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Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake from Punta Arenas

Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake from Punta Arenas

From $ 15,400 AUD

Description

Take the fast track to that vast, frost-bitten wilderness at the South Pole. From Punta Arenas, fly over the infamously choppy waters of the Drake Passage to King George Island, and hop aboard a ship bound for the frozen wonderland. Cruise between towering icebergs floating in iridescent blue seas, and feel the thrill of catching the first glimpses of Antarctica’s icy shoreline. Over the next four days, explore this continent blanketed with snow and ice – perhaps learning about the fascinating geology and history of the region from expert guides, spot whales and seals cavorting in the Southern Ocean or make friends with penguins on windswept beaches. No two expeditions are the same, but the magic of Antarctica will infect all those adventurous enough to travel to the end of the earth.

Trip Name
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake from Punta Arenas
Last Updated
2021-09-25
Days
8
Capacity
132
Highlights
  • Your adventure begins in the most populated city in Patagonia, Punta Arenas. There are plenty of museums, restaurants and shops to keep you entertained before embarkation
  • Flying from Punta Arenas to the South Shetland Islands is the fastest, most direct way of travelling to Antarctica and the view over the Drake Passage is unforgettable
  • Witness penguins playing in their natural habitat at inland rookeries during daily Zodiac landings along the Antarctic Peninsula
  • On-board lectures by polar specialists provide great insight in to the history and geology of Antarctica
  • Whale spotting among icebergs is easy when you have your expedition team searching for wildlife. Daily Zodiac landings afford the group great flexibility and opportunity during your time in the Antarctic
  • This all-encompassing trip includes everything you need for peace of mind on your journey, such as your return flights from Puntas Arenas to the South Shetland Islands, pre-expedition hotel accommodation, transfers to and from your ship, full meals and drinks on-board (including complimentary house wine, beer and spirits), waterproof expedition boots for shore landings (on loan) and emergency evacuation insurance.

Itinerary

No two Polar voyages are the same and this is part of the excitement of travelling in these remote regions. Weather, ice conditions and wildlife will all affect where your ship is able to access, and most importantly, where your Expedition Team think you will get the best possible experience from your trip. On board, daily updates are given to advise what the specific itinerary will be for the next day based on local conditions. Published itineraries cannot be guaranteed but an amazing voyage full of adventure and once-in-a-lifetime experiences is guaranteed. For fly/cruise itineraries, it is essential that you have insurance that covers for delays caused by weather. Quark Expeditions will make every effort to ensure the program takes place, but, due to weather conditions, flying in this region can be difficult and is beyond the control of Quark Expeditions. We strongly recommend that all expedition guests purchase a travel insurance policy including trip delay, cancellation and interruption insurance. In the unlikely event that the charter flight is unable to fly on day 2 or day 3 due to weather delays, Quark Expeditions will provide an additional night(s) hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas. On day 4, should the charter flight not be able to take off by 1400hrs, Quark Expeditions will officially cancel the voyage and provide letters for all clients to submit to their travel insurance providers under the trip delay/interruption and cancellation clause. QUARK EXPEDITIONS AND PEREGRINE ADVENTURES WILL NOT OFFER PASSENGERS A REFUND IN THE EVENT OF TRIP CANCELLATION. QUARK EXPEDITIONS AND PEREGRINE ADVENTURES WILL NOT OFFER PASSENGERS COMPENSATION IN THE EVENT OF A DELAY. IF THE CHARTER FLIGHT IS NOT ABLE TO TAKE OFF BY 1400 HRS ON DAY 4. Quark Expeditions will make every effort to assist passengers with rebooking hotels or flights, but this will be at the cost of the passengers, and Quark Expeditions strongly recommends that all clients contact their insurance provider prior to changing any reservations. Passengers on board the ship during these delays will remain on board with no additional cost until the time in which the charter flight is able to arrange transport. Quark Expeditions advises all clients to book changeable airlines tickets along with cancellation and interruption insurance to assist with additional airline change fees. We advise all passengers to have flexible travel arrangements upon disembarkation of the voyage if delays arise. Quark Expeditions and Peregrine Adventures will not be held responsible for any change/cancellation fees due to weather related delays or any other delays arising from force majeure. FOR CANCELLATION DUE TO ALL OTHER EVENTS OF FORCE MAJEURE, THE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS SHALL APPLY.

