceeded to work as an ornithologist and naturalist on expedition cruise ships in the Polar regions. He has completed over 140 voyages in the past 18 years all over Antarctica! Nigel is passionate about all things Antarctic and is looking forward to sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge with MT Sobek travelers.

Allison Cusick

Originally from Seattle, Allison holds an MSc in Marine Biodiversity & Conservation and BSc in Biology with a minor in Earth & Space Sciences. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography and her research focuses on understanding phytoplankton within polar fjords and how melting glaciers influence the ecosystem. As lead scientist to the citizen science project FjordPhyto, she hopes to engage travelers in her research. She first travelled to Antarctica in 2013 on a research ice-breaker in the Ross Sea and has spent her Austral summers on the Antarctic Peninsula. When not doing science, you can find Allison scuba diving or ultra-running, she even ran a marathon in Antarctica, dressed as a banana!

Activities

Expert polar interpretation and on-board presentations, professional navigation through Antarctic waters, and up-close wildlife experiences on Zodiac excursions.

Lodging

Stylish and well-appointed polar expedition ships offer a luxurious way to explore Antarctica. The Hotel Cabo del Hornos awaits in Punta Arenas.

Climate

There may be days of warm sunshine, but be prepared for wind, rain, and possible snow. Daytime temperatures are usually 20°- 32°F.

FAQ

Who will meet me on arrival?

Arrive no later than 2pm on Day 1 and you will be met by a ship representative who will assist with your transfer to the hotel.

Will I get sea-sick?

By flying to King George Island, you will skip the open water crossing of the Drake Passage. There are a few hours of open water crossing, but you'll mostly be in protected waters along the Antarctic Peninsula.

What kind of plane will we fly on?

A BAE-146 jet aircraft with the capacity of 71 passengers. It is a high-wing aircraft with very short runway requirements, which make it particularly suited for this kind of destination.

What happens if weather delays the plane?

There is a thorough contingency plan which is outlined in your pre-trip documentation. It includes any necessary hotel nights, meals, and activities in Punta Arenas due to weather delays.

Do you provide waterproof jackets?

No. On this trip, you need to bring your own waterproof outwear - pants and jacket. We have recommendations in the pre-trip documentation.

Do you provide boots?

Yes. On this trip, the ship will provide high-quality insulated polar boots for all travelers.

Where can I find the different cabin types and the difference in pricing?

There are many different cabin options and pricing will depend on the departure date, ship and cabin type you would like to cruise on. Please call our Regional Specialists at 1-888-687-6235 for more details.

Does this trip contribute to any local conservation efforts?

Yes! Each trip offers four citizen science programs that provides an opportunity to join in on hands-on conservation. Participate in whale sightings and identification for Happywhale, Polar Tag sightings, Global Seafarer Study of Marine Phytoplankton, and seabird surveys for the Antarctic Site Inventory.