Classic Antarctica

Superior Private Tour in brief

Day 1: Fly to Buenos Aires

Fly to Buenos Aires with British Airways. (N)

Day 2: Buenos Aires

Morning arrival. Transfer to the Hotel Intersur Recoleta or similar for 1 night. Hotel upgrades available. Afternoon at leisure or take an optional city tour. (N)

Day 3: Fly to Ushuaia:

Fly to Ushuaia, the world’s most southerly city and stay overnight at Hotel Albatros or similar. (B)

Day 4: Ushuaia & embarkation:

Morning at leisure to explore the town or take an optional excursion, such as a visit to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. This afternoon, board your expedition vessel for a cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula. Set sail through the Beagle Channel, which is particularly rich with birdlife. You may see penguins, cormorants, petrels, and black-browed albatrosses. (B, D)

Days 5–6: The Drake Passage:

Undertake the 640km crossing of the legendary Drake Passage to reach the waters of the Antarctic Convergence and the Southern Ocean. Enjoy daily lectures from the expedition team on wildlife, history and the environment. Spend time on deck keeping watch for first sightings of icebergs or spotting the seabirds that follow in the ship’s wake. (B, L, D)

Days 7–10: South Shetland Islands & the Antarctic Peninsula:

Over the next four days, navigate south stopping at the South Shetland Islands, then pass through the Bransfield Strait and on to the Antarctic Peninsula. Marvel at the breathtaking scenery of icebergs, calving glaciers, snowy mountains and ice-choked waterways. Enjoy the possibility of up-close encounters with marine mammals. You may spot seals hunting or sunbathing, visit seabird and penguin rookeries, or see humpback, minke, and orca whales. Learn about the remarkable human history and the feats of polar explorers. The expedition team aims to make two daily shore landings by Zodiacs. Hike along snowy ridges or pebbled beaches, explore bays and channels and navigate amid icebergs. The voyage itinerary and excursions are subject to weather, sea and ice conditions, as well as wildlife sightings.

Days 11–12: Tierra del Fuego

Head north back across the Drake Passage, returning to Ushuaia. (B L, D)

Day 13: Buenos Aires

Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport. Fly to Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel for 1 night. (B)

Day 14: Fly to London

Fly to London with British Airways. (B)

Day 15: London:

Morning arrival. (N)

Meal basis:

As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Optional activities

Optional camping and kayaking excursions are available on some ships, but space is limited and pre-booking is essential.

Cruise programmes & durations

The itinerary above is based on a 10-night cruise programme on the G Expedition. Longer cruise programmes are available offering a more in-depth exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula, including the chance to navigate further south to cross the Antarctic Circle and celebrate a special geographical milestone, or the chance to explore the lesser-visited eastern side of the peninsula and the Weddell Sea.

Flexible prices & itinerary

The price acts as a guideline only and will vary according to the time of year, the boat used and exact cruise duration. We offer a range of different expedition vessels such as the G Expedition, Sea Spirit, Hebridean Sky, Island Sky, Magellan Explorer, Ocean Nova, Ocean Adventurer, Ocean Diamond, Ocean Endeavour, Silver Explorer, Silver Cloud and the Greg Mortimer. Please enquire for further details, dates, availability and prices. The price is based on two people travelling on a twin share basis. Inclusions: International flights and internal flights; transfers; and generally, 2 nights pre-cruise hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires; 1 night hotel accommodation in Ushuaia and an expedition cruise*. * Itineraries with the Silver Explorer and Polar Pioneer may differ slightly with regard to inclusions and pre/post cruise arrangements. Please enquire for details. An Antarctic cruise itinerary can be combined with other tailor-made arrangements within Argentina, Chile or the rest of South America. For a quote based on alternative accommodation standards or flight options, or to tailor the itinerary pre- or post-cruise, please call to speak with a Cox & Kings consultant or enquire online.

Single supplements

Single travellers can avoid paying a single supplement on selected vessels if they are willing to share a twin, triple or quad cabin.

Alternative cruises

Alternative longer programmes are available offering cruises that combine the Antarctic Peninsula with the wildlife rich Falkland Islands and South Georgia, or the Chilean fjords and Antarctica. Additionally, there are also fly-cruise programmes, which enable travellers to save time by taking flight (one-way or both ways) across the Drake Passage. Please contact your Travel Consultant for more details.

Ship information

Find out more about these polar ships here.