Air Cruise Classic Antarctica on the in the M/V Greg Mortimer - M/V Sylvia Earle

12/11 days - 11/10 nights

Air-Cruise to Antarctica: Ship-Aircraft- Departing from Ushuaia by ship and returning to Punta Arenas by aircraft

Day 1 - Departure from the port of Ushuaia

Arrive in Ushuaia, where you will be received and transferred to your hotel. When you arrive at the hotel (included), remember to ask the hotel staff at check-in to provide you with the labels of your cabin, which must be completed with your name and cabin number.

Day 2 - Boarding day

This morning, make sure your baggage has cabin tags with your cabin name and number. Bring your luggage to the hotel reception before 8:00 Please note that this trip includes a charter flight at the end of the trip from Antarctica to Punta Arenas. The free baggage allowance is 20 kilograms of checked baggage plus one piece of hand baggage that weighs no more than seven kilos. Luggage will be removed from your hotel and transferred directly to the port for authorization and delivered to the cabin before arrival on board. Keep all your valuables or personal items with you during the day. Once you have left your hotel before 11am, you have free time before meeting in the hotel lobby at 2pm. to start a tour of Ushuaia. Alternatively, enjoy your free time and head to the Prison Museum parking lot before 3.45pm to meet the group and move to the dock to embark.

Ushuaia, capital of Tierra del Fuego, is located on the banks of the Beagle Channel and is surrounded by martial mountains, which give it a unique landscape in Argentina, which is the combination of mountains, sea, glaciers and forests. On this introductory tour, you will visit the "La Misión" neighborhood, the old government house and the upper part of the city, which offers stunning panoramic views of Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel. During the excursion, you will see the old houses that belonged to the first families established in Ushuaia. The tour ends with a visit to the Old Prison Museum before moving to the pier to embark at around 4:00 pm.

After boarding, you will have time to settle in the cabin before our information meetings. As the ship moves away from the port, we will meet on the bridge to begin our adventure with spectacular views of Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. Tonight, meet your fellow travelers and the expedition crew at a welcome dinner. Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch is not included.

Day 3 - Crossing the Drake passage

When we start to cross the Drake Passage, we make the most of our time to feel comfortable with the movements of the sea. Our expedition team prepares you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and begins our conference program to help you learn more about Antarctica's history, wildlife and environment. Our experiences with wildlife begin as we enjoy viewing and photographing many seabirds, including the majestic albatrosses. They skillfully rise and fall, using the air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.

Day 4 - Drake Sea and South Shetland Islands

As you approach the tip of the South Shetland Islands on the fourth day, the excitement is palpable as everyone gathers on the bridge watching the first iceberg. The ocean takes on a new perspective once we are under the Antarctic Convergence and surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first sighting of large icebergs will likely remain with you for life. If the weather permits, we can try our first landing in Antarctica in the late afternoon.

Day 5 to 9/10 - Antarctic Peninsula

It is almost impossible to describe the feeling of reaching Antarctica. Discovering your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of the freshest and freshest air on earth is an experience that will accompany you forever. Once we arrive, we can explore the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, and we have a wealth of options available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you like. Their experienced expedition team, who have made countless trips to this area, will use their experience to design your day-to-day trip, choosing the best options based on the weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

We generally make landings in Zodiac boats twice a day. You'll want to get in shape before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or between land icebergs, watching for whales, seals, and dolphin penguins. We will also make landings where you can visit penguin colonies, discover historical cabins, and explore some of our favorite places along the peninsula. As we disembark, we want to stretch our legs, wander along pebble beaches, or perhaps climb up snow-capped ridges to strategic points with mountains rising above and ice-dotted oceans. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do it whenever conditions allow.

We can enter through the straits that separate the islands from the continental coast, or stay in scenic bays to see whales travel or feed. This is a good time to enjoy the observation room or head to the bridge to enjoy uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its glory. Watch for the crunches and deep roar of glaciers as they make their way from the summit to the sea, and take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of this incredible white continent.

Day 10/11 - From King George Island to Punta Arenas

As we get closer to the Frei Base on King George Island, it's time to say goodbye to Antarctica and our incredible adventure before boarding our flight back to Punta Arenas, Chile. Upon arrival at the Punta Arenas airport, you will be transferred to our preferred hotel in the city center.

Note: King George Island is located in the northern part of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands and is one of the most remote places on Earth. A clear sky with perfect visibility is required for the plane to take off and land safely. We apologize in advance for any delay.

Day 11/12 - Punta Arenas

After breakfast, bid farewell to your fellow travelers as we all continue our travels, hopefully with a new sense of the immense power of nature.

Note: Please inform your Argentinian Explorer travel agent if you need an airport transfer, so that you can book in advance. Airport departure transfer is not included in the cost of your trip and will have an additional charge.

Sample itinerary: All the itineraries described are only presented for reference. Programs may vary depending on the weather and ice conditions in the area, as well as accessibility to landings and the opportunity to observe local wildlife. The final route will be determined by the leader of the Expedition. Flexibility is the fundamental principle to enjoy the cruise expedition.