Crossing the Polar Circle
A truly epic sea voyage to Antarctica and across the Polar Circle
Personalised journeys from start to finish
Every trip helps support Conservation
Every detail taken care of
Itinerary highlights
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Go on an exciting street art tour in Buenos Aires and enjoy a Rojo tango show
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Sail through the ice-packed Crystal Sound and across the Polar Circle
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Spot an abundance of marine life and sea birds around the Antarctic Peninsula
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Spend two nights unwinding on an estancia in the Pampas at the end of your journey
What's included
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Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip
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Luxury Antarctica cruise
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Meet and greet airport service
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Completely private tours in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
At a glance
The highlight of this memorable cruise to Antarctica is undoubtedly crossing the Polar Circle. With your choice of luxury vessel, our team of expert travel designers is on hand to craft the most incredible Antarctica discovery for you. Depending on how much time you have available to you, your voyage might look something like this.
Begin with a few nights in Buenos Aires, getting a feel for the flavour and culture of Argentina with a street art tour and a Rojo tango show and dinner. From there you’ll fly to Ushuaia where there will be time for an afternoon hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park as you prepare for the next while that you’ll be spending at sea.
The Antarctica cruise leg of your trip will be a spectacular combination of astounding icy scenery and fascinating and varied wildlife ad you cross the Drake Passage and head towards the Antarctic Peninsula and Polar Circle. Itineraries vary according to time and weather, but there is never a shortage of activities and excursions to keep you busy and engaged.
As you head back up through the Drake Passage, you’ll have two nights in the Pampas to look forward to, enjoy ranch life and reflecting on your polar adventure.
Example trip itinerary
Buenos Aires
Transfer
Private transfer to your hotel in Buenos Aires
Accommodation in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Overview
Hub Porteño is a historic property set on a quiet street in the heart of Recoleta, and feels more like a home than a hotel. There are just 11 rooms, bright and spacious and filled with antique furniture and more recent pieces from local artisans.
The hotel’s rooftop terrace is a beautiful spot with outdoor seating nestled among the lush greenery – a real city centre oasis. Here you can relax with a drink from the bar and a bite to eat or simply sit back with the morning paper. La Pecora Nera Grill specialises in new Argentinian cuisine while the cosy living room is the place to enjoy drinks and snacks.
There is also a wellness centre with a sauna, gym and treatment room.
→ Find out moreBuenos Aires
Overview
Nuss Hotel is located in a converted convent in the lively are of Palermo, next to the colourful Plaza Serrano. The surrounding streets are lined with boutique shops, excellent restaurants and art galleries.
There are 22 bright rooms with city views – some of the deluxe rooms have their own small balconies. Guests can enjoy afternoon tea, drinks and tapas at Deli Lobby Lounge.
Facilities also include a spa area with gym, sauna and massage room and a very pleasant terrace with a small pool.
→ Find out more
Buenos Aires
Overview
Set in the fashionable and leafy district of Palermo, Legado Mitico is a beautiful boutique hotel within easy reach of the city’s main attractions and restaurants.
Located in a refurbished three-storey townhouse, the hotel draws on the rich historical culture of Argentina. There are 11 rooms each inspired by a famous figure such as tango dancer Carlos Gardel, writer Jorge Luis Borges, and Evita. A warm colour scheme runs throughout the rooms and wooden floors and period antique pieces give them lots of traditional charm.
The cultural theme extends into the communal areas with a small library in the lounge where the more inquisitive guest can read all about the historic figures that inspire the decoration of the room. The library opens out onto a small patio where guests can relax with a drink.
→ Find out moreBuenos Aires
Overview
Perhaps the best luxury hotel in Buenos Aires, the Four Seasons is really very suited to the luxury traveller. With beautifully decorated and well equipped rooms and communal areas, the sense of quality and refinement is pervasive throughout the hotel. They also have by far the best pool area in the city which has a strict guests only policy.
