Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
An 8-day Antarctic expedition designed for travellers who want to reach the 7th Continent by air, flying both ways over the Drake Passage and dedicating more time to the Antarctic Peninsula itself.
An 8-day Antarctic expedition designed for travellers who want to reach the 7th Continent by air, flying both ways over the Drake Passage and dedicating more time to the Antarctic Peninsula itself.
For many travellers, Antarctica begins with the Drake Passage. For others, time, comfort and precision matter just as much as the destination.
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake offers the fastest and most direct route to Antarctica, replacing the traditional sea crossing with charter flights between Punta Arenas, Chile, and King George Island, Antarctica. In only a few hours, guests fly over one of the world’s most legendary bodies of water and land in the South Shetland Islands, where their expedition vessel awaits.
From there, the journey moves into the Antarctic Peninsula: ice-filled bays, penguin colonies, seals, whales, glaciers, Zodiac cruising, shore landings, guided hikes, photography and daily interpretation by polar experts. It is a compact expedition, yet fully Antarctic in spirit, designed for travellers who want the impact of the 7th Continent within a shorter timeframe.
Journey at a Glance
Expedition Name: Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
Region: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
Duration: 8 days
Start / End
Punta Arenas, Chile
Antarctic Embarkation / Disembarkation
King George Island, Antarctica
Ships
World Voyager or Ocean Explorer, depending on departure date
Core Experience: Fly/Cruise Antarctic expedition, charter flights over the Drake Passage, Zodiac cruising, shore landings, hiking, penguin colonies, seals, whales, glaciers, photography and polar expert programming.
Pricing
Available on request, according to departure date, vessel, suite category, availability and any special offers valid at the time of proposal or reservation.
Departure Dates
1 December to 8 December 2026
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas
6 December to 13 December 2026
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas
11 February to 18 February 2027
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas
16 February to 23 February 2027
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas
21 February to 28 February 2027
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas
9 December to 16 December 2027
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas, aboard World Voyager
4 January to 11 January 2028
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas, aboard Ocean Explorer
9 January to 16 January 2028
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas, aboard Ocean Explorer
28 January to 4 February 2028
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas, aboard Ocean Explorer
12 February to 19 February 2028
8 days, start and end in Punta Arenas, aboard World Voyager
Availability, suite categories, vessel allocation, final routing and applicable offers should be confirmed privately before proposal.
Why Choose Fly the Drake
The defining feature of this expedition is access.
Instead of spending several days crossing the Drake Passage by sea, guests fly between Punta Arenas and King George Island, reaching Antarctica quickly and preserving more of the journey for exploration in the Peninsula region.
This makes the expedition particularly suitable for travellers with limited time, those who prefer to avoid the longer sea crossing, or guests who want a concentrated Antarctic experience without compromising the field-led character of the voyage.
The Antarctic experience itself remains expeditionary: landings are guided by ice, weather and wildlife, and each day is shaped by the judgement of the Captain and Expedition Team.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Punta Arenas, Chile
The journey begins in Punta Arenas, the principal gateway to southern Patagonia and a historic departure point for polar exploration.
Guests arrive at the official starting hotel by early afternoon for check-in, luggage weighing and tagging, parka and boot distribution, and biosecurity clearance. A mandatory briefing takes place in the evening, followed by a welcome dinner.
This first day is operationally important. The following morning’s flight to Antarctica is weather dependent, and all luggage and outerwear must be prepared in advance to protect the sensitive Antarctic environment.
Day 2: Fly to King George Island and Embark
After breakfast, guests transfer to the airport for the charter flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands.
The flight crosses the Drake Passage in approximately two hours, offering a rare aerial perspective over the route traditionally crossed by ship. As the aircraft descends, Antarctica appears first through the window: coastlines, ice, mountains and the first sense of entering a different world.
After landing, guests make their way to the shore and transfer by Zodiac to the expedition vessel. The ship then sets sail toward the Antarctic Peninsula.
Days 3 to 6: Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands
These are the core expedition days.
The Captain and Expedition Team search for the best possible conditions for Zodiac cruising, shore landings, wildlife encounters and guided exploration. Each day may bring a different combination of ice, wildlife and landscape.
Guests may walk ashore among penguin colonies, cruise by Zodiac near icebergs and glacier fronts, hike to viewpoints, photograph seals resting on ice, or watch for humpback whales, minke whales, leopard seals and, with luck, orcas.
The Antarctic Peninsula is home to Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins, and part of the experience is learning to recognise the differences between species, habitats and behaviours. Presentations on wildlife, glaciology, polar history and photography add context between excursions.
