Fly the Drake – Antarctic Express

Today a 2 hour flight will take you over the legendary Drake Passage. At King George Island you have to make your own way to the shore, where a Zodiac will take you to the ship waiting for you to start this unforgettable experience.

Regarding luggage for this flight, there is a limit of 33 lbs (15 kg) checked luggage and 11 lbs (5 kg) cabin baggage. If you have additional luggage, it can be stored at the hotel in Punta Arenas. There is no option to pay for additional luggage.

After you get into the ship, the Captain and the Expedition Team keep a look out for whales and seabirds and will alert you of any exiting sightings. The team is formed by experts, will accompany you all along the way, and they will deepen your experience with all their knowledge in glaciology, history, and wildlife in Antarctica.

Your first Zodiac landing will be the most expected and exiting! Marvel with a shore full of penguins and get near to the unique wildlife of Antarctica. Each landing is different and is conditioned by the weather, but you will be in constant learning about the magic of this place. Here are the activities included in this expedition and below the adventure options!

Activities included

ZODIAC CRUISING

These rigged inflatable watercrafts allow you to get into remote and shallow places while searching for wildlife.

HIKING

In this great activity, the staff set out a perimeter or paths and where you will be free to explore. Don´t worry! You won’t be alone: The experts will be there to answer all the questions you may have!

PRESENTATIONS

Every day, you can be part of the chats and presentations by the onboard polar experts and expedition guides. Other special guests will also enrich your knowledges with fascinating history, biology, ornithology, glaciology and geology of the White Continent.

POLAR PLUNGE

In this scheduled only once per expedition you can jump into the Antarctic water! Every camera on board will immortalize this moment! Have in mind that you will be always supervised by our staff to make this experience safe!

PHOTOGRAPHY

The photography guide is in charge of this activity and of making sure you will take back home all the memorable moments lived in this adventure and the beauty of the polar regions, not only in your mind, but also in amazing and unique pictures taken by yourself!

Adventure Options*

SEA KAYAKING

With the Sea Kayaking program, you can intimately explore your surroundings. This is an alternative to shore landings or Zodiac Cruises, and it requires prior kayaking experience. Always in small groups and going out in multiple times. This activity is strictly conditioned to calm weather.

PADDLING EXCURSION

This is a perfect option for anyone who have minimal or no kayaking experience and are still interested in it. Same as Sea Kayaking, small groups are taken out only with  calm day-weather. The expert guides always help with instructions and help you enjoy and be amazed by the polar sea.

STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING (on World Explorer Only)

If you are interested in a very personal and unique perspective on Antarctica, this stand-up paddle boarding excursion is perfect! Continuing with the small group concept and in calm days weather conditions, you can pre-book into one or two priority groups. Also, you will be accompanied by a safety Zodiac.

*Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities.

Time to say goodbye to Antarctica and your Expedition Team! In the late morning, you are going back to King George Island and take your flight back to Punta Arenas, going again over the Drake Passage. A group transfer will take you to your hotel and you can have the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, you can continue your own arrangements or make your own way to Punta Arenas Airport to take your flight back home. If you need a transfer to the airport today, please let us know and we can arrange one for you!

Quick information to have in mind!

As you may have noticed, this expedition is conditioned to complex and variable weather conditions. So, there is a contingency plan which provides with a night of hotel accommodation in Punta Arenas, meals included in case that the flight is cancelled due to this reason. If the bad weather continues by day 4, the trip will be officially cancelled and a letter for you to submit to your travel insurance provider will be provided. We strongly recommend purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy, including trip delay, cancellation and interruption insurance.

PRE- AND POST-EXPEDITION TRIP EXTENSIONS

Since you’re traveling such a long way, you may want to explore other interesting places in South America.  In Beyond BA Latam we offer custom tours in Argentina and Chile, and would love to help you design your trip!

Meals on Board

Daily there are delicious meals on board. As you will be busy in Zodiaz cruises, landings, wildlife encounters and other exiting activities, mealtimes are adjusted to all this and you will have three well-prepared meals per day. Regarding breakfast and lunches, they are buffet style. Dinners are served plated and prepared a la carte. You will receive top-quality meals during the entire expedition.

During mealtimes and when the bar is open you can have soft drinks and juices; beer and wine are served with dinner. There are coffee, tea and water stations at all times. There is an option with extra cost at spirits, premium wines, and champagne, which can be billed to your shipboard account. The bars are open in late morning, afternoon and evening.

Remember to send us in advance if you have any alimentary restrictions!

We invite you to see our Argentina Tours, where you can experience the true Argentine culture.