Service, as you might expect, is absolutely first class making this the hotel of choice in Buenos Aires for many visiting dignitaries and celebrities.
→ Find out moreBuenos Aires
Overview
The Faena Buenos Aires is a striking design hotel in the waterside neighborhood of Puerto Madero, the brainchild of local empresario Alan Faena and designer Philippe Starck.
The hotel is located in the restored El Porteño building, an enormous silo built in 1902 that produced grain for post-war Europe. The decor encapsulates the grandeur of the belle epoque that characterised Buenos Aires at the turn of last centrury. A red, black and white colour scheme runs through the hotel teamed with exposed brick walls and concrete pillars that hark back to its industrious past.
Rooms and suites are filled with eye catching touches such as hand embroidered throws and filifree mirrors and feature huge windows which look out over Ecological Reserve, the parks, Río de la Plata and the quaysides of Puerto Madero.
Eating and drinking at the Faena is a real treat. Enjoy fine dining at Bistro Sur where the menu is inspired by the finest seasonal Argentinian produce, or opt for something more casual at El Mercado which is inspired by the country’s famous cantinas and the open air markets of Europe. The Library Lounge is an intimate space filled with antique books and crysal chandeliers, while El Cabaret, inspired by the city’s 1920s tango clubs, is where you can catch the award-winning show, Rojo Tango.
The hotel also features a spa, fitness centre and an outdoor pool.
→ Find out more
Buenos Aires street art tour
This tour will see you explore either the northern or southern neighbourhoods of the city discovering fascinating murals and pieces of street art along the way. You'll learn a little about the history of street art in Buenos Aires and its cultural importance. The tour includes older pieces as well as more contemporary works by a variety of artists.
Rojo Tango Show with dinner
Enjoy the best Tango Show in town, set in the exclusive environs of the Faena Hotel. The Rojo tango is the smallest and most stylish of tango salons. Your evening includes a three course dinner, wine, and transfers to and from the venue.
Transfer
Transfer to the airport
Transfer
Flight to Ushuaia
Transfer
Transfer to your hotel in Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Accommodation in Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Overview
Hotel Arakur is situated in the middle of this extraordinary environment inside the Reserva Natural Cerro Alarkén, just a few minutes from downtown Ushuaia, perched on an outcrop above the town.
The five-star hotel, built according to sustainable architectural standards, offers fascinating views of the Beagle Channel. 117 modern rooms and fourteen luxurious suites enjoy large panoramic views: to the south, the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia city; to the north, valleys, mountains and the Natural Reserve.
Geothermal air-conditioning and humidity controls ensure a comfortable temperature when the weather outside is changeable, and furnishings feature local materials, with an interior made of stone, wood and marble transforms the landscape inside the hotel. The hotel also offers a wonderful spa and pool that makes the most of the views.
→ Find out moreUshuaia
Overview
Located actually on the shore of the Beagle Channel, Los Cauquenes is one of the best located and most comfortable options available in Ushuaia.
Though a large hotel, it has been constructed from wood and stone in sympathy with the natural surrounds of the area. The hotel has 54 spacious rooms. Given the location we feel that it’s definitely worth choosing a channel view room.
Facilities include a spa and pool area both enjoying stunning views out across the channel. The hotel is around 7km from the town of Ushuaia itself, though the hotel’s own restaurant is excellent.
→ Find out more
Afternoon hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park
As you hike, the spellbinding and diverse flora and fauna of this landscape, including the Magellanic woodpecker, is ever-present. The forest is also known to attract Austral Parakeets, Black-Chested Buzzards and soaring high above; the magnificent Andean Condor. Upon reaching the viewpoint, beautiful panoramas of Lagunas Verde and Negra, the Ovando and Lapataia Rivers, and the tranquil Lapataia Bay lie before you.
