An exhilarating Antarctic experience on a luxury cruiser complete with exciting land and sea excursions

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

What's included

  • Completely private tours in Santiago and Punta Arenas
  • Luxury fly-in Antarctica cruise
  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Meet and greet airport service
  • Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

This extraordinary and adventurous trip takes you on a luxury fly-in cruise to discover the awesome landscapes of Antarctica and includes two nights in Santiago before departure, as well as your flights from Punta Arenas to King George Island.

Begin with a couple of days in Chile’s capital city, Santiago, to take in the culture of one of Latin America’s principle metropoles. Then it’s on to Punta Arenas, one of the southernmost cities in the world. Take a tour of this historic city and after an overnight at a top class hotel, it’s time to embark on the main event, an exhilarating fly-in Antarctic Cruise.

The beauty of a fly-in cruise is that you avoid the rough and long ocean crossing at Drake Passage and can begin your seven-day cruise straight away. During your cruise you’ll be lead out on exciting expeditions by specialist guides to uncover the secrets of this wild and largely unexplored continent.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-3

Santiago

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Santiago airport to your hotel in the city

Accommodation in Santiago

santiago-chile
Two nights in Santiago Two nights in Santiago

Enjoy a couple of days in bustling Santiago, Chile's capital city. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Andes, Santiago is considered to have an understated charm. Sleek glassy skyscrapers share space with perfectly landscaped gardens, fascinating museums and stylish art galleries. There's also an emerging culinary scene boasting fine dining establishments and a celebrated seafood market. You'll have our list of recommended tours, restaurants and attractions to make sure you make the most of your time here.

Private half day walking tour of Santiago Private half day walking tour of Santiago

Your local guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and start your walking tour towards the closest metro station. Santiago´s metro is South America's most extensive metro system and provides safe and smooth commute.

Arrive to Baquedano station, located underneath Plaza Italia, the focal point of celebrations and occasional demonstrations in the city. Continue by walking west through the Parque Forestal, an urban park in the middle of the city that was created to celebrate the 100 years of Chile as a republic. This park features a beautiful landscape design inspired by the French style of the early 1900s and several sculptures before you reach the fine arts museum. Take in the façade of the National Museum of fine arts, built between 1905 and 1910. The building features a neoclassic style along with some elements of the Art Nouveau and it is known because of the glass dome that allows the entrance of light to the central hall.

Continue the tour towards the Santa Lucía Hill, where the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded the city on February 12th 1541. After a quick visit to its top, descend to visit the Gabriela Mistral cultural center, a building which structure survived a strong fire and reopened recently to promote culture and arts.

Stroll around the streets of Lastarria Neighborhood that features a rich architectural value, little cute cafés, exquisite restaurants, many unique stores and a couple of museums worth visiting (not included on the tour).

Before heading back to your hotel, enjoy of a wine tasting in a wine bar in the heart of Lastarria neighborhood and walk five minutes to the metro station on direction to your hotel.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from your hotel to Santiago airport

Flight

Flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas

Days 3-5

Punta Arenas

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Punta Arenas airport to your chosen hotel in the city

 
Two nights in Punta Arenas Two nights in Punta Arenas

Spend two nights in one of the southernmost cities in the world, Punta Arenas. The small city, with a population of around 130,000, is most commonly used as a stopover for those en route to the Torres del Paine National Park or for one of the cruises through the Straits of Magellan. The city is very important to the region, being one of the largest ports in this isolated area.

Punta Arenas private half day tour Punta Arenas private half day tour

This morning, your local guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel for a private half-day walking tour of Punta Arenas. This sprawling metropolis is located on the edge of the Strait of Magellan and you'll find it to be a relaxed and friendly city. Depending on your interests, your guide will bring you to see a number of the city's most interesting attractions including the main square, Muñóz Gamero, with its monument to Hernando de Magallanes and the surrounding wealthy mansions of the city's founding families. Moving on to Colón Avenue and travelling up to Arauco, you'll reach the vantage point on Mount La Cruz for a beautiful view over the city and its colorful roofs. When you reach the seafront you'll be shown the remains of huge shipwrecks before travelling up the waterfront to the tranquil María Behety Park. The tour can incorporate visits to the historic Fort Bulnes, the first Spanish and later Chilean settlement in Southern Patagonia, the Pali Aike National Park, Seno Otway or Magdalena Island according to your tastes.

Expedition briefing and welcome dinner Expedition briefing and welcome dinner

Your expedition officially starts this afternoon, with a cruise briefing at your hotel in Punta Arenas. You'll be met at your hotel by a representative from the cruise who will give you a briefing on the guidelines that should be followed in Antarctica and the procedures for Zodiac boat embarkation and disembarkation. Afterwards, you will be invited to gather with your expedition mates for a welcome dinner where you'll enjoy some typical Magellanic cuisine. Spend the night back at your hotel in Punta Arenas.

Days 5-10

Antarctica

Antarctica XXI Fly Cruise 6D5N Expedition Antarctica XXI Fly Cruise 6D5N Expedition

Today you'll be transferred from your hotel to the airport for a flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands). The flight takes a little less than two hours. Upon arrival, a tour will be given around the area where Frei Chilean Base and the Bellingshausen Russian Base are located, gathering at the beach on Fildes Bay for boarding the expedition vessel by Zodiac boats.

Expedition ships in Antarctica

Antarctica XXI Fly Cruise 6D5N Expedition: Days Two to Five Antarctica XXI Fly Cruise 6D5N Expedition: Days Two to Five

While cruising between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and between spectacular icebergs, you will enjoy observing the sea birds, penguins, seals and whales. Your journey southwards will include visits to some of the most magnificent spots in the white continent, such as: Livingston Island, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Cuverville and Deception Islands amongst others. The objective of these few days will be the crossing of the Lemaire Channel and latitude 65° South. It will be very active couple of days too, with several daily landings and cruises in Zodiac boats and lectures.

Antarctica XXI Fly Cruise 6D5N Expedition: Day Six Antarctica XXI Fly Cruise 6D5N Expedition: Day Six

On you last day you'll return to King George Island where you'll disembark, in Zodiac boats, at the Frei Chilean Base, and head to the aerodrome to take the flight back to Punta Arenas.

Days 10-11

Punta Arenas

Overnight in Punta Arenas Overnight in Punta Arenas

Spend a night in Punta Arenas before heading to Santiago the next day.

Days 11-12

Santiago

Flights & transfers

Flight

Flight from Punta Arenas to Santiago

Transfer

Private transfer from Santiago airport to Santiago hotel

Accommodation in Santiago

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from your hotel to Santiago airport

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Classic Antarctica Fly-in Cruise

12-Day Example Trip
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