Antarctic Peninsula Expeditions 2027-2028
A curated portfolio of Antarctic Peninsula expeditions, from classic Drake Passage voyages to Fly/Cruise journeys, Antarctic Circle crossings, helicopter-supported exploration, Weddell Sea discovery and marine mammal science itineraries.
A curated portfolio of Antarctic Peninsula expeditions, from classic Drake Passage voyages to Fly/Cruise journeys, Antarctic Circle crossings, helicopter-supported exploration, Weddell Sea discovery and marine mammal science itineraries.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the most powerful introduction to the 7th Continent: vast icebergs, glacier-carved bays, penguin rookeries, whales, seals, snowfields, silent channels and the legendary crossing of the Drake Passage.
This collection brings together several expedition styles, allowing travellers to choose the Antarctic rhythm that suits them best. Some voyages cross the Drake Passage by ship, preserving the full sense of maritime arrival. Others use charter flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island to shorten the journey. Selected itineraries go farther, crossing the Antarctic Circle, exploring the Weddell Sea, adding helicopter-supported access, or focusing on whales, seals and citizen science.
For Exclusive Elite Travel clients, this is not a standard cruise product. It is an expedition framework shaped by specialist polar vessels, seasoned expedition teams, Zodiac operations, shore landings, educational programming and carefully managed access to one of the most fragile environments on Earth.
Region at a Glance
Primary Region
Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Weddell Sea, Antarctic Sound and, on selected itineraries, the Antarctic Circle.
Season
November 2027 through March 2028, depending on itinerary and ship.
Duration Range
8 to 14 days.
Main Ports and Gateways
Ushuaia, Argentina; King George Island, Antarctica; Punta Arenas, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina, for selected charter flight packages.
Expedition Style
Ship-based expedition cruising, Fly/Cruise options, Zodiac exploration, shore landings, guided hikes, photography, kayaking, paddling, science-focused programming and, on selected Ultramarine voyages, helicopter-supported exploration.
Pricing
Available on request, according to itinerary, departure date, vessel, suite category, cabin availability and any special offers valid at the time of proposal or reservation.
Departure Availability
Selected departures are scheduled across the 2027/2028 Antarctic season. Availability, cabins, routing and optional activities should be confirmed privately before proposal.
The Expedition Portfolio
Emperor Penguin Quest: Expedition to Snow Hill
This 14-day expedition is the rarest and most specialised journey in the Antarctic Peninsula collection, designed around one extraordinary objective: reaching the Emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island.
The scheduled departure runs 16 to 29 November 2027, starting and ending in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with charter flight arrangements connected to Ushuaia and embarkation aboard Ultramarine.
The voyage crosses the Drake Passage and enters the Weddell Sea, where the Expedition Team spends up to five days in the vicinity of Snow Hill Island to maximise the possibility of reaching the colony. The rookery is located on sea ice off the south coast of Snow Hill Island and is home to approximately 8,000 Emperor penguins.
Access is highly specialised. Ultramarine, equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, transports guests toward a landing site positioned as close as safely possible to the colony, while maintaining a responsible distance from the birds. From there, guests continue on foot across the sea ice with expert guides.
The experience is expected, but never guaranteed. Weather, sea ice and aviation conditions determine whether the colony can be reached. If access is not possible or is shortened, the Expedition Team may redirect exploration toward other sites on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea, such as Brown Bluff, Devil Island, Hope Bay, Paulet Island or Seymour Island.
This itinerary operates aboard Ultramarine and is capped at 150 guests, creating a more intimate expedition profile. It is best suited to travellers who understand that the rarest wildlife encounters require patience, flexibility, specialist polar operations and deep respect for the conditions of the ice.
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent
This is the classic Antarctic Peninsula journey, ideal for travellers seeking a complete first encounter with the 7th Continent.
The voyage lasts 11 or 12 days and operates across multiple departures from November 2027 through March 2028. It embarks and disembarks in Ushuaia, Argentina, with selected charter flight and hotel arrangements connected to Buenos Aires depending on vessel and departure.
The itinerary crosses the Drake Passage, the storied 800-kilometre stretch of Southern Ocean between South America and Antarctica. Once in the Antarctic Peninsula region, days are shaped by ice, weather and wildlife: Zodiac cruising among icebergs, shore landings near penguin colonies, guided walks, kayaking opportunities and lectures on polar history, biology and glaciology.
Typical wildlife encounters may include gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, seals and, depending on timing and conditions, whales feeding in Antarctic waters.
Voyages may operate aboard Ultramarine, Ocean Explorer or World Voyager.
Antarctic Peninsula: Crossing the Circle
This 14-day itinerary is designed for travellers who want to step onto the 7th Continent and also cross one of the great symbolic thresholds of polar travel: the Antarctic Circle.