Cruising Antarctica
Cruise ships in Antarctica
Antarctica Cruises
Highlights
- Zodiac tours
- Wildlife spotting
- Sea kayaking
- Snowshoe
- Polar diving
- Rolls Royce stabilising system
- Custom-built hydraulic viewing platforms
- Private balconies
- Daily cabin service
- 24 hours complimentary tea and coffee and snack facilities
Overview
This is a sturdy, purpose-built expedition vessel designed in consultation with expedition experts who have over 25 years of experience in navigating the harsh arctic conditions. Accommodating up to 120 passengers per voyage, with comfortable and elegant interiors, it provides the perfect sanctuary from the severe conditions outside.
Yet, as severe as they may be, the landscape of the Antarctica floating by always provides awe inspiring scenery which can be observed from the ship’s custom-built hydraulic viewing platforms which fold out for uninterrupted panoramas and wildlife spotting.
The ship holds 15 zodiac boats for getting up close to the best that nature offers, from icebergs to glaciers and arctic wildlife.
Built with a Rolls Royce stabilising system with other state of the art technologies, you can expect the smoothest and safest of ventures. What’s more, the ship’s technology ensures a reduction in emissions, fuel consumption and damage on the surrounding environment.
The superbly spacious and exquisitely decorated cabins offer the epitome of serenity, as you wake to the sight of icebergs floating past your floor to ceiling windows from the warmth of your bed.
All cabins have private bathrooms, ample space and daily cabin service. The majority of staterooms boast private balconies allowing you to breathe in the crisp outside air entirely undisturbed.
Be sure to head to the 180-degree panoramic lounge and 360-degree open deck for more sightseeing or check in with the captain as he navigates the waters for the captain’s cabin on The Greg Mortimer has a fascinating open-door policy to give passengers insight into the inners workings of their spellbinding voyage.
→ Find out moreAntarctica Cruises
Overview
MS Seaventure, which has been awarded the highest ice class rating awarded to passenger vessels, boast all outside-facing staterooms, some of which have balconies. On board you’ll find beautifully-appointed dining areas as well as al fresco dining out on the Lido deck when the weather allows for it. There is also a heated saltwater pool on the top deck, a library, a sauna and fitness centre and a dedicated Citizen Science lab.
Its size means that it can explore coves, bays, and channels that would previously have been inaccessible.
Your journey includes world class cuisine and live entertainment, a voyage photographer, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and a complimentary expedition jacket.
→ Find out more
Antarctica Cruises
Highlights
- A dedicated science education area
- Wellness and Fitness centre onboard
- A hearty restaurant
- State of the art navigation and stabilizing systems
- 70 comfortable and spacious cabins
- Several exciting activities such as kayaking and snow shoeing
Overview
The Sylvia Earle honours highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the vessel pays tribute to Dr Earle’s long-standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife.
The vessel has been purpose-built for undertaking expeditions to some of the most remote places on Earth. The revolutionary Ulstein X-BOW will allow it to cross oceans more efficiently. The Sylvia Earle boasts numerous observation decks from where you can marvel at the scenery you slip past.
The 70 comfortable cabins can accommodate up to 132 guests. In addition to inviting communal areas, there is a modern lecture lounge, zodiac launching platforms, a restaurant, a gym and a wellness centre.
There are variety of activities to fill your days, both on board and on land.
→ Find out moreAntarctica Cruises
Highlights
- 80 comfortable and cozy cabins
- Outdoor activities like kayaking
- Large observation lounge with great views
- Interactive workshops, exhibitions and performances
Overview
With a variety of amenities and on-board entertainment options, your voyage onboard the M/V Hondius is set to be a truly memorable one. The ship’s 80 cabins can accommodate up to 170 people. Interiors are elegantly designed with stylish mid-century decor, but are cozy and informal. One deck includes a large observation lounge where you can spend time with your fellow passengers and enjoy the view of the spectacular scenery slipping past. There’s also a lecture room where you’ll find a programme of interactive workshops, exhibitions and performances.
The ship is also among the most environmentally friendly on the polar seas, with LED lighting, steam heating, bio-degradable paints and lubricants and state-of-the-art power management systems that help to keep fuel consumption and CO2 levels minimal. This means you get to immerse yourself in the beautiful Antarctica landscapes and admire the wildlife, knowing you’re having as little impact as possible.
