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Expedition to Antarctica

Program Overview

Spend two nights in vibrant Buenos Aires, Argentina, and enjoy a nine-night, five-star cruise to “The White Continent.” Retrace sea lanes navigated by storied explorers Shackleton, Amundsen, and Scott. Be among the fortunate few to set foot on this pristine wilderness. Enjoy guided excursions led by an expedition team of naturalists aboard sturdy Zodiac crafts amid floating ice sculptures, intricate ecosystems and abundant wildlife—including humpback whales, leopard seals, and Adélie penguins. Extend your expedition with the Iguazú Falls
Post-Program Option, which includes Buenos Aires/Iguazú round-trip airfare.

Program Details

January 4 to 17, 2023 (Le Boréal) January 17 to 30, 2023 (L’Austral)
From $9,995 plus air View Terms & Conditions
  • This exclusively chartered cruise aboard the five-star, ice-class small expedition ship Le Boréal or L’Austral allows access to smaller ports and flexibility in course adjustments.
  • Unique, 14-day itinerary featuring a nine-night cruise to the world’s last great frontier and two nights in vibrant Buenos Aires.
  • Be among the fortunate few to discover “The White Continent,” where whales, seals, and penguins mingle among glaciers and icebergs.
  • Enjoy Zodiac excursions led by an expedition team of naturalists, with expertise spanning marine biology; ornithology; glaciology; conservation; history; and photography.
  • Complimentary boot rental during the trip. Souvenir polar-grade red parka provided.
  • Spectacular Iguazú Falls Post-Program Option.

Day 1 - Depart the U.S. or Canada

Day 2-3 - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Day 4 - Buenos Aires / Fly to Ushuaia / Embark Le Boréal or L’ Austral

Day 5-6 - Cruising the Drake Passage

Day 7 - Port Lockroy / Jougla Point

Day 8 - Petermann Island / Lemaire Channel

Day 9 - Neko Harbor / Paradise Harbour

Day 10 - Deception Island, South Shetland Islands / Half Moon Island

Day 11 - Cruising the Weddell Sea

Day 12 - Antarctic Convergence / Beagle Channel / Ushuaia, Argentinia

Day 13 - Ushuaia / Disembark ship / Buenos Aires

Day 14 - Arrive in the U.S. or Canada

View detailed program itinerary >

Itinerary is dependent on weather, ice and sea conditions.

Le Boréal and L’Austral

Five-Star, Ice-Class Ships

Join us aboard the exclusively chartered, five-star Le Boréal and L’Austral, where distinctive French sophistication meets innovative nautical design. The ship’s efficient electrical propulsion system and custom stabilizers provide an exceptionally smooth, quiet, and comfortable voyage. Each of the 110 ocean-view staterooms and suites range from 200 to 484 square feet, and most have a private balcony.

Learn more about the Le Boréal and L’Austral >

Iguazú Falls Post-Program Option

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Iguazú Falls, among the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, is situated in one of South America’s last remaining virgin rainforests. Spanning nearly the Argentinian border of Brazil, Iguazú Falls is three times as wide and nearly twice as high as Niagara Falls. Visit Parque das Aves jungle reserve, home to more than 350 species of birds, 66 varieties of mammals, and an array of reptiles, fish, and flora. Includes one night in the five-star Intercontinental Buenos Aires Hotel and two nights in the five-star Meliá Iguazú Falls. Buenos Aires/Iguazú round-trip airfare is included.

The Post Program is available at additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

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Program Itinerary

Day 1 Depart Home City

Your trip will begin by departing the U.S. or Canada.

Day 2-3 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Arrive in Buenos Aires and check into the five-star Intercontinental Buenos Aires Hotel. See the colorful La Boca district; Monserrat’s grand public buildings; historical Plaza de Mayo; Palermo’s lavish parks; Puerto Madero’s lively riverfront; and the old quarter of San Telmo. Visit the city’s historical Recoleta Cemetery.

Day 4 Buenos Aires / Fly to Ushuaia / Embark the ship

Fly to Ushuaia. Embark the ship this afternoon and cruise through Beagle Channel, named for the ship that carried Charles Darwin on his South American voyages. Attend the Captain’s Welcome Reception.

Day 5 and 6 Cruising the Drake Passage

Cross the legendary Drake Passage and, upon reaching the Antarctic Convergence, watch for breaching fin and humpback whales and seabirds feeding on plankton and krill.

Please note that the ship’s cruising pattern and positionings are dependent on weather, ice, and sea conditions and are subject to change.

Day 7 Port Lockroy / Jougla Point

Visit Port Lockroy—an intelligence post for British espionage during World War that was later converted into a whaling station and scientific base. Gain insight into the daily activities of past researchers at the living museum known as “Base A” and mail a postcard stamped with an Antarctica postmark from the official British Post Office.

Day 8 Petermann Island / Lemaire Channel

Call at Petermann Island and watch its thriving rookeries of penguins and blue-eyed shags. Cruise through the Lemaire Channel, where seven majestic miles of mountains and interweaving patterns of ice floes brim with wildlife.

Day 9 Neko Harbor / Paradise Harbour

Listen for the rumbling of Rudolf Glacier as it calves slabs of ice into Neko Harbor. This spectacular harbor is one of the most dramatic sights on your expedition. Here, mark your continental landing in Antarctica. Cruise through Paradise Harbour.

Day 10 Deception Island / South Shetlands Islands / Half Moon Island

Deception Island encircles the Port Foster caldera, where the ship enters through Neptune’s Bellows—a harbor ringed by snowcapped peaks and sheer cliffs. Marvel at the crescent-shaped Half Moon Island—site of Cámara Station, a base monitored by Argentine biologists studying regional wildlife. Enjoy the Captain’s Farewell Reception.

Day 11 Cruising the Weddell Sea

Cruise below the 60th parallel south to the outer shores and islands of the Antarctic Peninsula. A vast array of marine wildlife flourishes here in this pristine wilderness—millions of penguins, countless seabirds, and thousands of seals and whales.  

Day 12 Antarctic Convergence / Beagle Channel / Ushuaia, Argentina

Complete your crossing of the Drake Passage with the rounding of Cape Horn, the graveyard of sailors and hundreds of ships that once battled the westerly winds. At Cape Horn, the ship will go east before turning north once more towards Beagle Channel back to Ushuaia.

Day 13 Ushuaia, Argentina

Disembark in Ushuaia and fly to Buenos Aires. Continue on the Iguazú Falls Post-Program Option with an overnight stay in Buenos Aires or depart for the U.S. or Canada

Day 14 Return to U.S. or Canada

Arrive back in your home city.