Day 1 - Punta Arenas
Welcome to Chile. Your adventure begins in Punta Arenas, which is the most populated city in Patagonia. If you arrive early, there are many museums, restaurants and shops to keep you busy. In the early afternoon your leaders will meet you at the official starting point hotel, where you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and be briefed about embarkation day.
Day 2 - Embarkation
In the morning take a charter-flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica, crossing the great Drake Passage in only a few hours. Your first glimpse of Antarctic landscapes will be from above, as the plane descends for landing on King George Island. On landing, stretch your legs and spend a bit of time exploring the island before being transferred by Zodiac to your ship. Meet the rest of your shipmates and set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula.
Day 3-6 - Antarctic Peninsula/South Shetland Islands
As the ship approaches the White Continent, your captain and expedition team keep their eyes open for possible whale and seabird sightings. Over the next four days, the team of specialist lecturers aboard the ship will provide in-depth explanations of the geology, history and wildlife of the region. Your first Zodiac landing may see you walk on a beach teeming with thousands of penguins and seals, which is one of the most intimate ways to experience the unique wildlife of Antarctica. Landings are dependent on weather, but every day presents new sightings, activities and photo opportunities. It won’t be long before you can tell the difference between an Adelie, gentoo or chinstrap penguin. You may take a Zodiac cruise in search of whales around Pleneau Island one day, followed by a hike to a penguin rookery the next. The expedition team will provide insight into all of the places you visit. POSSIBLE LANDINGS AND WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS: CUVERVILLE ISLAND A gentoo penguin rookery is situated on the north end of the island on a rocky beach. Depending on the time of season you visit, you may see them building nests or attending to their chicks. Giant petrels and kelp gulls also breed on the island. DAMOY POINT If you're lucky enough to mail a postcard in Antarctica, you’ll likely pass through Damoy Point. This is the northern entrance to the harbour on which Port Lockroy is located. DANCO ISLAND This small island, 1.6 km (one mile) in length, is easy to explore and home to gentoo penguins. Visit the marker of a former British Antarctic Survey hut and watch out for a variety of seabirds such as snowy sheathbills, kelp gulls and blue-eyed shags. ENTERPRISE ISLAND Located in Wilhelmina Bay, this island was once used by whalers. A Zodiac cruise around the island passes by a wrecked whaling ship. LEMAIRE CHANNEL This strait runs between Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, and is one of the most scenic locations on the western coast, especially during sunrise and sunset. The 11 km (6.8 mile) channel may become impassable when ice fills the narrow passageway, so we’ll hope for clear waters. MELCHIOR ISLANDS This is a group of low islands in Dallmann Bay, on which you may see male fur seals haul-out at the end of the breeding season to recuperate from their battles for supremacy. NEKO HARBOUR This bay was once used by the floating whale factory ship Neko. You may see some whale vertebrae used by resident gentoo penguins as shelter from the wind. There's an unmanned refuge hut here, erected by Argentina. Climb past the hut and up a steep slope for spectacular views of the glacier-rimmed harbour. PETERMANN ISLAND Here, near the Lemaire Channel, you can stand ashore and see the southernmost breeding colony of gentoo penguins. Adelie penguins, shags and south polar skuas also inhabit the island. The dome of the island rises 200 meters (650 feet) above the sea, offering a challenging hike for panoramic views. PORT LOCKROY Journey to Port Lockroy if weather permits. The harbour is on the west side of Wiencke Island. A secret base was built here during the Second World War as part of Operation Tabarin. It's now designated as a historic site, featuring a museum and the world's southernmost post office. Proceeds from your purchases here support the preservation of historic sites from the Heroic Age of Exploration. WATERBOAT POINT At low tide this historic point is connected to the Antarctic mainland. Zodiacs can be used to explore the area when the tide is in. Two scientists studying penguin behaviour lived in a water boat on the point from 1921-22. The remains of their camp have been designated as an Antarctic historic site. AITCHO ISLANDS This is a group of small islands, some still unnamed, situated in the northern entrance of the English Strait. You can often spot a great mix of wildlife here, including at the established rookeries of gentoo and chinstrap penguins. Southern elephant and fur seals are frequently hauled-out here too. BAILY HEAD Also known as Rancho Point, this area is a rocky headland on the southeastern shore of Deception Island. Chinstrap penguins build nests on slopes leading to a high ridge, which dominates a natural amphitheater and provides a superb setting for landscape photography. HALF MOON ISLAND This crescent-shaped island was known to sealers as early as 1821. Unlike the sealers who liked to keep their best locations secret, we’re happy to bring you ashore on this impressive island. Many Antarctic birds breed here, including chinstrap penguins, shags, Wilson’s storm-petrels, kelp gulls, snowy sheathbills, Antarctic terns and skua. HANNAH POINT Macaroni, chinstrap and gentoo