A fleet of rigid-hull inflatable Zodiacs are on hand to take you to and from landing sites, and the sheltered indoor boarding areas are also used for activities like kayaking.
→ Find out moreAntarctica Cruises
Highlights
- Spacious suites to accommodate 199 people
- Spacious ready rooms for preparing for expeditions
- State-of-the-art theatre for presentations
- Restaurant with views from every seat
- Indoor and outdoor dining at the bistro
- Spa offering a variety of pampering treatments
- Lounge and bar with unobstructed views
Overview
Discover new places and make lasting memories on board the Ultramarine. Designed to accommodate up to 199 guests, this ship offers a variety of cabin and suite options, from shared to penthouse, many with excellent views of the Antarctica scenery. Balena restaurant features tables that can seat from two to ten diners, with each seat offering views of the icy surrounds, as well as direct access to the ship’s wraparound deck. For lighter meals, head to Bistro 487 and pick a table either inside, or outside form more immersive views of the polar landscapes.
The Panorama Lounge and Bar, enclosed in glass, is the perfect space to mingle with fellow guests over a glass of wine and a board game, and the state-of-the-art theatre will have a programme of presentations and films for your entertainment.
This luxury vessel also comes equipped with two twin-engine helicopters designed to transport you deep into the Polar region, setting foot where few others have before.
→ Find out moreFly in Cruises to the Antarctic
Highlights
- Comfortable suites that can accommodate up to 172 guests
- Dining room serving delicious meals daily
- Enjoy panoramic views from a wraparound deck
- Get your steps in on an outdoor track
- Theater-style auditorium for lectures and presentations
- Glass-domed Observation Lounge with panoramic views
- Library of field guides, picture books and reference books
Overview
Featuring six tiers of deluxe accommodation, the refined and comfortable World Explorer makes your personal space a priority. Each of the suites offers a private walk-out or French balcony, where you can breathe in the fresh ocean air and enjoy spectacular views. There are also plenty of public areas were you can sit back and recount the day’s adventures with your fellow travellers. Find a spot to contemplate your experiences in the glass-domed Observation Lounge, or enjoy a drink and a friendly conversation in the Explorer Lounge. The on-board library boasts a range of field guides and reference and picture books for your perusal. Head to the dedicated lecture theatre for a variety of presentations and discussions.
If it’s an active cruise you’re looking for, then kayaking, camping and stand-up paddleboarding can also be arranged. Otherwise, get your steps in on the outdoor track, keep to your exercise programme in the small gym, and unwind with a treatment or two at the spa.
→ Find out moreAntarctica Cruises
Highlights
- 94 comfortable staterooms and suites
- Two inviting restaurants
- Platforms for almost water-level viewing
- Specially crafted lectures by experts
- Comfortable onboard library
- Specialty restaurant with curated menus
Overview
Part of a new generation of low-energy vessels, the Ocean Albatros has four diesel engines and two electro engines, which are all controlled electronically, helping to optimise speed and fuel consumption. The vessel has 94 comfortable suites and staterooms, offering unobstructed sea views, many with their own balcony.
On board you’ll find two restaurants, Jens Munk Restaurant and Fridtjof Nansen Restaurant. The menus are a celebration of global flavours and the whole dining experience is complimented by beautiful ocean views. When the weather is good, head to the BBQ Deck and enjoy a freshly grilled meal. Or enjoy some Nordic hospitality in the Roald Amundsen Lounge Bar.
Unwind in one of two Jacuzzis on the pool deck, and enjoy a drink with your fellow passengers at the Pool Bar. Another place to recount the adventures of the day is the Observation Lounge on deck eight where the floor-to-ceiling windows offer unrivalled panoramic views of the Antarctic scenery.
