Antarctic Polar Circle (Ultimate) aboard M/V Seaventure

15 days - 14 nights

Day 1 - Ushuaia: Arrival and briefing

Upon arrival in Ushuaia, the gateway to Antarctica, you will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to the elegant Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, located on a hill with panoramic views of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve. In the unlikely event that it is fully booked, you will enjoy another of the city’s top luxury hotels. Once settled, you can relax in its first-class facilities, including a heated pool, spa, gym, and private hiking trails, or spend the afternoon exploring Ushuaia, strolling its streets, museums, craft shops, and charming cafés.

As evening falls, we invite you to an optional briefing where you will meet the expedition team, receive details about the journey, and have the opportunity to chat with your future adventure companions. It’s the perfect start to leave your routine behind and immerse yourself in the exploratory spirit that will accompany you throughout the journey.

Previous day - Briefing: This first day includes one night at the Arakur Hotel or similar (subject to availability at the time of booking). Breakfast, Wi-Fi, and business center are included. Guided hiking excursions in Cerro Alarkén, transfer to downtown Ushuaia, heated pool, and gym.

Day 2 - Embarkation and first Antarctic experience

After a relaxed breakfast overlooking snow-capped peaks and the Beagle Channel, you’ll have a free morning to take a final stroll around Ushuaia: explore its picturesque streets, visit the End of the World Museum or the Maritime Museum —located in a historic former prison—, or simply enjoy a coffee with harbor views, where the spirit of great expeditions is already in the air.

In the afternoon, a private transfer will take you to the pier to begin boarding the expedition vessel. As you cross the gangway and step onto the deck, you’ll feel the true adventure begin. Once onboard, you will settle into your cabin and receive safety and navigation orientation, while the team introduces you to the expedition staff and explains the initial activities. As the ship departs, it will slowly sail through the Beagle Channel, offering spectacular views of mountains and glaciers bathed in the changing southern light. The day ends with the captain’s welcome dinner, an opportunity to toast with your new travel companions and let the excitement build for your journey to Antarctica.

Day 3 to 4 - Crossing the Drake Passage

Over the next two days, the ship will venture into the legendary waters of the Drake Passage, the natural corridor connecting South America with Antarctica. This stretch of sea, rich in history and challenges for early explorers, is also a sanctuary for marine life and a spectacle for those who love sailing. Take advantage of these days at sea to learn from polar experts through talks and presentations about the region’s wildlife, geology, and history. You can join the Citizen Science program, collaborating on international projects studying seabirds, phytoplankton, and marine mammal behavior.

On deck, the fresh air and open horizon will provide the perfect setting to spot large albatrosses, petrels, and, with some luck, whales surfacing. Between activities, enjoy the cozy common areas, relax with a coffee, or chat with your fellow travelers as excitement grows with every mile that brings us closer to the gateway of the White Continent.

Day 5 - South Shetland Islands

Upon arriving at the South Shetland Islands archipelago, you will be greeted by a dramatic landscape where volcanic geology blends with vast glaciers that descend into the sea. Among its rugged coasts and sheltered bays, you will find bustling colonies of Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, coexisting with skuas, imperial cormorants, and other seabirds. On some beaches, it is possible to spot elephant seals resting on the black volcanic sand or even orcas and humpback whales patrolling the nearby waters in search of food.

Zodiac excursions allow you to approach the shore for landings at historic sites or wildlife observation areas, while those seeking a closer connection with the environment can opt for a kayaking experience, silently gliding among ice floes and wind- and sea-sculpted ice formations. Each landing offers a new perspective on this remote world, where nature reveals itself in its purest and wildest state.

Days 6 to 9 - Antarctic Polar Circle

Heading south through the Bransfield Strait, we begin to glimpse the impressive profile of the Antarctic Peninsula, a majestic landscape of ice, mountains, and glaciers stretching as far as the eye can see. As we advance, wildlife sightings become increasingly frequent: curious penguins, majestic whales, and playful sea lions accompany us on this unique journey, while ice formations take on dramatic shapes resembling natural sculptures carved by wind and cold.

If weather and ice conditions allow—Antarctica is famous for its unpredictability—you will be among the lucky few to cross the Antarctic Circle, a special milestone where the sun remains in the sky for around 20 hours a day, providing a unique and almost magical light. Following a century-old tradition started by sailors crossing the equator, we will celebrate this moment with a special ceremony onboard (though to truly understand it, you’ll have to experience it yourself).

Then, our expedition continues towards some of the historic British research stations, seldom-visited sites full of history, where the silence of the ice transports us back to past eras of exploration and discovery. Finally, we begin the return northward, carrying in our hearts the memory of having lived one of the most complete and extraordinary polar experiences.

Days 10 to 12 - Antarctic Peninsula

Heading North: Life and Discoveries in Warmer Waters: As we head north in search of warmer climates, we notice the sea ice becoming less dense and open channels multiplying, making it easier to access numerous islands that host incredible wildlife diversity. Here, we can spot different seal species, as well as penguin colonies that use rocky shores to build nests and raise their young in a protected natural environment.

In these milder waters, humpback whales also play a starring role, feeding on abundant krill concentrations that sustain the marine food chain. Our expedition will always seek the best opportunities to stop at several active scientific bases and historic landing sites, places rich in history and knowledge that enrich the experience and connect us to the legacy of polar exploration. We won’t miss any chance to discover and marvel at the best of this magical place, combining nature, science, and adventure at every step of the journey.

Days 13 to 14 - Return via the Drake Passage

On the journey back to Ushuaia, let yourself be wrapped in the emotions of the moments lived during the Antarctic voyage. Enjoy a final special session where the most striking and memorable photographs captured throughout the trip will be shared and projected. It will be an opportunity to relive each moment, each landscape, and each encounter together. To close this unique adventure, we will celebrate with an intimate and elegant farewell dinner designed to honor the shared experience and the new bonds forged in the heart of the White Continent.

Day 15 - Disembarkation in Ushuaia

The adventure ends on the peaceful morning of disembarkation in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world and gateway to Patagonia. From here, you can take your return flight with your heart full of unforgettable memories, or extend your stay to continue exploring this fascinating region, rich in unique landscapes, local culture, and abundant nature. Ushuaia awaits you with its mountains, forests, and coasts to offer you new experiences at the End of the World.