The scheduled departure runs 24 January to 6 February 2028, embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia, Argentina, with charter flight arrangements connected to Buenos Aires.
The journey combines the classic Antarctic Peninsula experience with a push farther south, aiming to cross the Circle and reach landscapes visited by relatively few travellers. Exploration may include penguin colonies, remote bays, glaciers, historical sites, Zodiac cruising, kayaking and guided hikes.
The voyage operates aboard World Voyager.
Antarctic Express: Sail South, Fly North
This Fly/Cruise itinerary is designed for travellers who want to experience both versions of Antarctic access: the drama of sailing the Drake Passage southbound and the efficiency of returning by air.
The voyage lasts 9 or 10 days, with selected departures from December 2027 through February 2028. Guests embark in Ushuaia, Argentina, and disembark at King George Island, Antarctica, followed by a charter flight to Punta Arenas, Chile. Selected programmes include a charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.
The route allows travellers to achieve the traditional polar rite of crossing the Drake Passage by ship, then save time on the return. Several days are dedicated to the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, where expedition activities may include Zodiac cruising, shore landings, kayaking, wildlife observation and photography.
Voyages may operate aboard Ocean Explorer or World Voyager.
Antarctic Express: Fly South, Sail North
This 9-day itinerary reverses the previous logic. Guests fly south over the Drake Passage, land at King George Island, board the expedition vessel in Antarctica and later sail north across the Drake Passage to Ushuaia.
It operates on selected departures from December 2027 through February 2028. Embarkation takes place at King George Island, Antarctica, with disembarkation in Ushuaia, Argentina. Charter flights are connected to Punta Arenas, Chile, and from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, depending on departure and vessel.
The journey is suited to travellers who want a faster arrival into Antarctica, while still experiencing the powerful maritime return across the Drake. Once in the Peninsula region, the focus is on wildlife, ice, rugged coastlines, penguins, seals and the experience of standing on the Antarctic Continent.
Voyages may operate aboard Ocean Explorer or World Voyager.
Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake
For time-sensitive travellers, this is the fastest Antarctic Peninsula option.
The itinerary lasts 8 days and operates on selected departures from December 2027 through February 2028. Guests fly both ways across the Drake Passage between Punta Arenas, Chile, and King George Island, Antarctica, where they embark and disembark.
By replacing the sea crossing with approximately two-hour charter flights each way, this itinerary concentrates the journey around the Antarctic Peninsula itself. It offers a compact but authentic expedition experience, with Zodiac cruising, shore landings, wildlife photography and time among penguins, seals, icebergs and polar landscapes.
Voyages may operate aboard Ocean Explorer or World Voyager.
Antarctic Express: Crossing the Circle
This 11-day Fly/Cruise itinerary combines the time efficiency of flying over the Drake Passage with the ambition of reaching the Antarctic Circle.
The scheduled departure runs 17 to 27 February 2028. Guests embark and disembark at King George Island, Antarctica, with charter flights to and from Punta Arenas, Chile.
The itinerary begins directly in Antarctica, then cruises south along the Peninsula, aiming to cross 66°33’ south. Along the way, guests may encounter iceberg-dotted channels, penguin colonies, seals, dramatic glaciers and remote polar landscapes. Depending on conditions and vessel operations, adventure options may include sea kayaking and other off-ship activities.
This itinerary operates aboard World Voyager.
Antarctica by Helicopter: Icebergs, Mountains and Remote Lands
This 12-day expedition is the most helicopter-focused Antarctic Peninsula itinerary in the collection.
The scheduled departure runs 28 November to 9 December 2027, embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia, Argentina, with charter flight arrangements connected to Buenos Aires.
Operating aboard Ultramarine, the voyage includes helicopter experiences as part of the programme. The intention is to create multiple heli-flightseeing opportunities and a heli-landing, allowing travellers to experience Antarctic landscapes from the air and, where conditions permit, access perspectives beyond the reach of ship and Zodiac alone.
The itinerary may explore the Erebus and Terror Gulf, Antarctic Sound and the ice-filled Weddell Sea, with a focus on icebergs, mountains and remote terrain along the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Antarctic Peninsula: A Rare Exploration of the Weddell Sea
This 12-day itinerary is for travellers drawn to the wilder, less predictable eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The scheduled departure runs 18 to 29 December 2027, embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia, Argentina, with charter flight arrangements connected to Buenos Aires.
The expedition devotes three to four days to the far reaches of the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Sound, far more time than most Antarctic Peninsula itineraries. This region is known for colossal tabular icebergs, Adélie penguin colonies and an atmosphere of deep polar remoteness.
The arrival in Antarctica coincides with the Winter Solstice on 21 December 2027, adding a distinctive seasonal context to the voyage.