Antarctica Cruises
Highlights
- 93 comfortable staterooms with ocean views
- A variety of restaurants with tempting menus
- Modern lecture lounge
- Relaxing observation lounge
- Library full of of practical information
Overview
Explore Antarctica onboard this stylish cruise ship built for comfort and adventure. There are a total of 93 comfortable staterooms for you to choose from, all of them with beautiful views of your icy surrounds, and many with their own balcony. Share the highlight of the journey with your fellow passengers in the Albatros Observation Lounge where easy conversation flows as the memorable landscapes pass by outside.
Onboard you’ll find several restaurants with menus catering to a variety of tastes. Take a table at the Beagle Restaurant where dinner always begins with delicious hot soups, cold cuts and fresh salads. The Albatros Nordic Bar Lounge provides warm Nordic hospitality with a large selection of drinks, including wine tasting menus from Gerard Bertrand. And when the weather is good, don’t miss a grilled meal prepared in the BBQ Deck.
When not out on deck or exploring beyond the ship, spend some time in the Knud Rasmussen Library where there is plenty of reading material, providing you with an abundance of practical information about Antarctica, Polar wildlife and stories of the first expeditions to these parts.
→ Find out moreAntarctica Cruises
Highlights
- Light and bright accommodation for 152 guests
- Spacious and relaxing public spaces
- Inviting stargazing deck
- Comfortable observation lounge
Overview
This elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offers you the ultimate way to explore Antarctica in an intimate setting. Make yourself at home in your light and bright stateroom and then allow yourself to be fully immersed in the sights and scenery of the voyage. Rooms are decorated using natural materials and boast luxurious bathrooms. The vessel can accommodate up to 152 guests.
You main venue for breakfast, lunch and dinner is the 152-seat Swan Restaurant which dishes up a delectable medley of local and international cuisine with a firm focus on quality ingredients from some of the destinations the ship visits.
12-day Antarctica cruise
On this once-in-a-lifetime cruise you will cross the Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula, passing through waters travelled by humpback, minke and fin whales. Along the way you will anchor at various spots and have the opportunity to go hiking, kayaking and diving in the iceberg-heavy waters.
Drake Passage
Once you've sailed through the Beagle Channel, your journey along the Drake Passage will take about two days. Passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you'll notice a change in marine and avian life. look out for wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels.
Antarctica highlights
There are many options available when cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula. The stops on each cruise vary, but each is bound to be full of exciting, memorable moments. At Livingston Island you'll see a variety of gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Hannah Point, Deception Island is known for its abandoned whaling station in Whalers Bay, and Cuverville Island also houses a large colony of gentoo penguins as well as breeding pairs of brown skuas.
Neko Harbour beckons with an epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, and the ice-flecked waters of Paradise Bay are great for spotting humpback and minke whales. If the ice allows, you might sail through the Menaire Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags on Pléneau and Petermann Islands.
Polar Circle
Your journey takes you south along the Argentine Islands to the ice-packed Crystal Sound and from here across the Polar Circle in the morning. You may make a landing at an abandoned British research station on Detaille Island, taking in the island’s lofty mountains and imposing glaciers.
You will return to Ushuaia via the Drake Passage once more, relaxing onboard and admiring the changing scenery and wildlife.
Further north, around the Fish Islands, you encounter one of the southernmost Adélie penguin and blue-eyed shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. The beautiful Melchior Islands offer a landscape rich with icebergs. Leopard seals, crabeater seals, and whales are found here, and there are excellent opportunities for kayaking and diving.
Transfer
Flight to Buenos Aires
Transfer
Transfer to the Pampas
The Pampas
Accommodation in The Pampas
The Pampas
Overview
One of Argentina’s best boutique Estancias for experience and elegance, you can’t really get more authentic, intimate and refined than La Bamba de Areco.
Positioned at the heart of the Pampas plains, 120 kilometres from Buenos Aires and but a few minutes drive from one of the oldest towns in Argentina, San Antonio de Areco, this estancia is not only perfectly placed but captures the rugged romance of the gaucho whilst still being impeccably stylish and well-run.
