STYLE: Small Ship Expedition Cruise
Trip Code: ACOWABT
DIFFICULTY RATING: 2 (light adventure)
Start: Ushuaia, Argentina
Finish: Ushuaia, Argentina
SHIP: Plancius
Antarctic Peninsula
25/12/2024, 13/02/2025, 25/02/2025, 16/12/2025, 28/12/2025
All Meals On board The Ship
Group Transfers On Disembarkation To The Airport
Cabin on board a ship
Daily Antarctica Excursions in location, Zodiac Cruising, On board Expert Lectures & Briefings by the Experienced Expedition Team. On 'Basecamp' departures all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, hiking, mountaineering, photo workshops) are free of charge
NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather & ice conditions
Spot penguins from your zodiac or hiking in Antarctica. Common species on the peninsula are the Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguins.
Cruise by Zodiacs amongst the beautifully sculpted icebergs and take excursions from the ship to explore local bays, channels and landing sites
Experience an extended 13 day Antarctic Basecamp adventure. This voyage is perfect suited for adventurous clients, seeking a wide range of activities included in the price. Activities such as camping, snowshoeing, mountaineering, kayaking, and photo workshops are included for all guests on board this expedition.
Experience the serene and isolated landscapes of the frozen white continent as you zodiac into secluded shores, kayak on frozen crackling waters. Entering Antarctica is like no experience on Earth.
PLEAE NOTE: During our 'Basecamp' departures all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, hiking, mountaineering, photo workshops) are free of charge.
*Rates are subject to currency fluctuation and availability at the time of booking. Please contact us for the latest pricing and availability.
Your voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the southernmost city on the planet, is 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 mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the evening.
Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
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.
Places you might visit includes:
Neumayer Channel – The vessel may position itself here, launching its multiple basecamp activities from the protected waters around Wiencke Island. You can enjoy the splendors of this alpine environment at sea with Zodiac and kayaking trips, or if you’re in the mood for a walk, there are possible snowshoe hikes and soft-climb mountaineering options farther inland. Naturally, favorable weather conditions determine the possible activities.
Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may 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. There are great opportunities also for kayaking and camping here, and when conditions are right, you can even snowshoe around the shore.
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 trips are the potential activities of this location.
Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding alpine peaks.
Paradise Bay – You have the chance to make camp here like a true polar explorer (but with a better tent), enjoying a 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.
Your return voyage is far from lonely. 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.
M/V Plancius started life as an oceanographic research vessel for the Royal Dutch Navy. After a change of owner, the ship underwent a complete refit and refurbishment to be converted into a comfortable ice-strengthened vessel, that now cruises the polar regions. Accommodating up to 108 passengers, M/V Plancius has 50 cabins, all with private bathrooms. The cabins come in a range of configirations, with quadruple, triple and twin/double cabins available. Quadruple cabins include two bunk beds, triple cabins feature 1 bunk bed plus 1 single bed. The ship has a large restaurant/lecture room and a spacious observation lounge with bar and huge panoramic windows. There are large open deck spaces, including full walk-around possibilities on one deck, providing excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting and to feast on the spectacular scenery. The 10 Zodiacs and 2 gangways ensure a swift Zodiac operation, so no time is wasted getting you ashore to explore the stunning beauty and amazing wildlife of the Antarctic and the Arctic regions.
Ice Class:
Length: 89 m / 293 feet
Breadth: 14.5 m / 47 feetMax
Draft: Cruising
Speed: 12 knots
Electricity: 240 volts Passenger
Capacity:116
View Ship Details
We believe that appropriate accommodation should add to the authentic travel experience, as well as providing utmost enjoyment. For that reason our accommodation is scrutinised by our staff on the ground frequently, ensuring the properties adhere to our high standards. This key will help you understand the levels of accommodation available on this tour.
Comfortable properties with dependable facilities and service.
Comfortable properties with dependable facilities and service.
Luxurious properties with impeccable facilities and service.
Optional Activities vary for each itinerary. Limited spaces available. Contact your Destination Specialist for pricing & availability.
Experience the unforgettable thrill and serenity of kayaking in Antarctica as part of a small, expertly guided paddling group.
Learn MoreFall asleep amid the snow-capped mountains as you watch the colours of the Antarctic twilight bounce off the ocean and surrounding glaciers.
Learn MoreOne step beyond cross-country skiing, in terms of challenge and adventure, mountaineering excursions in Antarctica are the stuff of legends. Push yourself just a little bit further and you can bag an exciting climb to the peak of an Antarctic mountain. Available on selected voyages only and requiring a somewhat decent level of fitness (given the snowy terrain, need for snowshoeing dexterity and uphill walking) mountaineering trips set themselves apart from general snowshoeing excursions, as they cross glaciated areas which require a certain level of care and experience. Groups are usually kept quite small for safety (up to 12 guests), with everyone tied together across the hairiest crevasse crossings. Whilst not an Antarctic activity that’s suitable for everyone, mountaineering is an absolute dream-come-true for the right adventure-seeker.
Learn MoreFor photography enthusiasts of any skill level. You will receive expert advice on taking and producing amazing photos of Antarctica.
Learn MoreGo even deeper into Antarctica’s interior and reach less visited places where many other visitors simply don’t go!
Learn MoreHiking excursions are among the most popular options in Antarctica as many itineraries are short and suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Guided hikes lead you to amazing vantage points and allow even closer interaction with local wildlife, so don’t forget to pack your camera!
Learn MoreDeparting | Ending | Duration |
---|---|---|
25 Dec 2024 | 06 Jan 2025 | 13 |
13 Feb 2025 | 25 Feb 2025 | 13 |
25 Feb 2025 | 09 Mar 2025 | 13 |
16 Dec 2025 | 28 Dec 2025 | 13 |
28 Dec 2025 | 09 Jan 2026 | 13 |
Prices are based on per person, and may be based on quad/triple/twin share.
Prices are correct at time of publishing but are subject to change at any time.
Itinerary is subject to change depending on weather and ice conditions.
During our 'Basecamp' departures all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, hiking, mountaineering, photo workshops) are free of charge
INCLUSIONS
Cabin Accommodation on board MV Plancius
All meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee and tea
All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac
Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
Free use of rubber boots and snowshoes
Group departure transfers in Ushuaia (directly after disembarkation)
All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the programme
Comprehensive pre-departure material
During our 'Basecamp' departures all offered activities (including camping, kayaking, hiking, mountaineering, photo workshops) are free of charge
Access to 1.5 GB of free internet connectivity per person, which resets every 24 hours. Supplementary vouchers available to purchase on onboard. Subject to satellite coverage
EXCLUSIONS
Airfares to/from disembarkation city
Visa & passport fees (if applicable)
Travel insurance
Beverages (other than tea & coffee)
Meals ashore
Personal expenses such as laundry & bar
Gratuities for the crew (guidelines will be provided)
Pre and post land arrangements
Government arrival or departure taxes (if applicable)
Additional optional activities
Available upon request. Please contact us for more details. No single supplement will apply if willing to share in selected cabins.
Departure Date, Fuel Surcharges, Cabin Category, Currency Fluctuations, Seasonality & Availability.