penguin rookeries are located on the point, which is on the south coast of Livingston Island. Due to the rather congested area available to the nesting penguins, you can only visit here from 10 January onwards. PENDULUM COVE Hot geothermal waters are found along the shoreline of this cove, which was named after observations made in 1829 by a British expedition. You may see yellow algae and boiled krill floating on the surface because of the scalding hot water. PENGUIN ISLAND Antarctica has two flowering plants, both of which you can find on Penguin Island: Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis. Chinstrap penguins, fur seals and southern elephant seals use the island for breeding purposes. ROBERT POINT A nice spot for Zodiac cruising, this point was known to sealers as early as 1820. Chinstrap penguins, kelp gulls and pintado breed here, and whales may be seen in the surrounding waters. TELEFON BAY Your expedition team will point out where the most recent evidence of volcanic eruption on Deception Island can be seen. TURRET POINT Chinstrap and Adelie penguin rookeries are found on this point, which is situated on the south coast of King George Island. The beaches are often crowded with southern elephant, fur, and Weddell seals hauled-out on the rocks. WHALER'S BAY To reach Whaler’s Bay, sail through the narrow passage of Neptune’s Bellows. The bay was used by whalers from 1906 to 1931 and is part of a protected harbour created by a circular flooded caldera, known as Deception Island. Along with waddling penguins and lounging seals, you’ll see the rusty remains of whaling operations on the beach. Watch for steam rising from geothermally-heated springs along the shoreline. YANKEE HARBOUR Gentoo penguins have established a rookery on this harbour, which is situated on the southwest side of Greenwich Island. You can also see an abandoned Argentine refuge hut and a huge glacier stretching along the east and north sides of the bay. An abandoned try-pot is all that remains of the sealing activity that brought men thousands of miles to seek their fortune. The following Optional Activities are available to participate in, on some or all of the departures of this itinerary. These must be booked in advance (additional costs apply) and space is limited. KAYAKING – Our kayaking adventures are the best way to feel at one with the sea. Taken in small groups of maximum 16 people, multiple times per voyage, kayaking adventures are only conducted during calm weather conditions. Kayaking is open to all levels of experience, however kayaking in the polar waters is not suitable for novice kayakers. Beginners interested in kayaking should first take an introductory course prior to the voyage which includes how to do a wet exit. In addition regardless of your experience, we recommend you take part in some kayaking practise prior to the voyage to ensure that you are comfortable on the water in the icy conditions.
Day 7 - Disembarkation
After your week of exploration, say goodbye to the expedition team and disembark at King George Island. From here, it’s a three-hour flight across the Drake Passage to Punta Arenas. After transferring from the airport to the hotel, you’re free to explore the town and perhaps enjoy one final dinner with the group.
Day 8 - Punta Arenas
After breakfast, you’re free to continue on your own travels or make your way to the Punta Arenas airport for your flight home. There are no activities planned for the final day and you're able to depart the accommodation at any time.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
11-12-202118-12-2021AUD $ 15,400-
11-12-202118-12-2021AUD $ 20,100-
11-12-202118-12-2021AUD $ 20,800-
11-12-202118-12-2021AUD $ 23,000-
11-12-202118-12-2021AUD $ 25,100-
11-12-202118-12-2021AUD $ 25,100-
11-12-202118-12-2021AUD $ 32,200-
11-12-202118-12-2021AUD $ 34,300-
16-12-202123-12-2021AUD $ 20,800-
16-12-202123-12-2021AUD $ 23,000-
16-12-202123-12-2021AUD $ 25,100-
16-12-202123-12-2021AUD $ 25,100-
16-12-202123-12-2021AUD $ 32,200-
16-12-202123-12-2021AUD $ 34,300-
16-12-202123-12-2021AUD $ 15,400-
16-12-202123-12-2021AUD $ 20,100-
21-12-202128-12-2021AUD $ 16,100-
21-12-202128-12-2021AUD $ 21,500-
21-12-202128-12-2021AUD $ 22,300-
21-12-202128-12-2021AUD $ 24,400-
21-12-202128-12-2021AUD $ 27,200-
21-12-202128-12-2021AUD $ 27,200-
21-12-202128-12-2021AUD $ 34,300-
21-12-202128-12-2021AUD $ 36,600-
11-02-202218-02-2022AUD $ 16,100-
11-02-202218-02-2022AUD $ 21,500-
11-02-202218-02-2022AUD $ 22,300-
11-02-202218-02-2022AUD $ 24,400-
11-02-202218-02-2022AUD $ 27,200-
11-02-202218-02-2022AUD $ 27,200-
11-02-202218-02-2022AUD $ 34,300-
11-02-202218-02-2022AUD $ 36,600-
16-02-202223-02-2022AUD $ 16,100-
16-02-202223-02-2022AUD $ 21,500-
16-02-202223-02-2022AUD $ 22,300-
16-02-202223-02-2022AUD $ 24,400-
16-02-202223-02-2022AUD $ 27,200-
16-02-202223-02-2022AUD $ 27,200-
16-02-202223-02-2022AUD $ 34,300-
16-02-202223-02-2022AUD $ 36,600-
01-03-202208-03-2022AUD $ 18,200-
01-03-202208-03-2022AUD $ 26,600-
01-03-202208-03-2022AUD $ 26,600-
01-03-202208-03-2022AUD $ 32,000-
01-03-202208-03-2022AUD $ 35,200-
01-03-202208-03-2022AUD $ 38,800-
06-03-202213-03-2022AUD $ 18,200-
06-03-202213-03-2022AUD $ 26,600-
06-03-202213-03-2022AUD $ 26,600-
06-03-202213-03-2022AUD $ 32,000-
06-03-202213-03-2022AUD $ 35,200-
06-03-202213-03-2022AUD $ 38,800-
11-03-202218-03-2022AUD $ 18,200-
11-03-202218-03-2022AUD $ 26,600-
11-03-202218-03-2022AUD $ 26,600-
11-03-202218-03-2022AUD $ 32,000-
11-03-202218-03-2022AUD $ 35,200-
11-03-202218-03-2022AUD $ 38,800-

Accommodation

Expedition Ship (5 nights),Hotel (2 nights)

Transport

Plane,Ship,Zodiac

Map