Avenues of plane trees lead you through the ranch’s lush parklands and paddocks to the typically 19th-century corralled casco (main house) painted in proud Vermillion red and white – permitting in parts a couple of vines to steal up its walls. This was once an important private home along the Camino Real (Royal Road).
Its eleven rooms are all done up in a smart, farmhouse style that is classically rural but with a contemporary lift. These open up onto the ranch’s shaded wraparound patios, perfect for relaxing, watching the ponies and where you can dine in summer. La Pulperia is the estancia’s own authentic gaucho inn converted to a separate lounge bar and boutique, and of course then there’s the array of different equestrian activities and excursions to choose from.
→ Find out moreThe Pampas
Overview
La Bandada is set in 200 acres of land and with just six rooms, a stay here is an intimate and authentic experience. The rooms are decorated in a very traditional style with 19th century antiques and period style linens and fittings.
Unlike many of the larger more touristy Estancias close to Buenos Aires, La Bandada has excellent personalised activities including: horse riding, taking part in the traditional gaucho lifestyle, wine tasting or simply relaxing by the pool. The food is excellent traditional fare with most ingredients grown and reared on the Estate.
→ Find out more
Two nights in the Pampas
Choose from our selection of estancias for an authentic and luxury ranch-style stay on the sleepy Pampas plains. Ride out with gauchos, enjoy an afternoon asado (BBQ), fishing or polo lessons.
Transfer
Transfer to the airport
We design private journeys for people who wish to go beyond the typical and experiencing something truly special. Our amazing team of travel designers, concierges and local guides work together to create unique journeys that get deep under the skin of where you’re visiting.
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Crossing the Polar Circle
How we work
The highlight of this memorable cruise to Antarctica is undoubtedly crossing the Polar Circle. With your choice of luxury vessel, our team of expert travel designers is on hand to craft the most incredible Antarctica discovery for you. Depending on how much time you have available to you, your voyage might look something like this. Begin with a few nights in Buenos Aires, getting a feel for the flavour and culture of Argentina with a street art tour and a Rojo tango show and dinner. From there you’ll fly to Ushuaia where there will be time for an afternoon hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park as you prepare for the next while that you’ll be spending at sea. The Antarctica cruise leg of your trip will be a spectacular combination of astounding icy scenery and fascinating and varied wildlife ad you cross the Drake Passage and head towards the Antarctic Peninsula and Polar Circle. Itineraries vary according to time and weather, but there is never a shortage of activities and excursions to keep you busy and engaged. As you head back up through the Drake Passage, you’ll have two nights in the Pampas to look forward to, enjoy ranch life and reflecting on your polar adventure. | Whats included?
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Days 1-3 |
Buenos Aires |
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Flights & transfers
Private transfer to your hotel in Buenos Aires |
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Accommodation in Buenos Aires
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Hub Porteño - $$$$$
Hub Porteño is a historic property set on a quiet street in the heart of Recoleta, and feels...
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Nuss Boutique Hotel - $$$$$
Nuss Hotel is located in a converted convent in the lively are of Palermo, next to...
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Legado Mitico - $$$$$
Set in the fashionable and leafy district of Palermo, Legado Mitico is a beautiful boutique...
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Four Seasons Buenos Aires - $$$$$
Perhaps the best luxury hotel in Buenos Aires, the Four Seasons is really very suited to the...
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Faena Hotel Buenos Aires - $$$$$
The Faena Buenos Aires is a striking design hotel in the waterside neighborhood of Puerto...
