The Best Active Voyage in Antarctica Aboard the Ortelius, Plancius, or Hondius
Active Antarctic Peninsula
Overview
Here's one of the most active voyages in Antarctica! On this thrilling expedition cruise, paddle a kayak through polar waters, exploring the coastline at your own pace. Take a casual stroll along the Antarctic shores, or challenge yourself with a more advanced hike. You can also enjoy a variety of snowshoeing treks to suit your experience and your desired level of activity. Looking for a way to push yourself beyond the usual Antarctic cruise fare? Sign on for a mountaineering excursion! Snowshoe out to where the Antarctic foothills begin, then strap on some crampons and get ready for amazement as you make your way up to some of the best views available on the Antarctic Peninsula. And, you can take your Antarctic adventure further with a night of camping out under the Antarctic night sky. All the camping gear is provided—you just bring your sense of adventure!
Arrive: Ushuaia, Argentina
Depart: Ushuaia, Argentina
Highlights
- The most active expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula
- Options to snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp overnight on the ice under the polar sky—all included!
- Experience the wildlife wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula: penguins, seals, whales, and a variety of seabirds
- Revel in Antarctica's otherworldly scenery of icy glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and sparkling seas
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
Your voyage begins where the world drops off: Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, located on the far southern tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small resort town on Tierra del Fuego—nicknamed “The End of the World”—and sail the scenic, mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the rest of the evening.
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you'll catch a taste of life from the perspective of the polar explorers who first braved these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale blasting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence—Antarctica's natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer subantarctic seas—you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too: a variety of albatrosses and petrels show up, along with Cape pigeons and southern fulmars. Then, near the South Shetlands Islands, the first icebergs flash into sight.
Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands. The basecamp concept allows you to feel more like a resident than a visitor, getting the most out of all available activities. Here are all the places you might go:
Neumayer Channel—The vessel may position itself for the multi-activity basecamp here. The protected waters around Wiencke Island become a veritable playground for all manner of activities. You can enjoy the splendors of this alpine environment at sea, with Zodiac and kayaking trips. Or if you're among the walkers, there are possible snowshoe hikes and mountaineering (soft climb) options farther inland. Naturally, favorable weather conditions determine the possible activities.
Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you get a chance to visit the former British research station—now a museum and post office—of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.
Pléneau & Petermann Islands – If the ice allows it, you can sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of Adélie penguins and blue-eyed shags. There's also a good chance you'll encounter humpback and minke whales here, as well as leopard seals. Kayaking, glacier walks, and more ambitious mountaineering are potential activities in this location.
Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow. Opportunities for Zodiac cruising, kayaking, and walking provide you the closest possible view of this location's ice-crusted alpine peaks.
Paradise Bay – You have the chance to camp here like a true polar explorer, enjoying the supreme overnight Antarctic adventure.
Errera Channel – Possible sites in this area include Danco Island and Cuverville Island, but also the lesser known (though equally picturesque) Orne Island and Georges Point on Rongé Island. On your last day of near-shore activities, you pass the Melchior Islands toward the open sea. Keep a sharp lookout for humpback whales in Dallmann Bay. You might also shoot for Half Moon Island, in the South Shetlands, with further chances for activities. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.
While crossing the Drake, you're again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.
Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It's now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that will accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is rated Level 1+, Easy, according to our trip grading system. It can be enjoyed by anyone in reasonably good health. You need to be able to walk on uneven surfaces and feel comfortable on your feet for multiple hours a day. You must be able to complete on board safety drills and emergency evacuation procedures without the assistance of others.
Rolling seas and windy conditions require you to be stable on your feet, especially when walking on slippery decks or up and down steep gangways. Some agility is required for getting in and out of the Zodiac landing crafts. While a couple of Zodiac landings are dry, most will require that you step into calf-high water on rocky or sandy beaches to get ashore. your walks onshore will be over sandy or coarse gravel beaches or snow and often require hiking over uneven terrain without the benefit of a developed trail.
The Antarctic summer begins in November and ends in March—no tourist ships visit in the winter. December through February are the best times to visit as they bring long daylight hours and milder temperatures. You'll experience a variety of weather conditions including rain, snow, sleet, and sunny skies no matter when you visit. Temperatures can change quickly and range from the high 30s to below freezing, sometimes with a significant wind chill.
All meals will be taken on board. All ships we offer have the capacity to seat everyone at a single, open seating in the main dining room. In some cases outdoor buffet breakfast and lunch options are also available. Please let us know of any special dietary needs; the ship will accommodate as best as possible.
Having the right clothing and gear is vital to the enjoyment of your trip to Antarctica, layered breathable clothing is best with a fully waterproof jacket and waterproof over-pants (required). Note that ponchos are NOT recommended as wind makes them less useful. Waterproof boots are available to borrow on all cruises.
Visit wildernesstravel.newheadings.com to begin shopping. Be sure to check out our Get Ready Packages, which features 3 Polar Packages that provide excellent value for the gear necessary to keep you warm and dry. Polar gear is available to rent or buy and it may be possible that rental gear can be delivered to your hotel in South America prior to your cruise.
Antarctica is an extremely remote and isolated region of the world. In the case of serious illness or injury, medical attention and swift evacuation are not always available. Once you sail from Ushuaia, you are far away from towns and medical facilities. In the case of serious illness or injury, the cruise ship will make every effort to reach medical facilities as soon as possible, but be aware that it may take several days to get you to a hospital. If you have health or medical issues of concern, please discuss them with your physician before considering this trip.
Due to the remoteness, emergency evacuation insurance is required for all voyages to Antarctica.
FAQs
October, November, Early December (late spring-early summer)
The pack ice begins to break up, creating new landscapes of sculpted ice and pristine icebergs with plenty of fresh snow. It's mating season for the penguins and other birds with whole colonies in spectacular displays of courtship rituals. You're also likely to witness nest building and egg tending. Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins and other seabirds return to their breeding sites.
Mid December - January (full summer)
These are usually Antarctica's warmest months — the height of the Austral Summer when the sun is up 18 to 20 hours a day. Longer days create great light conditions for fabulous photo opportunities. Wildlife in full swing as temperatures warm and activity levels rise. Penguin chicks are hatching, and you'll likely see them chasing after any adult penguin that is carrying food. Whale sightings of baleen and toothed whales along the Antarctic Peninsula increase and seal pups can be sighted on the beaches. Some 30 days after hatching, penguin chicks can be found in "crèches," resembling a nursery of sorts, which leaves both of their tired and hungry parents free to rest and hunt for food.
February - March (late summer)
Whale sightings are at their peak. Fur seals are increasingly common along the Peninsula and offshore islands. Penguin chicks begin to fledge, losing their fuzzy down and developing their adult plumage. In some breeding colonies parents are starting to abandon any remaining chicks, to go out to sea to feed and fatten up for their own molting stage.
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.