This itinerary operates aboard Ocean Explorer.
Antarctica by Helicopter: Crossing the Circle and the Peninsula
This 14-day itinerary combines two powerful polar experiences: crossing the Antarctic Circle and exploring from the air.
The scheduled departure runs 17 February to 1 March 2028, embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia, Argentina, with charter flight arrangements connected to Buenos Aires.
Operating aboard Ultramarine, the voyage includes multiple helicopter-supported opportunities, subject to weather and operational conditions. Guests may experience aerial views over the ice-covered 7th Continent and, where possible, step out of a helicopter onto Antarctic terrain.
The itinerary is designed for travellers seeking a more expansive, exploratory version of the Antarctic Peninsula, with Zodiac cruising, ship-based exploration, possible helicopter-supported activities and the symbolic crossing of the Circle.
Antarctic Marine Mammals: The World of Whales and Seals
This 11-day itinerary is designed around whales, seals and polar marine science.
The scheduled departure runs 3 to 13 March 2028, embarking and disembarking in Ushuaia, Argentina, with charter flight arrangements connected to Buenos Aires.
The programme focuses on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands during a period that can be especially rewarding for marine mammal observation. Guests may encounter minke, humpback and fin whales, seals, seabirds and penguins, while participating in citizen-science activities connected to whale identification and conservation.
A dedicated Science Hub aboard World Voyager supports learning, observation and interaction with experts. This itinerary is well suited to travellers who want their Antarctic journey to carry a stronger scientific dimension.
Polar Vessels and Expedition Expertise
The Antarctic Peninsula collection operates aboard a fleet of small polar vessels designed for immersive expedition travel.
Ultramarine carries up to 199 guests with 140 staff and crew and has a PC6 ice classification. It is equipped with two twin-engine helicopters and 20 quick-deploy Zodiacs, making it particularly suited to helicopter-supported and high-access expedition itineraries. Its water-level Zodiac hangar, ready rooms, polar boutique, spa, sauna, fitness studio, wraparound deck and multiple dining and lounge spaces support both serious exploration and comfort between landings.
Ocean Explorer carries up to 138 guests with 105 staff and crew and has 1A, PC6 ice classification. Its ULSTEIN X-BOW design supports smoother sailing, while Scandinavian-style cabins, extensive observation areas, a Discovery Library, Tundra Spa, sauna, outdoor Jacuzzis and lecture lounge create a refined expedition environment.
World Voyager carries up to 168 guests with 125 staff and crew and has 1B ice classification. It is designed for discovery, with all-balcony suites, a presentation theatre, Science Hub, observation decks, sauna, spa, heated outdoor pool, Jacuzzis and modern propulsion technology. It is particularly relevant for science-led voyages and Fly/Cruise itineraries.
Across the programme, voyages are guided by specialised polar expedition teams, including experts in wildlife, glaciology, history, marine biology, ecology, photography and polar operations.
What the Expedition Programme Includes
Inclusions vary by itinerary, vessel, cabin category and departure, but the core framework may include:
Polar expedition team and educational programming
Zodiac cruising and shore landings
Three meals daily, plus snacks
Complimentary select beer, wine and select cocktails during bar service hours and dinner
Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
Basic Wi-Fi where satellite service permits
Loan of waterproof neoprene muck boots
A 3-in-1 hooded expedition parka to keep
Taxes and port charges
Online photo journal after the voyage
Included hotels where applicable
Port transfers to and from the vessel
Entrance fees to relevant national parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and historic sites
Adventure options vary by voyage and vessel. Possible activities may include Zodiac cruising, walking or hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, camping, polar plunge, sea kayaking, paddling excursions, guided photography, flightseeing and exclusive heli-landing. Helicopter-supported activities operate only aboard Ultramarine and are always subject to weather, ice and operational conditions.
Extension Possibilities
Depending on the chosen itinerary and direction of travel, pre- or post-expedition extensions may be arranged in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia or Punta Arenas.
Options can include Iguazú Falls, Tigre Delta, Buenos Aires city experiences, Tierra del Fuego, Harberton Ranch or Torres del Paine National Park, depending on route and availability.
Exclusive Elite Travel Perspective
For Exclusive Elite Travel clients, the Antarctic Peninsula is the most versatile entry point into Antarctica. It can be experienced as a classic expedition voyage, a time-efficient Fly/Cruise journey, an Antarctic Circle achievement, a helicopter-supported exploration or a marine mammal science itinerary.
The choice should not be made only by number of days. It should be shaped around the traveller’s appetite for sea crossings, time constraints, desire for scientific depth, level of adventure, interest in helicopters, wildlife priorities and preferred vessel style.
This is expedition travel at its most elemental: ice, silence, weather, wildlife and expert-led access to a continent that cannot be approached casually.