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| Buenos Aires street art tour This tour will see you explore either the northern or southern neighbourhoods of the city discovering fascinating murals and pieces of street art along the way. You'll learn a little about the history of street art in Buenos Aires and its cultural importance. The tour includes older pieces as well as more contemporary works by a variety of artists. |
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| Rojo Tango Show with dinner Enjoy the best Tango Show in town, set in the exclusive environs of the Faena Hotel. The Rojo tango is the smallest and most stylish of tango salons. Your evening includes a three course dinner, wine, and transfers to and from the venue. |
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Flights & transfers
Transfer to the airport |
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| Flight to Ushuaia | |
| Transfer to your hotel in Ushuaia | |
Days 3-4 |
Ushuaia |
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Accommodation in Ushuaia
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Arakur - $$$$$
Hotel Arakur is situated in the middle of this extraordinary environment inside the Reserva...
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Los Cauquenes - $$$$$
Located actually on the shore of the Beagle Channel, Los Cauquenes is one of the best located...
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| Afternoon hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park As you hike, the spellbinding and diverse flora and fauna of this landscape, including the Magellanic woodpecker, is ever-present. The forest is also known to attract Austral Parakeets, Black-Chested Buzzards and soaring high above; the magnificent Andean Condor. Upon reaching the viewpoint, beautiful panoramas of Lagunas Verde and Negra, the Ovando and Lapataia Rivers, and the tranquil Lapataia Bay lie before you. |
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Days 4-15 |
Cruising Antarctica |
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Cruise ships in Antarctica
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Greg Mortimer - $$$$$
This is a sturdy, purpose-built expedition vessel designed in consultation with expedition...
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MS Seaventure - $$$$$
MS Seaventure, which has been awarded the highest ice class rating awarded to passenger...
•
Sylvia Earle - $$$$$
The Sylvia Earle honours highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr...
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M/V Hondius - $$$$$
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Ultramarine - $$$$$
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World Explorer - $$$$$
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Ocean Albatros - $$$$$
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Ocean Victory - $$$$$
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SH Vega - $$$$$
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| 12-day Antarctica cruise On this once-in-a-lifetime cruise you will cross the Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula, passing through waters travelled by humpback, minke and fin whales. Along the way you will anchor at various spots and have the opportunity to go hiking, kayaking and diving in the iceberg-heavy waters. |
|
| Drake Passage Once you've sailed through the Beagle Channel, your journey along the Drake Passage will take about two days. Passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you'll notice a change in marine and avian life. look out for wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels. |
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| Antarctica highlights There are many options available when cruising around the Antarctic Peninsula. The stops on each cruise vary, but each is bound to be full of exciting, memorable moments. At Livingston Island you'll see a variety of gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Hannah Point, Deception Island is known for its abandoned whaling station in Whalers Bay, and Cuverville Island also houses a large colony of gentoo penguins as well as breeding pairs of brown skuas. Neko Harbour beckons with an epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, and the ice-flecked waters of Paradise Bay are great for spotting humpback and minke whales. If the ice allows, you might sail through the Menaire Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags on Pléneau and Petermann Islands. |
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| Polar Circle Your journey takes you south along the Argentine Islands to the ice-packed Crystal Sound and from here across the Polar Circle in the morning. You may make a landing at an abandoned British research station on Detaille Island, taking in the island’s lofty mountains and imposing glaciers. You will return to Ushuaia via the Drake Passage once more, relaxing onboard and admiring the changing scenery and wildlife. Further north, around the Fish Islands, you encounter one of the southernmost Adélie penguin and blue-eyed shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. The beautiful Melchior Islands offer a landscape rich with icebergs. Leopard seals, crabeater seals, and whales are found here, and there are excellent opportunities for kayaking and diving. |
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Flights & transfers
Flight to Buenos Aires |
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| Transfer to the Pampas | |
15-17 |
The Pampas |
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Accommodation in The Pampas
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La Bamba - $$$$$
One of Argentina’s best...
•
La Bandada - $$$$$
La Bandada is set in 200 acres of land and with just six rooms, a stay here is an intimate and...
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| Two nights in the Pampas Choose from our selection of estancias for an authentic and luxury ranch-style stay on the sleepy Pampas plains. Ride out with gauchos, enjoy an afternoon asado (BBQ), fishing or polo lessons. |
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Flights & transfers
Transfer to the airport |