No two landings are identical. One day may be defined by a Zodiac cruise through sculptural ice. Another may focus on a penguin rookery, a historic site, a seal encounter or the sound of a glacier calving into the bay.
Day 7: Disembark at King George Island and Fly to Punta Arenas
After the expedition programme concludes, guests disembark at King George Island.
A short walk from the beach to the airstrip leads to the return charter flight across the Drake Passage. On arrival in Punta Arenas, guests transfer to the post-expedition hotel for one final night.
The evening is free, allowing time to rest, review photographs and absorb the scale of the experience.
Day 8: Depart Punta Arenas
After breakfast, guests continue independently to the airport or onward travel arrangements.
Ships
World Voyager
World Voyager is a modern expedition ship designed for science, discovery and refined polar exploration.
The vessel accommodates up to 168 guests, with 125 staff and crew, and has an Ice Class 1B classification. Its all-balcony suites provide direct views into the polar wilderness, while the presentation theatre and Science Hub support the educational dimension of the voyage.
Key features include:
All-balcony suites
Science Hub
Presentation theatre
Rolls-Royce propulsion technology
Restaurant and spacious lounges
Observation areas
L’Occitane spa treatments
Sauna
Self-directed hot-and-cold hydrotherapy
Panoramic running track
Fitness centre
Health-conscious dining
Stand-up paddleboarding is available only on World Voyager departures, subject to conditions and advance booking.
Ocean Explorer
Ocean Explorer is a modern expedition vessel with a strong focus on comfort, observation and efficient off-ship operations.
The ship accommodates up to 142 guests, with 105 staff and crew, and has an Ice Class 1A, PC6 classification. It features the ULSTEIN X-BOW, designed to support smoother and more comfortable sailing.
Key features include:
Scandinavian-designed cabins, most with verandas
Two-story light-filled library
Outdoor viewing areas and multi-height decks
15 Zodiacs for efficient shore access
Observation lounge and bar
Lecture lounge
Tundra Spa and sauna
Jacuzzi hydrotherapy
Morning stretch sessions
Gym
Health-conscious dining
Ocean Explorer is especially well suited to travellers seeking a smaller, elegant polar vessel with excellent viewing decks and strong Zodiac operations.
Included Activities
Activities are always subject to weather, ice, sea state, safety and operational conditions, but may include:
Zodiac cruising
Shore landings
Guided hiking
Presentations by polar experts
Photography guidance
Polar plunge, scheduled once per expedition if conditions permit
Science & Discovery programming on selected vessels
Citizen science activities, including seabird surveys, whale observations and water sampling
Wildlife observation from ship, shore and Zodiac
Optional Adventure Activities
Optional activities vary by vessel, departure and conditions, and must be requested in advance.
Possible options include:
Sea kayaking
Paddling excursion
Stand-up paddleboarding on World Voyager departures only
Sea kayaking is suitable for guests with prior kayaking experience and may operate multiple times during the voyage, weather permitting. Paddling excursions offer a gentler one-time experience on stable sit-on-top kayaks, suitable for guests with minimal or no kayaking background. Stand-up paddleboarding provides a more personal perspective on Antarctica from calm bays and harbours, accompanied by a safety Zodiac.
Science & Discovery
On selected departures aboard World Voyager, the Science & Discovery programme allows guests to engage more deeply with the polar environment.
The onboard Science Hub may connect guests with scientists, researchers and Expedition Guides. Learning can include interactive digital displays, researcher-led sessions and field-based citizen science. Activities may involve documenting whale sightings, seabird surveys, water sampling and discussions around Antarctic marine ecosystems.
This gives the journey a more reflective dimension. Antarctica becomes more than scenery; it is understood as a living system shaped by ice, ocean, wildlife and climate.
Possible Excursion Sites
The final itinerary is determined by sea, ice and weather. Possible exploration sites in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands may include:
Cierva Cove
A glaciated bay with dramatic icebergs, floating ice, seals on floes and, later in the season, possible humpback whale feeding.
Cuverville Island
A gentoo penguin rookery set on a rocky beach, with giant petrels and kelp gulls also breeding in the area.
Damoy Point
A historic British Antarctic Survey site with an old ice runway hut, mountain views and a penguin rookery.
Danco Island
A small dome-shaped island home to gentoo penguins and excellent Zodiac cruising opportunities in the Errera Channel.
Enterprise Island
A protected cove in Wilhelmina Bay, with whaling history and possible humpback whale sightings.
Lemaire Channel
One of the most scenic passages on the Peninsula, running between the towering cliffs of Booth Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Melchior Islands
Low, glaciated islands where fur seals may be seen hauled out after the breeding season.
Neko Harbour
A bay with gentoo penguins and traces of historic whaling activity.
Petermann Island
A site near the Lemaire Channel with gentoo penguins, Adélie penguins, shags and south polar skuas.
Port Lockroy
A historic British base, now a museum and post office, with a large gentoo penguin population.
Waterboat Point
A historic Antarctic site and Chilean research station area, with a resident gentoo rookery when conditions allow.
Deception Island
A flooded volcanic caldera reached through Neptune’s Bellows, with penguins, seals, whaling remains and dark volcanic beaches.
Half Moon Island
A crescent-shaped island with chinstrap penguins and numerous Antarctic bird species.
Hannah Point
A wildlife-rich site on Livingston Island, visited after January 10, with chinstrap and gentoo penguins and occasional macaroni penguins.
Penguin Island
A South Shetland site where Antarctica’s two flowering plants may be seen, along with chinstrap penguins, fur seals and southern elephant seals.
Yankee Harbour
A gentoo penguin rookery, glacier views and remnants of sealing history.
Inclusions
Rates generally include:
A 3-in-1 expedition parka to keep
Leadership throughout the voyage by an experienced Expedition Team
Zodiac transfers and cruising according to the daily programme
Shore landings according to the daily programme
Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board
Complimentary select beer, wines and cocktails during bar service hours and dinner
Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
Formal and informal presentations by the Expedition Team and guest speakers
Photographic journal documenting the expedition
Loan of waterproof expedition boots for landings and Zodiac cruising
Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
Service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
Luggage handling aboard the ship
Group arrival transfer in Punta Arenas from airport to pre-expedition hotel on Day 1
One night pre-expedition hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas with breakfast
Briefing dinner on Day 1 in Punta Arenas
Pre-expedition group transfer from hotel to airport
Flights to and from King George Island
Post-expedition group transfer from Punta Arenas airport to hotel
One night post-expedition hotel accommodation with breakfast in Punta Arenas
Luggage storage
Basic complimentary Wi-Fi on one device, where service permits
Exclusions
Rates generally do not include:
International airfare
Passport and visa expenses
Government arrival or departure taxes not specifically mentioned
Travel insurance, including baggage, cancellation, interruption and medical cover
Excess baggage fees on international and domestic flights
Mandatory waterproof pants or other personal gear not listed as included
Laundry, bar, spa and personal charges unless specified
Premium Wi-Fi packages
Spirits not included in the complimentary bar service
Voluntary gratuities for expedition staff and shipboard crew
Additional overnight accommodation
Departure transfer in Punta Arenas unless explicitly stated
Optional adventure activities not listed in included activities
Operational Notes
Flying to Antarctica is highly weather dependent. Guests should arrive in Punta Arenas by the required time on Day 1 for check-in, luggage weighing, parka and boot distribution, biosecurity clearance and the mandatory briefing.
The charter flight to King George Island is scheduled for Day 2, but departure may shift according to weather. A contingency plan is in place in the event of flight delay, including additional accommodation and meals in Punta Arenas if required.
Strict luggage limits apply for the charter flight between Punta Arenas and King George Island: one checked bag and one cabin bag, with no option to purchase additional weight.
Possible Extensions
Because the journey begins and ends in Chilean Patagonia, pre- or post-expedition arrangements may be shaped around Punta Arenas or Santiago.
Options may include:
Santiago cultural stay
Barrio Lastarria, Barrio Italia and Bellavista
Wine bars and high-end restaurants in Santiago
Punta Arenas pre- or post-stay
Patagonian nature and history experiences
Further Chilean or South American travel depending on routing
Exclusive Elite Travel Perspective
For Exclusive Elite Travel clients, Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake is the most time-efficient way to experience Antarctica while preserving the essence of a true polar expedition.
Its distinction lies in the Fly/Cruise structure. The charter flights remove the longest sea crossing and create a compact, highly focused journey into the Antarctic Peninsula, ideal for travellers with limited time or a preference for a smoother route to the 7th Continent.
The experience remains field-led, weather-shaped and deeply immersive: Zodiac cruising, penguin colonies, seals, whales, glaciated bays and expert interpretation. It is best suited to travellers who want the power of Antarctica without committing to a longer expedition calendar.
A request begins with preferred departure date, vessel preference, suite category, optional activity interest and desired pre- or post-expedition arrangements.
